Replacement Commanders - The Fairest of Phyrexian Mana

The 600 - A Review of Guilds of Ravnica Predictions

Commander Showdown - Trostani vs Ghired

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maalfeld Twins" href="#" target="_blank">Maalfeld Twins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.sassart.com/">Mike Sass</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Shadow Queen's Army</h1>
<p>At long last, we return to another <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>, where we take a closer look at cards that see play in 300 decks or less on EDHREC, and using them to construct an interesting deck. This week, we're taking a deep dive into the darkness with a mono-black build based around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, First of Locthwain" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, First of Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ayara, First of Locthwain"></div></div>
<p>As you could probably guess from the card, this deck is going to focus heavily on getting black creatures into play and leeching our opponents dry with Ayara's first ability. Additionally, the deck is going to have some ways to get creatures back from the graveyard to make them targets to sacrifice for Ayara's second ability, which draws us cards... which finds us was to get our creatures back... to sacrifice for more cards! This deck will play slowly, constantly pecking away at life totals until we're finally victorious! I also snuck in some great goodies which you can really only play in mono-black.</p>
<p>In order to maximize the options for cards with small deck counts, I intentionally stayed away from any tribal synergies; however, if you find tribal decks appealing, I would highly recommend settling on either Zombies or Rat theme, as there are plenty more support cards.</p>
<hr />
<h2>A Token of My Appreciation</h2>
<p>First, we should talk about the most efficient method for getting creatures into play: generating tokens.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maalfeld Twins"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wakedancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nested Ghoul"></div></div>
<p>First up in the token-makers category are the pair <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maalfeld Twins" href="#" target="_blank">Maalfeld Twins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grixis Slavedriver" href="#" target="_blank">Grixis Slavedriver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (147 and 102 decks, respectively). It's obvious that we're going to be sacrificing a lot of creatures to Ayara to replenish our hand, so getting some tokens out of it (and some more life from our opponents) is ideal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maalfeld Twins" href="#" target="_blank">Maalfeld Twins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us two extra for the price of one, and the Slavedriver can also come back in a pinch using its <em>Unearth</em> ability. Also note that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grixis Slavedriver" href="#" target="_blank">Grixis Slavedriver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> triggers on <em>leaving</em> the battlefield, not dying. That can definitely make a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> not as bad!</p>
<p>Speaking of sacrificing creatures, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wakedancer" href="#" target="_blank">Wakedancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can get us an extra body if there's been some of that the turn it hits play. Found in 83 decks, this card is a cheap way to produce a token in black. Given the high mana cost of other black body-makers, she's a welcome addition that won't require a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Charcoal Diamond" href="#" target="_blank">Charcoal Diamond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jet Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Jet Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to get out early. Plus, triggering upon entering the battlefield also works well when playing against bounce effects.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nested Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Nested Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides a third flavor of black token production, creating a 2/2 Zombie whenever it takes damage. While this isn't exactly ideal, given the sacrifice theme of this deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nested Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Nested Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is content to hit the bin the old-fashioned way, through combat damage. This should mean it replaces itself, at worst. Maybe it's even a reason to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pestilence" href="#" target="_blank">Pestilence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-type cards in the deck, to maximize token generation. The Ghoul is currently in 55 decks on EDHREC.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Carrion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lab Rats"></div></div>
<p>Creatures aren't the only way black can make tokens. It can instead use a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Mirage</em>. Played in 177 decks, this card serves as the inspiration for this deck. I've been waiting for a commander to provide <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a happy home, and Ayara does just that! Imagine sacrificing your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maalfeld Twins" href="#" target="_blank">Maalfeld Twins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and netting six tokens and a six-point life swing at the table! Being an instant just makes this card even better, and I like it in any black deck that cares about getting creatures into play. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa Karlov" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa Karlov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> probably likes it as well!</p>
<p>Back in <em>Stronghold</em>, we saw the original version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Recruit the Worthy" href="#" target="_blank">Recruit the Worthy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a black card by the name of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lab Rats" href="#" target="_blank">Lab Rats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and it sees play in only 173 decks. This card is a staple for me when I need endless chump-blockers or when I'm going Rat tribal. In this deck, it's a great repeatable way to trigger Ayara and provide her some fodder for card draw turn after turn. This card is a favorite of mine, and I feel like it's not seeing enough play for for its power level. Please consider it so that it winds up in more than 300 decks and I don't get to write about it anymore.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infernal Genesis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cellar Door"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breeding Pit"></div></div>
<p>Already, there are several token-making cards that are becoming staples for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, First of Locthwain" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, First of Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plague of Vermin" href="#" target="_blank">Plague of Vermin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tombstone Stairwell" href="#" target="_blank">Tombstone Stairwell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But I think <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Infernal Genesis" href="#" target="_blank">Infernal Genesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (203 decks) is also doing what these cards are doing, and is worth taking a look at. Adding recursion options to your graveyard while (hopefully) making a boatload of Minion tokens that trigger Ayara is exactly what we want! I'm not going to argue that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plague of Vermin" href="#" target="_blank">Plague of Vermin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't better, because that card is exactly what Ayara is looking for. However, I will say that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Infernal Genesis" href="#" target="_blank">Infernal Genesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> should still make your list.</p>
<p>My love of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cellar Door" href="#" target="_blank">Cellar Door</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is tough to contain. While I prefer it in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grenzo, Dungeon Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Grenzo, Dungeon Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> builds or those containing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reito Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Reito Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it's also a great option here to either mill yourself or an opponent and have a chance a token that triggers Ayara. It only sees play in 257 decks, but I sincerely believe that number should be over 1,000 given the strength and versatility displayed on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cellar Door" href="#" target="_blank">Cellar Door</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Please keep it on your radar in the future!</p>
<p>Lastly for the token-makers, we have Thrull generator <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeding Pit" href="#" target="_blank">Breeding Pit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While I'm not crazy about the constant cost to keep it on the field, this is about as close as I can find to a second copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ophiomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Ophiomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for the deck, and you all know how I love deck redundancy! Eventually, I'd like to try a Thrull tribal deck, and this card will be an immediate addition to it. For now, though, it just sees play in 187 decks.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Sacrifice Outlets</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malevolent Awakening"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Patriarch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dross Harvester"></div></div>
<p>Now that we've covered how we're going to make all of Ayara's minions, let's talk about how we can put those minions to work. The name of the game is going to be "sacrifice". Much like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, First of Locthwain" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, First of Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s second ability, we want to have ways to turn these tokens into some card advantage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malevolent Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Malevolent Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide that by allowing us to trade a creature in play for a creature back in hand. Played in 196 decks, this is one of the staple recursion options I use in my Commander brews. I remember sticking this in decks as a kid when <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oversold Cemetery" href="#" target="_blank">Oversold Cemetery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was too far outside of my budget.</p>
<p>Another sacrifice option from <em>Odyssey</em> is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Patriarch" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Patriarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While expensive to cast, this card provides a sizable body and a repeatable creature removal for a fair cost. The ability to turn creatures in your graveyard into further removal is really what sells it for me. I'm surprised it's only in 44 decks, either as the commander or in the 99.</p>
<p>While not actually a sacrifice outlet, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dross Harvester" href="#" target="_blank">Dross Harvester</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plays well with those cards that do cause loss of creatures. Despite the four life lost each time around the table, with enchantments like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Pact" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Pact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dictate of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Dictate of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, you'll be able to get that life back and then some. I think 268 decks is far too few for this underplayed all-star!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Supporting Cards for Mono Black</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sengir Nosferatu"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gravestorm"></div></div>
<p>We have two cards that don't really fit in with the sections above, but are still deserving of some attention. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sengir Nosferatu" href="#" target="_blank">Sengir Nosferatu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a token generator and sacrifice outlet all in one! Played in only 105 decks, this Vampire can transform into a Bat token for 1B, then back into a Vamp for another 1B, allowing for two triggers on Ayara. This ability can be cycled as much as needed with the commander in play, and provides a two-card mana sink to drain down your opponents. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only adds to the fun! Add in the blocking shenanigans which this enables, and you end up with an excellent card to slot into this deck.</p>
<p>Lastly, I've been trying to find a good deck in which to slot <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravestorm" href="#" target="_blank">Gravestorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the three black pips in its casting cost has made that difficult. Depending on your meta, please consider this enchantment for some ever-present graveyard hate which really turns on once someone's 'yard goes dry. It's especially great after a well-timed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Let's take a gander at this mono-black beast.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Legion of the Shadow Queen" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Ayara, First of Locthwain<br />
[/Commander]</p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Deathgreeter<br />
*1 Mortician Beetle<br />
*1 Blood Artist<br />
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat<br />
*1 Dross Harvester<br />
*1 Flesh Carver<br />
*1 Mardu Strike Leader<br />
*1 Midnight Reaper<br />
*1 Ophiomancer<br />
*1 Priest of Gix<br />
*1 Wakedancer<br />
*1 Disciple of Bolas<br />
*1 Falkenrath Noble<br />
*1 Gravedigger<br />
*1 Marsh Flitter<br />
*1 Mindslicer<br />
*1 Mortivore<br />
*1 Sengir Autocrat<br />
*1 Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder<br />
*1 Ghoulcaller Gisa<br />
*1 Krav, the Unredeemed<br />
*1 Nested Ghoul<br />
*1 Ogre Slumlord<br />
*1 Sadistic Hypnotist<br />
*1 Sengir Nosferatu<br />
*1 Cabal Patriarch<br />
*1 Grave Titan<br />
*1 Grixis Slavedriver<br />
*1 Maalfeld Twins<br />
*1 Noosegraf Mob<br />
*1 Skeletal Vampire<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[Instants]<br />
*1 Go for the Throat<br />
*1 Carrion<br />
[/Instants]</p>
<p>[Sorceries]<br />
*1 Lab Rats<br />
*1 Spark Harvest<br />
*1 Damnation<br />
*1 Plague of Vermin<br />
*1 Decree of Pain<br />
[/Sorceries]</p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Skullclamp<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Charcoal Diamond<br />
*1 Jet Medallion<br />
*1 Nim Deathmantle<br />
*1 Bontu's Monument<br />
*1 Cellar Door<br />
*1 Commander's Sphere<br />
*1 Crawlspace<br />
*1 Gate to the Afterlife<br />
*1 Lashwrithe<br />
*1 Phyrexian Processor<br />
*1 God-Pharaoh's Gift<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Dreadhorde Invasion<br />
*1 Gravestorm<br />
*1 Malevolent Awakening<br />
*1 Breeding Pit<br />
*1 Grave Pact<br />
*1 Rite of Belzenlok<br />
*1 Tombstone Stairwell<br />
*1 Black Market<br />
*1 Open the Graves<br />
*1 Infernal Genesis<br />
[/Enchantments]</p>
<p>[Planeswalkers]<br />
*1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General<br />
[/Planeswalkers]</p>
<p>[Lands]<br />
*1 Barren Moor<br />
*1 Bojuka Bog<br />
*1 Cabal Coffers<br />
*1 Cabal Stronghold<br />
*1 Castle Locthwain<br />
*1 Crypt of Agadeem<br />
*1 Polluted Mire<br />
*26 Swamp<br />
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth<br />
*1 Westvale Abbey<br />
*1 Witch's Cottage<br />
[/Lands]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>Are You Afraid of the Dark?</h2>
<p>Thanks for digging into all the hyper-underplayed, token-centric options available to black. Any questions, comments, or snide remarks? You know where to leave them below. I'll be around to discuss just how good making this deck tribal can be, alternatives for some of the more expensive cards that made my list, or all the fun I had at the Seattle Lego convention a few weeks ago. Until next time, may your <em>devotion to black</em> remain strong!</p>


Forgotten Harvest - Ayara and Her Minions

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cunning Sparkmage" href="#" target="_blank">Cunning Sparkmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.waynereynolds.com/">Wayne Reynolds</a>)</h6>
<h1><strong>The Last Cookout of Summer</strong></h1>
<p>Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania</em>. In this article series we build mono-colored decks as a way to explore ramp and draw packages that are synergistic with our particular deck’s strategy, and challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie.</p>
<p>I’ve been impressed by quite a few of the non-white mono-colored commander options from <em>Throne of Eldraine</em>, and I plan on tackling a few of them in the coming months in a subseries: <em>Monomania Takes on Eldraine</em>. Today, let’s fire up the grill. Summer is over, but the weather is still right for a barbecue.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Torbran, Thane of Red Fell"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>My experience watching and playing EDH in the last month has revealed an unprecedented proclivity for life total manipulation. Between all of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greven, Predator Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Greven, Predator Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks on the loose, it seems more common than ever for players to sit at 15 life without worry. This is the perfect time for a commander like Torbran to turn up the heat and make these players sweat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyrohemia"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>While burn strategies have never scaled well to EDH, Torbran changes the calculus on previously unplayable damage-based spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyrohemia" href="#" target="_blank">Pyrohemia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is being included in 72% of Torbran lists on EDHREC, and it perfectly illustrates why this commander is appealing: sources that persistently deal small amounts of chip damage are incredible with our commander. Every time we activate Pyrohemia’s ability, we’re tripling the amount of damage that it deals. And because Torbran has four health and only affects our opponents, we can activate Pyrohemia three times every turn without killing him. That adds up to nine damage to each of our opponents and their creatures for three mana every turn. The key to Torbran’s power is how he breaks symmetry: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamebreak" href="#" target="_blank">Flamebreak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slagstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Slagstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can clear a board while leaving our general on the field. If we cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electrickery" href="#" target="_blank">Electrickery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with our commander and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repercussion" href="#" target="_blank">Repercussion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the board, not only will Electrickery deal 3 damage to each creature our opponents control, but it will also deal 5 damage to our opponents for each creature dealt damage this way.</p>
<p>There is a multitude of possibilities with Torbran: small goblins suddenly become potent attackers, blockers, and threats to our opponents’ life totals, so we could fill our deck with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mogg Fanatic" href="#" target="_blank">Mogg Fanatic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <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>, <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>, <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>, and <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>. There are also a suite of effects in red that tax our opponents with damage such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harsh Mentor" href="#" target="_blank">Harsh Mentor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Immolation Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Immolation Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zo-zu the Punisher" href="#" target="_blank">Zo-zu the Punisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I personally decided to make this something of a sequel to my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashling the Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Ashling the Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/monomania-nuclear-codes/">deck</a> previously featured on Monomania. While these decks share a central theme, new cards and Torbran's particular qualities actually make them significantly different. If all goes according to plan, we’ll be slinging spells and putting our opponents on a rotisserie.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Fire Up the Grill</strong></h2>
<p>This deck has a very low curve, topping off at six mana. As such, our ramp package should be focused on small, early-game jumps. Our goal with this ramp strategy is to cast our commander consistently on turn three. We’re running six ramp effects that cost two or less.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coldsteel Heart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ruby Medallion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Star Compass"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Here we have three of these ramp effects—each of them cost two mana and will allow us to cast our commander on turn three. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruby Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Ruby Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the clear haymaker in our style of deck. With all of our rummage effects and low-cost spells, we'll be able to cast multiple spells a turn and net the discount on all of them. Once we get our deck’s engine online, this cost reduction will stack and permit us to capitalize on explosive turns.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Amulet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyromancer’s Goggles"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>These cards need no introduction, I'm sure — they're both powerhouses in EDH. Any one-color deck with a high quantity of spells wants these two cards. Both grant some sort of ramp and allow us to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> our spells. This can lead to more burn or enhanced draw with rummaging effects.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Keep the Heat On</h2>
<p>Now let’s examine how we’re going to squeeze card advantage out of this mono-red shell. We’re focused here on wheeling and looting. We aren’t emphasizing overall hand size, we're emphasizing keeping a well-constructed grip.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bag of Holding"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glint-Horn Buccaneer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reforge the Soul"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Up first, we have a set of effects that capitalize on rummaging. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bag of Holding" href="#" target="_blank">Bag of Holding</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has quickly become one of my favorite colorless card advantage effects for mono-colored decks. In this deck in particular, where we will be discarding at a high frequency, we can quickly juice Bag of Holding’s last ability. It is a surprisingly potent draw effect that outclasses most others. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glint-Horn Buccaneer" href="#" target="_blank">Glint-Horn Buccaneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will allow us to rummage, and is itself a payoff for rummage effects. If we cast the always stellar <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reforge the Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Reforge the Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with the Buccaneer and our commander on the battlefield, we can hit our opponents for nine, twelve, fifteen, or more damage in one go.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrill of Possibility"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathartic Reunion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magmatic Insight"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As I covered in my article on Ashling, cards that rummage are extremely good in Spellslinger strategies that run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. For anybody who hasn’t yet heard about this particular interaction, if we fork a rummage spell that causes us to discard as an additional cost, the copy will not cause us to discard. Just as we don’t have to pay the mana cost of a copy, we also don’t have to pay any additional costs, we only copy the spell after all costs have been paid.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Needle Drop"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shake the Foundations"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Finally, we have two cards that cycle themselves when we cast them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Needle Drop" href="#" target="_blank">Needle Drop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful card in our deck; for one mana, we can <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> something <em>and</em> draw a card. It’s no secret that Lightning Bolt isn’t very good in EDH, but stapling "draw a card" onto it swings the needle just enough. This card is an innocuous inclusion, but it has such a low opportunity cost that it absolutely deserves a spot in our deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shake the Foundations" href="#" target="_blank">Shake the Foundations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> scales well here, as well. Dealing three to all of our opponents’ creatures wouldn’t be powerful enough to warrant an inclusion in this list, but because it replaces itself, it should perform well for us clearing not only tokens but early-game creatures as well.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>The Deck</strong></h2>
<p>With all that set and sorted, let’s put the pieces together with a deck list. The name of the game is death by a thousand cuts. We want to keep chipping away at our opponents’ life totals until they’re cooked through evenly. Grab your spatula and, as per usual, season to taste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfuric Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flame Fusillade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karplusan Minotaur"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Among the other notable inclusions here we have a slew of effects to capitalize on Torbran’s damage amplification. <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> is a staple in Group Slug strategies, and it's an imperative inclusion here: it will drain our opponents for 1/10th of their starting life total every turn with our commander on the battlefield. What’s more, it'll shut down the lifegain strategies that try to pull out of reach. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flame Fusillade" href="#" target="_blank">Flame Fusillade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the resident sleeper of this deck. Currently, it only sees play in 61 decks registered on EDHREC, but with Torbran it has found its forever home. This card is an absolute house, transmogrifying all of our innocent permanents into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kamahl, Pit Fighter" href="#" target="_blank">Kamahl, Pit Fighter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If the game goes late, this spell will end the game in a flash.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karplusan Minotaur" href="#" target="_blank">Karplusan Minotaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun political tool in this deck. If we win a flip, we get to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the target of our choice. If we lose a flip, one of our opponents has to decide whether to point 1 damage in our direction, or 3 toward a scarier opponent. Any player that enjoys value will choose the latter. Karplusan Minotaur exemplifies a compelling nuance to this deck: the more we can split up damage, the more value we can squeeze out of Torbran's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inferno Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Inferno Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, gives us a choice to deal 5 damage to one target, 4 damage to one target and 2 to another, or 3 damage to three targets. This principle holds for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaws of Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Jaws of Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well. If we play Jaws with six <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mountain" href="#" target="_blank">Mountain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s on the battlefield, we could deal 8 damage to one target, 3 damage to six different targets, or any favorable combination in between. Be democratic—hit all of your friends and enemies equally to most effectively milk Torbran's ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cinder Pyromancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firebrand Archer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vulshok Sorcerer"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The backbone of this deck is a suite of creatures that slowly ping our opponents to death. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firebrand Archer" href="#" target="_blank">Firebrand Archer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guttersnipe" href="#" target="_blank">Guttersnipe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are powerful in <em>Storm</em> decks, but the rest of these cards cards are suboptimal when they only deal one damage. With our commander, however, they become much more potent; these cards are our most likely path to victory.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Char Broiled" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Electrostatic Field
*1 Firebrand Archer
*1 Thermo-Alchemist
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Cinder Pyromancer
*1 Cunning Sparkmage
*1 Glint-Horn Buccaneer
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Magus of the Wheel
*1 Rampaging Ferocidon
*1 Sin Prodder
*1 Vulshok Sorcerer
*1 Karplusan Minotaur
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Backdraft Hellkite
*1 Neheb, the Eternal
*1 Inferno Titan
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Chandra, Fire Artisan
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Elecktrickery
*1 Needle Drop
*1 Increasing Vengeance
*1 Price of Progress
*1 Reverberate
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Arcbond
*1 Shake the Foundations
*1 Volcanic Fallout
*1 Sulfurous Blast
*1 Wild Ricochet
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Wheel of Fate
*1 Magmatic Insight
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Mizzium Mortars
*1 Tormenting Voice
*1 Wild Guess
*1 Flamebreak
*1 Light Up the Stage
*1 Slagstorm
*1 Flame Fusillade
*1 Ignite the Future
*1 Past in Flames
*1 Reforge the Soul
*1 Jaws of Stone
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bag of Holding
*1 Basilisk Collar
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Star Compass
*1 Primal Amulet
*1 Pyromancer’s Goggles
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aria of Flame
*1 Repercussion
*1 Spellshock
*1 Sulfuric Vortex
*1 Aether Sting
*1 Burning Earth
*1 Manabarbs
*1 Pyrohemia
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Desert of the Fervent
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Ghitu Encampment
*29 Mountain
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Smoldering Crater
*1 Spinerock Knoll
*1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>A quick and important final note: every land in the history of Magic is colorless (the only exception being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dryad Arbor" href="#" target="_blank">Dryad Arbor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). While we are running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle" href="#" target="_blank">Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Torbran only increases damage from red sources you control, so Valakut will not benefit from this effect. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shivan Gorge" href="#" target="_blank">Shivan Gorge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is currently in 16% of Torbran decks on EDHREC and it seems underpowered here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghitu Encampment" href="#" target="_blank">Ghitu Encampment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on the other hand, turns into a potent blocker with Torbran, dealing 4 first strike damage as a red creature.</p>
<p>What do you think of Torbran? In what direction would you have taken this commander? Is Group Slug an appealing strategy to you? Sometimes, after a two-hour game, I know I like to play a live-fast, die-young deck so that everyone can get to bed on time. Let me know in the comments. Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


Monomania Takes on Eldraine — Char Broiled

Too-Specific Top 10 - Rotation Rotation Rotation

Conditions Allow - Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.chasestoneart.com/">Chase Stone</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/epic-experiment-living-end-anje/">Last article</a>, we built a deck with one of the most infamous commanders from <em>Commander 2019</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anje Falkenrath" href="#" target="_blank">Anje Falkenrath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In this article, let's take on yet another of the most infamous commanders from the set. Yes, I'm talking about the daddy's boy himself, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p><img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=470564&amp;type=card" alt="K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Lifelink</strong></p>
<p><strong>For each {B} in a cost, you may pay 2 life rather than pay that mana</strong></p>
<p><strong>Whenever you cast a black spell, put a +1/+1 counter on K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>It's easy to see what all the fuss is about; his first ability is extremely powerful, especially in a color as versatile as black.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>There are plenty of powerful spells and effects that have several {B} pips in their costs, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necropotence" href="#" target="_blank">Necropotence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolas&#039;s Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Bolas&#039;s Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, that we could take advantage of.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>His first and third abilities are really powerful because, as he grows bigger, he gains you more life with the damage he deals, allowing you to cast more black spells using life as a resource, making him bigger... you see where I'm going with this?</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>He's best buddies with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vilis, Broker of Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Vilis, Broker of Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Krrik.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-39549" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Krrik.png" alt="" width="709" height="368" /></a></p>
<p>The High Synergy section of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s page shows how cutthroat the average list is. With cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tendrils of Agony" href="#" target="_blank">Tendrils of Agony</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <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>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can see that this leads into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grapeshot" href="#" target="_blank">stormy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> territory.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p><img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=209049&amp;type=card" alt="Tainted Strike" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=220387&amp;type=card" alt="Skeletal Grimace" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=23043&amp;type=card" alt="Shade's Form" /></p>
<p>While K'rrik's mana acceleration ability is certainly powerful, his second ability caught my eye because it has all the potential for a potent Voltron commander. With his mana-evasion ability, being able to pay for Auras and combat tricks at a discounted rate is incredibly powerful, especially on a commander with a slightly-higher-than-average casting cost of seven mana (or four mana and six life).</p>
<p>There're three main points that every Voltron deck needs to address to be effective: power, evasion, and protection. The first of these correlates to the faster clock that you as the Voltron player will be on to knock other players out, and usually 7+ power, which will allow three-hit kills, is what we should be shooting for. The second point is pivotal: each combat step is crucial for a Voltron deck because if you're not able to connect with your opponents, you have no chance of winning the game. Finally, by definition, our deck is going to revolve around our commander; if we have to keep casting him over and over again, even with the Phyrexian mana, he'll soon be prohibitively expensive and our win con goes out the window.</p>
<p>If we want to reduce the number of times we need to hit our opponents, why not reduce the amount of damage that we need to do? <em>Infect</em> can most certainly draw the ire of the table, but hopefully you can curry some political favor to avoid immediately becoming the target of the table. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyresis" href="#" target="_blank">Phyresis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is straightforward: K'rrik now has <em>Infect</em>. But why not <em>Infect</em> and a power boost? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grafted Exoskeleton" href="#" target="_blank">Grafted Exoskeleton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives <em>Infect</em> and +2/+2. If K'rrik stays suited up, your opponents are in real trouble.</p>
<p>Whether or not K'rrik has <em>Infect</em>, firebreathing effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midnight Covenant" href="#" target="_blank">Midnight Covenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shade&#039;s Form" href="#" target="_blank">Shade&#039;s Form</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Kiss" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Kiss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shade&#039;s Breath" href="#" target="_blank">Shade&#039;s Breath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hatred" href="#" target="_blank">Hatred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are great for this build since, being in black, they allow us to trade our life for our opponents', but since K'rrik has lifelink, we come out ahead on that exchange.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=429909&amp;type=card" alt="Untamed Hunger" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=121257&amp;type=card" alt="Rime Transfusion" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=446016&amp;type=card" alt="Inner Demon" /></p>
<p>For evasion we have several different options: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inner Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Inner Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun card that can clear the way while also giving our commander flying; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rime Transfusion" href="#" target="_blank">Rime Transfusion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great way to guarantee that we'll never get blocked; and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aphotic Wisps" href="#" target="_blank">Aphotic Wisps</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nighthaze" href="#" target="_blank">Nighthaze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are interesting additions because they're free cantrips that grow our commander while giving him evasion.</p>
<p>To protect K'rrik, there are plenty of regeneration effects, which can be somewhat risky since they don't protect us from exile removals or the iconic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We have a few combat tricks that can regenerate our commander, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boon of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Boon of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unnatural Endurance" href="#" target="_blank">Unnatural Endurance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, each of which can be played for free, a very effective method of catching people off guard. Also, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unlikely Aid" href="#" target="_blank">Unlikely Aid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rush of Vitality" href="#" target="_blank">Rush of Vitality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> grant indestructible at instant speed.</p>
<p>For standalone threats, we have a few angles of attack, from directly interacting with life totals with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Essence Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Essence Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exsanguinate" href="#" target="_blank">Exsanguinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to a few other alternative Voltrons, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erebos, God of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Erebos, God of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="K’ rrik Voltron" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
[/Commander]
[Enchantment]
*Demonic Vigor
*Gruesome Deformity
*Molting Snakeskin
*Predator&#039;s Gambit
*Unholy Strength
*Vampiric Link
*Dark Favor
*Dragon Shadow
*Fear
*Midnight Covenant
*Phyresis
*Rime Transfusion
*Scourgemark
*Skeletal Grimace
*Strength of Lunacy
*Phyrexian Arena
*Shade&#039;s Form
*Soul Kiss
*Untamed Hunger
*Vow of Malice
*Feast of the Unicorn
*Greed
*Inner Demon
*Vampiric Embrace
[/Enchantment]
[Artifact]
*Everflowing Chalice
*Sol Ring
*Charcoal Diamond
*Coldsteel Heart
*Fellwar Stone
*Jet Medallion
*Mind Stone
*Prismatic Lens
*Prowler&#039;s Helm
*Thought Vessel
*Trailblazer&#039;s Boots
*Darksteel Plate
*Haunted Cloak
*Sword of Truth and Justice
*Sword of Vengeance
*Grafted Exoskeleton
*Hedron Archive
*Caged Sun
*The Immortal Sun
[/Artifact]
[Instant]
*Aphotic Wisps
*Boon of Erebos
*Tainted Strike
*Unnatural Endurance
*Go for the Throat
*Rush of Vitality
*Shade&#039;s Breath
*Unlikely Aid
*Butcher&#039;s Glee
*Hero&#039;s Downfall
*Hatred
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Nighthaze
*Exsanguinate
*Night&#039;s Whisper
*Sign in Blood
*Dead of Winter
*Essence Harvest
*Toxic Deluge
[/Sorcery]
[Creature]
*Erebos, God of the Dead
*Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
*Vilis, Broker of blood
[/Creature]
[Land]
*Cabal Coffers
*Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*Barren Moor
*Shizo, Death&#039;s Storehouse
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*Scrying Sheets
*Rogue&#039;s Passage
*Myriad Landscape
*26 Snow-Covered Swamp
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>K'rrik has a few key points that makes him different from other Voltron commanders: he's slow, but because of his mana acceleration ability, he catches up pretty quickly. Given that, he values card draw pretty highly.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=439844&amp;type=card" alt="The Immortal Sun" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=433160&amp;type=card" alt="Sword of Vengeance" /> <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Sword-of-Truth-and-Justice.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-39587" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Sword-of-Truth-and-Justice.png" alt="" width="224" height="313" /></a></p>
<p>Artifacts are a necessary evil for mono-colored decks; they'll cover our general weakness while contributing to our gameplan, but we need to be careful to maintain a critical amount of black spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Immortal Sun" href="#" target="_blank">The Immortal Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an all-around killer in this deck, as it basically gives us everything that we can possibly want: a nice influx of cards, a colorless cost reduction so we can play our spells for free, and an anthem for K'rrik and any other creatures we may end up with on the battlefield. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Truth and Justice" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Truth and Justice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerhouse; especially with the number of <em>Infect</em> enablers and +1/+1 counters we have, we'll be gaining a lot of value if we have access to a constant <em>Proliferate</em> source.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>For our opening hand, mana rocks, a few Auras, and maybe some way to draw cards. We can afford to play mana rocks and draw for a few turns in the early game, but this type of opening needs a follow up, or we might fall behind. Playing Equipment a bit later might be a better idea because they're likely to waste our whole turn, otherwise.</p>
<p>For the mid-game we should start becoming the threat. At this point in the game it's important to keep up in cards, but K'rrik's safety should always be our priority. This is the point of the game where that we start killing our opponents; a clean early kill is a good way to disrupt the board since it's one less player you need to have answers for.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=212249&amp;type=card" alt="Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=210235&amp;type=card" alt="Exsanguinate" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=271114&amp;type=card" alt="Essence Harvest" /></p>
<p>The late game can find us in a tough position, since we don't have many haste enablers, and the ones that we do have are equipment and have equip costs attached to them, so we shouldn't count on our commander for a surprise attack. Luckily for us, we have a few other ways to win, like a big <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exsanguinate" href="#" target="_blank">Exsanguinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or even an armed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<p><img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=438664&amp;type=card" alt="Necropotence" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=389639&amp;type=card" alt="Pontiff of Blight" /> <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=220088&amp;type=card" alt="Drifting Shade" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Investing on <em>Extort</em> creatures seems like a good addition to the deck; of these, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crypt Ghast" href="#" target="_blank">Crypt Ghast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pontiff of Blight" href="#" target="_blank">Pontiff of Blight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are some of the more playable ones.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Another fun subtheme that we could consider is Shade tribal. Shades usually have a temporary pump ability, so having some evasive ones, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drifting Shade" href="#" target="_blank">Drifting Shade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can help us finish off games with our commander out.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necropotence" href="#" target="_blank">Necropotence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that I deliberately left out of the list; sure, it's great with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I don't think that it's a fun card.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Did we make daddy Yawgmoth proud? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment- K'rrik Voltron

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Rot" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Rot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&amp;artist=[%22Steve%20Luke%22]">Steve Luke</a>)</h6>
<h1>As the Kids Say, "YOLO"</h1>
<p>Hey everyone! Kya here once again! Welcome back to <em>Turning Data to Decks</em>, the series where we take a different dive into the EDHREC site from the typical norm.</p>
<p>I've been writing these articles for a while now, and typically a lot of thought and work goes into them before I even sit down at the computer and begin my long rants of hardly coherent writings. I know for many, building a deck can be difficult and some even look to us writers for insights on types of decks or unique interactions with cards they've never seen before. It's been my privilege to share my ideas (and nonsense) with the wide EDH world throughout the years here on EDHREC.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Act on Impulse"></div></div>
<p>But let's just do something different for once. Let's put zero prep work into anything and just have fun building a silly yet effective deck! Why, you ask? Because sometimes I think we don't do enough of a good job expressing how fun it is to make a casual brew on the spot. Sure, I have some decks that I've put in countless hours and dollars into, which last for life... but I also have some that were made in the heat of the moment. More often than not, these become equally as fun as some of my more "serious" decks, and they often earn a special place in my heart. To show you how easy it is, I'll write this as I navigate EDHREC and show you how simple building a deck can be. Let's begin, shall we?</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Roll of the Dice</h2>
<p>Let me show you one of the least-talked-about-yet-most-amazing features of EDHREC: the <strong>Random Commander</strong> button! All you need to do is click on the <strong>Commander</strong> section on the top of the browser and go down to <strong>Random</strong>. Clicking on this will redirect you to our new commander. If you're not sure where to go, here's a quick image for you:</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/70249591_371108943773515_9150263082067427328_n.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-39300 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/70249591_371108943773515_9150263082067427328_n.jpg" alt="" width="219" height="260" /></a></p>
<p>Why is this one of the best sections of the site? It does seem kind of odd that I'm boasting about random features in a data-driven article from a data-driven website. The thing is, it can really spice up your playgroup, especially if you're looking for something new. EDH has a lot of benefits to it, but one of its biggest issues is that it doesn't really have an excuse to casually draft or brew the way some of the other formats do. Typically when you're building an EDH deck, you're going 120% to ensure it's the best deck it can be, no matter the direction you're going with it.</p>
<p>However, getting a few friends to agree on a super budget for deckbuilding can be a ton of fun! Spending no more than $60 to build an on-the-fly casual deck evokes that feeling of suspense and anticipation of not knowing how the deck will turn out. Sure, some of you might be reading the $60 pricetag and think it's a bit much, and, well, it is, or at least it can be for some. However, those who've been playing EDH for an extended period of time may understand the staleness that can come from playing the same decks over and over. $60 becomes less heavy when you consider it an admission fee for a few weekends of fun! Plus, you can get yourself a few cheap staples you might have been holding out on for one reason or another.</p>
<p>Anyways, enough talk. Let's press this <strong>Random Commander</strong> button and see what we get!</p>
<hr />
<h2>When You Fail to Appease the Chaos Gods</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nebuchadnezzar"></div></div>
<p>What? OH COME ON! What even is this stupid thing? I can't even pronounce it or read what it does. Give me a second to Google this... Oh. Apparently he's a Babylonian King. Neat. Wait a second! Isn't this the ship from <em>The Matrix</em> as well? I'm pretty sure that means I can pull a Neo and take the red pill to get myself a new card. No, no... a deal is a deal. Let's head over to <a href="https://scryfall.com/card/me3/162/nebuchadnezzar">Scryfall</a> to check out the Oracle errata text to see what he does:</p>
<blockquote><p><img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?size=small&amp;name=X&amp;type=symbol" alt="Variable Colorless" align="bottom" />, <img decoding="async" src="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?size=small&amp;name=tap&amp;type=symbol" alt="Tap" align="bottom" />: Choose a card name. Target opponent reveals X cards at random from their hand. Then that player discards all cards with that name revealed this way. Activate this ability only during your turn.</p></blockquote>
<p>Yes, it's hand hate! This is actually a great thing we've stumbled upon! Sure, hand hate isn't normally that great in regular EDH, even by casual standards. However, keep in mind that we're going super budget and completely random. This can actually be one of the most unique decks one could possibly slap on the table for a group of budget decks. What would be the odds of getting anything even remotely similar from the giant pool of commanders out there? Okay, I'm actually super excited about this now! So what are we going to do?</p>
<hr />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Telepathy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glasses of Urza"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seer&#039;s Vision"></div></div>
<p>Since I'm unfamiliar with this commander, I'm going to take a peek at our commander's <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/nebuchadnezzar">page</a> for more information. Because this article's hitting new levels of casual discussion, I'll be honest and blunt with you: some might say that we're just net decking, like it's a bad thing. However, such a statement is entirely untrue: there's nothing wrong with looking at these pages to get a general idea of what others have done with this sort of commander. For example, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Telepathy" href="#" target="_blank">Telepathy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seer&#039;s Vision" href="#" target="_blank">Seer&#039;s Vision</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> illustrate a great way to play this commander: peeking at hands! This makes sense, after all, considering that otherwise you'd have to guess what's in your opponents' hands, which is quite ineffective. However, this isn't copying and pasting other decks, is it? Now that we got the gist of things, its up to you and me to decide how we want to fully shape the deck!</p>
<hr />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Megrim"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Echo of Eons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Deal"></div></div>
<p>So this is a little "advanced", but honestly I'm not a complete fan of just staying on the commander page on EDHREC and building a deck from there; our mission isn't to take the numbers as gospel, and we might miss some great cards that synergize with what our deck could be doing. This is especially true for less popular and older commanders, where most decklists added into EDHREC will be be few and far between, giving us a small amount of outdated information. This deck illustrates that perfectly.</p>
<p>Some of the Top Cards we'll use, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Telepathy" href="#" target="_blank">Telepathy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, though they are very rare and won't be what wins us the game. Discard is fun, but we've got to do damage, so right away on the commander page, my eyes locked on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megrim" href="#" target="_blank">Megrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Looking at this card, we obviously need multiple versions of it. More importantly, we need ways to get that damage to happen, so I clicked on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megrim" href="#" target="_blank">Megrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s link and went to its own page to find cards that synergize well with it. Here I found gems like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echo of Eons" href="#" target="_blank">Echo of Eons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Deal" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Deal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, neither of which were high on our commander's page.</p>
<p>Another great discovery was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wheel and Deal" href="#" target="_blank">Wheel and Deal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! Where has this been all my life? Another card that I found but that I won't add to this particular deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Day&#039;s Undoing" href="#" target="_blank">Day&#039;s Undoing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; it'll work like Echo for another card I have in mind, but one combo piece is enough for this casual deck! Anyways, great cards I would have completely missed if I didn't check Megrim's page. This highlights an important point about EDHREC: although it can provide some great synergies, going from top to bottom might mean you miss out on some great subthemes and give you a jumbled mess of a deck. Find out what you want to do, and then start looking at those cards that do it! Just a tip for those who use EDHREC often!</p>
<hr />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lazav, Dimir Mastermind"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mindleech Mass"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wandering Eye"></div></div>
<p>The most important thing about the thing in these sorts of decks is having plenty of creatures. Let's be real, many budget decks will use combat damage as a win condition, so we've got to make sure we can defend ourselves as we mill people to death and make them discard cards.</p>
<p>Of course, since we're making people discard, this means we're also dipping a bit into people's graveyards! This makes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lazav, Dimir Mastermind" href="#" target="_blank">Lazav, Dimir Mastermind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> perfect for us! If you want to add more into this kind of mechanic, you can always click on Lazav and find other similar cards on EDHREC! Personally, I just want the boardstate, so I'll leave Lazav as just a side note of the deck. Also, we kind of have a mini Specter theme going on in the EDHREC listing for our commander. I kind of like this... we should jam in as many Specters as we can find! After all, they're all good at getting people to discard their hand!</p>
<hr />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Notion Thief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Consuming Aberration"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Narset, Parter of Veils"></div></div>
<p>Now: how we win. Outside of the obvious pinging people for discarding and wheels, we have to find some nasty little combos that will devastate the entire board. Imagine having <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset, Parter of Veils" href="#" target="_blank">Narset, Parter of Veils</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and then casting a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! The game is basically over! Remember <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echo of Eons" href="#" target="_blank">Echo of Eons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? No one else gets to draw after all! Any cards left in someone's hand after this little trick? Use your commander to discard it! Not a bad way to shut down the game until you win. I mentioned this before, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset, Parter of Veils" href="#" target="_blank">Narset, Parter of Veils</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> wasn't even in EDHREC's listing for this commander. It makes sense, as it's a newer card with an older deck. However, this is why looking around is so important! Always click on the cards you like to find even more cards that go great with it! Don't just limit yourself to a single page!</p>
<p>Okay, enough chat. Let's build this deck!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Blue Pill" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Nebuchadnezzar
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Fleet Swallower
*1 Hypnotic Specter
*1 Liliana&#039;s Specter
*1 Wandering Eye
*1 Liliana&#039;s Reaver
*1 Mindleech Mass
*1 Banshee of the Dread Choir
*1 Doomsday Specter
*1 Dimir Cutpurse
*1 Fell Specter
*1 Abyssal Specter
*1 Urgoros, the Empty One
*1 Jace&#039;s Archivist
*1 Guiltfeeder
*1 Dinrova Horror
*1 Lazav, Dimir Mastermind
*1 Guul Draz Specter
*1 Hollow Specter
*1 Siren of the Silent Song
*1 Consuming Aberration
*1 Notion Thief
*1 Ghastlord of Fugue
*1 Blizzard Specter
*1 Scythe Specter
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Peek
*1 Lay Bare
*1 Spy Network
*1 Wheel and Deal
*1 Treacherous Urge
*1 Murder
*1 Negate
*1 Psychic Strike
*1 Dream Salvage
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Hymn to Tourach
*1 Unnerve
*1 Harsh Scrutiny
*1 Thoughtseize
*1 Traumatize
*1 Echo of Eons
*1 Tasigur&#039;s Cruelty
*1 Duress
*1 Delirium Skeins
*1 Consult the Necrosages
*1 Whispering Madness
*1 Dark Deal
*1 Windfall
*1 Thought Erasure
*1 Divest
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Cursed Rack
*1 Geth&#039;s Grimoire
*1 Glasses of Urza
*1 Wheel of Torture
*1 Skullcage
*1 The Rack
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Planeswalker&#039;s Mischief
*1 Telepathy
*1 Seer&#039;s Vision
*1 Zur&#039;s Weirding
*1 Larceny
*1 Megrim
*1 Bottomless Pit
*1 Raiders&#039; Wake
*1 Shrieking Affliction
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Narset, Parter of Veils
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*17 Island
*17 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Closing Thoughts</h2>
<p>I'm actually pretty happy with this deck; even without overly trying to stick to a budget, it hit barely $60 without extensive shopping. Getting accurate prices is difficult sometimes as it seems the 'low' default price is often 25 cents. Looking briefly, you can easily adjust this deck to be even cheaper or move things around. I'm just sad I couldn't fit in some cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waste Not" href="#" target="_blank">Waste Not</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which are super expensive for budget purposes, but which demonstrate some fun upgrade paths if you're willing to go farther with it.</p>
<p>Honestly, I might just keep this deck, silly as it is. It really does something different from most, all while keeping up a presence and keeping constant threat. Most importantly, though, it does something fairly unique: keeping an eye on everyone's hand! As briefly mentioned before, there are only a few enchantments that keep hands revealed, but it's great when you draw them and get to police everyone's plays!</p>
<p>What did you think? Have you ever used the <strong>Random</strong> button before? If not, I hope this motivated you to give it a try! Spin that wheel and see what the EDHREC gods bring you!</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/random/">Try it out here!</a></p>
<p>Until next time,</p>
<p>Kya</p>


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