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<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By: <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMagali+Villeneuve%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Magali Villeneuve</a></em></p>
<p>I have never played any <em>Final Fantasy</em> game. Yes, you read that right, I have <em>never</em> played any <em>Final Fantasy</em> game, unless you count the <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> franchise. Nevertheless, the upcoming <em>Final Fantasy</em> <em>Magic</em> set has some incredibly unique and fabulous cards. One card that I vibed with upon first seeing it was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Welcome to the latest instalment of <em>Tech The Deck</em>, featuring a deck reminiscent of playing a video game on hard mode.</p>
<h2>New Game +</h2>
<p>For some reason, I like three-mana value (MV) cards way too much; my draft decks look like upside-down castles. So when I saw an Esper colored (white, blue, and black) commander that gets value off of casting a three MV spell, I was immediately interested. But when I started putting this deck together, something changed within me. Something deep inside, a primordial urge screamed out. It yelled at me, saying, "ONLY THREE TYPES!" I answered the call. This deck, outside of the lands and the commander, only runs three card types: sorceries, instants, and enchantments.</p>
<p>Why would I do this? Why would I not run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? What prevented me from putting a planeswalker or a battle on my list? The deck just started me in this direction. I moved from hard control, to playing around with cloning the commander as much as possible, to playing a deck based around enchantments and cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Donate" href="#" target="_blank">Donate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusions of Grandeur" href="#" target="_blank">Illusions of Grandeur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But in the end, I decided that three card types were the way to go. So, enough pontificating, let's get to the cards.</p>
<h2>End Credits</h2>
<p>We'll start at the end of the game's first run with our plans to beat the final boss. The first way we play to win the game is to live long enough to cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The life gain and card draw from our commander should help us both stave off death and dig to get the all-important second cast of Approach. This might not be the most exciting way to win the game, but when playing with this restriction, sometimes we use the busted items that the game gives us to balance the scales.</p>
<p>My preferred way to win is a bit more interesting.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nine Lives"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lich&#039;s Mastery"></div></div>
<p>Both of these enchantments serve double duty in the deck. First, they keep us alive, possibly the most significant challenge with a deck that does nothing until turn three. The second is that they have a built-in condition that can cause us to lose the game. This comes in very handy when you combine it with two other cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fractured Identity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Patrician&#039;s Scorn"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fractured Identity" href="#" target="_blank">Fractured Identity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to give a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nine Lives" href="#" target="_blank">Nine Lives</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lich&#039;s Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Lich&#039;s Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the rest of the table. The Patrician's Scorn allows us to, at instant speed, blow them up, forcing the rest of the table to lose the game with our lose-the-game trigger on the stack. This is a combo I've been looking to cram into a deck, and I was glad that Y'shtola might be the commander to allow me to do it.</p>
<h2>Sorcerthrees</h2>
<p>Outside of our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fractured Identity" href="#" target="_blank">Fractured Identity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, three other sorceries highlight the deck quite nicely.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Risky Shortcut"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Battle of Bywater"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toxic Deluge"></div></div>
<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Risky Shortcut" href="#" target="_blank">Risky Shortcut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my favorite cards from <em>Aetherdrift,</em> and it allows us to trigger both of Y'shtola's abilities with one single card. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Battle of Bywater" href="#" target="_blank">The Battle of Bywater</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a cheap Wrath effect that might not clear everything off the board. It will eliminate the most threatening things from our opponents, while allowing our two-power commander to stick around. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the best black mass removal spells ever made and fits perfectly with this deck - especially if we pay four or more life, we can draw a card from our commander's effect.</span></p>
<h2>Three Scoops of Instant Speed</h2>
<h3>Counter Magic</h3>
<p>This deck might feature some of the least played seen instants in the format. But believe me when I say they're some of my favorite cards ever. They're full of pips and full of potential.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Perplex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Render Silent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undermine"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Perplex" href="#" target="_blank">Perplex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be the secret best card in the entire deck. While I'm not just playing cards that cost three MV, I am playing 31, so there's 30 other cards that I can tutor with the transmute ability.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Render Silent" href="#" target="_blank">Render Silent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't the most efficient counterspell out there, but it shuts down an entire player's turn, no matter what spell they decide to start with. This will often make at least one player at the table your enemy, so don't use this spell unless you're sure it's worth it.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undermine" href="#" target="_blank">Undermine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the darker side of another card in the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Absorb" href="#" target="_blank">Absorb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Countering a spell and giving us another card that can fulfill both aspects of our commander's triggered abilities is music to my ears.</p>
<h3>You Are Not Hitting Me</h3>
<p>Sometimes permanents can't be countered. Most often, it's because they are already on the board. Our opponents may swing their permanents in our direction when they find their way onto the board. When this happens, we need to make them pay. Most players are well aware of the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and while it is in the deck, it's the least exciting of the anti-combat instants we have.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hellish Rebuke"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inkshield"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Settle the Wreckage"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellish Rebuke" href="#" target="_blank">Hellish Rebuke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not only one of the most fun spells from <em>Dungeons and Dragons</em>, it can be a total blowout to the player that attacks you. We'll take some damage, but forcing the player who did that damage to lose all those creatures and two life for each creature will often be worth it.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inkshield" href="#" target="_blank">Inkshield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is possibly the best <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fog" href="#" target="_blank">Fog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ever made, as it solves the biggest issue with that card: winning the game after you cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fog" href="#" target="_blank">Fog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The best part about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inkshield" href="#" target="_blank">Inkshield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is when an opponent gets too confident and goes for overkill, allowing you to get even more inklings to win the game.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Settle the Wreckage" href="#" target="_blank">Settle the Wreckage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> looks like it's all downside because it ramps your opponent, but that's hardly ever the case. Players are greedy and will never run enough basics, and if it means you get to live another turn, the trade-off of giving them basics will always be worth it.</p>
<h2>They Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore</h2>
<p>I don't have 31 enchantments in this deck, but the ones I do have are possibly more relevant than anything else. Outside of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nine Lives" href="#" target="_blank">Nine Lives</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lich&#039;s Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Lich&#039;s Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being win conditions, we have some interesting "not lose" conditions at our disposal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breathstealer&#039;s Crypt"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dream Tides"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mist of Stagnation"></div></div>
<p>A card I just learned existed is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breathstealer&#039;s Crypt" href="#" target="_blank">Breathstealer&#039;s Crypt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. One of the most lopsided effects we could ask for is a card at our fingertips. Sure, our opponents will know all the cards we draw, but the trade-off is that we'll learn all the cards they draw and never take damage or discard. It might not hit every time, but against some opponents, this card will be backbreaking.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Tides" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Tides</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an old favorite of mine from when I moonlighted as a Stax player. Both punishing to creature decks of all colors, but especially to those big green baddies that love to find themselves across the table.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mist of Stagnation" href="#" target="_blank">Mist of Stagnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can hurt us just as much or possibly worse than anyone else at the table, but this deck operates with a slight vibe of "high risk, high reward."</p>
<h2>One, Two, Free Spells</h2>
<p>When your deck doesn't start playing the game until turn three, you need some cards that can break serve against the rest of the table. That's where free spells come in. Our deck runs the classic free counter magic suite of cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Will"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Negation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fierce Guardianship"></div></div>
<p>Black also gives us access to a triple threat of free removal spells.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadly Rollick"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snuff Out"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Despair"></div></div>
<p>Finally, some cards allow us to refund their mana cost when they resolve, making them essentially free.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rewind"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frantic Search"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unwind"></div></div>
<p>People say cheaters never win, but those people have never cast a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frantic Search" href="#" target="_blank">Frantic Search</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with lands like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dimir Aqueduct" href="#" target="_blank">Dimir Aqueduct</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play.</p>
<h2>Y'shtola, Night's Blessed Deck List</h2>
<p>Here's the final deck list:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Three of a Kind - Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Absorb
*1 Aetherize
*1 Baleful Mastery
*1 Bane&#039;s Contingency
*1 Commit // Memory
*1 Deadly Rollick
*1 Dig Through Time
*1 Fact or Fiction
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Force of Despair
*1 Force of Negation
*1 Force of Will
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Hellish Rebuke
*1 Inkshield
*1 Memory Plunder
*1 Patrician&#039;s Scorn
*1 Perch Protection
*1 Perplex
*1 Quick Study
*1 Render Silent
*1 Rewind
*1 Settle the Wreckage
*1 Silundi Vision // Silundi Isle
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Snuff Out
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Revelation
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
*1 Undermine
*1 Unwind
*1 Void Rend
*1 Waterlogged Teachings // Inundated Archive
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Approach of the Second Sun
*1 Austere Command
*1 Blasphemous Edict
*1 Fractured Identity
*1 Idyllic Tutor
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Risky Shortcut
*1 Supreme Verdict
*1 The Battle of Bywater
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 As Foretold
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Breathstealer&#039;s Crypt
*1 Dream Tides
*1 Estrid&#039;s Invocation
*1 Ghostly Prison
*1 Grasp of Fate
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon
*1 Lich&#039;s Mastery
*1 Mist of Stagnation
*1 Nine Lives
*1 Painful Quandary
*1 Pendrell Mists
*1 Propaganda
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Soul Barrier
*1 Sphere of Safety
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Bleachbone Verge
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Dimir Aqueduct
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Gloomlake Verge
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*4 Island
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Meticulous Archive
*1 Mistrise Village
*1 Morphic Pool
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*1 Orzhov Basilica
*1 Otawara, Soaring City
*2 Plains
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Raffine&#039;s Tower
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Shadowy Backstreet
*1 Shattered Sanctum
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*2 Swamp
*1 Undercity Sewers
*1 Vault of Champions
*1 Watery Grave
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Wrap Up on Y'shtola</h2>
<p>The more that I think about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the more I like it. While it's not as flashy as some of the cards released recently, there are a lot of ways you could build the deck. Many of them involve being much less thematic than I am, but all of them are interesting. Hopefully everyone is pumped about the collaboration with <em>Final Fantasy</em>, and if Y'shtola is your favorite character, I hope this card did them justice.</p>
<p>If you liked this deck or want to see more content related to <em>Final Fantasy</em>, keep a lookout here on EDHREC for all the great content from the fantastic team of writers, or bookmark our <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-commander-deck-techs"><em>Final Fantasy </em>deck tech collection</a>. As always, I'm Nick, and you can find me at all the internet places where I've laid claim to nicnax96 as a username. I hope to see your version of this very cool Cat Warlock at a table one day.</p>


Y'shtola, Night's Blessed Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/ludongjun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russel Lu</a></em></p>
<p>I might not have the best history with the <em>Final Fantasy</em> games, but I <em>do</em> have a long history with the Demon creature type, which is why <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stood out to me as the previews for the newest set came in. My first-ever booster pack was a <em>Champions of Kamigawa</em> pack, which had some real beauties in it, including one of my prized Magic possessions: a foil <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuro, Pitlord" href="#" target="_blank">Kuro, Pitlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While time and power creep haven’t been kind to poor Kuro, the creature type has remained iconic. Like they have been since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of the Pit" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of the Pit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in <em>Alpha</em>, Demons are huge flying creatures based in black. Over the years, however, they’ve been released from the shackles of drawbacks to become truly terrifying!</p>
<h2>Notable Demons for Ardyn, the Usurper</h2>
<p>Ardyn is not a Demon, nor does he meet many of the requirements of a Demon, outside of a high mana value and a whole lot of black color pips. What Ardyn <em>does</em> do, however, is give Demons a host of keywords: menace, lifelink, and haste. He also reanimates creatures of any type from our graveyard as 5/5 black Demons (which, of course, get all the keywords he provides).</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ardyn, the Usurper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ob Nixilis, Unshackled"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valgavoth, Terror Eater"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vilis, Broker of Blood"></div></div></p>
<p>We want our Demons to be big creatures that dominate the board and provide large chunks of flying damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rune-Scarred Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Rune-Scarred Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a big, beefy brawler that battles above the clouds, but the best aspect of this bruiser is that he brings along a buddy. With all the different jobs Demons can do, he’s a veritable swiss army knife!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonlord Belzenlok"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rot-Curse Rakshasa"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rune-Scarred Demon"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harvester of Souls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Great Unclean One"></div></div></p>
<p>One of my favorite Demons is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodgift Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodgift Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a medium-sized flying threat that gives a mini-<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sign in Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Sign in Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to any player each upkeep. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Arena" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Arena</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is still potent, and one attached to a large flyer is fairly good. Even better, though, is the political aspect. If someone else needs cards to catch up we can give them some, and it can also deal the final point of damage in a pinch!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plague Drone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodgift Demon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodletter of Aclazotz"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sower of Discord"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archfiend of Despair"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desecration Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Desecration Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> used to dominate <em>Return to Ravnica</em> Standard, and it’s still a cheap political threat that gets better as the game goes on. While it appears to be an above-rate flyer, it gets better in the context of a Demon deck. By itself, it forces opponents to choose between letting him grow and sacrificing a creature to tap him down and grow him. Some decks will have spare bodies, but most will have to make a tough call; even those who can regularly pay the sac tax will eventually have to pay the piper once our other removal goes online.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burning-Rune Demon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord of the Void"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Razaketh, the Foulblooded"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Venomcrawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Desecration Demon"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abhorrent Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Abhorrent Overlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our equivalent to Gary (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gray Merchant of Asphodel" href="#" target="_blank">Gray Merchant of Asphodel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). Maybe we should call her Abby. Would that catch on? Let me know in the comments below! Regardless, the Overlord gives us a host of Harpies equal to our devotion to black, which should be quite high. While not quite the game-ending big bang shot of Gary, Abby gives us enough power to close games out in one or two big, evasive swings.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demon of Wailing Agonies"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reiver Demon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abhorrent Overlord"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demon of Loathing"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kothophed, Soul Hoarder"></div></div></p>
<p>One of the more instantly impactful Demons on a game of Commander is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Whisperer" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Whisperer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Believe it or not, the most dangerous aspect of this card isn’t a word or a number: it’s a punctuation mark. The colon between the phrase “Pay 2 life” and “Surveil 2” means that we can pay any amount of life in increments of two to stack our topdeck and load up the graveyard. We can even set up the reanimation of powerful creatures.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doom Whisperer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demon of Dark Schemes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nightmare Shepherd"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakshasa Debaser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infernal Sovereign"></div></div></p>
<h2>Cards for Demon Typal Strategies</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana&#039;s Contract" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana&#039;s Contract</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the more powerful pieces of typal technology any creature type has access to. Even in a deck without Demons, four Changelings can facilitate the alternate win condition. Since the deck is packed with them, fulfilling the condition is nice and easy.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana&#039;s Contract"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Speaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Counsel"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Living Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whip of Erebos"></div></div></p>
<p>One of the aspects of Demons in popular culture is that they're closely tied to death, making them incredibly difficult to put down once and for all. Reanimation spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animate Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Animate Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> epitomize this, although perhaps the scariest and deadliest reanimation spell in <em>Magic</em> is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dread Return" href="#" target="_blank">Dread Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, castable from the graveyard without paying any mana, combining perfectly with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Whisperer" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Whisperer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s graveyard loading to bin the threat and the reanimation spell without paying a single mana.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dread Return"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Covenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Animate Dead"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haunting Voyage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bringer of the Last Gift"></div></div></p>
<h2>Demon Ramp</h2>
<p>One of the major downsides of Demons is their high casting cost. Rituals can help pay costs beyond the amount of mana we have, but we start to feel the aftereffects later when removal starts to catch up. Foretelling Demons with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helps us to control how wide and how quickly our board develops, letting us play around removal and pressure just enough to provoke responses.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Ritual"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Ritual"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dream Devourer"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Cellarspawn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abyssal Harvester"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bontu&#039;s Monument" href="#" target="_blank">Bontu&#039;s Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another cost reducer, this time coming with a repeated source of card advantage. Each creature we create comes with a mini-<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sign in Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Sign in Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, just like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodgift Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodgift Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, helping us find more creatures and dig deeper and deeper for the pieces we need to close out the game.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herald&#039;s Horn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Incubator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sol Ring"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bontu&#039;s Monument"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jet Medallion"></div></div></p>
<h2>Removal Spells for Ardyn</h2>
<p>Demons are warped and twisted minds, thriving on asserting their power over the living. This is shown in their propensity for forcing opponents to sacrifice creatures rather than using targeted destruction. After all, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is more likely to answer the specific threat, making the opponent choose between their favorite creatures with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Depravity" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Depravity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is so much more delicious!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archfiend of Depravity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reaper from the Abyss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Indulgent Tormentor"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overseer of the Damned"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Withering Torment"></div></div></p>
<p>While spot removal might not be the Demon's way, sometimes it is necessary. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Infernal Grasp" href="#" target="_blank">Infernal Grasp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feed the Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Feed the Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are some of the rare bits of enchantment removal in mono-black, although some say that they're color pie breaks. Here, however, they're necessary bits of removal for permanents we can’t easily answer.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infernal Grasp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feed the Swarm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Dominance"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shadowgrange Archfiend"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pestilence Demon"></div></div></p>
<h2>Ardyn, the Usurper Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>Here's our list:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Ardyn, the Usurper Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ardyn, the Usurper
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Abhorrent Overlord
*1 Abyssal Harvester
*1 Ancient Cellarspawn
*1 Archfiend of Depravity
*1 Archfiend of Despair
*1 Blood Speaker
*1 Bloodgift Demon
*1 Bloodletter of Aclazotz
*1 Bringer of the Last Gift
*1 Burning-Rune Demon
*1 Demon of Dark Schemes
*1 Demon of Loathing
*1 Demon of Wailing Agonies
*1 Demonlord Belzenlok
*1 Desecration Demon
*1 Doom Whisperer
*1 Dream Devourer
*1 Great Unclean One
*1 Harvester of Souls
*1 Indulgent Tormentor
*1 Infernal Sovereign
*1 Kothophed, Soul Hoarder
*1 Lord of the Void
*1 Nightmare Shepherd
*1 Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
*1 Overseer of the Damned
*1 Pestilence Demon
*1 Plague Drone
*1 Rakshasa Debaser
*1 Razaketh, the Foulblooded
*1 Reaper from the Abyss
*1 Reiver Demon
*1 Rot-Curse Rakshasa
*1 Rune-Scarred Demon
*1 Shadowgrange Archfiend
*1 Sower of Discord
*1 Valgavoth, Terror Eater
*1 Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire
*1 Venomcrawler
*1 Vilis, Broker of Blood
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Animate Dead
*1 Demonic Covenant
*1 Liliana&#039;s Contract
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Demonic Counsel
*1 Dread Return
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Haunting Voyage
*1 Kindred Dominance
*1 Living Death
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bontu&#039;s Monument
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Jet Medallion
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Urza&#039;s Incubator
*1 Whip of Erebos
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Cabal Ritual
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Infernal Grasp
*1 Withering Torment
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*40 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Final Thoughts on Ardyn, the Usurper Demon Typal</h2>
<p>Demons are large black flyers, and Ardyn helps make them ever more dangerous and threatening. They do a variety of jobs, from drawing cards to forcing opponents to sacrifice their own creatures. Sometimes they're a little slow at contributing to the board, but there are cost reducers to help with that, and they've been power crept in a definitive way!</p>


Building a Demon Typal Deck with Ardyn, the Usurper

<p>On Thursday, May 15th, early bird badge sales go live for <a href="https://mcatlanta.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/badges/buy-badges.html">MagicCon Atlanta</a>! This first batch of badges, which are discounted by approximately 10%, will be public at 8 AM Pacific Time, or 11 AM Eastern. What will this event cost you to attend? Let's take a look!</p>
<h2>MagicCon Atlanta Ticket Pricing Information</h2>
<p>The badges for MagicCon Atlanta are divided into multiple tiers:</p>
<h3>Black Lotus VIP Badge</h3>
<p>First off, we have the Black Lotus VIP tier. This badge is by far the most expensive one on the list. It is also the most all-encompassing. The early bird sale has it listed at $900, but once general sales begin, it will cost $1,000 to get a Black Lotus VIP badge. According to the badge sales page on the site for MagicCon Atlanta, here is what you'll get for this access:</p>
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<ul>
<li><span class="text--small">Black Lotus VIP Badge </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Branded Lanyard</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">4 Traditional foil Avacyn's Pilgrim promo card</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">2 <i>Edge of Eternities</i> Collector Boosters </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">3 <i>Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man Collector Boosters</i></span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">1 <i>Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man </i>Spidey's Spectacular Showdown Scene Box</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">MagicCon 2025 Event Exclusive Deck Box + Sleeves </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Black Lotus Progressive Sealed Event - Weekend Long</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Black Lotus Draft Events - Friday &amp; Sunday</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Black Lotus Commander Unknown Planechase Event - Saturday</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Access to Thursday First Look Experiences</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Access to The Lost Tavern</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<ul>
<li><span class="text--small">An Official Pin Exclusive to The Lost Tavern </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Reserved Seating at the Mana Stage</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Access to Black Lotus VIP Lounge</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Access to Exclusive Signing &amp; Play Opportuinities with <i>Magic</i> Personalities</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Early Access to the Show Floor</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">MagicCon: Atlanta Official Pin</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">MagicCon: Atlanta Staff Trader Pin</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Black Lotus VIP Branded Bag</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Designated VIP line for Show Store</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">10% off Official Show Store merchandise</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Black Lotus Exclusive Playmat </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Black Lotus Exclusive Wearable </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Black Lotus Exclusive Drinkware</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>Legendary VIP Badge</h3>
<p>Next, we have the Legendary VIP Badge. This badge will normally cost $400, but for the early bird sale, the badge is discounted to $360. There are fewer perks to getting a Legendary VIP Badge, but it's still full of a lot of good access and swag:</p>
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<ul>
<li><span class="text--small">Legendary VIP Weekend Badge</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Branded Lanyard</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">2 Traditional foil <i>Avacyn's Pilgrim</i> promo card</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">2 <i>Edge of Eternities</i> Collector Boosters </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">3 <i>Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man</i> Collector Boosters</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Access to The Lost Tavern*</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">An Official Pin Exclusive to The Lost Tavern </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
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<div id="text-6027b549a0" class="cmp-text" data-rxtag-multiple="text">
<ul>
<li><span class="text--small">Legendary VIP Exclusive Playmat </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">MagicCon 2025 Event Exclusive Deck Box + Sleeves </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">MagicCon: Atlanta Official Pin</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">10% off Official Show Store merchandise</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Legendary VIP Exclusive Drinkware</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">Legendary VIP Branded Bag</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>Premium Badges</h3>
<p>Next, Premium badges are divided into either single-day badges or weekend badges. Single-day badges are normally $75, but for this early bird sale, they're $65. Meanwhile, Weekend badges are normally $170 but are $150 for the sale.</p>
<p>If you are getting a single-day badge, here's what you should expect from it:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="text--small">Fri, Sat, or Sun Badge</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">1 Non-foil <i>Acvacyn's Pilgrim</i> Promo Card </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">2 <i>Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man</i> Collector Booster</span></li>
</ul>
<p>And, if you're getting a weekend badge, here's what you will get:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="text--small">Weekend Badge</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">2 Traditional foil <i>Avacyn's Pilgrim</i> Promo Cards</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">3 <i>Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man Collector </i>Boosters</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">MagicCon: Atlanta Event Playmat </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">MagicCon 2025 Event Exclusive Deck Box + Sleeves </span></li>
</ul>
<h3>General Badges</h3>
<p>Next, general badges are most people's cheapest option. These normally cost $40 or $110 for a single day or weekend badge, respectively, but are $30 or $100, respectively, for this sale.</p>
<p>Single-day badges will get you a promo copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while a weekend badge will get you two copies of that promo.</p>
<h3>Youth Badges</h3>
<p>Finally, we come to youth badges. Prices for this tier seem set, as there isn't a different price than the one they show on the site. Youth badges are either $20 for one day or $50 for the weekend, and only cover attendees under a certain age.</p>
<p>If your kid is going for a youth badge, this is what they should be getting:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="text--small">Youth Fri, Sat, or Sun Badge</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">1 Non-foil Avacyn's Pilgrim Promo Card </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">2 <i>Magic: The Gathering Foundations</i> Jumpstart Boosters</span></li>
</ul>
<p>And, if they're going for the weekend, here's what they'll receive:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="text--small">Youth Weekend Badge</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">1 Non-foil <i>Avacyn's Pilgrim</i> Promo Card </span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">1 <i>Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man</i> Collector Booster</span></li>
<li><span class="text--small">1 <i>Magic: The Gathering Foundations</i> Beginner Box</span></li>
</ul>
<h2>MagicCon Atlanta - Can You Attend?</h2>
<p>This convention is sure to have a bunch of really cool events and exhibitions. <a href="https://mcatlanta.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/badges/buy-badges.html">You can find the badge sale here.</a> Are you planning to get yourself to Atlanta for the con? Sound off below!</p>
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