Mind Bend - Redless Dragons

Forgotten Harvest - Morphing Faceless Menace

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldslayer" href="#" target="_blank">Worldslayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/gregstaples">Greg Staples</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Problems (and Opportunities) of History</h1>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">During his tenure as an advisor at the Kennedy White House, historian Arthur Schlesinger was frequently interrupted by people wanting to pick his brain. They would pull him aside and ask him to divine, say, China’s trade policy in the coming decade. He soon came up with a handy deflection in his essay </span><span class="s2">"The Problem of Hope":</span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding-left: 40px;"><span class="s1"><em>"History cannot answer questions with confidence or certainty at short range. Alas, policy-makers are rarely interested in the long run—‘In the long run,’ Keynes used to say, ‘we are all dead’—and the questions they put to history are thus most often the questions which history is least qualified to answer."</em></span></p>
<p>In this case, we're going to use the practice of historiography - examining how we know what we think we know about the historical record using primary sources and reactions to same - in regards to <em>Magic: the Gathering. </em>We'll look at the <em>Mirrodin</em> block, and how it changed everything.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/mirrodin.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-38216 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/mirrodin.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="177" /></a></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> Documents written about history reveal as much about the time at which they were written as they do about the time they propose to examine. I believe this applies to <em>Magic: the Gathering</em> cards as much as it does to wills, journals, and other historical primary sources.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Since 1993, <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> has been weaving its own history in its development into the game we know and love today. The purpose of today’s essay is to conduct a thought experiment by revisiting a period in <em>Magic: the Gathering’s</em> past through the lens of a particular card, and what a deck based around that card might look like in the Commander format, both when first published and in the present day.</span></p>
<p>Without further ado, let's hop in our time machine.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> The year is 2003, the set is <em>Mirrodin</em>, which takes place on a plane of the same name. It's a world rusty and rotten with artifacts, and the card under discussion is:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worldslayer"></div></div></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> By examining the changes introduced and expanded upon in the <em>Mirrodin</em> set, we can reconstruct what Commander decks (a much more niche format then, seeing as the first preconstructed Commander decks wouldn’t be printed until eight years later in 2011) might have looked like.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> In short, we’ll be looking at an old card in a new way, as it would have been at first printing and what a Commander deck based around it might have looked like with the cards available from <em>Mirrodin</em> set backwards. In doing so, and by understanding the context of a particular card, we can draw upon cards that have otherwise gone overlooked in Commander and see their synergies with our subject, along the way highlighting the differences in how the cards are used together.</span></p>
<hr />
<h2><em>Mirrodin</em>: The Set That Changed <em>Magic</em></h2>
<p>It is not an overstatement to say that the <em>Mirrodin</em> block changed the face of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> in very real and permanent ways. The role of artifacts was greatly expanded, even into the land slot (a mistake R&amp;D has wisely not repeated). There are two great legacies from the <em>Mirrodin</em> block, and I want you to take a moment and ponder what they are. One will be visible, and the other will be invisible.</p>
<p>Here are the top four cards on this site from <em>Mirrodin</em>:</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-15-at-8.44.43-PM.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-37842" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-15-at-8.44.43-PM.png" alt="" width="607" height="223" /></a></p>
<p>All of them either are, or interact specifically with, artifacts. Most pertinent to our argument is the fact that the Equipment subtype was introduced and pushed heavily as a mechanic. Since then, there have been Equipment in every set. The reasons people generally enjoy Equipment are obvious: they're flavorful, fun, and they allow all the colors a greatly expanded toolkit for dealing with the problems of resource management and meddlesome opponents.</p>
<p>The second thing, the invisible change as of <em>Mirrodin's</em> release, was the printing of indestructible cards in <em>Darksteel</em>. This act would eventually lead to the phasing out of the <em>Regenerate</em> mechanic that existed since <em>Magic's</em> infancy (and at one point had actually been ruled to allow creatures to die, then be resurrected; thankfully this was changed, as it was insanely powerful).</p>
<p>Let me note here that there was nothing inevitable about this transition; one of the major problems with historical studies is the problem of inevitability. O<span class="s1">ur knowledge of the sequence of events taints our understanding of the end result. Viewed this way, history acquires a tinge of 'inevitability' to it for events that were far from inevitable. </span>There was nothing inevitable about the defeat of the USSR in the Cold War, or of Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan in WWII. A complex series of factors precipitated these events. However, viewed with sufficient distance, they can seem as natural as the sun rising in the east. Don't fall into that trap!</p>
<p>With that caveat out of the way, let's take a look at how the meta currently uses <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldslayer" href="#" target="_blank">Worldslayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h1>How You Worldslay: 2019</h1>
<p>In the present day, the default move for a deck that uses <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldslayer" href="#" target="_blank">Worldslayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is to bank on a commander that is indestructible. Worldslayer comes with a hefty price tag - ten mana total to play and equip - to wipe the entire board. The natural inclination of EDH players, is to thus lean into that cost and run commanders that are indestructible or somehow protect your most valuable assets while depriving your opponents of their own.</p>
<p>Here are the top four commanders for Worldslayer as of this writing:</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-15-at-10.40.01-PM.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-37861" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-15-at-10.40.01-PM.png" alt="" width="664" height="281" /></a></p>
<p>Quick breakdown: none of these creatures are green, all of them have some sort of clause that allows you to protect your resources, and all have some form of evasion. This is a strategy tested by the current meta and years of slowly integrating the 'indestructible' keyword into the game; three-fourths of the top commanders that use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldslayer" href="#" target="_blank">Worldslayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have indestructible, with only Taniwha as the odd eel out.</p>
<p>So the meta has more or less decided that Worldslayer, on average, belongs in a deck with high stickiness and an emphasis on indestructible to break Worldslayer's seemingly symmetrical damage effect.</p>
<p>Now let's hop back in time about 16 years.</p>
<hr />
<h2>How to Worldslay: 2003</h2>
<p>Remember that time machine we discussed earlier, and the questions we were planning to ask because of it? Questions like, "How would <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldslayer" href="#" target="_blank">Worldslayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> look in 2003, before indestructible was a mechanic?" "What would be the most viable commander for this card back then, and what strategies would lend themselves to this new card type?"</p>
<p>Well, before there was indestructible, there was <em>Regenerate</em>. As stated above, there was nothing inevitable about the implementation of indestructibility as a replacement to regeneration; the shift has taken a decade and change to unfold.<span class="s1"> It has been a long process, and not without pitfalls, and the best way to enjoy building a deck with historical accuracy (and accuracy’s twin, satisfaction) is to imagine that what you have is what is available to you in the ancient year of 2003. Other decks you confront are time-travelers, reality-benders, bearing cards custom-made for this kitchen-table format; they'll a good test for your deck, for your way of thinking and constructing decks, to play alongside and against them. You’re testing your deck, with the best resources available to you, against a deck filled with cards from, five, ten, fifteen years in the future.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Isn’t that, at some level, kind of exciting? Limitations breed creativity, after all.</span></p>
<p>As of 2003, there were only 5 legendary creatures with regeneration clauses:<span class="s1"> </span><span class="s1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragnar" href="#" target="_blank">Ragnar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, </span><span class="s1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of Tresserhorn" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of Tresserhorn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, </span><span class="s1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eron the Relentless" href="#" target="_blank">Eron the Relentless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, </span><span class="s1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cromat" href="#" target="_blank">Cromat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silvos, Rogue Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Silvos, Rogue Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (which was reprinted in <em>Eternal Masters</em>.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silvos, Rogue Elemental"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord of Tresserhorn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cromat"></div></div>
<p>Here, green and red are best-represented colors in the lineup, a stark contrast from 2019's top commanders that we saw above. <em>Regenerate</em> works as a replacement effect, and is expensive; this naturally directs me towards a commander with green in its cost to allow for ramp. Let us say, for the sake of the argument, that we decided for our hypothetical build-around-<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldslayer" href="#" target="_blank">Worldslayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck to settle on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silvos, Rogue Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Silvos, Rogue Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as our commander. This also makes sense when we consider that in 2003, this staple of the format was printed for the first time:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tooth and Nail"></div></div>
<p>This card alone would allow us a lot of leeway in picking the exact board state we want for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldslayer" href="#" target="_blank">Worldslayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to go off. For example, one strategy we could take as hypothetical past deckbuilders would be to pack our deck with mana-hungry regenerating beasties, which could all survive the Equipment's trigger and stick around to close out the game. In 2003, after all, that's the best insurance we have for keeping a dominant position on the board, right?</p>
<p>Or perhaps we could go another way: sure, regeneration is great, and we can include as much of it as we want, but what if we profited from <em>allowing</em> the death to happen? Enter the Symbiotic and Penumbra creatures, a pair of cycles from the <em>Otaria</em> and <em>Apocalypse</em> blocks. They're creatures that, when killed, make tokens to replace themselves! Observe:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="penumbra wurm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="symbiotic wurm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="mongrel pack"></div></div>
<p>In this way, through prodigious ramp and the use of beaters that replace themselves, we could make a deck that is formidable even without a metallic apocalypse attached to a giant creature.</p>
<hr />
<h1>A Challenge of History</h1>
<p class="p1" style="padding-left: 40px;"><span class="s1"><i>I remember President Kennedy once stated...that the United States had the nuclear missile capacity to wipe out the Soviet Union two times over, while the Soviet Union had enough atomic weapons to wipe out the United States only once... When journalists asked me to comment... I said jokingly, "Yes, I know what Kennedy claims, and he's quite right. But I'm not complaining... We're satisfied to be able to finish off the United States first time round. Once is quite enough. </i><b><i>What good does it do to annihilate a country twice? We're not a bloodthirsty people.</i></b><i>” </i></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="padding-left: 40px;"><span class="s1"><i>(Nikita Khrushchev, in his memoirs 1974)</i></span></p>
<p>Let us consider the differences between a Worldslayer-focused deck in 2019 and 2003. A 2019 deck is, on average, going to bank on a heavy-hitting general, indestructible, and a reliance on a single powerhouse to win the game, decked out with Equipment and Auras. A 2003 deck's strategy, like the one we briefly explored with Silvos above, will also depend on a heavy hitter, but will instead rely on regeneration and value added effects (tokens) from the apocalypse you cause.</p>
<p>I would challenge all you Commander players to occasionally allow yourselves to play around with history, and see what new playstyles (or rediscovered old ones) you can unearth when you impose chronological distinctions and limits on your deckbuilding.</p>
<p>Please leave any comments or questions below, and stick around, because next article we're going to see what happens when the Sultai fight the Mardu, and use historical analysis of the Mongol invasion of Southeast Asia to do it!</p>
<p>Thanks for reading!</p>


Historically Speaking - Worldslayer, Regeneration, and the Power of History

Conditions Allow - Tetzimoc, Primal Death

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://steveprescott.com/">Steve Prescott</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p><span id="m_7985745279735501680gmail-docs-internal-guid-971aaafd-7fff-35c2-bef7-2bbb00875c9e">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.</span></p>
<p>In this article we'll be exploring one of the most open-ended creature-based commanders there is: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roon of the Hidden Realm"></div></div>
<p><strong>{2}, T: Exile another target creature. Return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>He can target opponents' creatures, which can act as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maze of Ith" href="#" target="_blank">Maze of Ith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in a pinch.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>There's an implicit timing restriction for his ability, meaning that we can't use it to blink <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Snake" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Snake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s. At least, not successfully.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>He can help blank removal spells pointed at our creatures.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p>Let's take a quick look on how folks are building him:</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Sig.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-37810" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Sig.png" alt="" width="541" height="294" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Top.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-37811" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Top.png" alt="" width="532" height="293" /></a></p>
<p>It's not surprising that Roon decks have lots of good value creatures and a bunch of additional blink/flicker abilities aside from just Roon to help take advantage of those abilities over and over and over.</p>
<p>But that's so <em>Commander 2013! </em>It's 2019, which means it's time to mix things up and let Roon try something he hasn't done before!</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>There are lots of cool tribes out there, but there's only one that has the highest density of ETB effects per creature, not to mention lots of potential for chaining them on the same turn. Which tribe? Allies, of course!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harabaz Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tajuru Warcaller"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ondu Cleric"></div></div>
<p>Allies are a tribe from the <em>Zendikar</em> blocks and are spread across all five colors. Most of them trigger whenever they or another Ally enter the battlefield, which eventually became known as the keyword <em>Rally. </em>This means that we can use our commander to make sure that we get maximum value from our Allies.</p>
<p>While we don't have access to all the Allies, the ones we have can make an impact: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hero of Goma Fada" href="#" target="_blank">Hero of Goma Fada</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows our team to swing freely. We can even board wipe without having to lose creatures in the process. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lantern Scout" href="#" target="_blank">Lantern Scout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Cleric" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Cleric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> make trading blows with us a losing proposition. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seascape Aerialist" href="#" target="_blank">Seascape Aerialist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helps our attacks connect. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Beastmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Beastmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Warcaller" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Warcaller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pump the team to get more damage in.</p>
<p>Yeah. Allies are pretty awesome.</p>
<p>With the printing of a new batch of Changeling cards in <em>Modern Horizons</em>, tribes without much love in their colors got a huge boost, especially white-inclusive tribes. We have plenty of new toys to proc our Allies, although it's important to not go overboard with them because they need a board to work. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birthing Boughs" href="#" target="_blank">Birthing Boughs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a constant source of <em>Rally</em> triggers, which can also be activated at instant speed for extra shenanigans. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chameleon Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Chameleon Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valiant Changeling" href="#" target="_blank">Valiant Changeling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are reasonably threatening by themselves, but the fact that they're Changelings makes them that much more dangerous. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irregular Cohort" href="#" target="_blank">Irregular Cohort</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a double trigger the turn that it comes down, which can be quite explosive, and <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> is a great finisher that can help us pass through board stalls.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shamanic Revelation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vanquisher&#039;s Banner"></div></div>
<p>For our draw engine, we're heavily invested on creature-based draw effects: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pulls double duty by allowing us to draw cards when our creatures come out and when they attack. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sea Gate Loremaster" href="#" target="_blank">Sea Gate Loremaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are on the slower side, but given the potential card draw, it's completely justified.</p>
<p>Oh, and on the subject of tribal cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Summons" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Summons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is absolutely nuts! There's no other way to put it, this card allows for many different lines of play, and they all involving putting an astounding number of creatures on the battlefield.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Roon Allies" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Roon of the Hidden Realm
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Birds of Paradise
*Hada Freeblade
*Beastcaller Savant
*Halimar Excavator
*Harabaz Druid
*Jwari Shapeshifter
*Kazandu Blademaster
*Kor Bladewhirl
*Metallic Mimic
*Ondu Cleric
*Oran-Rief Survivalist
*Skyrider Elf
*Unsettled Mariner
*Avian Changeling
*Farhaven Elf
*Kabira Evangel
*Knight of Autum
*Lantern Scout
*Makindi Patrol
*Mirror Entity
*Umara Raptor
*Veteran Warleader
*Wood Elves
*Chameleon Colossus
*Graypelt Hunter
*Irregular Cohort
*Talus Paladin
*Hero of Goma Fada
*Kor Entanglers
*Munda&#039;s Vanguard
*Sea Gate Loremaster
*Seascape Aerialist
* Tajuru Warcaller
*Turntimber Ranger
*Tajuru Beastmaster
*Valiant Changeling
*Craterhoof Behemoth
[/Creature]
[Instant]
*Nature&#039;s Claim
*Path to Exile
*Swords to Plowshare
*Worldly Tutor
*Arcane Denial
*Cyclonic Rift
*Eladamri&#039;s Call
*Heroic Intervention
*Kindred Summons
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Farseek
*Nature&#039;s Lore
*Rampant Growth
*Day of Judgment
*Skyshroud Claim
*Triumph of the Hordes
*Wrath of God
*Creeping Renaissance
*Shamanic Revelation
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Birthing Boughs
*Panharmonicon
*Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Cathars&#039; Crusade
*Kindred Discovery
*True Conviction
[/Enchantment]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*Ally Encampment
*Unclaimed Territory
*Exotic Orchard
*Breeding Pool
*Hallowed Fountain
*Temple Garden
*Canopy Vista
*Prairie Stream
*Glacial Fortress
*Hinterland Harbor
*Sunpetal Grove
*Adarkar Wastes
*Brushland
*Yavimaya Coast
*Temple of Enlightenment
*Temple of Mystery
*Temple of Plenty
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*8Forest
*3Island
*6Plains
[/Land]"></span></div><br />
</p>
<hr />
<p>Aside from all those Allies, the list is pretty much a straightforward Bant value town, with creatures in the place of common staples (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farhaven Elf" href="#" target="_blank">Farhaven Elf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wood Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Wood Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead of the usual <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package), so that we may acquire more value by using our commander.</p>
<p>For finishers we have mostly massive pumps for our army to do its work: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great for us because he's a finisher that can be tutored with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eladamri&#039;s Call" href="#" target="_blank">Eladamri&#039;s Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldly Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Worldly Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathars&#039; Crusade" href="#" target="_blank">Cathars&#039; Crusade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> starts out slower, but it benefits greatly from the constantly entering creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="True Conviction" href="#" target="_blank">True Conviction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> escalates extremely well, but at the cost of being somewhat unreliable and color-intensive.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Panharmonicon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclonic Rift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path to Exile"></div></div>
<p>The few slots left in the deck are devoted to covering our bases, with ramp and interaction. This is flexible and should be adjusted according to your meta, so take this model as a suggestion.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>We aren't really picky with our opening hand; a few lands and some creatures are really all we need. Hands with ways to accelerate are highly recommended since the deck can always find a use for any spare mana.</p>
<p>In the early game we need to sequence our creatures to get the most value possible from them. Usually that means that we're playing beaters first, creatures with fun ETB effects afterward, and Changelings last. We should be aggressive early on because our creatures can grow so quickly, but they lack the evasion without proper support. The best part of the deck is that we get to play aggro early game, but we can also grind like no other!</p>
<p>When we get to the mid-game, our options vastly increase. Roon can flicker any of our Allies to re-trigger their excellent effects. However, the expansion of our horizons also brings with it a tricky period for us: we have a lot of little abilities, but none that can take over the game just yet. Board wipes are also devastating to us as a creature-heavy deck, so make sure to keep an eye out for those.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Summons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Craterhoof Behemoth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathars&#039; Crusade"></div></div>
<p>In the late game, unlike the mid-game, our mana potential gives us the opportunity to have explosive turns. Even a single <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Warcaller" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Warcaller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can boost things on its own, but with enough creatures flickering back into play, it's game over for the unwitting opponent.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<p>For potential changes, I would strongly recommend adding more recursion spells if your meta is full of board wipes. It might even be prudent to add a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Negate" href="#" target="_blank">Negate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or two. Replacing some of our spells to add more value creatures could also be powerful, but beware of the timing restrictions of Roon's ability.</p>
<p>Many of our creatures grow using +1/+1 counters, so adding more support for a counter-based strategy is a nice touch. Alternatively, if you want a more combo-focused list, you can pretty easily convert this deck into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Halimar Excavator" href="#" target="_blank">Halimar Excavator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help us mill our opponents, and adding some haste enablers will allow us to win on the turn we combo.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Did we save Zendikar? 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>


Epic Experiment - Roon Allies

Commander Showdown - Omnath vs Omnath

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death Cloud" href="#" target="_blank">Death Cloud</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/stephentappin">Stephen Tappin</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each fragment that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background love. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Garza Zol, Plague Queen" href="#" target="_blank">Garza Zol, Plague Queen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Garza Zol, Plague Queen"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Garza Zol was a Vampire that ruled over Krov, the capital city of Kjeldor on Dominaria, during the Ice Age. She allied with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heidar, Rimewind Master" href="#" target="_blank">Heidar, Rimewind Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> during the Thaw, a time near the end of Dominaria's Ice Age, but later had him assassinated.</p>
<p>Garza Zol lived through the Ice Age, so you know what that means: snow deck! Time to make use of all those snow-matters cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heidar, Rimewind Master" href="#" target="_blank">Heidar, Rimewind Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <em>Modern Horizons</em> has recently reprinted the basic snow-covered lands, so those are an auto-include. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber" href="#" target="_blank">Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives us early-game card selection and a late-game threat, and as long as we're talking about Marit Lage, I'll also mention that we're running the classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thespian&#039;s Stage" href="#" target="_blank">Thespian&#039;s Stage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo. <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> provides a cheap and effective board wipe, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Withering Wisps" href="#" target="_blank">Withering Wisps</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fits in well with a package of cards I will touch on in card analysis.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dead of Winter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Withering Wisps"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaName.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37500 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaName.jpg" alt="" width="444" height="70" /></a></p>
<p>During the Thaw, bacteria and disease that was once frozen and dormant started to awaken in the warmer temperatures. The Ice Age lasted for over 500 years, long enough for the population of Dominaria to lose antibodies for these diseases. These conditions lead to a plague that proliferated through Krov, giving the more resilient races like Vampires and Zombies an extreme advantage. Garza was thus able to take advantage of her immunity, and of the weakened state of those more susceptible to the plague, to build her monarchy.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pox" href="#" target="_blank">Pox</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a perfect representation of the disease. There are a number of cards that have a similar effect, though Pox is the best version. 1/3 of this deck will be devoted to casting spells like these to quickly deplete everyone's resources.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smallpox"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Death Cloud"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undercity Plague"></div></div>
<p>The secondary gameplan, and the second representation of the plague infecting Garza Zol's domain is, of course, <em>Infect</em>. Pox is a great representation of the players contracting some nasty disease, but <em>Infect</em> affects both creatures and players. These two paths to victory (pox and <em>Infect</em>) seem to be at odds, but more consideration revealed the important through-line: this deck effectively changes everyone's starting life total. Whether we give Garza Zol <em>Infect</em> or not, she will be able to consistently take large chunks out of our opponent's remaining life.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grafted Exoskeleton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plague Myr"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon"></div></div>
<p>The final representation of the plague is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pestilence" href="#" target="_blank">Pestilence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is defined as a fatal epidemic disease. This suite of mass pingers will keep the chump blockers off of the board while creating an acceptable amount of casualties on our side of the board. Pair this effect with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverclad Ferocidons" href="#" target="_blank">Silverclad Ferocidons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and we end up with a mini-Pox for our opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plague Spitter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrashing Wumpus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silverclad Ferocidons"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaCost.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37499 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaCost.jpg" alt="" width="155" height="72" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>"Grixis is a world where the only things found in abundance are death and decay."</em><br />
<em>- </em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshbag Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Fleshbag Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<p><strong>Blue: </strong>strive for perfection; you can be whatever you desire.</p>
<p><strong>Black: </strong>power at any cost; morality has no sway over decisions.</p>
<p><strong>Red: </strong>do what you desire; freedom of action above all else.</p>
<p>Grixis (blue, black, and red) will do whatever it wants, however it wants to do it, in order to achieve its goals. Garza took advantage of the plague that ravaged her city and weaponized it. Biological warfare is a key strategy; sending infected individuals into enemy territory, experimenting on them, finding ways to increase the potency of the disease that has ravaged her own people, then subjecting her foes to the same ordeal.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaArt.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37503 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaArt.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="411" /></a></p>
<p>This art is rather goofy. Garza Zol is a classic Gothic/Victorian-looking Vampire with some Nordic influence. An extremely impractical dress for the blizzard she is trudging through is surrounded by a large fur-lined cloak, and on top of everything are some wicked shoulder pads that make even the most successful 80's pop singer envious.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaType.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37502 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaType.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="49" /></a></p>
<p>As stated previously, Garza's vampirism is what gave her the much-needed edge during the Thaw. It would have given other Vampires that same edge and that would be a large threat to Garza. She is selfish and brutal in her rule, so she systematically destroyed competing Vampires while taking control of Krov. Therefore, other Vampires will not be making an appearance in this decklist.</p>
<p>As with most every popular creature type, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/garza-zol-plague-queen">Garza Zol's EDHREC page</a> shows a primarily tribal theme. I have noticed a trend of somewhat uninspired deckbuilding decisions in the statistics on EDHREC. It seems that when people are unsure of what to do with a legend, they default to tribal synergies. This is not necessarily a bad thing; Garza is a particularly aggressive creature and benefits quite a bit from lords and anthems. I simply want to challenge you, dear reader, to dig a bit deeper!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaRules2.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37629 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/garzaRules2.jpg" alt="" width="577" height="327" /></a></p>
<p>A 5/5 flyer with haste for seven mana is a decent enough rate. Garza holds her own against many similarly-costed Dragons. Tacking on the ability to grow when she's blocked by something smaller, or draw a card if your opponent decides not to block, adds a ton to her power level. An amazing support mechanic for <em>Infect</em> is <em>Proliferate</em>, so this deck contains plenty cards with that effect. If we're able to get the first counter onto Garza, she will continue to grow without the caveat of having to kill a creature.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Contagion Engine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flux Channeler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<p>You're going to need a lot of black mana with this deck: 65 total black pips on the cards in here means that getting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is somewhat important and, unfortunately, a necessary inclusion. The most expensive card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and while it's not necessary to make the deck function, it is a brutal threat and I would personally deem it worthy. Work on getting a poison counter on everyone in the early game, keep creatures off the board, bide your time, and grind out an eventual <em>Proliferate</em> kill. If <em>Infect</em> doesn't work out, you'll be able to close out the game with your commander. It may therefore be wise to hold off from casting Garza until very late in the game; you want to wait for your moment with her, as you don't want her to die very often.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Black Death" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Garza Zol, Plague Queen
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blighted Agent
*1 Nightscape Familiar
*1 Plague Myr
*1 Thrummingbird
*1 Flux Channeler
*1 Garza&#039;s Assassin
*1 Ichor Rats
*1 Phyrexian Crusader
*1 Plague Spitter
*1 Plaguecrafter
*1 Flesh-Eater Imp
*1 Hand of the Praetors
*1 Kess, Dissident Mage
*1 Mogis, God of Slaughter
*1 Viral Drake
*1 Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
*1 Dire Fleet Ravager
*1 Heidar, Rimewind Master
*1 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
*1 Thrashing Wumpus
*1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
*1 Silverclad Ferocidons
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Contagion Clasp
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Grafted Exoskeleton
*1 Contagion Engine
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Vicious Rumors
*1 Black Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Exsanguinate
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Smallpox
*1 Torment of Hailfire
*1 Dead of Winter
*1 Death Cloud
*1 Pox
*1 Tezzeret&#039;s Gambit
*1 Beseech the Queen
*1 Undercity Plague
*1 Plague Wind
*1 Curse of the Cabal
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Tainted Strike
*1 Bedevil
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Diplomatic Immunity
*1 Glistening Oil
*1 Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber
*1 Phyresis
*1 Phyrexian Arena
*1 Rhystic Study
*1 Withering Wisps
*1 Pestilence
*1 Corrupted Conscience
*1 Inexorable Tide
*1 Havoc Festival
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dark Depths
*1 Grixis Panorama
*1 Inkmoth Nexus
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*8 Snow-Covered Island
*6 Snow-Covered Mountain
*10 Snow-Covered Swamp
*1 Sunken Hollow
*1 Temple of Deceit
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Thespian&#039;s Stage
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>Plague your playgroup with this spicy Grixis build. You will be reliant on others to remove permanents other than creatures, so choose your first <em>Infect</em> target wisely. This deck cannot hold up in the archenemy position, but can keep our opponents directed at each other to create some exciting and tense games. If you're not a fan of cackling like a madman, watching the joy drain from your opponent's eyes, and twiddling your fingers like Mr. Burns, this is likely not the deck for you.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/excellent.gif"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-37722 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/excellent.gif" alt="" width="343" height="249" /></a></p>
<p>Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - Plague Queen

Archetune-Up - Shanna's Motley Crew

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<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> | Art by <a href="http://www.sebmckinnon.com/">Seb Mckinnon</a>)</h6>
<h1><strong>Now!</strong></h1>
<p>Greetings everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania</em>. In this article series we build mono-colored decks as a way to explore ramp and draw packages that are synergistic with our particular deck’s strategy, and to challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie. Today, we’re masterminding our escape plan.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mangara of Corondor"></div></div>
<p>Mangara of Corondor looks very innocent, but his effect is surprisingly potent with the right support. Every turn, he can remove the most problematic permanent on the board at the low low cost of exiling himself in the process. Played fairly, this commander quickly becomes too expensive to cast from the command zone. However, take a close look at that ability. Mangara exiles himself as part of the ability, not as part of the activation cost. With ways to flicker or bounce Mangara back to our hand in response to his ability, we can still exile the worst permanent, and evade extra taxes on our commander, using our general as a powerful tool to control the board.</p>
<p>Looking through Mangara's EDHREC page, it is clear that people generally understand the power of this interaction—<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudshift" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flickerform" href="#" target="_blank">Flickerform</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> appear in 63% of Mangara decks, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erratic Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Erratic Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> appears in 59%. Another EDHREC writer, <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/ben-doolittle/">Ben Doolittle</a>, has already written a great article about Mangara and blink effects. Check it out <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/conditions-allow-mangara-of-corondor/">here</a>. However, Mangara still only leads 59 decks on EDHREC and deserves much more love, so I’ll examine another angle for this general.</p>
<p>While we’ll be running all of the typical flicker support in white, I’ve also decided to take this commander in a couple different directions, all of which affect how we will ramp and gain card advantage. Because Mangara is such a powerful control tool, I’ve included a lifegain package as added deterrence. The threat of crackback from Mangara sometimes isn’t enough to prevent aggression, but if we’re sitting at 80 life, our opponents will think twice before menacing us, especially if we can remove their most important permanents with our general. I’ve opted for a piecemeal approach—gaining life incrementally over the course of the game. We’ll be running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leonin Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Leonin Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diamond Mare" href="#" target="_blank">Diamond Mare</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> rather than big swings like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beacon of Immortality" href="#" target="_blank">Beacon of Immortality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I’ve also included a small creature strategy to maintain some board presence—things for us to flicker, protect our commander, or combo off with.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/chopper.gif"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37695 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/chopper.gif" alt="" width="384" height="206" /></a></p>
<p>With all that in mind, let’s examine our ramp and draw packages. We'll be dropping Mangara into the heat of battle, gaining value from our troops, and then dropping a ladder from the helicopter for a quick escape.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Keep the Engine Idling</strong></h2>
<p>First, we have our card advantage package. While we do have the ability to draw cards with this set of effects, our package is more focused around deck thinning and putting cards from our deck into our hand.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Well of Lost Dreams"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dawn of Hope"></div></div>
<p>These two cards are powerhouses with our style of life-gain package. If we were playing swingy, expensive lifegain effects, we would often be unable to take advantage of these card advantage engines. With a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul’s Attendant" href="#" target="_blank">Soul’s Attendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the table, though, paying a few mana during our opponents' turns to draw cards is exactly what we want to do. At its core, Mangara is a control general, and we’ll often leave mana open to respond to different board states. If we have nothing better to do, why not incidentally draw cards?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Land Tax"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oreskos Explorer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Endless Horizons"></div></div>
<p>In my opinion, this set of cards, along with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gift of Estates" href="#" target="_blank">Gift of Estates</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is an underrated package for mono-white. Everyone knows Land Tax is insane, but I wager that these deck-thinning effects are valuable for a few reasons. Each of them provides a stellar rate of cards-to-hand for their mana costs. What’s more, they give us a greater chance of drawing nonland cards afterward. Oreskos Explorer is perhaps the most underwhelming of the bunch, especially when compared to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boreas Charger" href="#" target="_blank">Boreas Charger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the fact that this composite effect of deck thinning and card advantage is perfect for us—especially when attached to an ETB that can be easily abused by blink effects that we’re already running. While Land Tax and Oreskos are both limited by the condition of “if an opponent controls more lands than you,” it should almost never be a burden. How many times has the mono-white player controlled the most lands?</p>
<p>Finally, Endless Horizons is a very underrated tool in mono-white. It only appears in 986 decks total on EDHREC, but it should be a consideration for almost every mono-white deck. This is white’s answer to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Arena" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Arena</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>—with the same power and shortcomings. With Endless Horizons, you draw one extra card per turn and receive the bonus of incredible thinning. Just don’t make the mistake of removing all the Plains from your deck early in the game. If an opponent removes it, you will be shut off from further land drops. Instead, think about what you want. How many cards do you think is fair for four mana? Eight? Nine? How many more turns before the game ends? Six? Seven? These are the questions that direct how you play Endless Horizons. In the late game, this card may easily be better than Phyrexian Arena—removing the rest of our Plains from the deck and ensuring playable draws for the remainder of the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ranger of Eos"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ranger-Captain of Eos"></div></div>
<p>Finally, we have two other cards that can thin our deck and gain us card advantage. These effects that search for creatures that cost one mana can fetch some of the most important creatures in our deck. The real benefit of these cards is that their effects are attached to ETB triggers—perfect targets to flicker.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Get This Thing Off the Ground</strong></h2>
<p>To ramp, we’ll be looking for similar types of effects—cards that thin our deck, gain us life, and put extra mana sources on the field.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kor Cartographer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knight of the White Orchid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boreas Charger"></div></div>
<p>These three cards each search out one land and put it directly onto the battlefield, the best form of ramp available. What’s more, each is attached to an ETB trigger. Second verse, same as the first: these are perfect targets for flicker effects. If we can take advantage of these triggers more than once, we will be able to keep up with most of our opponents on ramp and can even end the game with most of our lands on the battlefield.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pristine Talisman"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Orazca Relic"></div></div>
<p>Finally, we have a couple of mana rocks. While these are both suboptimal choices among their peers, they have the ability to gain us life, therefore synergizing with the strategy that underpins our deck. This, perhaps, is not necessarily the best reason to run them over better two-mana options, but we should also consider what we are ramping to. Our commander costs three mana, and is actually better on turn six than he is on turn two. With these two ramp effects, we can pace ourselves and hopefully take advantage of their lifegain with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Well of Lost Dreams" href="#" target="_blank">Well of Lost Dreams</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> rather than rushing to nothing.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>The Deck</strong></h2>
<p>With all this in mind, let’s put it all together with a deck list. With all of our packages, there is little room for extra tech, but there are still a few notable inclusions.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Citywide Bust"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scapegoat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Enduring Renewal"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Among these, we have a suite of precision mass removal effects including Citywide Bust, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slaughter the Strong" href="#" target="_blank">Slaughter the Strong</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dusk // Dawn" href="#" target="_blank">Dusk // Dawn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With our low curve, tiny creatures, and blink effects, these removal spells will disrupt our opponents much, much more than us. Scapegoat is an all-star in this deck. For one mana at instant speed, this is a potent way to protect our creatures from removal or double up on ETB triggers. This card only sees play in 136 decks total on EDHREC and it deserves consideration not only here, but maybe even in <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> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks. Finally, I have included a combo to end the game that fits with our packages. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enduring Renewal" href="#" target="_blank">Enduring Renewal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combined with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memnite" href="#" target="_blank">Memnite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasting Station" href="#" target="_blank">Blasting Station</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can win us the game in a pinch and is easy to assemble for us. Take a look at the list below and, as always, season to taste.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Get to the Chopper!" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Mangara of Corondor
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Memnite
*1 Giver of Runes
*1 Leonin Elder
*1 Mother of Runes
*1 Soul Warden
*1 Soul&#039;s Attendant
*1 Auriok Champion
*1 Diamond Mare
*1 Jeskai Barricade
*1 Knight of the White Orchid
*1 Oreskos Explorer
*1 Suture Priest
*1 Wall of Omens
*1 Whitemane Lion
*1 Boreas Charger
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Eldrazi Displacer
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Ranger-Captain of Eos
*1 Stonecloaker
*1 Angel of Condemnation
*1 Dust Elemental
*1 Kor Cartographer
*1 Ranger of Eos
*1 Restoration Angel
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Sunscorch Regent
*1 Angel of Serenity
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Cloudshift
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Scapegoat
*1 Acrobatic Maneuver
*1 Eerie Interlude
*1 Ghostway
*1 Lapse of Certainty
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Gift of Estates
*1 Citywide Bust
*1 Slaughter the Strong
*1 Fumigate
*1 Austere Command
*1 Dusk // Dawn
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Blasting Station
*1 Orazca Relic
*1 Pristine Talisman
*1 Thousand-Year Elixir
*1 Aetherflux Reservoir
*1 Erratic Portal
*1 Oracle&#039;s Vault
*1 Well of Lost Dreams
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Authority of the Consuls
*1 Land Tax
*1 Blind Obedience
*1 Dawn of Hope
*1 Flickerform
*1 Luminarch Ascension
*1 Endless Horizons
*1 Enduring Renewal
*1 Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Desert of the True
*1 Detection Tower
*1 Drifting Meadow
*1 Endless Sands
*1 Glimmerpost
*1 Myriad Landscape
*25 Plains
*1 Radiant Fountain
*1 Secluded Steppe
*1 Seraph Sanctuary
*1 Terrain Generator
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<p>What did you all think of this take on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mangara of Corondor" href="#" target="_blank">Mangara of Corondor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Is there anything I missed in the construction of this deck? I've had a lot of fun playing this commander over the years, and I circle back to Mangara every once in a while. Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. Have a good one, and I’ll see you on down the road.</p>


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