Throne of Eldraine Set Review - Red

Throne of Eldraine Set Review – Black

Throne of Eldraine Set Review - Blue

Throne of Eldraine Set Review - White

Too-Specific Top 10 - The Adventure of the Flip Split Saga

Conditions Allow - Chisei, Heart of Oceans

Epic Experiment - Anje Living End

Archetune-Up - An Enchanted Evening with Elsha

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhythm of the Wild" href="#" target="_blank">Rhythm of the Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.morano.pl/main.php">Tomasz Jedruszek</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 give them a little extra background love. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghired, Conclave Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Ghired, Conclave Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghired, Conclave Exile"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Ghired is from the plane of Ravnica and was initially aligned with the Selesnya Conclave. After witnessing the manifestation of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> leading up to Bolas' attempt to complete <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Elderspell" href="#" target="_blank">The Elderspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ritual, he shifted allegiance to the Gruul Clans. Ghired maintains a deep love and connection to animals and the magic of the Selesnya. He calls upon Boars, Rhinos, and other large beasts to aid his destruction.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar"></div></div>
<p>The recently-released <a href="https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/guildmasters-guide-ravnica">Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica</a> is an amazing resource for learning about Ravnican city life. It's the first place where guildless members of society are specifically mentioned. When looking at cards from Ravnica, it's easy to overlook the fact that not every member of society is affiliated with a guild. In fact, approximately 50% of the denizens of Ravnica maintain a life apart from guilds. The module guide also describes what it takes to transfer from one guild to another, an uncommon but not unheard of practice. If you're interested in learning more about Ravnica as a setting, I highly recommend checking it out. For those of you who also happen to play Dungeons and Dragons, there's also the upside of running a campaign in Ravnica with this book.<a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/d-d-gm-guide-ravnica-map-misc.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38634 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/d-d-gm-guide-ravnica-map-misc.jpg" alt="" width="233" height="350" /></a></p>
<p>Ghired went through a transformation while witnessing the glory of Ilharg, undergoing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Profound Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Profound Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> left him questioning both his own beliefs and the belief structure of the Selesnya Conclave, culminating in his exile. Let's look closely at each aspect of his card to give him a deck that befits this transformation.</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:<a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredName.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38608 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredName.png" alt="" width="395" height="103" /></a></h2>
<p><strong>Exile:</strong> to expel and bar someone from their native country</p>
<p>The story blurb does not indicate that the speaker of the Selesnya Conclave had anything to do with Ghired leaving. His name, however, tells a different story: Ghired left of his own volition, uprooting his life and heading to the Rubblebelt, a discontinuous archipelago of reclaimed city, long since abandoned, left to be taken over by the flora and fauna of Ravnica. This is where the Gruul Clans call home. Each member of the Selesnya is closely connected with a Voda, a Dryad that leads the community and unites each member with the Worldsoul, a manifestation of nature itself whose current form is that of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Abandoning the guild in order to serve a new god wounded the Worldsoul personally. Severing of the connection through any means other than those that are proper invites the punishment of banishment.</p>
<p>You might say that Ghired went on an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otherworldly Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Otherworldly Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card which not only represents his story but which also synergizes beautifully with his enter-the-battlefield ability. We'll be sure to include extra effects like this in our final build! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Ghired's inspiration, also makes an appearance, and also synergizes nicely with these types of cards; if Ilharg puts a large creature into play and we flicker it with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otherworldly Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Otherworldly Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, that creature won't be returned to our hand at the end of the turn. As such, we'll look for a large suite of creatures that have a big impact on the board, preferably creating tokens or generating ramp.</p>
<p>Along these lines, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a centerpiece to generate massive amounts of value. Whenever we play a creature that comes in with a token, we're able to bounce the nontoken creature back to our hand, recast it, and so on. I discovered an accidental infinite loop using the Curio, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burning-Tree Emissary" href="#" target="_blank">Burning-Tree Emissary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flameshadow Conjuring" href="#" target="_blank">Flameshadow Conjuring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These three cards generate infinite red and green mana, as well as infinite Emissary tokens with haste. If you are somehow unable to attack, adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impact Tremors" href="#" target="_blank">Impact Tremors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the loop can take care of that.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudstone Curio"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burning-Tree Emissary"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flameshadow Conjuring"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredCost.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38607 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredCost.png" alt="" width="175" height="84" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Red: </strong>Freedom of expression is of utmost importance.</p>
<p><strong>Green: </strong>Nature before all else. Darwinism at its finest.</p>
<p><strong>White: </strong>All for one, one for all. Utilitarianism's most extreme version.</p>
<p><strong>Selesnya </strong>(GW)<strong>: </strong>The Selesnya Conclave believes in a harmonious union of nature and civilization. Conclave members dream of embracing all of Ravnica in their "peaceful" union. Their growing army resists the ambition and destructive impulses of other guilds.</p>
<p><strong>Gruul </strong>(RG)<strong>: </strong>The Gruul Clans are the most out of place on Ravnica. They desire a fresh start and are eager to topple the established city in order to reclaim the land in the name of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Natural Order" href="#" target="_blank">Natural Order</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The two guilds share the color of green in their identity, so I assume Ghired's main affiliation is with green mana. A strong connection to nature is essential to him, which is realized through his ability to call upon the power of large green creatures. The deck is balanced heavily toward green to showcase his identity.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selesnya Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gruul Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Natural Order"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredArt.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38611 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredArt.png" alt="" width="571" height="417" /></a></p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">(Art by <a href="http://conceptartworld.com/news/guardians-galaxy-vol-2-concept-art-john-dickenson/">Yongjae Choi</a>)</h5>
<p>I love the way both guilds' garb comes together in this piece. Ghired understands the merit of quality armor, carrying a piece of the Selesnya with him at all times. The added horns and scavenged material really push the feel of Ghired's initiation to the Gruul clan, highlighted most by his bright red pants.</p>
<p>Less prominently displayed is the stampede of Rhinos behind him. I've seen a good amount of gameplay with this deck and can attest that there will indeed be a stampede of Rhinos trampling over your opponents. The Rhino token Ghired creates upon entering the battlefield is a fantastic target for <em>Populate,</em> and with constant access to him, you'll be guaranteed to see loads them. It's a good thing <em>WotC</em> supplied preconstructed deck buyers with plenty of tokens to represent his stampede. (This is sarcasm; for those unaware, the deck only came with a single Rhino token)</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredType.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38610 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredType.png" alt="" width="593" height="53" /></a></p>
<p>In a recent <a href="https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/187535331893/is-cleric-considered-a-spellcaster-type-are">Blogatog post from Mark Rosewater</a>, it was specified that each color now has a designated spellcasting creature type primarily linked to it.</p>
<ul>
<li>White - Cleric</li>
<li>Blue - Wizard</li>
<li>Black - Warlock</li>
<li>Red - Shaman</li>
<li>Green - Druid</li>
</ul>
<p>I find it strange that Ghired would be considered a Shaman then, given that it is primarily considered the red spellcaster type. As we explored with his mana cost, the guilds he has been aligned with are Selesnya and Gruul. The only color shared by the two is green, so given this new categorization I would have guessed Ghired would be a Druid. Just like with mechanics, though, I understand that it is not a hard and fast rule. Some iconic green-aligned Shaman creatures are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oracle of Mul Daya" href="#" target="_blank">Oracle of Mul Daya</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We'll make sure to give Ghired some other Shamans in his deck, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonmaster Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonmaster Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is both flavorful and powerful if we're able to duplicate those Dragon tokens!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredRules.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38609 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredRules.png" alt="" width="594" height="299" /></a></p>
<p>As we explored earlier, the primary strategy of the deck is to utilize enter-the-battlefield abilities. However, there are some very effective cards that allow us to attack with ease, enabling Ghired's <em>Populate </em>trigger <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reconnaissance" href="#" target="_blank">Reconnaissance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can save any of our creatures from unprofitable attacks and, because of unintuitive timing in combat, lets us untap each creature that attacked after it has dealt damage, effectively giving our team vigilance. The other two enablers are less tricky: both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dolmen Gate" href="#" target="_blank">Dolmen Gate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iroas, God of Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Iroas, God of Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> prevent damage dealt to our attacking creatures. Iroas has additional benefit of giving our team menace. That's not his primary purpose here, but it doesn't hurt.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reconnaissance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dolmen Gate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Iroas, God of Victory"></div></div>
<p>My final recommendation for the combat-focused portion of the deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breath of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Breath of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: with this Aura attached to a Rhino token and Ghired on the board (and at least one opponent we can attack profitably), we can keep giving ourself extra combat steps.</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/basics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38653 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/basics.jpg" alt="" width="682" height="317" /></a></p>
<p>The guild kits released with the recent Ravnica sets gave us some very cool and highly thematic basic lands to use with this build. Ghired is now aligned with Gruul, so both red and green lands are going to be the Gruul basics, while the white influence of Selesnya can be represented by the plains.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the second most expensive card in the deck behind <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enlightened Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Enlightened Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which we're going to use to find the Curio. Cloudstone Curio is one of the most important cards in the deck, so that's an easy keep. A tutor can be replaced with consistent card draw, but what I like about this one is the ability to find either half of the combo as well as other important artifacts and enchantments, such as those that enable us to attack with impunity.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="A Journey to Value Town" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ghired, Conclave Exile
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Dragonmaster Outcast
*1 Elvish Reclaimer
*1 Burning-Tree Emissary
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage
*1 Draconic Disciple
*1 Eldrazi Displacer
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Selesnya Eulogist
*1 Wood Elves
*1 Bramble Sovereign
*1 Elvish Piper
*1 Iroas, God of Victory
*1 Temur Sabertooth
*1 Biogenic Ooze
*1 Ilharg, the Raze-Boar
*1 Militant Angel
*1 Thragtusk
*1 Wingmate Roc
*1 Armada Wurm
*1 Bane of Progress
*1 Avenger of Zendikar
*1 Krosan Tusker
*1 End-Raze Forerunners
*1 Decimator of the Provinces
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Dolmen Gate
*1 Gruul Signet
*1 Selesnya Signet
*1 Thaumatic Compass
*1 Cloudstone Curio
*1 Panharmonicon
*1 Conjurer&#039;s Closet
*1 Minion Reflector
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Farseek
*1 Ghired&#039;s Belligerence
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Entreat the Angels
*1 Decimate
*1 Natural Order
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Phyrexian Rebirth
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Profound Journey
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Otherworldly Journey
*1 Eerie Interlude
*1 Sylvan Reclamation
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Reconnaissance
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Boar Umbra
*1 Elemental Bond
*1 Fervor
*1 Rhythm of the Wild
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Breath of Fury
*1 Flameshadow Conjuring
*1 Parallel Lives
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Domri, Chaos Bringer
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Boros Guildgate
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Endless Sands
*8 Forest
*1 Gruul Guildgate
*1 Hall of Heliod&#039;s Generosity
*1 Homeward Path
*1 Jungle Shrine
*1 Mirrorpool
*4 Mountain
*6 Plains
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Selesnya Guildgate
*1 Sheltered Thicket
*1 Skarrg, the Rage Pits
*1 Sunpetal Grove
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>Ghired is a powerful commander that can be abused in a couple of ways. I believe pushing his ETB ability will yield stronger results, as attacking with your commander always comes with risks. Being so recent, it is hard to gauge what his <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/ghired-conclave-exile">EDHREC page</a> will look like in final builds, but I'm excited to see it.</p>
<p>What do you think about Ghired? What are your impressions on <em>Commander 2019</em> in general? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 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 - An Exile's Path

<h6 style="text-align: right;">( <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | <a href="http://www.tylerjacobsonart.com/">Tyler Jacobson</a> )</h6>
<h1>It’s My Necromancy and I Need It Now</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 as a way to challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie.</p>
<p>Today, we’re calling a lawyer for uncivil arbitration with a gaggle of seriously gnarly Demons. Once all parties are at the table, we’ll work something out.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Balthor the Defiled"></div></div>
<p>Balthor is serious business. At first glance, this bomb seems awkward as a commander because of how fast commander tax stacks up because of his one-shot effect. Seeing play at the head of only 106 decks, however, there is certainly some room for exploration. His effect is certainly extremely powerful; asymmetrical mass resurrection can and will end games. Imagine having a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Death" href="#" target="_blank">Living Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the command zone and all the possibilities that entails. While a win would be more certain if we were to run two-card combos, why not pursue a more fragile plan that is much more fun?</p>
<p>Namely, why not try to resolve the dispute surrounding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana’s Contract" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana’s Contract</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Living Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana’s Contract"></div></div>
<p>Liliana’s Contract is one of my favorite cards in EDH, and not because I’ve won with it. I haven’t. I love this card because it's an efficient draw spell with the faint promise of an unexpected win. There's a faint rush of adrenaline you get when sleeving it up, seeing all the possible lines of play that could lead to winning with this card. In this deck, however, we have the distinct chance to make fulfilling that promise a little more tangible. Balthor is a simple Dwarf with simple desires: he wants to fill the graveyard with beefy Demons, then bring them all back. Coincidentally, shadow-dropping multiple Demons onto the board just before our turn is also exactly how Liliana’s Contract will most efficiently win the game. If we can’t arrange this win condition, it might just be good enough to grind out our opponents with an array of massive Demons.</p>
<p>With all that said, let’s seek the legal advice of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balthor the Defiled" href="#" target="_blank">Balthor the Defiled</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> who specializes in head injuries, diet pill lawsuits, and issues of soul custody.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Are You Suffering Injuries Related to Demonic Consultation?</h2>
<p>To fully juice our strategy, we want to both reanimate fat creatures from our graveyard and produce enough mana to cast these creatures for retail price, if necessary. As such, I’ve included a variety of ramp effects to supplement the traditional Big Mana Black package that we associate with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crypt Ghast" href="#" target="_blank">Crypt Ghast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pawn of Ulamog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sifter of Skulls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bog Witch"></div></div>
<p>First, we have a few creatures with the potential to power out a lot of mana in our particular strategy: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pawn of Ulamog" href="#" target="_blank">Pawn of Ulamog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sifter of Skulls" href="#" target="_blank">Sifter of Skulls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both produce Eldrazi creature tokens that we can cash in for some fast mana. These two cards will allow us to sandbag mana to make big plays later in the game.</p>
<p>While these are both powerful cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bog Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Bog Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be the sleeper in this deck. Everything about this card facilitates our strategy—discarding a choice reanimation target in order to produce three black mana is exactly what we want to be doing. This card only sees play in 441 decks on EDHREC and deserves a higher rate of play. Bog Witch doesn’t just fit in mono-black, either; consider her for any reanimation strategy with a low color commitment that also wants the ability to hard cast its bombs.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Market"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Revel in Riches"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both fit perfectly in our strategy. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> produces the most mana in the long term, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also extremely potent, even if we’re not pursuing its alternate win condition. Whenever a creature dies, we’ll net one extra black mana every turn with Black Market. While Revel makes Treasure only when a creature dies under an opponent's control, the Treasure it produces is much more flexible. We can choose when to crack each and every Treasure, allowing us to better administer our mana on our turn as well as on our opponents’ turns.</p>
<p>Finally, the man of the hour: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just the man for this deck. Most of the cards we'll be dropping onto the battlefield include a few black pips in their cost, and Yawgmoth’s kid will accelerate our deck’s most powerful, explosive turns. Phyrexian mana is, indeed, a demented fever dream turned reality, and we’ll be able to abuse its power particularly well.</p>
<hr />
<h2>You May be Entitled to Boundless Power</h2>
<p>The best thing about the Demons we most want to reanimate with Balthor is that they all have some sort of card advantage attached. This means that when we do spend resources reanimating creatures, they'll propel us forward, sifting through our deck for even more bombs. Whether its <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vilis, Broker of Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Vilis, Broker of Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harvester of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Harvester of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, most of our Demons are certain to net us at least a card or two for our trouble.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodgift Demon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Razaketh, the Foulblooded"></div></div>
<p>I'll highlight two Demons that exemplify this principle: though perhaps one of the weakest of these effects, basically functioning as <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> copied and pasted onto a five-mana Demon, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodgift Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodgift Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the cheaper Demons in our list, and it deserves a spot both for its playability and its ability to be reanimated. Razaketh, on the other hand, is the most powerful card advantage effect available to us. A repeatable tutor will not only allow us to dig, but also find exactly what we want and need for the moment. Need to review the fine print? Go grab <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana’s Contract" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana’s Contract</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Is the board a bit cluttered? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Decree of Pain" href="#" target="_blank">Decree of Pain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is only a search away. Time to trawl up every creature in the graveyard? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of the Dark Realms" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of the Dark Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Bargain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Final Parting"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oversold Cemetery"></div></div>
<p>While we’re on our way toward those bigger creature-based draw effects, though, we can also leverage other ways to gain card advantage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an underrated draw effect in black, seeing play in only 589 decks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ambition’s Cost" href="#" target="_blank">Ambition’s Cost</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is included in 3,353 decks, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Craving" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Craving</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in 2,718. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is better, in my opinion. While you only get to keep two of the three cards you see with Dark Bargain, it is an instant and it puts a card directly into your graveyard, a definite upside with Balthor. I’d take that deal any day.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Parting" href="#" target="_blank">Final Parting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, another underrated card from<em> Dominaria</em>, is also very powerful here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diabolic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Diabolic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stapled together may not seem amazing, but it is strong. Any time two good effects are packaged together on one card, the result is worth consideration. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oversold Cemetery" href="#" target="_blank">Oversold Cemetery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is incredible in EDH. Every turn, we’ll be able to return a utility creature from our graveyard to our hand to further fuel our plan. This type of card is the engine that keeps a reanimator strategy chugging along.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Deck</h2>
<p>Now that we’ve examined our ramp and draw strategies for this commander, let’s see how it looks all together. It's important to note that this style of deck has some serious weaknesses, chief among them being vulnerability to graveyard hate. Even so, it's also a lot of fun to pilot. Built as it is with a decent amount of powerful ramp effects, we should still be able to play fairly if somebody decides to nuke our graveyard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crook of Condemnation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golgari Thug"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Finale of Eternity"></div></div>
<p>Among the other notable inclusions here, we have a few different auxiliary strategies to support our main game plan. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crook of Condemnation" href="#" target="_blank">Crook of Condemnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> finds a place here alongside <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nihil Spellbomb" href="#" target="_blank">Nihil Spellbomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Although Balthor only returns black and red creatures to the battlefield, we want to ensure that this effect is as asymmetrical as possible. These cards will all help ensure that we benefit the most from our mass reanimation.</p>
<p>To fill our graveyard, we also have a suite of effects including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golgari Thug" href="#" target="_blank">Golgari Thug</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stinkweed Imp" href="#" target="_blank">Stinkweed Imp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dakmor Salvage" href="#" target="_blank">Dakmor Salvage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stitcher’s Supplier" href="#" target="_blank">Stitcher’s Supplier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Beyond Balthor, we also have several other mass resurrection effects such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Finale of Eternity" href="#" target="_blank">Finale of Eternity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of the Dark Realms" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of the Dark Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Death" href="#" target="_blank">Living Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In conjunction, these cards should help us dump our library into our graveyard and spit it all back up onto the battlefield. Here’s what I came up with; as always, season to taste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Balthor and Associates, Attorneys at Law" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Balthor the Defiled
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Stitcher&#039;s Supplier
*1 Doomed Dissenter
*1 Golgari Thug
*1 Reassembling Skeleton
*1 Bog Witch
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Midnight Reaper
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Stinkweed Imp
*1 Crypt Ghast
*1 Dread Presence
*1 Sifter of Skulls
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Bloodgift Demon
*1 Corpse Connoisseur
*1 Doom Whisperer
*1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
*1 Magus of the Coffers
*1 Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
*1 Ogre Slumlord
*1 Grave Titan
*1 Harvester of Souls
*1 Kothophed, Soul Hoarder
*1 Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
*1 Abhorrent Overlord
*1 K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
*1 Overseer of the Damned
*1 Rune-Scarred Demon
*1 Razaketh, the Foulblooded
*1 Vilis, Broker of Blood
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Dark Bargain
*1 Price of Fame
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Finale of Eternity
*1 Stitch Together
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Victimize
*1 Blood for Bones
*1 Dread Return
*1 Final Parting
*1 Living Death
*1 Decree of Pain
*1 In Garruk’s Wake
*1 Rise of the Dark Realms
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Nihil Spellbomb
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Crook of Condemnation
*1 Spawning Pit
*1 Ashnod’s Altar
*1 Oblivion Stone
*1 Phyrexian Altar
*1 Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk
*1 Caged Sun
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Tortured Existence
*1 Oversold Cemetery
*1 Dark Prophecy
*1 Black Market
*1 Liliana&#039;s Contract
*1 Revel in Riches
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Cabal Coffers
*1 Cabal Stronghold
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Crypt of Agadeem
*1 Dakmor Salvage
*1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*1 Polluted Mire
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*22 Swamp
*1 Thespian’s Stage
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vesuva
*1 Westvale Abbey
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<p>What do you think of Balthor? Are there any notable omissions—bombs, facilitators, or alternative strategies? Do you tend to build around alternative win conditions? Let me know in the comments below! Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


Monomania – Balthor and Associates, Attorneys at Law

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