60 to 100 - Kykar, the Heir to Shu Yun's Token Throne

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kestia, The Cultivator" href="#" target="_blank">Kestia, The Cultivator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://zezhouchen.com/">Zezhou Chen</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p><span id="m_7985745279735501680gmail-docs-internal-guid-971aaafd-7fff-35c2-bef7-2bbb00875c9e">Hello EDHREC! 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 play 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.</span></p>
<p>This week we'll be exploring one very unique commander: she's a literal Aura in the command zone. Yes, I'm talking about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kestia, the Cultivator" href="#" target="_blank">Kestia, the Cultivator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kestia, the Cultivator"></div></div>
<p><strong>Bestow 3GWU</strong></p>
<p><strong>Enchanted creature gets +4/+4.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Whenever an enchanted creature or enchantment creature you control attacks, draw a card.</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>Kestia is an unique take on the "Voltron formula," as she can provide the pump instead of the body.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>Her draw power is great, but it's also confusing because the type of deck that likes to play Auras on creatures doesn't enjoy enchanting multiple creatures.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>Even if we consider enchanting one creature, having an additional draw that can turn into a new creature after the original one gets destroyed is still impressive.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>There's something to be noted on her rebuilding power when she's an Aura since, even if the enchanted creature dies, we still get a body that can draw us cards.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p>Now let's see how folks usually build her:</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-35699" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kestia-Sig.png" alt="" width="685" height="373" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-35700" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kestia-Top.png" alt="" width="691" height="371" /></p>
<p>If you pay attention to Kestia's most popular cards, you'll see that they mostly come from <em>Commander 2018, </em>the set in which <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kestia, the Cultivator" href="#" target="_blank">Kestia, the Cultivator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was released. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we often call the "Precon Effect," which sometimes skews the data, biasing the recommendations on EDHREC toward cards that were already in the product with Kestia, and which were left in lists when people put the stock decklists online. In some situations, this effect can distort the options that may actually be superior in the commander's deck.</p>
<p>However, this is <em>not</em> one of those times. Most of these cards are pretty much staples of enchantress and Aura-based Voltron decks. The only main difference between Kestia and her fellow enchantment-matters commanders is the number of enchantment creatures she runs - which is obvious, considering her ability.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>Now that we've seen what Kestia wants, which archetype could enjoy this particular kit? If you guessed <em>Infect</em>, you're right... and also potentially a Phyrexian. <em>Infect</em> plays like a more aggressive Voltron deck, but rather than relying on the commander to do all the work, it uses a bunch of sub-par creatures to do the job. With the right kind of build, it can be really fast, since it only takes 10 poison counters to finish a player off.</p>
<p>This has made the strategy into a bit of a boogieman of the format, but contrary to popular belief, <em>Infect</em> is generally a weak archetype. It has all the downsides of a Voltron deck, with the additional complication of inconsistency, since, unlike Voltron, we have to build a deck with a mix of threats and pump effects, rather than Voltron's streamlined deck of just pump and protection spells. There are many strong opinions regarding <em>Infect </em>in Commander, but suffice it to say that trying to build a deck that fits this archetype presents some hurdles that are not immediately obvious, while still providing a number of intriguing options to consider.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spinebiter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blighted Agent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Swarmlord"></div></div>
<p>Let's talk about some of our <em>Infect</em> creatures, many of which feel like draft chaff. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be one of the best <em>Infect</em> creature ever printed, in that it's both cheap and evasive. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blight Mamba" href="#" target="_blank">Blight Mamba</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is resilient to removal, but it can be a little bit taxing to hold the 1G to pay for it. Since we're running low on the mana curve, though, it may not be a huge delay. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Swarmlord" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Swarmlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is on the higher side of the curve, but its ability can be deadly, especially in games where we can't get an evasive threat online and are forced to spread the damage across multiple players. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Putrefax" href="#" target="_blank">Putrefax</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the <em>Infect</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ball Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Ball Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and can function as a surprise spike of <em>Infect</em> damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spinebiter" href="#" target="_blank">Spinebiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a pseudo-evasive creature and although it deals damage as it weren't blocked, it still can be blocked and killed in combat, so beware.</p>
<p>For Auras, since our commander can provide a +4/+4 boost, we are mainly focusing on giving evasion to our creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aqueous Form" href="#" target="_blank">Aqueous Form</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great - it's cheap and provides some library manipulation. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drake Umbra" href="#" target="_blank">Drake Umbra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is kind of expensive for what it does, but the added protection of <em>Totem Armor</em> more than makes up for the expense. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rancor" href="#" target="_blank">Rancor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one heck of an Aura: it's super cheap to play and very hard to get rid of. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Battle Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancestral Mask" href="#" target="_blank">Ancestral Mask</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seem out of place, as they don't do much on their own, but after adding some support, they can pretty much carry us into a win.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blossoming Defense"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heroic Intervention"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi&#039;s Protection"></div></div>
<p>As you can see, this list diverges a little from the usual Modern <em>Infect</em> build, prioritizing permanent boosts over the instant-speed ones. This is because Commander games take longer, and we can't afford to bleed out cards like in Modern, where it's mostly a two-person race. We still have a few one-off protection spells, though. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blossoming Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Blossoming Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an efficient hexproof effect that has the upside of giving +2/+2, which can deliver the last poison counters given the right circumstances. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ajani&#039;s Presence" href="#" target="_blank">Ajani&#039;s Presence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blossoming Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Blossoming Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but trades the hexproof for indestructibility, although this doesn't provide protection from exile-based removal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is mainly a defensive card that costs only two mana but it also protects against almost all the usual removal in the format.</p>
<p>Most of our ramp will come from Auras. While I don't really think they're all that inferior to the usual <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package, I think that giving the flexibility of having an enchantress package (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Argothian Enchantress" href="#" target="_blank">Argothian Enchantress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enchantress&#039;s Presence" href="#" target="_blank">Enchantress&#039;s Presence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example) more than pays out.</p>
<p>What if we can't keep an<em> Infect</em> creature alive? This is a good question, because most decks need some (viable) alternatives to win if the main plan fails. If our poisonous threats fail us, we always have the option of using our commander to beat face! Most of our deck is based on supporting creatures, so it isn't that far off to use this very same card to attack in traditional Voltron fashion.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kestia Infect" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Kestia, the Cultivator
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Birds of Paradise
*Glistener Elf
*Noble Hierarch
*Blight Mamba
*Blighted Agent
*Ichorclaw Myr
*Lost Leonin
*Necropede
*Plague Myr
*Cystbearer
*Rot Wolf
*Viridian Corrupter
*Corpse Cur
*Phyrexian Hydra
*Putrefax
*Shriek Raptor
*Phyrexian Juggernaut
*Phyrexian Swarmlord
*Spinebiter
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*Aqueous Form
*Ethereal Armor
*Gryff&#039;s Boon
*Rancor
*Utopia Sprawl
*Fertile Ground
*Spirit Mantle
*Ancestral Mask
*Armadillo Cloak
*Battle Mastery
*Boar Umbra
*Gift of Paradise
*Grasp of Fate
*New Horizons
*Overgrowth
*Unflinching Courage
*Dawn&#039;s Reflection
*Holy Mantle
*On Serra&#039;s Wings
*Drake Umbra
*Spectra Ward
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Ajani&#039;s Presence
*Blossoming Defense
*Enlightened Tutor
*Nature&#039;s Claim
*Path to Exile
*Swords to Plowshare
*Vines of Vastwood
*Arcane Denial
*Cyclonic Rift
*Dovin&#039;s Veto
*Heroic Intervention
*Negate
*Teferi&#039;s Protection
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Wildest Dreams
*Farseek
*Nature&#039;s Lore
*Open the Armory
*Rampant Growth
*Winds of Rath
*Austere Command
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Livewire Lash
*Sword of Truth and Justice
[/Artifact]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*Breeding Pool
*Hallowed Fountain
*Temple Garden
*Brushland
*Yavimaya Coast
*Adarkar Wastes
*City of Brass
*Mana Confluence
*Glacial Fortress
*Sunpetal Grove
*Hinterland Harbor
*Prairie Stream
*Canopy Vista
*Irrigated Farmland
*Scattered Grove
*Windswept Heath
*Wooded Foothills
*Flooded Strand
*Seaside Citadel
*Temple of Enlightenment
*Temple of Mystery
*Temple of Plenty
*Hall of Heliod&#039;s Generosity
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*4 Forest
*4 Plains
*2 Island
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Two cards stand out in this list: <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Livewire Lash" href="#" target="_blank">Livewire Lash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The first provides great support, boosting a creature and ticking up poison to knock players out of the game; even though it can shut down some of our Auras if we're not careful, the <em>Proliferate </em>is golden.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Truth and Justice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Livewire Lash"></div></div>
<p>Meanwhile, the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Livewire Lash" href="#" target="_blank">Livewire Lash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a surprisingly efficient "hammer diplomacy" type of card. Each time someone targets the equipped creature, the creature deals two damage... and since it has <em>Infect</em>, that's two poison counters! If they try to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terminate" href="#" target="_blank">Terminate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> our creature, they're hurting even more. Now here's the fun part: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Livewire Lash" href="#" target="_blank">Livewire Lash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't care about who's targeting the creature, which means that, suddenly, all of the Auras that we place on the Lash-equipped creature have the added benefit of dealing two <em>Infect</em> damage!</p>
<div>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
</div>
<p>For our opening hand, the first thing we need is a cheap <em>Infect</em> creature. This is essential to our strategy and not having access to any will put us behind right from the start. The next priority will be to find ways to grow that creature; if we take too long, it'll get destroyed before it has a chance to have a meaningful impact on the game. The final ingredient is either mana acceleration or simply protection for our threat.</p>
<p>How we play the early game is very dependent on our opening hand. There're many small decisions to make: can we try to play a threat without the mana to protect it, or do we wait? Which threat do we play first? Do we accelerate or play more poisonous creatures? Deciding how to play won't be easy, and mistakes will be swiftly punished: this deck's early turns are much more crucial and game-defining than most decks, but at the same time, we have the tools to outsmart our opponents, and this is where this deck can shine.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glistener Elf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rancor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spirit Mantle"></div></div>
<p>By the mid-game we should be a threat to the entire table, which is a situation that we can't deal with if it takes too long. Quickly eliminating players is so crucial in a deck like this; each player that remains on the table is another problem that will pile onto us when the game goes long and they begin to develop their plans. This is the point where our commander shines, as she can speed up the clock by enchanting our best creature while providing crucial card advantage we'll need to claw out of a long game.</p>
<p>In the late game, we lose our momentum, because we don't have haste enablers and we mostly rely our commander to draw cards. We run out of steam, but that doesn't mean that we're dead! As long as our opponents aren't drawing like crazy, we can eventually deploy a late threat and protect it. It also helps that this is the portion of the game that's most likely to have the fewest remaining players, which makes our job a whole lot easier.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<p>As this article comes to an end, I'll leave off with my usual rant about what could change in this build. There are many great Auras I didn't add it to the list, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daybreak Coronet" href="#" target="_blank">Daybreak Coronet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a fantastic card that relies a little too much on other Auras for my tastes. I elected to go for Auras that provide evasion effects, but adapting your Aura suite to your meta/preference is very important.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daybreak Coronet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Light and Shadow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Open the Vaults"></div></div>
<p>For our card draw we are relying fairly heavily on our commander, but, as I stated before, we could add some enchantress effects to turn many of our cards into cantrips. We could also switch back to the usual spell-based green ramp package, or add more recursion, with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Open the Vaults" href="#" target="_blank">Open the Vaults</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Creeping Renaissance" href="#" target="_blank">Creeping Renaissance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They'll slow us down a bit, but if your meta is removal-heavy it might be prudent to add some of them.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? What do you think about this take on <em>Infect?</em> 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 - Kestia Infect

Conditions Allow - Hazoret the Fervent

Heart of the Cards – Ilharg, the Raze-Boar

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iona, Shield of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Iona, Shield of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.jasonchanart.com/">Jason Chan</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Ban Hammer Has Fallen</h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yesterday we got a whopper of an announcement from the EDH Rules Committee. Before we even begin, please feel free to check out the </span><a href="http://mtgcommander.net/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&amp;t=19171"><span style="font-weight: 400;">full announcement here</span></a>,<span style="font-weight: 400;"> because there is a great deal to process. Today I’ll try to break it down for you and what it could mean for your playgroups.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s the quick summary provided from the announcement:</span></p>
<hr />
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commander Banned List Update, 8 July 2019</span></i></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">ADMIN</span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Philosophy Document Update</span></i></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">CARDS</span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is banned</span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iona, Shield of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Iona, Shield of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is banned</span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is unbanned</span></i></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">RULES</span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">No changes.</span></i></p>
<hr />
<h2>Philosophy Document Updates</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let's start in order. The Philosophy Document is a very detailed document, and not something that will be covered here in its entirety. In the announcement, the Rules Committee does clarify the goals and purpose of the Philosophy Document, which is worth reading even for those already familiar with it.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-36011 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Scroll-of-the-Masters-Fate-Reforged-MtG-Art.jpg" alt="" width="479" height="348" /></p>
<p><i></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Worth noting in the updated document is the emphasis put on two main ideas: the separation from tournament play and the shared experiences between players. The Rules Committee have often cited Commander as a 'social' format as opposed to a 'casual' format, putting the emphasis on the gameplay and communication between players. Understanding the goal of the Philosophy Document helps to provide some clarity on the bannings, rule updates, and any other changes in the format. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Per the updated Philosophy Document:</span></p>
<blockquote><p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commander is for fun. It’s a socially interactive, multiplayer Magic: the Gathering format full of wild interactions and epic plays, specifically designed as an alternative to tournament Magic.... Each game is a journey the players share, relying on a social contract in which each player is considerate of the experiences of everyone involved--this promotes player interaction, inter-game variance, a variety of play styles, and a positive communal atmosphere.</span></i></p></blockquote>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-36012 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/rule-of-law.jpg" alt="" width="425" height="239" /></p>
<blockquote><p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">The goal of the ban list is similar; it does not seek to regulate competitive play or power level, which are decisions best left to individual play groups. The ban list seeks to demonstrate which cards threaten the positive player experience at the core of the format or prevent players from reasonable self-expression. The primary focus of the list is on cards which are problematic because of their extreme consistency, ubiquity, and/or ability to restrict others’ opportunities.</span></i></p></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">T</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">he full document clarifies the emphasis on the atmosphere and experiences that all players in the game share, and provides insight on what players can expect moving forward. The social contract, interaction and separation from a competitive tournament atmosphere will be what the format is guided from. When examining the ban updates, this can be useful to help contextualize changes.</span></p>
<p>Speaking of which, let's get to the changes themselves.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Banned List Update</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The banned list update revolves around three impressively powerful cards, with two bannings and one unbanning. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iona, Shield of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Iona, Shield of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are leaving the format, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is being re-introduced. This is sure to have decks in nearly every playgroup shaken up to some degree.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Paradox Engine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Iona, Shield of Emeria"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Painter’s Servant"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s banning is almost assuredly tied to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s release in </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Modern Horizons</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been a powerful card on its own since it was first printed, the new legendary Artificer may have pushed the card over the edge. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was seeing play in an incredibly high 68% of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks in the short time the two have been legal together. Ultimately, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the single most powerful enablers in the format regardless of who the commander is.</span></p>
<p>To hear the Rules Committee tell it:</p>
<blockquote><p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that has proven to be intensely problematic. Not only does it provide easy wins seemingly out of nowhere, it has demonstrated the potential to unintentionally wreck games. Easily inserted into any deck, it combines with cards which players already have heavy incentives to play, generating a great deal of mana with virtually no deck building cost. While we don’t ban cards which are only problematic if you build around them, Paradox Engine has clearly demonstrated that it doesn’t need to be built around to be broken.</span></i></p></blockquote>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Lord High Artificer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Paradox Engine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Isochron Scepter"></div></div>
<p><i></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">The problem with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was the ease in which players were able to end the game. The obvious synergy with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and efficient mana rocks made for almost accidental infinite combos, ending games without warning or much setup. As the announcement points out, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does not require building around for a deck to be able to exploit its obvious power; people already run efficient mana rocks, from Signets and <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>s to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thran Dynamo" href="#" target="_blank">Thran Dynamo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worn Powerstone" href="#" target="_blank">Worn Powerstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, all of which are untapped over and over by the Engine. T</span>he potential powerful interactions with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only grow with every set, leading to its removal from the format.</p>
<p>The next two banned list changes can be linked together. Per the announcement:</p>
<blockquote><p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iona, Shield of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Iona, Shield of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates a negative experience for many players without the benefit of a positive application. We had previously considered its high mana cost sufficient to keep it from getting played, but deeper investigation demonstrated many ways of getting it onto the battlefield without paying that cost. Iona, Shield of Emeria is also an exemplar as the type of card which creates an experience we wish to discourage, namely shutting players out of games.</span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that’s been discussed for a long time and it’s time to take off the shackles. We feel as though there are now more weird and fun uses for the card than there are dangerous ones. The card will provide deck builders with some additional paths to explore in expressing their creativity.</span></i></p></blockquote>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Iona, Shield of Emeria"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Painter&#039;s Servant"></div></div>
<p><i></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">These two cards exchanging status in legality is a form of give-and-take from the Rules Committee. As the announcement points out, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iona, Shield of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Iona, Shield of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could often be put onto the battlefield with no regard for its mana cost, sometimes even as early as turn three. Played in about 4,400 decks, Iona’s ability to shut down entire decks - especially those playing a single color - can create very lopsided games. The Rules Committee has made it clear that part of their mission is to encourage more interaction within the format, so it is understandable why they'd elect to ban a card that discourages that interaction. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an inverse action, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has become unbanned after sitting in exile from the format for many years. The relationship between <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iona, Shield of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Iona, Shield of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is particularly interesting, since decks that would play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iona, Shield of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Iona, Shield of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would almost certainly play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well, considering the color hate that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can enable. Since the announcement has gone live, <a href="https://twitter.com/SheldonMenery/status/1148259562841149441">Sheldon has clarified</a> that the cards were evaluated as separate entities and not lumped together.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-36002 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/sheldon-iona.png" alt="" width="528" height="231" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The obvious combination of the newly-unbanned Scarecrow and its favorite friend <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grindstone" href="#" target="_blank">Grindstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is of course famous for knocking players out of the game one at a time.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grindstone"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The argument, though, is that this combo is not all that different from other two-card auto-victory combinations (Mike &amp; Trike comes to mind, for instance). That, along with the artifact hate nearly every deck has access to, still provides some defenses against a ubiquitous pair of tutor-able cards. As mentioned in the announcement, Painter's Servant has apparently been discussed as a candidate for unbanning for some time, which should reassure players that the Rules Committee does not foresee too many problems with the doors the card opens in the format. Thus, it is available to players once again.</span><i></i></p>
<hr />
<h2>I Own a Pair o' Docks in Gin</h2>
<p>The release of the updated Philosophy Document at the time of the ban announcement should help give guidance and illustrate what we may be able to expect from the format's direction moving forward. Iona was not necessarily a prolific card - only in 4,400 decks to the Engine's 13,572 - but some bans, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradox Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Paradox Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can be chosen because of their power level, ubiquity, or the ease with which they can become oppressive, and some, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iona, Shield of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Iona, Shield of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are chosen for the interactivity they restrict. The more transparency we get behind big decisions, the better!</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As with every banning, we can expect the changes to take some time to be felt in any playgroup. Players may now search and find some replacements for some cards, or can brew new decks entirely around the newly-legal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, fixing up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grindstone" href="#" target="_blank">Grindstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combos, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eight-and-a-Half-Tails" href="#" target="_blank">Eight-and-a-Half-Tails</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks, or wacky <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rith, the Awakener" href="#" target="_blank">Rith, the Awakener</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> craziness. Some doors closed, and some others opened.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eight-and-a-Half-Tails"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rith, the Awakener"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Llawan, Cephalid Empress"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many members of the Commander Advisory Group and the Rules Committee have also been active in responding to questions since the announcement went live, helping to provide additional feedback and clarity to yesterday's update. We would love to hear from you as well in the comments - what do you think about the banned list update? What do the Philosophy Document changes mean to you and your playgroup?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Happy brewing!</span></p>


EDH Update - Banned List Changes

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yarok, the Desecrated" href="#" target="_blank">Yarok, the Desecrated</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&amp;artist=[%22Daarken%22]">Daarken</a>)</h6>
<h1>... is Triggers are Wonderful Things!</h1>
<p>Hey everyone! Kya here once again! Welcome back to <em>Bringing Magic to Life</em>, the series where I appease my corporate overlords and justify my existence here on EDHREC. Here we’re going to turn our gaming table into more than just a cardboard throwdown: here we're going to bring our decks to life!</p>
<p>This month we're bringing to everyone's attention another talented soul who's taking the EDH world by storm! He has in his wares the one thing every Commander player needs - but we'll have to wait until later in the article for that! Before we get to our fantastic creations, we have to create a fantastic deck!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Yaroks, Shaggy!</h2>
<p>Normally I make commander decks with older legends. I usually want to see the commander in action once or twice before I determine if I like them or not and commit to a deck. After all, why put my money down testing a legendary when I can watch my local victims - I mean, friends - do it for me? However, one new release stood out to me immediately!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yarok, the Desecrated"></div></div>
<p>Isn't this the cutest little Horror you've ever seen? It has deathtouch! It has lifelink! <i>And </i>it gives you an extra trigger from enter the battlefield effects? Sold! Oh, what fun this commander will be!</p>
<p>You don't have to be much of a deck brewer or theme crafter to understand the value behind this little beauty. Heck, that's going to be today's point. I'm not really going for anything special. Like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> player, I just want to enjoy the value of everything entering the battlefield! Let's get started, shall we?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spark Double"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rite of Replication"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirror Gallery"></div></div>
<p>Typically, I'd save my ultimate move for the end of the article, but this time, we're going to start strong. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Double" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Double</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Gallery" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Gallery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's what I want to do with this deck. Imagine it: seven copies of Yarok! All those copies going off! Imagine a board full of Yaroks before playing just a simple <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and getting all those lovely Zombies.</p>
<p>Yes... this is exactly what this deck is meant to do. This deck will contain plenty of ETB triggers, but it will also feature copy effects for our beautiful new commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Master Thief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scholar of the Ages"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agent of Treachery"></div></div>
<p>Let's add in some new cards while we're at it. Look at all these goodies that make our commander mean, and do it quick. Stealing two things instead of one is just too hard to pass up.</p>
<p>Let's also imagine that our ultimate move went off and we have a bunch of Yaroks on the field - that's a lot of stuff you'll be able to steal. Frankly, you could steal a player's entire land base with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent of Treachery" href="#" target="_blank">Agent of Treachery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! Or get back every spell in your graveyard with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scholar of the Ages" href="#" target="_blank">Scholar of the Ages</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (I suggest retrieving that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Replication" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Replication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). As you can see, this quickly gets quite silly.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evolving Wilds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avenger of Zendikar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roil Elemental"></div></div>
<p>Folks may wonder at first why Yarok decks are likely to run so many fetch lands. Time to take out your wallets and shake them hard, because with a Yarok deck you'd be unwise not to invest in a few <em>Landfall </em>cards. Yarok doesn't just double the triggers from creatures entering - he counts lands too. Just think of the benefits you could get from cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lotus Cobra" href="#" target="_blank">Lotus Cobra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! If budget is your thing, don't worry. You still have plenty of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terramorphic Expanse" href="#" target="_blank">Terramorphic Expanse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style options.</p>
<p>Since this particular deck spends some slots on making copies of Yarok, I've mostly limited the <em>Landfall </em>cards to big finishers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avenger of Zendikar" href="#" target="_blank">Avenger of Zendikar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has always been a little crazy, but this is just absurd. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roil Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Roil Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one more awesome way to steal people's stuff! The value from these is enough to always keep you a step ahead in the game. PS: whether we manage to get multiple Yaroks or not, doubling the trigger from a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will indeed leave a crater in the rest of the table.</p>
<p>Now it's time for my silly deck. Remember, the goal here is just to enjoy the nonsense!</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Trigger me Timbers" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Yarok, the Desecrated
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Avenger of Zendikar
*1 Hornet Queen
*1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Overseer of the Damned
*1 Peregrine Drake
*1 Phantasmal Image
*1 Lotus Cobra
*1 Yavimaya Dryad
*1 Grave Titan
*1 Springbloom Druid
*1 Master Thief
*1 Meren of Clan Nel Toth
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Scholar of the Ages
*1 Butcher of Malakir
*1 Agent of Treachery
*1 Gilded Drake
*1 Terastodon
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Rune-scarred Demon
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Clever Impersonator
*1 Phyrexian Metamorph
*1 Evil Twin
*1 Spark Double
*1 Venser, Shaper Savant
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Roil Elemental
*1 Wood Elves
*1 Archaeomancer
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Counterspell
*1 Tragic Slip
*1 Putrefy
*1 Swan song
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Mystical Tutor
*1 Fact or Fiction
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Rite of Replication
*1 Green Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Torment of Hailfire
*1 Damnation
*1 Harrow
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Panharmonicon
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Mirror Gallery
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Helm of the Host
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Elemental Bond
*1 Burgeoning
*1 Death Match
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Dictate of Erebos
*1 Rhystic Study
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Woodland Cemetery
*1 Command Tower
*1 Esper Panorama
*1 Grixis Panorama
*1 Darkslick Shores
*1 Botanical Sanctum
*1 Sunken Ruins
*1 Tainted Isle
*1 Morphic Pool
*1 Sunken Hollow
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*5 Island
*5 Swamp
*5 Forest
[/Lands]"></span></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<hr />
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-35490" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="215" /></p>
<h3>An Organized Command Zone is a Deadly Command Zone</h3>
<p>Now for the part we've all been waiting for, this month's new Commander Creation: Command Zone Trays by <a href="https://twitter.com/jester_game">Game Jeser</a>! His Etsy store can be found <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGameJester">here</a>, and definitely give it a look when you can! Just look what came in for this happy author:</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-35497" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/tray3.jpg" alt="" width="220" height="300" /></p>
<p>Isn't it beautiful? What I love most is that you have spots for your dice to keep track of everything that's important. I've seen a lot of other trays, including my <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/bringing-magic-to-life-unburying-the-dead/">own work</a>, that typically lacked this type of extra detail and finesse. Literally the only issue I've had at all with this is that I keep debating whether I'd like to paint and highlight the words and logo. I'm too scared to tamper with perfection!</p>
<p>Instead of giving my own account on this month's artist, I wanted to provide a direct quote from him instead. His story is amazing and truly motivating for anyone indecisive about showing off their own work to the world:</p>
<blockquote><p>I made the first Commander Tray for my own personal use because sometimes I would lose track of which person had how much commander damage. My first Tray was BAD - it didn't have clean lines, there were sharp corners, and wasn't that nice to look at. It was much different than it is today, but it got the job done. I took my tray to a large Commander event I was playing in and everyone asked me where I got it and if they could get one. Then the light bulb turned on.</p>
<p>After a month and a half of tweaking and redesigning, I had the first production version of the Commander Tray. It took just under four hours to print one Tray.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-35496" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/tray2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="263" /></p>
<p>I created my Twitter and Etsy in January of 2019, and by end of February I had found a way to make the Trays faster to keep up with demand. I was making two versions of the tray at that time, one that used two D20s for life totals, and one that used the Arsenal Click Counters. It was a pain keeping track of how many I had of each type and of each color, but I wanted to make both of these styles were available for whatever each player used.</p>
<p>After a few big orders from LGS's asking for X of one type and X of the other, I thought to myself, "There has to be a better way." So after a few days of thinking about it, I decided to do another redesign: one Tray that could hold both the D20s and the Click counters, so I only had one product to make, and I only had to keep track of how many of each color there were in stock. While I was redesigning I also addressed some other small items to make printing more efficient. After around 15-20 hours of work, we have the current Commander Tray that is being sold:<br />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-35499" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Tray4.jpg" alt="" width="243" height="280" /><br />
This tray takes just under three hours to print, and I don't have to keep track of different models, so it made my life a LOT easier.</p>
<p>All Trays can be customized. I have LGS's who want their names or basic logos printed on them, people who want their commander or planeswalker's name, or people who want their own name! The process does take additional time because I have to add the customization into the design and get the approval before printing. If anyone wants a custom designed tray, please <a href="Tcggamejester@gmail.com">email me</a>. I used to have them available on Etsy, but due to designing and getting approvals the shipping deadlines are to tight.</p></blockquote>
<p>Isn't it great when your biggest problem is having to adapt to keep up with demand? Speaking of adapting, he even makes trays for Oathbreaker as well, giving you cozy room for both your commander <em>and</em> your signature spell!</p>
<p>I don't know about you, but I think that Yarok deck up above would love to have a Commander Tray to call home. The only thing is, if we try to make him one, he'll double the trigger and we'll wind up with two!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Closing Thoughts</h2>
<p>So what did you think of the trays? I thought they were amazing. If you have work that you'd like the EDH world to see, email me at kyavess@gmail.com. Your work may appear in future articles!</p>
<p>Speaking of future articles, there has been some debate at the EDH round table as to whether I should unleash the bonkers levels of chaos for which I'm known onto the world. Would you like to see a deck who's single purpose is to create 50 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Timesifter" href="#" target="_blank">Timesifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s? Let me know!</p>
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<p>Until next time,</p>
<p>Kya</p>


Bringing Magic to Life - The Wonderful Thing About Triggers

Ranking Every Land with EDHREC - Part 7: Stomping Grounds is now "Land People Walk Through"

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flood of Tears" href="#" target="_blank">Flood of Tears</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.adampaquettemtg.com/">Adam Paquette</a>)</h6>
<h1>Adventures in Bookkeeping</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; in these articles I try to challenge staples of and misconceptions about the color pie.</p>
<p>Today we'll be reviewing our finances. Numbers have never been as important in EDH as they are with our commander today. With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atemsis, All-Seeing" href="#" target="_blank">Atemsis, All-Seeing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we'll curate a stunning investment portfolio to pave a path to victory.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atemsis, All-Seeing"></div></div>
<p>There is an unintuitive amount of depth to Atemsis as a commander. This isn't quite an alternate win condition in the command zone, but it's a close cousin. Alternate win conditions are often considered underpowered in our format. Most lack consistency because they begin the game tucked away in the 99 and tend to have no additional effect attached: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coalition Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Coalition Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barren Glory" href="#" target="_blank">Barren Glory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great examples. There are others, however, that don't fit this description. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is shockingly effective because it incidentally provides a reservoir of mana as well as easily winning us the game if left unanswered. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maze&#039;s End" href="#" target="_blank">Maze&#039;s End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scapeshift" href="#" target="_blank">Scapeshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can also end games if they have a decent engine behind them.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Revel in Riches"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maze&#039;s End"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scapeshift"></div></div>
<p>So where does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atemsis, All-Seeing" href="#" target="_blank">Atemsis, All-Seeing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fit into this schema? She has a decent body and a solid, desirable activated ability. What's more, she is always available to us in the command zone, extricating our general from the inconsistency associated with alternate win conditions in Commander. However, there are two wrinkles here. The first is that we must reveal at least six cards with different converted mana costs to fulfill her condition. The second is that Atemsis isn't an alternate win condition, she is an alternate KO condition. Instead of winning us the game, she can only make our opponents lose the game one at a time. Because of this, Atemsis gestures towards a pseudo-Voltron strategy—we want to protect our commander, make it evasive, and use it to blast our opponents out of nowhere. Like commander damage, Atemsis can level the playing field against an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic" href="#" target="_blank">Oloro, Ageless Ascetic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck that is sitting on 100+ life.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this commander is its wording. There is a very important omission in its textbox. Atemsis doesn't specify that it must deal <em>combat</em> damage to a player. This means that if we give our general the ability to deal damage without swinging, we can circumvent stalled boards or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Prison" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Prison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. With Atemsis, we're going to keep a full, diverse hand as we search for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viridian Longbow" href="#" target="_blank">Viridian Longbow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hermetic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Hermetic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In conjunction with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aphetto Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Aphetto Alchemist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fatestitcher" href="#" target="_blank">Fatestitcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we'll be able to topple our opponents one ping at a time.</p>
<p>With this deck, we want to plan for two contingencies. First, we want to be able to draw into a large hand to maximize our chances of meeting the requirement of six cards with different converted mana costs. Second, and perhaps more importantly, we want to make sure that even with a six or seven card hand we can still meet the criteria. Let's examine how this affects our ramp and draw packages.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Price is Right</h2>
<p>Our ramp package in this deck is built under a unique condition—we want to diversify the converted mana costs in every facet of our deck. Instead of prioritizing two-mana ramp effects, we want to create a smooth curve in order to ensure that we can kill an opponent with Atemsis if we do manage to push damage through. This deck also creates unique decision points in which we have to decipher whether to play a card or keep it in our hand to fulfill a slot in our CMC curve; in other words, we need to think about our hand as another important factor of our board. We'll be taking stock of what's in our hand and in our deck. Without further ado, I present our financial plan.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="High Tide"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Search for Azcanta"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worn Powerstone"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thran Dynamo"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gilded Lotus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Caged Sun"></div></div>
<p>While most of our ramp effects are going to be mana rocks, there are a few interesting inclusions to consider to polish our CMC curve. High Tide is stellar in any mono-blue deck, allowing for one explosive turn or as a mana doubler in conjunction with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Search for Azcanta does everything we want: it filters the top of our library and then upgrades into a blue-mana-producing land that also provides decent card selection. I've discussed before in this series about how <em>Ixalan's</em> transform cards are wildly underplayed in EDH, and this card is no exception, with just 4,630 decks listed on EDHREC. This should be a blue staple. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caged Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Caged Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an obvious powerhouse in EDH and it will facilitate explosive turns for our deck while filling out the top end of our ramp package.</p>
<p>I have chosen to omit cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Everflowing Chalice" href="#" target="_blank">Everflowing Chalice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Astral Cornucopia" href="#" target="_blank">Astral Cornucopia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It may seem like they plug a hole in our curve with a CMC of zero, but any land stuck in our hand will fill the exact same function. They are flexible, but I've elected to play ramp effects at alternate CMCs.</p>
<p>In addition to the cards above, I've included six other ramp effects to make sure we can power out our commander early and dig for the right hand to kill an opponent.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Cutting Costs</h2>
<p>Mono-blue commanders love to draw cards and ask questions later, and Atemsis is no exception. Our strategy for card advantage reflects the same philosophy as our ramp package. We want to fill out a flowing curve. However, there are also some very interesting mechanics that allow us to cheat costs and fill our hands: cards with high CMCs that can be reduced are perfect in our deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thoughtcast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Treasure Cruise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dig Through Time"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">We will often be able to cast the above cards for only a few mana, but if we reveal our hand to destroy target opponent, they count the nominal cost at the top of the card.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> In addition, all three of the above cards can be very powerful in EDH. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dig Through Time" href="#" target="_blank">Dig Through Time</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perhaps the best of these, giving us the best two cards of the seven on top of our library, allowing us to select for specific mana costs if we're missing any specific numbers in our hand.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Consecrated Sphinx"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nezahal, Primal Tide"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kozilek, the Great Distortion"></div></div></p>
<p>Outside of those nominally high-costed draw effects, we have a few card advantage effects that are actually very expensive, but their effects are worth the expense. Consecrated Sphinx and Nezahal will allow us to draw through our deck like no other. Drawing big before our discard phase will expand our chances of meeting Atemsis's condition. Kozilek is a massive beater, but he can also refill our hand if we are down on cards. In addition, he also has an ability that plays well with our strategy of incorporating cards with different converted mana costs. If we build a big enough hand, we can pitch cards in flush slots in order to disrupt our opponents' key plays.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Deck</h2>
<p>Now that we have a solid basis for ramping and drawing with Atemsis, let's see what the deck looks like as a whole.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Viridian Longbow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aphetto Alchemist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="River&#039;s Rebuke"></div></div>
<p>Among the other notable inclusions, we have a variety of cards to protect our commander from removal, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Plate" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Plate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's also essential to our strategy to remove the limitation of a maximum hand size. As such, we have more than a few ways to eliminate our hand size, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reliquary Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Reliquary Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought Vessel" href="#" target="_blank">Thought Vessel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nezahal, Primal Tide" href="#" target="_blank">Nezahal, Primal Tide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Finale of Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Finale of Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>If we fail to find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viridian Longbow" href="#" target="_blank">Viridian Longbow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we might need to clear the way for Atemsis to damage the way our grandparents did it—by smashing face. With this in mind, we have several ways to return creatures to our opponents' hands, such as <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="River&#039;s Rebuke" href="#" target="_blank">River&#039;s Rebuke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wash Out" href="#" target="_blank">Wash Out</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Because we're playing cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aphetto Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Aphetto Alchemist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to untap our commander, I've included other creatures with significant tap abilities like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcanis the Omnipotent" href="#" target="_blank">Arcanis the Omnipotent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Empress Galina" href="#" target="_blank">Empress Galina</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Each creature I've selected that can untap our haymakers can also untap artifacts, allowing them to serve as ramp in combination with our mana rocks. Finally, if all else fails, we have the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dramatic Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Dramatic Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Laboratory Maniac" href="#" target="_blank">Laboratory Maniac</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package to win the game if we can find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Finale of Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Finale of Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stroke of Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Stroke of Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in time.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Introductory Accounting" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Atemsis, All-Seeing
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aphetto Alchemist
*1 Dreamscape Artist
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Laboratory Maniac
*1 Thassa, God of the Sea
*1 Tribute Mage
*1 Trinket Mage
*1 Vizier of Tumbling Sands
*1 Fatestitcher
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Empress Galina
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Arcanis the Omnipotent
*1 Consecrated Sphinx
*1 Inspired Sphinx
*1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
*1 Kozilek, the Great Distortion
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 High Tide
*1 Mystical Tutor
*1 Pongify
*1 Swan Song
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Dramatic Reversal
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Archmage&#039;s Charm
*1 Stroke of Genius
*1 Chemister&#039;s Insight
*1 Aetherspouts
*1 Mystic Confluence
*1 Dig Through Time
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Finale of Revelation
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Wash Out
*1 Thoughtcast
*1 Flood of Tears
*1 Recurring Insight
*1 River&#039;s Rebuke
*1 Treasure Cruise
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Mana Vault
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Viridian Longbow
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Isochron Scepter
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Thaumatic Compass
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Darksteel Plate
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
*1 Worn Powerstone
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Thran Dynamo
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Caged Sun
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Mystic Remora
*1 Hermetic Study
*1 Psionic Gift
*1 Search for Azcanta
*1 Freed from the Real
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon
*1 Pemmin&#039;s Aura
*1 Rhystic Study
[/enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arch of Orazca
*1 Blighted Cataract
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*24 Island
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Remote Isle
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Soldevi Excavations
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/lands]"></span></div></p>

<hr />
<p>How do you feel about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atemsis, All-Seeing" href="#" target="_blank">Atemsis, All-Seeing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? What did I miss? Would you build her with a graveyard focus to leverage the looting effect? Do you want to see other commanders with alternate win conditions stapled onto them? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments.</p>
<p>Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. Have a good one, and I'll see you on down the road.</p>


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