<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moonveil Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Moonveil Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.toddlockwood.com/">Todd Lockwood</a>)</h6>
<h1>Aggressive Expansion</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, challenging staples and misconceptions about the color pie.</p>
<p>Now that we have Eldraine out of our system, let’s revisit an underloved mono-red general from earlier this year. When revealed, he was quickly dismissed as a worse version of the previous iteration of the character. I’m not so convinced of this description, however, so let’s take a look.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin"></div></div>
<p>At the time of writing this article, this guy is only listed as the general of 149 decks on EDHREC. While this isn’t pitiful within the field of mono-red generals, it isn’t stellar either. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the original version of this card, helms 1,510 decks, and is by far the most popular mono-red commander of the past two years, eclipsing the second-place <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daretti, Scrap Savant" href="#" target="_blank">Daretti, Scrap Savant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who leads 649 decks. Because of the color’s reputation and restrictions, I don’t believe that any mono-red commander will rise to challenge Krenko for quite some time.</p>
<p>That being said, does the Tin Street Kingpin deserve to be regarded more highly? I believe so. Last May, <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/mason-brantley/">Mason Brantley</a> wrote a fantastic article on the new Krenko for his series, <em>Underdog's Corner</em>. He and I came up with fairly similar lists, and if you want to read both of our takes on this commander, you can read his article <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/underdogs-corner-krenko-tin-street-kingpin/">here</a>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bravado"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Throne of the God-Pharaoh"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Betrothed of Fire"></div></div>
<p>The idea here isn’t necessarily a novel one—this style of deck can win out of nowhere with some favorable combination of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aggravated Assault" href="#" target="_blank">Aggravated Assault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and our general on the battlefield. Mob Boss decks will almost always include a similar win condition.</p>
<p>However, the style of the Kingpin in particular is what I find rather compelling. At his core, Kingpin wants to incorporate elements of Voltron strategies. Instead of jamming creatures to snowball our board, the Kingpin wants to buff his attack through other card types. This general is more interested in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Claws of Valakut" href="#" target="_blank">Claws of Valakut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Siege Gang Commander" href="#" target="_blank">Siege Gang Commander</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It seems nearly as explosive as Mob Boss, but also folds in another element—this bad boy can go tall, wide, or threaten to do both. While many may think that you have to choose one of these, in some cases there's no need to pick favorites. I’ve had some success with my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Faren, the Hengehammer" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Faren, the Hengehammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/monomania-takes-on-eldraine-best-friend-auditions/">recently featured on <em>Monomania</em> </a>that also goes both tall and wide. Let’s see what we can come up with and whether this commander lives up to the prestigious Krenko name.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Fuel for the Cause</h2>
<p>Because of the unique characteristics of the Kingpin, there are a few special considerations for how we want to ramp in order to support his strategy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Braid of Fire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Battle Hymn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brightstone Ritual"></div></div>
<p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moonveil Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Moonveil Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavalier of Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Cavalier of Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and our collection of firebreathing effects such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shiv’s Embrace" href="#" target="_blank">Shiv’s Embrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, big mana becomes exceedingly effective for us. These three ramp effects will all hopefully produce ridiculous amounts of mana and allow us to funnel it into pumping our general or our team. This can help us swing for lethal or simply produce even more tokens.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braid of Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Braid of Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, specifically, is a mono-red all-star. If budget is not an issue, this card can and should be included in almost every mono-red deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle Hymn" href="#" target="_blank">Battle Hymn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brightstone Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Brightstone Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are a little more restrictive but still fit right at home in any Krenko deck, old or new.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skirk Prospector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dockside Extortionist"></div></div>
<p>Then we have a few mana-production effects stapled onto creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skirk Prospector" href="#" target="_blank">Skirk Prospector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can both fuel big plays as well as find the extra mana needed to power out an important piece to our strategy. Often, this Prospector will facilitate the game-ending plays that involve <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and/or <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> when attacking isn’t an option. Any Goblin lying around can help play several cards in a turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dockside Extortionist" href="#" target="_blank">Dockside Extortionist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn’t fulfill precisely the same function, but works better on its own to provide flexible Treasure for later use.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of the Animist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dowsing Dagger"></div></div>
<p>Finally, we have a few Equipment that can both ignite our strategy and our ramp at the same time. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an automatic inclusion in any deck with a shade of Voltron, and I argue <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dowsing Dagger" href="#" target="_blank">Dowsing Dagger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> should be considered for a similar reason: it pumps the Kingpin’s attack, then flips into an extremely powerful land. If we can connect with our commander on turn four or five with the Dagger equipped, we will vault ourselves several turns ahead of our opponents in the mid-game.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Off the Rails</h2>
<p>This deck will live and die by its card advantage package: if we can’t cycle through cards effectively, we may not find the necessary pieces to truly spike the power of our board state and win the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dire Fleet Daredevil"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abbot of Keral Keep"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark-Dweller Oracle"></div></div>
<p>As always, rent-before-you-buy-it card advantage in red is actually very good. Even these examples that dig through relatively little of our deck will help us find what we need when we need it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark-Dweller Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Dark-Dweller Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the creature most geared toward our strategy; on a post-Krenko board, we should have a few useless Goblins to play around with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Outpost Siege"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vance’s Blasting Cannons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ignite the Future"></div></div>
<p>Expanding on impulsive draw, we have a few other ways to exile the top cards of our library. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Outpost Siege" href="#" target="_blank">Outpost Siege</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vance’s Blasting Cannons" href="#" target="_blank">Vance’s Blasting Cannons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are staples within our color and earn their spot here.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ignite the Future" href="#" target="_blank">Ignite the Future</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a newcomer, but has proven to be powerful. The key text here is 'until the end of your <em>next</em> turn.' I really like this card not only because it gives us a little more flexibility in playing the exiled cards than we normally see, but also because the <em>Flashback</em> ability here is deceptively powerful. With even a couple good flips, it's worth the eight mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infiltration Lens"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mask of Memory"></div></div>
<p>Finally, we have two Equipment that can help us dig through our cards—one that triggers when a creature blocks Krenko, and another that triggers when Krenko deals damage to a player. Both synergize with our strategy and earn a slot in the deck.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Deck</h2>
<p>Now that we have the skeleton for a fun and powerful Krenko deck, let’s put it all together with a decklist. You’ll notice that this deck is distinctively <em>not</em> Goblin tribal. Many of his decks listed on EDHREC are Goblin tribal, but I think this is a trap: outside of a few Goblins that really grease our engine, Krenko brings his own army in a can and doesn’t need much support in that regard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon Mantle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stoneforge Masterwork"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haze of Rage"></div></div>
<p>Among other notable inclusions here we have a few effects that should supercharge our commander’s ability. Firebreathing is a deceptively powerful effect with our commander, and any card that grants this ability is immediately worth consideration. As such, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Mantle" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Mantle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crown of Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Crown of Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Mantle" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Mantle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> make the cut. Although we have to dump mana into this ability, firebreathing allows us to essentially spend one red mana for one Goblin token and to make our commander more threatening.</p>
<p>We can also run a couple of Equipment that will pump the Kingpin’s attack by significant amounts. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stoneforge Masterwork" href="#" target="_blank">Stoneforge Masterwork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes our general do his best impression of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, doubling our tokens every time we attack. Not only that, but this card can easily pump Krenko to 21 attack in just a turn or two. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blackblade Reforged" href="#" target="_blank">Blackblade Reforged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a higher floor but a lower ceiling. Because it buffs our commander based on the number of lands we control, he will almost always net a baseline +3/+3, and later in the game, the Blackblade could grant +10/+10.</p>
<p>Finally, I’ve included a suite of ways to pump our team enough to knock players out of the game through combat damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haze of Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Haze of Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an egregiously underrated Commander card, seeing play in only 364 decks on EDHREC. We have a low curve, and following up playing multiple spells in a single turn with playing this card can quickly end games, and even if it doesn't, we can always just buy it back. In addition, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marton Stromgald" href="#" target="_blank">Marton Stromgald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moonveil Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Moonveil Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coat of Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Coat of Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Running Down the Stairs" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Skirk Prospector
*1 Abbot of Keral Keep
*1 Dark-Dweller Oracle
*1 Dire Fleet Daredevil
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Goblin Chieftain
*1 Goblin Trashmaster
*1 Marton Stromgald
*1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Cavalier of Flame
*1 Moonveil Dragon
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Brightstone Ritual
*1 Battle Hymn
*1 Arcbond
*1 Chaos Warp
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Gamble
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Haze of Rage
*1 Light Up the Stage
*1 Chain Reaction
*1 Ignite the Future
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Blasphemous Act
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Infiltration Lens
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Stoneforge Masterwork
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Dowsing Dagger
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Prowler&#039;s Helm
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Throne of the God-Pharaoh
*1 Trailblazer&#039;s Boots
*1 Hammer of Nazahn
*1 Coat of Arms
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Crown of Flames
*1 Dragon Mantle
*1 Quest for the Goblin Lord
*1 Betrothed of Fire
*1 Braid of Fire
*1 Bravado
*1 Emblem of the Warmind
*1 Fiery Mantle
*1 Ghitu Firebreathing
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Thunderous Might
*1 Aggravated Assault
*1 Boggart Shenanigans
*1 Claws of Valakut
*1 Shared Animosity
*1 Bedlam
*1 Outpost Siege
*1 Shiv&#039;s Embrace
*1 Vance&#039;s Blasting Cannons
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arch of Orazca
*1 Castle Embereth
*1 Desert of the Fervent
*1 Flamekin Village
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Goblin Burrows
*1 Looming Spires
*23 Mountain
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
*1 Smoldering Crater
*1 Spinerock Knoll
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>How do you all feel about this Kingpin? Is he interesting enough to warrant a few more decks on EDHREC, or should we all give up and worship at the altar of the Mob Boss? 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 – Running Down the Stairs

Commander Showdown - Marchesa vs Kenrith

Replacement Commanders - I Vant to Suck Your Blood!

Mechanically Minded - Food

Commander Focus — Kykar, Wind's Fury

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Willbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/izzymedrano">Dan Scott</a>)</h6>
<h1>"Stay on Target..."</h1>
<p>Welcome back to another <em>Forgotten Harvest,</em> where we dig deep into the bulk boxes of <em>Magic</em> to forage for hyper-underplayed cards that see play in 300 decks or less on EDHREC. Today, for the first time in this series, we're going to be tackling a Simic deck.</p>
<p>Given the stigma, for lack of a better word, that can come with playing Simic, I feel compelled to set expectations before I unveil this week's strategy. This series focuses on cards that see the least amount of play. These won't be the most powerful cards, and may not make for the most powerful deck. In the right strategy, though, a card which sees barely any play may become usable. If you do want to try out the cards we cover in this article, be aware of the perceptions players have when playing against a color combination like Simic, which is often expected to make crazy things happen with, for instance, +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p>This time, I'm scraping a strategy together based completely on the act of targeting. It's going to feel a lot like a Simic Spellslinger deck, heavily relying on instants and sorceries to target creatures on all sides of the battlefield. We're going to have to make sure that the deck stays creature-focused while also providing enough spells to still make it feel like a Spellslinger deck.</p>
<hr />
<h2>"Stay on Target..."</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="One Dozen Eyes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triton Fortune Hunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild Defiance"></div></div>
<p>A token strategy will be key to our success. We'll depend on cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverfur Partisan" href="#" target="_blank">Silverfur Partisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Docent of Perfection" href="#" target="_blank">Docent of Perfection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talrand, Sky Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Talrand, Sky Summoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to play simultaneously into the token and Spellslinger archetypes. However, there's always room for more traditional token production, too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="One Dozen Eyes" href="#" target="_blank">One Dozen Eyes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my favorites, and the swarm it provides is just what we're looking for. This collection of menacing eyes only sees play in 211 decks.</p>
<p>In addition to token strategies, we're also looking for other cards that care about being the target of a spell. The <em>Heroic</em> creatures from <em>Theros</em> block fit the bill quite well, and a number of them are hyper-underplayed. In that vein, we're running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triton Fortune Hunter" href="#" target="_blank">Triton Fortune Hunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wavecrash Triton" href="#" target="_blank">Wavecrash Triton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who see play in 80 and 35 decks, respectively; the associated card draw and spot removal, in the form of tapping down opposing creatures, will both be quite helpful.</p>
<p>Now that we have a mess of creatures, how can we capitalize on them becoming targeted by our spells? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gargos, Vicious Watcher" href="#" target="_blank">Gargos, Vicious Watcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help us out with that, fighting opposing creatures when one of our creatures becomes a target, and so can <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which only appears in 247 decks. Truly the heart of the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> buffs our targets by an extra +3/+3, which can be huge when paired with an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Open into Wonder" href="#" target="_blank">Open into Wonder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a field full of critters.</p>
<hr />
<h2>"Stay on Target..."</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sway of Illusion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sea Kings&#039; Blessing"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sylvan Paradise"></div></div>
<p>We've covered the targets, so let's talk about the spells that'll be doing the targeting. After some research, I've been able to find only three spells that can target an infinite number of creatures for a set cost: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sway of Illusion" href="#" target="_blank">Sway of Illusion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sea Kings&#039; Blessing" href="#" target="_blank">Sea Kings&#039; Blessing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. All three qualify as hyper-underplayed, appearing in only 160, 34, and 11 decklists, respectively. You can tell this is <em>Forgotten Harvest</em> when I'm bringing up obscure cards from <em>Legends!</em></p>
<p>While it's clear to see that none of the cards are terribly powerful (changing colors is sooooo <em>Invasion</em> block), when they're paired with the cards we've already discussed, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, they quickly become <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s. Even better, when we cast a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sea Kings&#039; Blessing" href="#" target="_blank">Sea Kings&#039; Blessing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dismiss into Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Dismiss into Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Willbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, it will completely decimate the opposing battlefields. I opted not to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Concordant Crossroads" href="#" target="_blank">Concordant Crossroads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this deck, but if you find great success with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Willbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you should consider adding it.</p>
<p>Some final notes on these three instants: I added in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> specifically to abuse these three cards. Scepter is particularly useful here because it <em>casts</em> a copy of the exiled instant. This is very relevant for the <em>Heroic</em> creatures, as they require a <em>cast</em> spell to target them, and won't trigger off a <em>copy </em>of a spell.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Battlefield Thaumaturge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Crowd Goes Wild"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Polymorphous Rush"></div></div>
<p>If you thought those color-change instants were the only trick I included in this deck, think again! This deck definitely makes the most of a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battlefield Thaumaturge" href="#" target="_blank">Battlefield Thaumaturge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, lowering the cost of our pump spells down to almost nothing, and it's only in 168 decks, to boot! When paired with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Crowd Goes Wild" href="#" target="_blank">The Crowd Goes Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (221 decks) or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrive" href="#" target="_blank">Thrive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (253 decks), you can perma-pump the entire team for only one green mana.</p>
<p>Adding in a third card, perhaps you could use a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorphous Rush" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorphous Rush</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, found in 255 decks, and some blue mana to make a few extra copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverfur Partisan" href="#" target="_blank">Silverfur Partisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrive" href="#" target="_blank">Thrive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With all those Wolf target triggers stacking, your army is going to be gigantic! (Again, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Concordant Crossroads" href="#" target="_blank">Concordant Crossroads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Memorial" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Memorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be worth an add if you're having trouble keeping the tokens around until you can take them to the red zone.)</p>
<hr />
<h2>"Stay on Target..."</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Band Together"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phantasmal Form"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rethink"></div></div>
<p>This is all well and good, but we still haven't addressed two key pieces of a Commander deck: removal spells, and an actual commander!</p>
<p>For creature removal, I've tried to keep on-theme, and that means looking at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Band Together" href="#" target="_blank">Band Together</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combo Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Combo Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both of these cards allow us to target two of our creatures while eliminating an opposing one. Combined with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it should be easy to build up enough power to take out the biggest beefcake on the other side of the field. These cards are currently in 242 and 55 decks, respectively.</p>
<p>While not typically considered removal, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantasmal Form" href="#" target="_blank">Phantasmal Form</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an excellent way to instantaneously shrink a huge attacker, making it easily blockable. As many of you have read in previous articles, I'm a big fan of these kinds of shenanigans, especially given the political role they can play. Add that a cantrip is baked into the instant, as well as its flexibility in potentially letting you target two of your own creatures for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> triggers, and this card seems like a great fit.</p>
<p>This deck gave me the chance to slot in one of my favorite soft counterspells, hailing from all the way back in <em>Prophecy.</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rethink" href="#" target="_blank">Rethink</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is currently in 154 decks, and while it's not the best option when countering an opponent's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it's perfect for countering mass creature removal, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Rebirth" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Rebirth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I've found it to be an effective counter that no one sees coming.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edric, Spymaster of Trest"></div></div>
<p>Normally, I'd lead with the commander in one of these articles, but if you've looked at the field of Simic commander candidates, you'd see that there are no options that directly play into what this deck is trying to do. Simic just doesn't sling spells that much, and usually waits until Temur adds red to the mix to focus on instants and sorceries.</p>
<p>However, this deck is still missing a key element, and it's a big one: card draw. So much of this deck is going to rely on getting the key cards in hand together at the right moment. Given this, and the heavy token theme, I think <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best pick. Yes, there's something to be said for using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tatyova, Benthic Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Tatyova, Benthic Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as she's capable of more reliable draw, but her high CMC is concerning to me, so I opted for Edric in my build.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at the list!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Target Run" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Edric, Spymaster of Trest<br />
[/Commander]</p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Birds of Paradise<br />
*1 Llanowar Elves<br />
*1 Battlefield Thaumaturge<br />
*1 Maraleaf Pixie<br />
*1 Eternal Witness<br />
*1 Gyre Engineer<br />
*1 Silverfur Partisan<br />
*1 Spellseeker<br />
*1 Triton Fortune Hunter<br />
*1 Wavecrash Triton<br />
*1 Archaeomancer<br />
*1 Master of the Wild Hunt<br />
*1 Murmuring Mystic<br />
*1 Niblis of Frost<br />
*1 Talrand, Sky Summoner<br />
*1 Docent of Perfection<br />
*1 Willbreaker<br />
*1 Gargos, Vicious Watcher<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[Instants]<br />
*1 Giant Growth<br />
*1 Sea Kings' Blessing<br />
*1 Sylvan Paradise<br />
*1 Warriors' Lesson<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Muddle the Mixture<br />
*1 Sway of Illusion<br />
*1 Symbiosis<br />
*1 Band Together<br />
*1 Beast Within<br />
*1 Combo Attack<br />
*1 Krosan Grip<br />
*1 Phantasmal Form<br />
*1 Polymorphous Rush<br />
*1 Rethink<br />
*1 Synchronized Strike<br />
*1 Unwind<br />
*1 Mystic Genesis<br />
[/Instants]</p>
<p>[Sorceries]<br />
*1 The Crowd Goes Wild<br />
*1 Thrive<br />
*1 Ghostform<br />
*1 Nature's Lore<br />
*1 Open into Wonder<br />
*1 Rampant Growth<br />
*1 Call to Mind<br />
*1 Calming Verse<br />
*1 Pull from the Deep<br />
*1 Blessings of Nature<br />
*1 One Dozen Eyes<br />
*1 Rise from the Tides<br />
*1 Ezuri's Predation<br />
[/Sorceries]</p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Brain in a Jar<br />
*1 Isochron Scepter<br />
*1 Runechanter's Pike<br />
*1 Simic Signet<br />
*1 Commander's Sphere<br />
*1 Crystal Shard<br />
*1 Erratic Portal<br />
*1 Primal Amulet<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Season of Growth<br />
*1 Wild Defiance<br />
*1 Metallurgic Summonings<br />
*1 The Mirari Conjecture<br />
*1 Dismiss into Dream<br />
[/Enchantments]</p>
<p>[Lands]<br />
*1 Alchemist's Refuge<br />
*1 Arcane Lighthouse<br />
*1 Botanical Sanctum<br />
*1 Breeding Pool<br />
*1 Command Tower<br />
*1 Detection Tower<br />
*1 Flooded Grove<br />
*12 Forest<br />
*1 Hinterland Harbor<br />
*13 Island<br />
*1 Misty Rainforest<br />
*1 Novijen, Heart of Progress<br />
*1 Yavimaya Coast<br />
[/Lands]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>"You're All Clear Kid, Now Let's Blow This Thing and Go Home!"</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/tenor.gif"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-40816 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/tenor.gif" alt="" width="498" height="249" /></a></p>
<p>Thanks so much for staying on target during this action-packed <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>! To show my appreciation, I've provided a place for your questions, comments, and snide remarks in the comments below. I'd love to talk more about not-so-obvious Simic strategies, soft-counterspells you think should be played more often, and how I could better turn this deck into Wolf tribal (I tried so hard to make it happen, folks!).</p>
<p>If you have an idea for a future <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>, be it a hyper-underplayed card, a strategy in need of some love, or a commander that doesn't have a home in an archetype yet, let me know. I've done several articles from reader suggestions, and I'm always looking for more. Also, be sure to tune in next time when I tell the tale of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seven Dwarves" href="#" target="_blank">Seven Dwarves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>


Forgotten Harvest - On a Target Run

The Toolbox - Heat Shimmer

Ranking Every Land with EDHREC - Part 15: A Data Update

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mardu Heart-Piercer" href="#" target="_blank">Mardu Heart-Piercer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://karlkopinski.com/">Karl Kopinski</a>)</h6>
<h1>Who Would Win in a Fight...?</h1>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Welcome to <em>Historically Speaking, </em>where we examine the real-world influences that led to some of <em>Magic's </em>most inventive designs. In today's article, we're going to examine what a sustained conflict between <em>Khans of Tarkir's</em> Mardu and Temur clans might have looked like, based on the history of their historical models, the Mongol empire and the southern Siberian tribes.</span></p>
<p class="p1">According to the<strong> Planeswalker’s Guide to Tarkir</strong> none of the five clans can completely eradicate, conquer or assimilate any other. They are all well adapted to their particular niche and way of life. Additionally, the factions of Tarkir are too scattered to launch the sort of campaign required to take and hold the territory of a rival. Raid? Sure! Harass? Absolutely. But total wars of conquest? Not on your life.</p>
<div id="attachment_39991" style="width: 355px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/tarkir-map-by-Dominian-Dracologist.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39991" class=" wp-image-39991" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/tarkir-map-by-Dominian-Dracologist.jpg" alt="" width="345" height="337" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-39991" class="wp-caption-text">Tarkir map by <a href="https://dominian-dracologist.tumblr.com/post/125526003950/map-of-tarkir-v1-khans-finished-with-the-first">Dominian Dracologist</a></p></div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Because of this, we are going to make some assumptions through this series. For example, assuming political and logistical conditions in Tarkir that <em>would </em>allow for a total war of conquest. This will be an exercise in alternate fantasy history, with cards and planeswalker’s guides as primary sources. To do this properly, we must by nature make assumptions about the timeline of Tarkir. Lets have a look at our actors on the world stage.</span></p>
<hr />
<h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">The Mardu</span></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Mardu Horde is famous for its prowess in horseback riding, archery, and raiding. They’ve employed these talents in search of glory, economic rewards, and settling old debts with enemies. Due to their high speed and frequent advantage of surprise, they can raid rival factions more or less at will.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mardu Banner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firehoof cavalry"></div></div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">However, if you don’t have any allies, and you attack targets of opportunity rather than following a coherent political or strategic plan, you’re going to spread yourself too thin. </span><span class="s1">Additionally, the Mardu are fractious and fight amongst themselves. They are uninterested in ruling or developing any territory they take; for them, the raid is its own reward. Despite their central position and high population of warriors, the Mardu are unlikely to form a true threat to any of the other clans. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">But we're interested in the hypothetical. What if their leadership stabilized and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zurgo Helmsmasher" href="#" target="_blank">Zurgo Helmsmasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (or who ever was the pre-eminent khan) decided to consolidate power and focus the Mardu’s formidable power on conquest, one clan at a time, rather than sporadic and far-spread raiding?</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zurgo Helmsmasher"></div></div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Then the picture becomes different. How will they fare if they pick a fight trying to grab hold of a territory in the north, such as Qal Sisma, controlled by the Temur?</span></p>
<hr />
<h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">The Temur</span></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Well, first, who are the Temur? The Temur are a diverse and hardy bunch, living far to the north in mountainous holdfasts. They are forged by the extremities of weather that forms their world, and their shamans can see into the past. They are determined fighters who have a deep bond with nature, including the half-ton bears that occasionally join them in battle.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temur Banner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bear&#039;s Companion"></div></div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">More importantly, their aforementioned shamans share in something called the Wide Whisper, which allows distant clans to communicate with each other. According to the<strong> Planeswalker’s Guide to Tarkir</strong>, it also allows the pooling of shamanic resources to call up huge Elementals or attempt other such great tasks.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Temur are also nomadic, though they have no organized cavalry corps. The Temur, like the Sultai to the south, prefer to mold the land to give them an advantage in battle, and also enlist Elementals, the spirit of the lands themselves, in combat or in meditation. </span><span class="s1">The Temur will fight and raid for food and territory, but battle for battle’s sake doesn’t appeal to them, as opposed to the Mardu, who believe wholeheartedly in the glory of battle.</span></p>
<hr />
<h3>Battling Politics</h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">To know how the Temur would fare against the Mardu, it's important to remember that, according to the <strong>Planeswalker's Guide to Tarkir</strong>, there is division inside the Temur Clans. A pair of Ainok named Kharkel and Baihir Torn-of-Ear wish to see the khan of the Temur, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surrak Dragonclaw" href="#" target="_blank">Surrak Dragonclaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, deposed. You know, the man who's famous for punching bears. </span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Savage Punch"></div></div>
<p>Importantly, Kharkel was raised by the Mardu, and though he is now Temur, he still maintains a degree of alignment with his former clan. In other words, if Kharkel splits the Temur into factions by overthrowing the sitting khan, that could be the opening Zurgo needs. The Mardu horde may not even need to kill Surrak to annex and conquer the territory. They just need the Temur divided against the Temur. Zurgo could even potentially conscript divided Temur youths; why freeze in the mountains when you could live free?</p>
<p>However, <span class="s1">even with all these advantages the Mardu possess against the Temur—higher mobility, political unity, incentives and rewards for new conscripts, increased trade routes—I find it unlikely that the Temur could be totally eradicated. Diminished, certainly, but not done away with.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> As mentioned before, each clan is well-suited to its environment, too well-suited to be overcome by brute force. Even if the Mardu committed all of their forces to fighting the Temur to the knife (which would mean ceasing raids on other clans, and thus losing out on profit and glory) the Temur would likely fight in small bands, retreating as they went. It isn’t in the fledgling Mardu’s interest or methodology to pursue. The Mardu wouldn't be fighting just the Temur, or even Elementals, but simply against the elements.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Winds of Qal Sisma"></div></div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> Empires are often sustained by memories and reputation, especially for victories in the recent past. Defeats of a certain scale and magnitude can shatter coalitions and overthrow empires. Fighting the Temur in their home territory, where Mardu spellcraft, cavalry and arrows would be worse than useless, facing attrition against the climate itself... the casualties might be catastrophic, even with Temur politics or infighting.</span></p>
<p class="p1">However, before we make our final analysis, let's see what real-life history can tell us about how this type of scenario might play out.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Lessons from the Real Life</h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Let us examine the cultures the Mardu and Temur were based upon. The Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan (r.1206-1227) expanded slowly at first. Genghis Khan united the people of the steppe under his banner after years upon years of civil war, and was poised to invade northern China (the Jin empire). However, being him, he decided it would secure his northern border against possible trouble be sending troops to the ‘forest peoples’ of northern Mongolia and southern Siberia (the Kirghiz, Oyirad, Buriyat, Tumed, Tuvans and Barqut). </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">To do this, he sent his oldest son, Jochi, with some troops to settle the matter of tribute, troops and incorporation into the empire.</span><span class="s1"> Jochi’s mission was swift and helped add additional troops to the Mongol army eager to press against Jin China. </span><span class="s1">This secured Genghis Khan’s northern border, leaving him free to attack on Northern China without fear of rebellion or a Mongol civil war boosted or inspired by the defiance of the northern tribes. </span><span class="s1">This arrangement worked out for about a decade.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Then it all went to hell.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" src="https://assets.echomtg.com/magic/cards/cropped/8395.hq.jpg" alt="Image result for mtg aggravated assault" width="292" height="236" /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">A reminder, folks: empires deal in blood, and the human cost of them is high. This isn’t a ‘Mongols are uniquely bad’ story, this is a ‘empires are uniformly bad based on their foundations’ story.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The spark that sets the whole thing aflame is that the southern Siberians do not pay tribute, refusing to give Genghis's top adjutants, Korchi of the Ba'arin, "thirty of their most beautiful women" to have to wife. The Tumed tribe rebel and take Korchi captive. Genghis Khan, unwilling to fight two wars unless it was absolutely necessary, sends an Oirat chieftain to negotiate with the forest people. This might have worked... but the forest people decide to capture him as well.</span></p>
<div id="attachment_39964" style="width: 434px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Mongol-Empire-1.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39964" class=" wp-image-39964" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Mongol-Empire-1.jpeg" alt="" width="424" height="287" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-39964" class="wp-caption-text">The fullest extent of the Mongol empire. Note the northwards boundaries stop just after Lake Baikal in Siberia.</p></div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Forgiveness is not one of Genghis Khan's traits, so he sends a major force north to bring the Siberians in line and rescue Korchi. </span><span class="s1">He sends one of his ‘four steeds,’ Boroqul, to get the job done quickly.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Tumed were expecting this. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Mongols were splendidly adapted to the steppe, but </span><span class="s1">cavalry in the thick pine forests of Siberia deprives it of the key advantage of mobility. The trees hem riders in, cut off their escape, prevent horsemen from picking up speed. A man on horseback that is forced to ride in single file through a canyon or a forest path is easiest target in the world. The forest people of Siberia laid countless traps and ambushes; boulders, deadfalls, arrows, and spears rain down on the Mongols throughout their advance. The Mongols had no chance to respond. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Tumed soundly trounce the first Mongol retrieval force, and Boroqul is killed by Tumed scouts. It can scarcely be called a fight. Worse for the Mongols, with the death of Boroqul, the rebellion against them looked like it was going to spread.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/defeat.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-40993 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/defeat.png" alt="" width="506" height="282" /></a></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Genghis, after receiving word of this defeat, sends another army and another commander. </span></p>
<p>This commander does manage to outfox the Tumed; he pretends to be laying his own ambush against the Tumed, in such a way the Tumed will certainly see, then branches off around, above and to the rear of the Tumed, and fell on them while they were feasting. His surprise attack wreaks quick revenge. Southern Siberia is once again made a semi-willing partner of the Mongol empire.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Applying History to Hypothesis</h3>
<p>So what's the lesson for our Mardu-Temur analysis? Does this precedent of Mongolian victory mean that the Mongolian-influenced Mardu would be able to conquer the Temur after all?</p>
<p>No, not exactly. <span class="s1">However successful and brilliant the Mongols were in empire-building, they didn’t push further north during the heyday of their conquests. They pushed in every other direction, but not north. </span><span class="s1">According to historian John Mann, the Mongols later heard about the arctic oceans from their trading contacts with the Finns, and immediately dubbed the far north ‘the sea of darkness’. </span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ambush Krotiq"></div></div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Therefore, the Mardu horde could reasonably expect to assimilate elements of the Temur clans if they consolidated their leadership. However, full conquest of the Temur is unlikely, even if most of their able-bodied members supported the Mardu empire in one way or another. </span>The Temur would slowly become tributaries/junior partners to the Mardu Empire, over generations, with the more hardcore traditional Temur being squeezed further north, into the ice-sheets and glaciers and most inhospitable mountains on the plane.</p>
<p>The Mardu, meanwhile, ensure they no longer have to deal with Temur raids at their northern border. The Mardu swell their ranks by recruiting the younger and stronger members of the Temur into the horde. <span class="s1">Shamanism becomes integrated into the Horde culture, to allow for faster communications and coordinating campaigns as well as using new types of Elementals in combat. </span></p>
<p class="p1">In summary, <span class="s1">the Temur frontier as described in the <strong>Planeswalker’s Guide to Tarkir</strong> is politically unstable, divided into distant clans, and vulnerable to partial annexation by a foreign power such as the Mardu horde. While the Mardu absolutely lack the political will and sophisticated infrastructure to fully conquer the deeply hostile Temur lands in their entirety, they are likely to succeed in other ways. Conscriptions from the southern Temur youth, along with tribute of supplies, furs and other essentials from Qal Sisma, would likely swell the Mardu coffers and give them an edge in their expansions elsewhere on Tarkir. </span>Having done this, it is likely this new Mardu empire will turn its sights across the steppe - to the Abzan.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! If you would like to talk more about the historical influences behind <em>Khans of Tarkir, </em>or you would like to discuss who might win in a fight between any of the other clans, hit me up in the comments below!</p>
<hr />
<p class="p1"><strong><span class="s2">Sources:</span></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Mongol Conquest of Siberia, 1207 (Historynomics, May 2019): </span><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLLJJSQi3Tg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLLJJSQi3Tg</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">McLynn, Frank - "</span><span class="s2">Genghis Khan: His Life, Conquests and Legacy." </span><span class="s1">De Capo Press, 2015</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> Naumov, Igor V. </span><span class="s1">"The History of Siberia." Routledge Studies in the History of Russia and Eastern Europe. Translated by Collins, David Norman.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Mongol Conquest of Siberia and First Battle with the Khwarezmians, 1216-1219 (The Jackmeister: Mongol History, Aug, 2018): </span><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJTnCCBcsE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJTnCCBcsE</a></span></p>
<p>Fan Map of Tarkir, 2015, courtesy of Dominian Dracologist: <span class="s2"><a href="https://dominian-dracologist.tumblr.com/post/125512414745/a-mockup-of-the-map-of-tarkir-im-making-aka-me">https://dominian-dracologist.tumblr.com/post/125512414745/a-mockup-of-the-map-of-tarkir-im-making-aka-me</a><br />
</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2">The Planeswalker's Guide to Tarkir 2: <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/planeswalkers-guide-khans-tarkir-part-2-2014-09-10">https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/planeswalkers-guide-khans-tarkir-part-2-2014-09-10</a></span></p>


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