Too-Specific Top 10 - The Islands

Replacement Commanders - Time to Troll!

Commander Showdown - Marisi vs Thantis

<h6 style="text-align:right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paliano, the High City" href="#" target="_blank">Paliano, the High City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.adampaquettemtg.com/">Adam Paquette</a>)</h6>
<h1><span style="font-weight:400;">Let’s Put it to a Vote</span></h1>
<p>Whether you vote for Pedro, Kodos, or somebody else, this is the article for you. Today on <em><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/tag/mechanically-minded/">Mechanically Minded</a></em><em>, </em>the series where we build decks around mechanics using the wisdom of EDHREC, we're doing some voting.<br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Voting isn’t technically a mechanic; it’s a game action in which players do exactly what you’d think: vote for a particular outcome. Let's build around it and see what happens.</span></p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magister of Worth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bite of the Black Rose"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Council&#039;s Judgment"></div></div><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Voting first entered <em>Magic</em> with 2014’s </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Conspiracy. </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">As the game’s first multiplayer booster set, this keyword action was perfect. It personifies the politics of the format, encouraging players to win opponents over to their side and to offer favors in exchange for votes. Voting appeared on cards with </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Will of the Council, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">a fancy term that simply means all players vote for one of two possible outcomes. The outcome with the most votes then occurs, with ties usually being settled slightly less in favor of the caster. You’ll see it on cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magister of Worth" href="#" target="_blank">Magister of Worth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bite of the Black Rose" href="#" target="_blank">Bite of the Black Rose</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Voting returned again in 2016 with a sequel set to the original <em>Conspiracy</em> called </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Conspiracy: Take the Crown. </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">This time it was reimagined as </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><em>Council’s Dilemma</em>:<em> </em></span>p<span style="font-weight:400;">layers still vote for one of two possible outcomes, but each outcome occurs once for each vote cast in its favor, rather than a one-or-the-other outcome.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Our Elected Leader</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Now that we’ve settled on our "mechanic", it’s time to pick our commander. As we so often do, I recommend heading to the trusty </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes">Themes section</a></span><span style="font-weight:400;">. Let’s start with the </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/politics">Politics theme</a></span><span style="font-weight:400;">. It’s not exclusively about </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">but being defined as “cards that encourage interaction and discussion among players” puts us pretty darn close.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">When it comes to voting decks, many players opt for this commander:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Voting </span><span style="font-weight:400;">cards are mostly found in Esper, so this makes good sense. However, I think we can find something a little more interesting than a dude who makes his living chilling in the command zone.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">If I learned anything from 2012’s Speilberg film </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Lincoln, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">it's that great facial hair comes in many forms. Also, a great way to earn votes is to bribe people. So, since no legendary creature specifically references </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting, </span><span style="font-weight:400;">we might instead elect one that lets us reward our opponents in exchange for votes, which made me think of the Goat:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zedruu the Greathearted"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Maybe not </span><span style="font-weight:400;">the </span><span style="font-weight:400;">GOAT, but definitely a</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">Goat. Zedruu has always been one of my all-time favorite commanders, and I’ve never had the privilege of writing about her. She was pretty much a shoe-in for this article...</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">...until I recalled a certain new commander from our latest set.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kenrith, the Returned King"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Kenrith <em>has</em> to be our commander. Notice that each ability benefits all players or a player of your choice, meaning we’ve got five different ways to bribe our opponents for votes. In addition, Kenrith gives us access to all five colors, rather than only three.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Being a king means he doesn’t need our vote, but he gets it anyway.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Voting Cards</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Now that we have our commander, it’s time to explore our central theme. Again, I’m heading to the </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/politics">Politics theme</a></span><span style="font-weight:400;"> for ideas.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plea for Power"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Split Decision"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magister of Worth"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">The first three </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting </span><span style="font-weight:400;">cards we see are three of the best. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plea for Power" href="#" target="_blank">Plea for Power</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> almost always turns into a draw three, which is pretty nice for four mana. We usually want the extra turn, though, even though we usually don’t get it. In this deck, however, we’ll get it way more often since we can offer voters a reward in return.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Same goes for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Split Decision" href="#" target="_blank">Split Decision</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a powerful card in and of itself. One and a blue to counter any instant or sorcery is nice, and the same cost to copy it might be even better, depending on the circumstances. The drawback, of course, is that you don’t know how the council will vote. Again, that’s where our bribery comes into play.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magister of Worth" href="#" target="_blank">Magister of Worth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be very powerful in one direction or the other. If one player pulls farther ahead of all others, you’ll usually get people to vote for condemnation (which leaves you with the Magister). In the late game, players will more likely vote for grace. Keep that in mind when you play it.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Let's examine a few more powerful voting cards:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Capital Punishment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coercive Portal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Council&#039;s Judgment"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">First off, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Capital Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Capital Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offers a lose-lose scenario for our opponents (just look at the picture!). We’re trying to work cooperatively with them to maximize our voting cards, so I wouldn’t recommend playing too many similar effects. However, I'll make an exception here because mass sacrifice and mass discard effects are sweet.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Next up, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coercive Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Coercive Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It’s usually a personal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and that’s already pretty good. The option to wipe the board makes it great. To be honest, you probably won’t convince players to vote for the latter option no matter how well you bribe them. Still, it’s a nice option for the table in case one player gets too out of hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Council&#039;s Judgment" href="#" target="_blank">Council&#039;s Judgment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This oddball card is already outstanding as an exile spell (it weirdly gets around hexproof and protection, since it doesn’t target). It’s even better when it exiles two nonland permanents, which it can do when players split the vote evenly. I recommend doing your best to orchestrate this.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Of course, there are many more </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting </span><span style="font-weight:400;">cards to be included in our final list. However, I think it's time to move onto another supplementary subject that will reinforce our politically-minded deck.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Extra Bribery</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Now that we know what we’re voting for, let’s find some additional bribery tools. Kenrith offers many, but in this deck, I think a few more should do well. Some examples:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Intellectual Offering"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selvala, Explorer Returned"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hunted Phantasm"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Intellectual Offering" href="#" target="_blank">Intellectual Offering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and the entire Offering cycle, for that matter) is cool because you can bribe several players with one card. Drawing three cards is legitimate upside, but I like the untapping clause for bribing purposes even more. Why? Because you will appear to be doing an opponent a favor without actually giving them a significant advantage. Maybe they now have extra blockers or get to activate a tap ability a second time, but that’s fine. We gain their favor for future votes without giving them too much free stuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">I doubt <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala, Explorer Returned" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala, Explorer Returned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the mutton-head who thought of </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Parley, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">but it is her signature mechanic. And hey, it works. We give our opponents free cards, plus we potentially get free mana and free life for our troubles.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">The entire “Hunted” cycle also works well in this slot, but I picked <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hunted Phantasm" href="#" target="_blank">Hunted Phantasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because I think it’s the best of the bunch. Five 1/1s is a lot to give, but a 4/6 unblockable for three is too good to pass up.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Rigging the Vote</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Now, when it comes to </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">some votes simply must go our way. Sometimes we can’t afford to mess around with bribing our opponents. Fortunately for us, R&amp;D offers several options that tip the ballot in our favor.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brago’s Representative"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Illusion of Choice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grudge Keeper"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">I think it’s pretty clear what you’re doing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago’s Representative" href="#" target="_blank">Brago’s Representative</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There’s also a near-identical copy of it from </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Conspiracy: Take the Crown </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">called <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ballot Broker" href="#" target="_blank">Ballot Broker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and we’re totally playing both. Those additional votes help us push through our agenda or even possibly split the vote, as in the case of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Council&#039;s Judgment" href="#" target="_blank">Council&#039;s Judgment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusion of Choice" href="#" target="_blank">Illusion of Choice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a low-cost, low-downside way to fix the most important votes. I think it’s excellent in tandem with high-upside cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coercive Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Coercive Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala&#039;s Stampede" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala&#039;s Stampede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, it’s probably best with the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Council&#039;s Judgment" href="#" target="_blank">Council&#039;s Judgment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Assuming there are three other players at the table, you can vote for the four nonland permanents you like least and exile them all. Now that’s judgement.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grudge Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Grudge Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the weakest of the riggers, though it’s on-theme and highly flavorful. Though the two life isn’t all that much, it’s a decent punishment for those who don’t vote our way.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">The List</span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kenrith for King" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
Kenrith, the Returned King
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
Ballot Broker
Biomancer&#039;s Familiar
Brago&#039;s Representative
Custodi Lich
Custodi Squire
Grudge Keeper
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer
Humble Defector
Hunted Dragon
Hunted Horror
Hunted Phantasm
Keeper of Keys
Magister of Worth
Orzhov Advokist
Pramikon, Sky Rampart
Queen Marchesa
Regal Behemoth
Seedborn Muse
Selvala, Explorer Returned
Xantcha, Sleeper Agent
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
Anguished Unmaking
Benevolent Offering
Cyclonic Rift
Fact or Fiction
Fog
Illusion of Choice
Intellectual Offering
Out of Bounds
Split Decision
Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
Capital Punishment
Collective Voyage
Council&#039;s Judgment
Cruel Entertainment
Expropriate
Farseek
Merciless Eviction
Minds Aglow
Pir&#039;s Whim
Plea for Power
Regna&#039;s Sanction
Scheming Symmetry
Selvala&#039;s Stampede
Tempt with Discovery
Tempt with Immortality
Tyrant&#039;s Choice
Virtus&#039;s Maneuver
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
Arcane Signet
Chromatic Lantern
Coercive Portal
Commander&#039;s Sphere
Fellwar Stone
Heartstone
Pendant of Prosperity
Sol Ring
Wishclaw Talisman
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
Ghostly Prison
Marchesa&#039;s Decree
Mystic Barrier
Propaganda
Rhystic Study
Smothering Tithe
Training Grounds
[/Enchantments]
[Land]
Arcane Sanctum
Blood Crypt
Boros Garrison
Breeding Pool
Command Tower
Crumbling Necropolis
Evolving Wilds
Exotic Orchard
Forbidden Orchard
Gateway Plaza
Godless Shrine
Hallowed Fountain
Maze of Ith
Mystic Monastery
Nomad Outpost
Orzhov Guildgate
Overgrown Tomb
Reliquary Tower
Sacred Foundry
Steam Vents
Stomping Ground
Temple Garden
Terramorphic Expanse
Throne of the High City
Watery Grave
3 Plains
3 Island
3 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Forest
[/Land]"></span></div>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Final Votes</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">In the early game, do some favors for your opponents. Give their commander haste and trample, offer them some free life, or maybe even give them a card or two. However, always make sure you name a price. Make them promise to vote for Pedro (or replace Pedro with your name if your name doesn’t happen to be Pedro). Then, in the late game, cash in those favors for big-time </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting </span><span style="font-weight:400;">spells.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Of course, don’t expect players to honor their word every time. For those who renege on the deal, go after them with furious retribution. This will show both them and the rest of the table that you take your deals seriously. If you properly decimate oathbreakers, your playgroup will be less likely to break promises with you in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Likewise, don’t ever promise a future favor in exchange for a present vote without delivering on the promise. If you do it once, your opponents will never trust you to keep your word again. So don’t do it! Both these concepts are already valuable, but they become even more valuable for this deck because we need votes.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Happy voting!</span></p>


Mechanically Minded - Voting

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherflux Reservoir" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherflux Reservoir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/cliffy">Cliff Childs</a>)</h6>
<h1>It's an AetherHub Reservoir!</h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re excited to announce that we've partnered up with the site <a href="https://aetherhub.com/">AetherHub</a>, which is now the newest deckbuilding website to contribute deck data to EDHREC! EDHREC received data from some of the community's favorite deckbuilding websites, including <a href="https://archidekt.com/">Archidekt</a>, <a href="https://www.mtggoldfish.com/">MtgGoldfish</a>, and <a href="https://deckstats.net/?lng=en">Deckstats</a>, and <a href="https://aetherhub.com/">AetherHub</a> has joined in to help EDHREC receive even more data to help us provide even better recommendations for users. </span></p>
<p><a href="https://aetherhub.com/Article/Working-with-EDHREC-and-sharing-our-Commander-deck-data">Check out AetherHub's announcement here!</a></p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Aetherhub-Links.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-42363 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Aetherhub-Links.png" alt="" width="550" height="445" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Links for all of these fantastic sites can be found on any commander’s EDHREC page, along with links to card search engines like <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Default.aspx">Gatherer</a> and <a href="https://scryfall.com/">Scryfall</a>, as well as links to our sponsors, <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/">CardKingdom</a> and <a href="https://www.tcgplayer.com/">TCGPlayer</a>. </span></p>
<p>AetherHub users will also be happy to learn that this partnership will enhance a few of the site's own features, too. Users of AetherHub's search engine will be happy to learn that is now linked through the data on EDHREC! We definitely recommend folks utilize the site's search features to help find Commander decklists that contain specific cards to find new ideas from like-minded builders to assist in their own new brews!</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aetherhub-deck-search.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42364 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aetherhub-deck-search.png" alt="" width="706" height="142" /></a></p>
<p>We also have to mention one of our favorite features on AetherHub, the <a href="https://aetherhub.com/Meta/Commander/">Commander Meta</a>! AetherHub keeps track of Commander decks built within the past 60 days, so you can keep up-to-date with the latest trends and most popular cards that appear in the most recent decklists of your favorite new commanders!</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aetherhub-commander-meta.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42365 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aetherhub-commander-meta.png" alt="" width="629" height="263" /></a></p>
<p>AetherHub also has a few Commander-specific pages, including a <a href="https://aetherhub.com/Meta/Stats/">Stats breakdown</a>, as well as <a href="https://aetherhub.com/Meta/Writeups/Commander">articles</a> and <a href="https://aetherhub.com/Meta/Video/Commander">videos</a> from members of the <em>Magic </em>community.</p>
<p>We're excited to work with AetherHub to help provide players with even more data, and to assist users of both sites so that they have access to as much information as possible when building and tuning their own decks. Our thanks to AetherHub, and thank you for reading!</p>


EDHREC Teams Up with AetherHub!

Superior Numbers - Cascading Changes and Vestigial Cards

The Toolbox - Temporal Extortion

Ranking Every Land with EDHREC – Part 18: MLD and You!

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rooftop Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Rooftop Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://stankoillustration.com/">John Stanko</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 aspect that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background attention. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus"></div></div>
<p>When talking about Ludevic, it's nearly impossible to avoid his ultimate creation, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus" href="#" target="_blank">Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and because they both have <em>Partner</em>, the deck we build will have both of them as its commanders.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Ludevic of Ulm is a reclusive necro-alchemist that lives in Havengul on the plane of Innistrad. In his necro-alchemical pursuits, he aims for more than simply the creation of Skaabs. Instead, Ludevic aims to understand the horror his creations inspire. Some think that Ludevic's consumption of potions and inhalation of toxic vapors has left him no choice but to abandon his experiments, leaving him to devote his sizable intellect to the problem of making himself and his business partners filthy rich. He has taken Geralf Cecani under his wing, training him in the arts of necro-alchemy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stitcher Geralf"></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/2019/12/ludevicName.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42166 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicName.jpg" alt="" width="449" height="90" /></a></p>
<p>A necro-alchemist is a wizard that harnesses the energy of Geists to fuel crazed technological inventions. Effectively, they achieve necromancy through alchemical means. Also known as "skaberen," these wizards hone the craft of creating frankensteinian monstrosities known as Skaabs. Skaabs are blue-aligned Zombies that frequently interact with the graveyard, either through putting cards there from the top of the library, or requiring creatures (corpses) to be exiled from your graveyard. Using up dead bodies to craft a Skaab evokes images of a crazed scientist in a lab coat standing over a piecemeal behemoth abomination, periodically illuminated by blindingly bright arcs of electricity, and we can see through various cards in the game that Ludevic's protégé, Geralf, is following in his mentor's footsteps.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Geralf&#039;s Masterpiece"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicCost.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42163 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicCost.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="83" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Blue: </strong>Intelligence is king; a Wizard must accumulate as much knowledge as possible. Blue is controlled and calculated.</p>
<p><strong>Red: </strong>Impulsive and rash, red is the wild inventor. Exploring an idea only as long as it holds their attention.</p>
<p><strong>Izzet (blue/red): </strong> Leaping from one ill-conceived experiment to another, an Izzet mage is able to spend much time studying, but will abandon fruitless pursuits for more promising experiments. Blue and red embody the mad scientist moving from one obsessive project to the next.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicType.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42168 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicType.jpg" alt="" width="624" height="89" /></a></p>
<p>Ludevic is <em>Magic: the Gathering</em>'s Dr. Frankenstein. Unlike that unfortunate would-be giver of life, however, Ludevic is enthralled by his creation and loves the horror Kraum brings to the denizens of Havengul. Instead of running away from the meat golem, Ludevic studies it.</p>
<p>A simple way to build the deck would be as a Zombie tribal deck. The colors of Ludevic don't line up with the primary color of the Zombie tribe (black), and though Ludevic does create monstrosities, he is truly obsessed with the horror he can inflict. The primary path to victory for this deck is a bit of a cobbled together monstrosity itself. Mill, resource denial, and punisher themes all come together here to form a rather annoying deck that, oddly enough, functions a bit like a Group Hug deck. The card that best showcases this idea is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fevered Visions" href="#" target="_blank">Fevered Visions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fevered Visions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfuric Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Copper Tablet"></div></div>
<p>It functions similarly to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but asks for a bit in return. This is exactly how we want Ludevic to function. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sulfuric Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Sulfuric Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pair with Ludevic to fuel our own Fevered Visions.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicRules.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42167 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicRules.jpg" alt="" width="625" height="286" /></a></p>
<p>Ludevic is a somewhat political commander. Using his ability to point aggression elsewhere is a good way to keep your life total higher than your opponents'. However, I want to trigger this for other people; I want people to have so many cards in their hands that they feel inclined to decline the draw. As mentioned before, using cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sulfuric Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Sulfuric Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will automatically trigger Ludevic on each of your opponents' turns.</p>
<p>With Ludevic filling the hand, we have access to a few extra options to deal continual damage to our opponents that rely upon the number of cards in hand.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Give Em the Clamps" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Clamps!]
Viseling
Black Vise
Ebony Owl Netsuke
Thumbscrews
Iron Maiden
Misers&#039; Cage
[/Clamps!]"></span></div>
<hr />
<h2>Flavor Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicFlavor.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42164 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicFlavor.jpg" alt="" width="582" height="104" /></a></p>
<p>When selecting corpses for experimentation, those with large, healthy brains make the most excellent servants. If he is feeling particularly generous, Ludevic will take those less naturally gifted and give them some lessons. In <em>Magic</em>, a thought in one's mind is represented by a card in hand. With Ludevic's ability, we're hoping to load up everyone's hand with as many cards as possible; let's get those brains nice and fat, ready for the harvest.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brain in a Jar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Folio of Fancies"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forced Fruition"></div></div>
<p>The next step in our gameplan is to limit our opponents' ability to take advantage of their bounty. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Laboratory" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Laboratory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damping Sphere" href="#" target="_blank">Damping Sphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> limit the amount of spells cast each turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Maze" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Maze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Static Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Static Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all inhibit mana production. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forced Fruition" href="#" target="_blank">Forced Fruition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fits in this category as well because our opponent will never be able to empty their hands, which is the main goal of this group of cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Laboratory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Maze"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Static Orb"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicBasics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42239 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicBasics.jpg" alt="" width="530" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>The basic lands I've selected for Ludevic and Kraum are, appropriately, from the plane of Innistrad. The isolated tower on the water is the perfect quiet place to experiment while the small valley hamlet provides Kraum plenty of individuals to terrorize.</p>
<p>The deck has a very slim average converted mana cost, coming in just under three, and it boasts a healthy dose of card draw. These two factors make it run smoothly and consistently. It's fairly defenseless, aside from a few board wipes, so play them sparingly. People will absolutely get annoyed by a lot of the things this deck does, and aggression towards you is to be expected. Ultimately, the deck operates like a less-tuned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, but with loads of flavor.</p>
<p>No card costs over $20, and the deck as a whole sits around $250 if you were to assemble it yourself. The most surprising cost is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which was once on the Reserved List pre-2002.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="IT LIVES!" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commanders]
*1 Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist
*1 Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus
[/Commanders]
[Creatures]
*1 Kami of the Crescent Moon
*1 Ludevic&#039;s Test Subject
*1 Chasm Skulker
*1 Gadwick, the Wizened
*1 Jace&#039;s Archivist
*1 Magus of the Wheel
*1 Dreamborn Muse
*1 Viseling
*1 Psychosis Crawler
*1 Stitcher Geralf
*1 Niv-Mizzet, Parun
*1 The Locust God
*1 Dragon Mage
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Tormod&#039;s Crypt
*1 Black Vise
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Anvil of Bogardan
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Brain in a Jar
*1 Copper Tablet
*1 Damping Sphere
*1 Ebony Owl Netsuke
*1 Folio of Fancies
*1 Howling Mine
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Thumbscrews
*1 Winter Orb
*1 Iron Maiden
*1 Misers&#039; Cage
*1 Static Orb
*1 Temple Bell
*1 Font of Mythos
*1 Skullcage
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Minds Aglow
*1 Preordain
*1 Prosperity
*1 Fascination
*1 Mana Vapors
*1 Skyscribing
*1 Day&#039;s Undoing
*1 Windfall
*1 Wash Out
*1 Reforge the Soul
*1 Echo of Eons
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Vision Skeins
*1 Words of Wisdom
*1 Evacuation
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Mana Maze
*1 Arcane Laboratory
*1 Dictate of Kruphix
*1 Fevered Visions
*1 Psychic Corrosion
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage
*1 Sulfuric Vortex
*1 Manabarbs
*1 Pyrohemia
*1 Dictate of the Twin Gods
*1 Forced Fruition
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Jace Beleren
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fiery Islet
*15 Island
*11 Mountain
*1 Riptide Laboratory
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Spirebluff Canal
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Temple of Epiphany
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>I hope I've fueled your mind for your next experiment. The data on EDHREC relating to <em>Partner</em> commanders is a little hazy, but <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/kraum-ludevics-opus-ludevic-necro-alchemist">Ludevic and Kraum</a> command only 114 decks together. This is likely due to the fact that the main reason to run <em>Partner</em> commanders is to add additional colors. Whatever the reason, the two actually work decently well together; if Ludevic is giving out extra cards, your opponents will have more spells to cast, triggering Kraum. This build capitalizes on the extra card draw in order to find the cards that finally hinder the ability to cast extra spells in a turn rather than to draw cards throughout the entire game.</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>


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