<h5>Editor's Note: We've re-filtered the way the below data was acquired. A lengthier explanation and updated evaluation on average card type distribution <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IY18Dl8Xv8">can be found here</a>.</h5>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">This land was made for you and me</h2>
<p>The average deck on EDHREC is running 29 lands and four mana rocks. Is that number too high or too low?</p>
<p>Welcome to <em>Superior Numbers,</em> where I try to do numerical analysis on cards and deck building trends using slightly more math and slightly less snark than in my usual column.</p>
<p>Slightly.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/superior-numbers-exotic-orchard/">first few times around in this series</a> we took a look at individual cards, but this time around we're going to go a few levels higher and take a look at the average amount of lands being ran in EDH decks in our database.</p>
<p>This stats dive was prompted by the last column I wrote, where I examined <a href="http://articles.edhrec.com/superior-numbers-vedalken-orrery/">Vedalken Orrery</a>. Over the course of goldfishing a hundred or so hands with random decks online, I noticed that I was unable to hit four colorless mana by turn four way more often than I would have thought, and by and large this seemed to be due to a dearth of both lands and mana rocks in the decks I was testing. How to find out for sure though?</p>
<p>Don Miner to the rescue!</p>
<p>EDHREC mastermind and unrepentant stax player Donald Miner did a little custom stat parsing for me, and pulled the following information from our database:</p>
<ul>
<li>The average deck on EDHREC is running just over 29 lands.</li>
<li>Decks added in the last year average 31 lands.</li>
<li>The average deck on EDHREC has 4.15 mana rocks.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Llanowar Elves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overgrowth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampant Growth"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a>"Buy land, they're not making it anymore."</a></h2>
<p>A couple of notes about those stats:</p>
<ul>
<li>Some decks choose to not run any mana rocks, but that doesn't mean they don't have other ramp options. Looking through my own list of decks, for example, my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda, Host of Herons" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda, Host of Herons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enchantress deck has zero artifacts, and thus zero mana rocks, instead electing to run enchantment-based ramp like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overgrowth" href="#" target="_blank">Overgrowth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Decks like this will drag the overall stats down while still being able to ramp effectively.</li>
<li><em>Landfall</em> or other themed decks may also run less rocks. Again, looking at my own decks, my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mina and Denn, Wildborn" href="#" target="_blank">Mina and Denn, Wildborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <em>Landfall</em> list is running a single rock - <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> - because the deck is designed around generating <em>Landfall</em> triggers. The ramp there is skewed heavily towards green's land ramp spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nature&#039;s Lore" href="#" target="_blank">Nature&#039;s Lore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Green is also statistically the most popular color in <em>Magic</em>, and its native land ramp probably also somewhat depresses the mana rock count while still leaving a deck with enough non-rock ramp to function.</li>
<li>Mana dorks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Llanowar Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Llanowar Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were also not figured into the equation, giving us yet another ramp archetype that allows a deck to function while dragging our above statistics lower and lower.</li>
<li>Small draw spells and filtering like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ponder" href="#" target="_blank">Ponder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Preordain" href="#" target="_blank">Preordain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Opt" href="#" target="_blank">Opt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also make it easier to find the lands and rocks in a deck with a lower land count.</li>
</ul>
<p>Additionally, cEDH decks tend to run leaner land counts thanks to the decks having generally lower curves and shorter game lengths, and there are plenty of cEDH decks showing up in the database. I asked Cameron of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo41YdkXVTp4dTXvhduaeYw">Laboratory Maniacs</a> YouTube channel if he could tell me succinctly what the rough guidelines for a cEDH deck were, and like the overachiever that he is, he wrote me a detailed, multi-page breakdown of the cEDH theorycrafting behind lands and mana sources. It's almost a separate article unto itself that he should write for us, but for brevity's sake I'm just going to reference the most interesting part: this breakdown grid of the lands and mana rocks ran on four popular cEDH decks:</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-28429 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Untitled.jpg" alt="" width="341" height="180" /></p>
<p>The Breakfast Hulk deck has the lowest land + mana source count, sitting at 33, which is comparable to the 29 lands and 4 rocks we saw above. Jeleva and Kess Storm are a bit higher, and Food Chain Tazri tops out at 28 lands and 43 total sources. Look at the average CMC of those decks, though: 1.7, 1.92, 2.04 and 1.68. That is radically lower than the 3+ CMC average of decks in our database.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="General Tazri"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kess, Dissident Mage"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">It's free real estate!</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/nate-burgess/">EDHREC writer,</a> former <a href="http://www.commanderinmtg.com/">Commanderin'</a> host, and current <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commander-time/id1249882486?mt=2">Commander Time!</a> host Nate Burgess has long championed a specific formula for non-cEDH level decks:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Number of lands = 31 + amount of colors in commander's color identity + commander CMC, with 0-CMC mana rocks counting as lands. </em></p>
<p>We're seeing numbers nowhere near that formula in decks nowhere near the average CMC of Cameron's cEDH lists. 29 lands and 4 rocks feels really, really low, even if you do have land ramp and enchantment-based mana production and mana dorks.</p>
<p>It <em>feels </em>too low, but it it <em>truly</em> too low? Let's goldfish out 100 random decks and see what we find.</p>
<p>Some ground rules: I'll mulligan away any hand with only 1 usable mana-producing land (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diamond Valley" href="#" target="_blank">Diamond Valley</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maze of Ith" href="#" target="_blank">Maze of Ith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and other non-mana-producing lands wouldn't count as lands). I will only keep a hand with 2 usable lands if I'm able to cast a mana source or a way to fetch another land. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azorius Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Azorius Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Into the North" href="#" target="_blank">Into the North</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would count, as would <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birds of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Birds of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Additionally, if there were any castable draw or filtering spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> available, I would cast them to hit a land if needed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Birds of Paradise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Talisman of Dominance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a>"The soil of their native land is dear to all the hearts of mankind."</a></h2>
<ul>
<li>26% of the decks tested missed their T3 land drop and were unable to play any mana source within the first three turns.</li>
<li>21% of the decks tested missed their T3 land drop but <em>were</em> able to play a mana source, i.e. two lands and a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birds of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Birds of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talisman of Dominance" href="#" target="_blank">Talisman of Dominance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or fetching a land with something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
<p>More than 1/4 of all decks tested just flat out missed their T3 land drop. That is terrible, and it will make you lose games before they've even begun.</p>
<p>So how many lands and rocks should you run? Certainly more than 29 and 4. Nate's formula is a good place to start for most decks. If nothing else, just up your land and rock count to the point where you can consistently make mana equal to the turn number. Regardless of how you get there, the current average numbers are far too anemic for anything but the most tuned of cEDH lists. There's a reason preconstructed Commander decks come with an average of over 37 lands!</p>
<p>Thanks for reading! I'd like to leave off with a new decklist of mine for a high-CMC commander, where land counts and mana sources are especially important. Hopefully I've hit on a good number of mana sources for the deck to play properly, but just like the experiment above, playtesting will be the best way to tell!</p>
<p>If you have any suggestions for other topics to cover in a future <em>Superior Numbers</em> leave a note in the comments below!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Teysa Orzhov Armory" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Command Tower
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Homeward Path
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Tainted Field
*1 Tectonic Edge
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Strip Mine
*1 Fetid Heath
*1 Cabal Coffers
*1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
*1 Kor Haven
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Scrubland
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Ancient Den
*1 Vault of Whispers
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*6 Swamp
*6 Plains
[/lands]
[Artifacts]
*1 Hammer of Nazahn
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Inspiring Statuary
*1 Conqueror&#039;s Flail
*1 Cranial Plating
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Champion&#039;s Helm
*1 Mana Crypt
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 Sword of Body and Mind
*1 Umezawa&#039;s Jitte
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Thran Dynamo
*1 Inquisitor&#039;s Flail
*1 Mask of Avacyn
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of War and Peace
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Fire and Ice
*1 Grafted Exoskeleton
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mana Vault
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Tainted Strike
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Hatred
*1 Utter End
*1 Return to Dust
[/instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Ancient Craving
*1 Ambition&#039;s Cost
*1 Austere Command
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Council&#039;s Judgment
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Open the Vaults
*1 Merciless Eviction
*1 Demonic Tutor
[/sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Balan, Wandering Knight
*1 Taj-Nar Swordsmith
*1 Sram, Senior Edificer
*1 Relic Seeker
*1 Stonehewer Giant
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Stoneforge Mystic
*1 Danitha Capashen, Paragon
*1 Heavenly Blademaster
[/creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Revel in Riches
*1 Sigarda&#039;s Aid
*1 Wound Reflection
*1 Phyrexian Arena
*1 Duelist&#039;s Heritage
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Ethereal Absolution
[/enchantments]"></span></div>


Superior Numbers - Land Counts

Shape Anew - Cascade Cycling with Yidris

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Allure" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Allure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.steveargyle.com/gallerymagicthegathering">Steve Argyle</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to writing about the creatures <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to write about themselves. I'll guide you through each fragment that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them the story they've been waiting for. In this installment we're going to be breaking down <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xira Arien" href="#" target="_blank">Xira Arien</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a creature that has been waiting quite some time for her time in the limelight.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Xira Arien"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Story Circle</h2>
<p>The story of Xira Arien is somewhat contested, as the name has shown up in two stories that do not play nicely together without making some concessions. Neither version is terribly intricate so I chose the one with the most substance to work off of (and which, in my opinion, feels most like the correct lore).</p>
<p>Xira was a type of sapient insect knows as a Eumidian, a race of humanoid wasps with brilliant gold exoskeletons, four transparent wings, and large green compound eyes. Eumidian culture typically follows that of a hive mind, each individual following the same commands. However, individuals with particularly powerful minds (such as Xira Arien) are able to break free and live independently.</p>
<p>After gaining her independence, Xira became an assassin beholden to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ramses Overdark" href="#" target="_blank">Ramses Overdark</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (a minion of Nicol Bolas). Her claim to fame was the assassination of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lady Caleria" href="#" target="_blank">Lady Caleria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Xira's particular assassination method of choice was to infect her victims with her own offspring, hitting them with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tainted Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Tainted Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The offspring, if they failed to kill their prey, would mutate those infected into horrifically disfigured Eumidians. Truly a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malicious Affliction" href="#" target="_blank">Malicious Affliction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. One such assassination attempt against <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kei Takahashi" href="#" target="_blank">Kei Takahashi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ultimately lead to her death at the hands of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tetsuo Umezawa" href="#" target="_blank">Tetsuo Umezawa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, taking revenge for his now permanently disfigured ally, Kei.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deathgrip"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Massacre"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stench of Evil"></div></div>
<p>The two notable assassination targets, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lady Caleria" href="#" target="_blank">Lady Caleria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kei Takahashi" href="#" target="_blank">Kei Takahashi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, share colors, so I have included a couple cards to either benefit from opponents playing white/green or to specifically hate out those colors as a nod to Xira's specific assassin toolbox.</p>
<p>No assassin worth their salt would have specific tools as their only trick, so I have added a few more goodies to this assassin's arsenal: smoke bombs (in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darkness" href="#" target="_blank">Darkness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and similar effects) and the ever useful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grappling Hook" href="#" target="_blank">Grappling Hook</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is used to get into all those hard-to-reach areas. I'm sure you're thinking, "But Xira can fly..." I promise we'll find a use for that grappling hook in due time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darkness"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spore Frog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grappling Hook"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<h2>Name:<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-28723 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/XiraName.jpg" alt="" width="172" height="66" /></h2>
<p>Some of the confusion surrounding this character can be traced back to the <em>Legends</em> cycle of novels. The author of this trilogy, Clayton Emery, has <a href="http://www.phyrexia.com/forum/messages/11/4714.html?#POST9076">stated</a> that Xira Arien appeared as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Johan" href="#" target="_blank">Johan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s apprentice in the Johan novel, but it was something an editor changed last minute without consulting him. Originally, a wizard known as the Glass Mountain was Johan's apprentice and for some reason was replaced with the name Xira Arien. Adding to the confusion, this version of Xira was a human, not an Eumidian as the card depicts.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28757 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/johan.jpg" alt="" width="187" height="312" /></p>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-28721 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/XiraCost.jpg" alt="" width="111" height="70" /></h2>
<p><strong>Black: </strong>The color of amorality. Black does what it needs to and doesn't care who it treads on to get there.</p>
<p><strong>Red: </strong>The color of emotion. Red follows it's heart and most base desires, wanting freedom over all else.</p>
<p><strong>Green: </strong>The color of nature. No color knows better the ideals of the survival of the fittest.</p>
<p>The culmination of these colors in Xira show her passionate strive towards the top of the food chain. Backstabbing and espionage are the way to the top in the crowds she finds herself in. She thinks with her gut and uses every advantage she can leverage, including the superior and physical form of a Eumidian.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Art:<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-28720 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/XiraArt.jpg" alt="" width="380" height="304" /></h2>
<p>This magnificently dressed Eumidian has chosen to wear primarily red; a clever choice when you deal in blood. No stranger to costume changes, Xira looks fabulous in everything. The amount of flair and regality shows us the type of clientele she consistently works with, or hunts down. It also shows us that she has the means to acquire such elaborate costumes, a sign that business is booming.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type line:</h2>
<h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-28725 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/XiraType.jpg" alt="" width="206" height="49" />Oracle text: <em>Legendary Creature - Insect Wizard </em></h6>
<p>Xira is obviously an Insect and a tribal Insect theme is heavily represented on <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/xira-arien">Xira Arien's EDHREC page</a>. I am far more interested in her career as an assassin, due to her lore, and believe that the Wizard type in the oracle is based off of the first Xira Arien to appear in the novels rather than the Assassin version (appearing in the second cycle of the <em>Legends</em> novels). The Assassin theme lends itself well to a control deck, running a multitude of kill spells, and gives us a more lore specific tribe to include as support/inspiration to pull from.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Assassin's Guild<br />
</strong><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vraska the Unseen" href="#" target="_blank">Vraska the Unseen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span><br />
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ochran Assassin" href="#" target="_blank">Ochran Assassin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span><br />
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Royal Assassin" href="#" target="_blank">Royal Assassin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span><br />
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Virtus the Veiled" href="#" target="_blank">Virtus the Veiled</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span><br />
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekrataal" href="#" target="_blank">Nekrataal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<p>There are a ton of small Assassin dorks with deathtouch, so we're going to follow that trend and select creatures with deathtouch wherever possible. Maybe one of those deathtouch creatures would like to use Xira's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grappling Hook" href="#" target="_blank">Grappling Hook</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? (I told you I had a plan!) Taking a cue from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Virtus the Veiled" href="#" target="_blank">Virtus the Veiled</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and his partner <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gorm the Great" href="#" target="_blank">Gorm the Great</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> there is going to be a small "must be blocked" package to manipulate combat to our advantage. Xira uses her <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Allure" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Allure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to ensnare her victims, letting her red influences push her to be a real black widow killer.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Virtus the Veiled"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gorm the Great"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Rules text:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-28724 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/XiraRules.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="74" /></p>
<p>With a generic built-in card advantage ability, it is no wonder Xira's EDHREC page seems a bit generic as well. Some people seem to be building a "lands matter" deck, while other go with Insect tribal. It feels like people don't really know what to do with her because she kind of fits any Jund strategy just fine.</p>
<p>For a control deck, though, this ability is perfect. It enables us to hold up a removal spell and at the same time not waste mana if there is not a threat we need to take care of that round. More cards is always better for a control deck. In very rare cases, I can even see the ability to let someone <em>else</em> draw a card coming in handy when trying to make a political ally. Her ability to fly will also come up a surprising amount, but commander damage is quite unlikely to matter.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Flavor text:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-28722 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/XiraFlavor.jpg" alt="" width="352" height="89" /></p>
<p>Thinking of all the dirty deeds Xira has to commit, it is no surprise that she constantly requires a costume change. A wardrobe change is hard to find on a <em>Magic</em> card (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quickchange" href="#" target="_blank">Quickchange</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, perhaps, but it's not in our colors) but masks are thankfully not that difficult to come by in <em>Magic </em>art, and since Xira frequents the Royal Masquerade, this kills two birds with one stone. (I tried to squeeze <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conjurer&#039;s Closet" href="#" target="_blank">Conjurer&#039;s Closet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in here as well, but the synergies were just not there.)</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloak of Confusion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mask of Memory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nemesis Mask"></div></div>
<p>On top of everything, Xira is able to wear a cloak (an important piece of fashion that enables a grand reveal of her next costume). The fact that she is in such public view gives a glimpse to the deceitful nature of Xira Arien, a magnificent and multifaceted masked murderer.</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<p>This deck plays similarly to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Virtus the Veiled" href="#" target="_blank">Virtus the Veiled</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gorm the Great" href="#" target="_blank">Gorm the Great</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. It is control heavy and is going to destroy a lot of creatures, ours included. The heavy control shell will buy time for us to either sneak a win in with <em>Infect</em>, flood the board with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of the Dark Realms" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of the Dark Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or even have a chance of assassinating our opponents with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vraska the Unseen" href="#" target="_blank">Vraska the Unseen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Queen Bee" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Xira Arien
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Caustic Caterpillar
*1 Elves of Deep Shadow
*1 Spore Frog
*1 Ulvenwald Tracker
*1 Deathcap Cultivator
*1 Plague Myr
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Glissa, the Traitor
*1 Ochran Assassin
*1 Royal Assassin
*1 Skullwinder
*1 Virtus the Veiled
*1 Gorm the Great
*1 Meren of Clan Nel Toth
*1 Nekrataal
*1 Poison-Tip Archer
*1 Ravenous Chupacabra
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Acidic Slime
*1 Master of Cruelties
*1 Harvester of Souls
*1 Phyrexian Swarmlord
*1 Hornet Queen
*1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Executioner&#039;s Capsule
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Nemesis Mask
*1 Grappling Hook
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Deadly Allure
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Cultivate
*1 Last One Standing
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Damnation
*1 Decimate
*1 Massacre
*1 Phyrexian Purge
*1 Stench of Evil
*1 Decree of Pain
*1 Rise of the Dark Realms
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Darkness
*1 Status // Statue
*1 Tainted Strike
*1 Worldly Tutor
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Malicious Affliction
*1 Moment&#039;s Peace
*1 Terminate
*1 Beast Within
*1 Putrefy
*1 Windgrace&#039;s Judgment
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Cloak of Confusion
*1 Deathgrip
*1 Phyrexian Arena
*1 Deathreap Ritual
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Vraska the Unseen
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*10 Forest
*1 Grand Coliseum
*1 High Market
*1 Mana Confluence
*4 Mountain
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Savage Lands
*1 Stomping Ground
*10 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
[/Lands]"></span></div><br />
</p>
<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>My previous three articles ended up as aggro decks, so I am glad Xira allowed me to fall back into my true comfort zone of control. When I decide to take on a character, I don't know the type of deck their tale will influence, but I like that this list gives Xira's EDHREC page a bit more cohesion. I hope this deck has sparked your interest in this wicked winged woman, and as always, let me know which legendary characters you'd like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - Masquerade Massacre

Pursuit of Knowledge - Orzhov

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raff Capashen, Ship&#039;s Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Raff Capashen, Ship&#039;s Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://stankoillustration.com/">John Stanko</a>)</h6>
<h1>Start Your Engines</h1>
<p>Well, well, look at this! We are back again with some more <em>Uncommonders</em> goodness! My name is Seth Cross, but my friends call me DM. This series was inspired by the <em>Dominaria</em> set and its twenty legendary creatures printed at the uncommon rarity. Together, we dive into each one of these, along with callbacks to the many uncommon legendary creatures printed in <em>Magic: the Gathering</em>’s past, and brew something fun and exciting for the kitchen table and our best friends to “ooh” and “aah” over. Since we got excited over a recently rare-shifted legendary creature in last week’s article, we are back to <em>Dominaria</em> this week. I asked the <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/praetormagic">Twitch Subscribers</a> that have special access to the subs-only channel on the <a href="https://discord.gg/CrNHmTE">Praetor Magic Discord</a> to supply me with their favorite <em>Dominaria</em> Uncommonders, and naturally has a <a href="https://www.twitter.com/DM_Cross">Twitter poll</a> to find the victor! The four options were <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hallar, the Firefletcher" href="#" target="_blank">Hallar, the Firefletcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Danitha Capashen, Paragon" href="#" target="_blank">Danitha Capashen, Paragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slimefoot, the Stowaway" href="#" target="_blank">Slimefoot, the Stowaway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and of course, the winner for today's article:</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Raff Capashen, Ship’s Mage</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raff Capashen, Ship&#039;s Mage"></div></div></p>
<p>Raff is one of <em>Dominaria's</em> uncommon legends - actually, one of the legends, regardless of rarity - that piqued my interest during preview week. What makes Raff slightly more interesting to me than some of the others are his colors. I talk about being a Golgari mage all the time, so Azorius can sometimes be a bit foreign to me. Raff is one of the <em>Dominaria</em> commanders that deal with the new 'historic' label. This new categorization of cards encompasses artifacts, spells that have the legendary supertype (whether they are creatures, artifacts, enchantments or even instants or sorceries), or the new Saga subtype. Come to think of it, if we get new Sagas in future sets, a Bant historic-based commander could make for an interesting Enchantress theme... oops! Sorry. We're not here for enchantments. We're actually here for Raff's historical artifacts!</p>
<p>Another fairly recent development within <em>Magic: the Gathering</em> is the Vehicle subtype. These artifacts become creatures when they are <em>Crewed</em> by tapping creatures with the right amount of power. The reason I find these so interesting is that a well-timed board wipe leaves us with part-time creatures on an empty field, putting us farther ahead in the game. Combined with Raff's ability to cast these artifacts with flash, it'll be even easier to finagle that timing to our advantage. That's right, this week we are talking about…</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Raff Capashen, Pod Racer!</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smuggler&#039;s Copter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Weatherlight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peacewalker Colossus"></div></div></p>
<p>First, I want to draw attention to a simple fact: there are only 25 Vehicles in all of <em>Magic: the Gathering</em>. My first impulse was to throw them all into the deck to fulfill the theme, but looking at the list, I realized that some of them just did not need to be in the deck. I trimmed it down to a total of 17 Vehicles. Some were cut out because their payoff was lackluster (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fell Flagship" href="#" target="_blank">Fell Flagship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), and others were trimmed out based on their <em>Crew</em> cost (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consulate Dreadnought" href="#" target="_blank">Consulate Dreadnought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<p>Only two Vehicles in the deck have a <em>Crew</em> cost of 4 or more, meaning that they are the only Vehicles that Raff cannot bring to life on his own. The first such Vehicle is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peacewalker Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Peacewalker Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> which made the cut because we can pay mana to animate other Vehicles without needing to <em>Crew</em> them. The second Vehicle with a <em>Crew</em> cost of 4 is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conqueror’s Galleon" href="#" target="_blank">Conqueror’s Galleon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which I kept for the chance to transform it into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conqueror’s Foothold" href="#" target="_blank">Conqueror’s Foothold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a means of recurring our cards from the graveyard.</p>
<p>Some other Vehicles also stood out in the list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivator’s Caravan" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivator’s Caravan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doubles up as ramp. (In case you were not sure, it can indeed tap the turn it enters the battlefield, because if it's not a creature, it doesn't have summoning sickness.) The famous and nostalgic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weatherlight" href="#" target="_blank">Weatherlight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smuggler’s Copter" href="#" target="_blank">Smuggler’s Copter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> double up as forms of card advantage, helping dig deeper into the deck to keep our hand happy and full. Hailing from <em>Kaladesh,</em> the native plane of Vehicles, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skysovereign, Consul Flagship" href="#" target="_blank">Skysovereign, Consul Flagship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to swing at our opponents’ life totals while also bolting either creatures or planeswalkers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mobile Garrison" href="#" target="_blank">Mobile Garrison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to untap the creature that <em>Crewed</em> it, leaving up potential for some crafty blocking plays. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daredevil Dragster" href="#" target="_blank">Daredevil Dragster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a unique card that only gets two attacks and/or blocks in before being sacrificed, but that sacrifice draws us two cards. With a recursion package - which we will talk about next - there is potential to keep bringing Dragster back for more and more card advantage. Let's be honest, no one says no to more cards, right?!</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Spit, Polish, and Maintaining Our Pods</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Padeem, Consul of Innovation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teshar, Ancestor&#039;s Apostle"></div></div></p>
<p>It is important to realize that there are many effects that are popular in Commander that wipe out or surgically remove artifacts, regardless of whether or not they are creatures. With that in mind, we want to run a few ways to protect or bring back our artifacts.</p>
<p>Before we begin, my list is not running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and honestly, how dare I, right? In all honesty, I felt like artifacts have so many ways to be recurred that simple indestructibility is just too easy and a touch boring. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Junk Diver" href="#" target="_blank">Junk Diver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Retriever" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Retriever</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the artifact staple <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trading Post" href="#" target="_blank">Trading Post</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> help our artifacts come back to the battlefield. We also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sun Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Sun Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and even another <em>Dominaria</em> addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teshar, Ancestor’s Apostle" href="#" target="_blank">Teshar, Ancestor’s Apostle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is slightly more restrictive. In addition to Teshar, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hanna, Ship’s Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Hanna, Ship’s Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> uniquely synergizes with Raff because she counts as a historic card that can be flashed in. Then, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Indomitable Archangel" href="#" target="_blank">Indomitable Archangel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Padeem, Consul of Innovation" href="#" target="_blank">Padeem, Consul of Innovation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> making targeting our artifacts much more difficult for our opponents.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Fuel for the Engines</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jhoira&#039;s Familiar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smothering Tithe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etherium Sculptor"></div></div></p>
<p>Ramp in an artifact deck can be deceptive. Sure, running eight or more mana rocks can easily give us access to twice as much mana as anyone else on the board. When combined with discounting effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we can suddenly cast ultra-big artifacts multiple times a turn. However, my main issue with this thinking is that mana rocks are not permanent sources of mana in the way that lands are. At least, not unless your meta is more comfortable with land destruction. If they are, then good for you! I personally think we are too against the idea of balancing mana sources, but I digress. My point is that we should be careful with vulnerable mana sources.</p>
<p>Because artifacts have such great recursion and we are running so many effects in the deck, I went with the classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burnished Hart" href="#" target="_blank">Burnished Hart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solemn Simulacrum" href="#" target="_blank">Solemn Simulacrum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to fetch for lands. While for most decks, that does not seem that odd, I was surprised at the folks who suggested them as cuts when I was slimming down the deck. The mentality was that we ran enough discount effects and rocks to ramp hard enough already, but did not sit right with me, so I stuck with my gut, and these should diversify our mana capabilities. Plus, they can <em>Crew </em>Vehicles!</p>
<p>I was excited to include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the list, a new card from Ravnica Allegiance that seems like it is going to become very popular in most white decks. I debated going a bit more tax-based with a few other cards, but realized something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Arbiter Augustin IV" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Arbiter Augustin IV</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does not benefit us enough, considering most of our cards are colorless. Since we don't get the classic Arbiter, we are running three kinds of discounts for artifacts (or historic cards) in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foundry Inspector" href="#" target="_blank">Foundry Inspector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the newer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jhoira’s Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Jhoira’s Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Throw everything together with some more draw, ramp and then the right removal and Wrath effects, and the list looks like this:</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Pod Racer Champion Raff" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Raff Capashen, Ship&#039;s Mage
[/commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Ballista Charger
*1 Bomat Bazaar Barge
*1 Conqueror&#039;s Galleon
*1 Daredevil Dragster
*1 Dusk Legion Dreadnought
*1 Fleetwheel Cruiser
*1 Mobile Garrison
*1 Peacewalker Colossus
*1 Renegade Freighter
*1 Sky Skiff
*1 Sleek Schooner
*1 Untethered Express
*1 Cultivator&#039;s Caravan
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*1 Junk Diver
*1 Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*1 Kuldotha Forgemaster
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Duplicant
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Indomitable Archangel
*1 Sun Titan
*1 Aeronaut Admiral
*1 Trophy Mage
*1 Heart of Kiran
*1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
*1 Weatherlight
*1 Teshar, Ancestor&#039;s Apostle
*1 Sram, Senior Edificer
*1 Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator
*1 Sai, Master Thopterist
*1 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
[/creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tezzeret, Artifice Master
*1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
*1 Tezzeret the Seeker
[/Planeswalkers]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Rhystic Study
*1 The Antiquities War
[/enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Trading Post
*1 Unwinding Clock
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Blinkmoth Urn
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Lightning Greaves
[/artifacts]
[Instant]
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Cyclonic Rift
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*1 Fabricate
*1 Open the Vaults
*1 Remember the Fallen
*1 Cleansing Nova
*1 Wrath of God
[/Sorcery]
[Lands]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*10 Island
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Minamo, School at Water&#039;s Edge
*12 Plains
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Secluded Steppe
*1 Strip Mine
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
[/lands]"></span></div><br />
</p>
<p>NOTE: For the sake of the list, I included the Vehicles as creatures, which makes it look like there are tons of creatures. As we touched on earlier, some of the Vehicles fulfill different categories or simply do not need to be creatures in order to provide value. Just something to keep in mind when looking at the list!</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Beep Beep, Outta the Way!</h3>
<p>When Raff first came out in a set with twenty uncommon legendary creatures and a host of rare and mythic rare legendary creatures, my first thought was to flash in all the white and blue legendary creatures I could stick into a deck. Then, when Sagas were revealed, I had the idea to do an Azorius Enchantress-type deck. Sadly, only six Sagas exist in these colors, so that idea quickly went out the window. I resisted the urge to do a basic artifact deck with Raff, because <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> exists in the same set and she seems like such a better artifact commander. In the end, the Vehicle idea seemed fun, and brewing the list proved it to be true, especially with all the surprise combat shenanigans Raff is capable of sneaking into play. I enjoy a unique twist on my decks, so this is the icing on the cake.</p>
<p>To wrap this up, my favorite comment from last week’s article came from /u/GRxBerserker on the /r/EDH subreddit. They said:</p>
<blockquote><p>This looks like an awesome budget deck! I play Shirei without consideration for budget and it still looks awfully similar. Good work.</p></blockquote>
<p>I enjoyed this comment so much because it illustrates how powerful of a deck you can build in the 3DH format. To recap, 3DH is 3 Dollar Highlander, where we play Commander on <em>Magic: the Gathering Online</em> and each deck can cost no more than 3 TIX (which equates to $3). Because of the unique Online economy, there are very powerful cards that sometimes cost next to nothing. My favorite example is always that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only costs a penny for Season 3.</p>
<p>If this sounds like fun for you, make sure you check out the <a href="https://discord.gg/CrNHmTE">Praetor Magic Discord</a>! We talk about the format and you can sign up to play on the games <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/praetormagic">I stream</a> every Wednesday and Friday at 9 PM EST. You can also throw questions at me on the big blue bird site by following me there and see some of my older games on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/praetormagic">Praetor Magic YouTube channel</a>.</p>
<p>Until next time, keep brewing and keep casting those bombs!</p>


Uncommonders - Who Taught Raff How to Drive?!

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enter the Infinite" href="#" target="_blank">Enter the Infinite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.tnielsen.com/">Terese Nielson</a>)</h6>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Cure for the Common Game</em>, where I am on a mission to build an EDH deck out of every legendary creature. Today we are going over decks 380 through 389.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #380 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Masumaro, First to Live" href="#" target="_blank">Masumaro, First to Live</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>We begin with the first deck I have completed in the <em>Kamigawa</em> "Maro cycle."</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #380 Masumaro, First to Live" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uy56jg8Vo7g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #381 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonlord Dromoka" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonlord Dromoka</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Not like you're used to seeing her... we're going token style for this Selensnyan powerhouse</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #381 Dragonlord Dromoka" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XXfxALjzXgw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #382 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenara, Asura of War" href="#" target="_blank">Jenara, Asura of War</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Focusing heavily on the +1/+1 counter theme.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #382 Jenara, Asura of War" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1mnpkjFbDkA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #383 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mikaeus, the Unhallowed" href="#" target="_blank">Mikaeus, the Unhallowed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Mike really enjoys his <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triskelion" href="#" target="_blank">Triskelion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> tricycle.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #383 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQc2aV6rjiU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #384 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol&#039;kanar the Swamp King" href="#" target="_blank">Sol&#039;kanar the Swamp King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>How does three-color mono-black sound?</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #384 Sol&#039;kanar, the Swamp King" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t5ytvDLE7Ks?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #385 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirri, Cat Warrior" href="#" target="_blank">Mirri, Cat Warrior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>We're not just playing any version of Mirri, we're playing her in all her white border glory. That's right, the entire deck is white border.</p>
<p>#oldmanmagic</p>
<p>#whiteborderisthenewblackborder</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #385 Mirri, Cat Warrior" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7lTnY_HCZRc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #386 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Padeem, Consul of Innovation" href="#" target="_blank">Padeem, Consul of Innovation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>I have to admit, this deck turned out way better than I thought it would.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #386 Padeem, Consul of Innovation" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ofJFdwpWP6Q?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #387 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandler" href="#" target="_blank">Chandler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>That's right, we're building <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandler" href="#" target="_blank">Chandler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, infamous culprit behind the <a href="https://blog.mtgprice.com/2017/04/01/could-this-spike-be-any-better/">April Fool's day joke of 2017</a>.</p>
<p>We go back to <em>Homelands</em> for this underused legend. Like Padeem, Chandler likes his shiny rocks. He just plays with his toys a little differently.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #387 Chandler" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wfTs_WX7cTk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #388 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ulrich of the Krallenhorde" href="#" target="_blank">Ulrich of the Krallenhorde</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>If you guessed that this deck is tribal Werewolves, well, have I got news for you: you are correct.</p>
<p>Pro tip - don't triple sleeve your Werewolf deck</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #388 Ulrich of the Krallenhorde" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vaEBaGQXauo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<h2>Deck #389 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa Karlov" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa Karlov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Our first <em>Ravnica Allegiance</em> deck!</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Deck #389 Teysa Karlov" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XXb1tOrZrU0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<p>That is all the decks for this edition. Check back for the 390's, because you know crazy stuff happened in the 90's.</p>
<p>Thank you all for joining me on this quest! Your support has been amazing. As always, I appreciate all the comments, suggestions, and ideas you give, I will probably work all of them into a deck at some point, but for now it's time to #ShuffleandCut</p>


Cure for the Common Game - The 380's

'Tis the Season – Of Love!

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sire of Insanity" href="#" target="_blank">Sire of Insanity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.vandalhigh.com/">Peter Mohrbacher</a>)</h6>
<h1><strong>“Salvete Omnes!”</strong></h1>
<p>That’s Latin for “Hello everyone!” My name’s Kyle, avid land-tapper and creature-caster for nearly 20 years now, and I have to say that I’m ashamed of you, Online Commander Community. While you’re all busy optimizing your decks and drooling over shiny new <em>Magic</em> expansions, there are some perfectly good cards for Commander that lay sad and neglected in the corner. They deserve at least a look, and that’s what this article series will be about: a discussion of cards listed in 300 decks or less on EDHREC.</p>
<p>Did that scare you off? No? Good. Because this is going to be so much fun!</p>
<p><div id="attachment_28685" style="width: 670px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28685" class="wp-image-28685 size-full" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Forgotten-Harvest.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="350" /><p id="caption-attachment-28685" class="wp-caption-text"><em>"Ooooooo, shiny!" </em>[card]Forgotten Harvest[/card] | Art by <a href="http://diterlizzi.com/">DiTerlizzi</a></p></div>A few words on the format of these articles and what to expect: I’ll be looking at cards I think are severely underplayed given their power level, grouping them by theme, and discussing the neglected cards within that theme through the construction of a featured deck. I want to make it clear that “neglected” doesn’t necessarily mean “cheap.” <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angus Mackenzie" href="#" target="_blank">Angus Mackenzie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is only played in 407 decks, but I’m sure if he weren’t so expensive (thanks Reserved List!), he would see more play. The commander for this first article is also expensive due to RL status. But, as I do in today’s article, I’ll offer alternatives to the wallet-hungry cards. I want these articles to be valuable, and that won’t be the case if I only talk about cards no one can find or afford.</p>
<p>Speaking of valuable information, the cards I’ll be talking about will not be in the bargain basement of power level. I’m not doing 1,000 words on the merits of casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vizzerdrix" href="#" target="_blank">Vizzerdrix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. At the same time, don’t expect the top-tier, tuned-deck power level, either. Those cards are definitely being played in more than 300 decks already. There are some great, situational cards that look like superstars in the right deck. Expect a lot of those from me.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>A Flaming, Falling Goat-Man</strong></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aether Rift"></div></div>
<p>The “right deck” this week is a Jund <em>Hellbent</em> build. Red and black certainly have a lot to "draw" from to play into this theme, and green has some surprising contributions. The first one is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Played in a mere 23 EDH decks on EDHREC, this <em>Hellbent</em> hero really shines when you can remove the 'random' portion of the discard. Perhaps you begin the turn with only one card in hand. Specifically, a creature card. More specifically, a great creature card. Most specifically, a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vorinclex" href="#" target="_blank">Vorinclex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Alright, it doesn’t have a be a Praetor, but some big beefy chunk of power and toughness is what we’re looking for.</p>
<p>“But Kyle,” you say, “Somebody’s going to pay five life for sure!” To which my reply is, "That’s why WotC made <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genesis" href="#" target="_blank">Genesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oversold Cemetery" href="#" target="_blank">Oversold Cemetery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>," along with any number of other cards that repeatedly recur creatures to your hand (I’ll get into them next). I guarantee after a few turns of stopping your tank of a card from entering the battlefield, either you’ll finally get your creature, or the table’s rage will have ended the Rift. Either way, lots of life will have been paid, and you’ll be glad for it.</p>
<p>There is a strike against <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: the card just does not play well with <em>Madness</em>. As of <em>Shadows over Innistrad</em>, the <em>Madness</em> mechanic exiles the discarded card until you make the decision whether to cast it or not. Because of how the triggers from <em>Madness</em> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stack, the discarded <em>Madness </em>card is in exile when the Rift tries to return it. I’ve still included <em>Madness</em> cards in the deck below, despite this negative interaction. There are plenty of other ways to discard, which make those cards worth it.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Speaking of Repeatable Recursion… </strong></h2>
<p>Running cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as well as a vast array of discard effects typical for a <em>Hellbent</em> deck, we need a commander capable of selectively adding back to our hand after it’s depletion. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adun Oakenshield" href="#" target="_blank">Adun Oakenshield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the Jund legend from <em>Legends,</em> takes care of that for us. Most certainly a neglected card, Mr. Oakenshield only appears in 151 decks on EDHREC (not just as commander, but anywhere in the 100). We’ll want to use his recursion ability just before starting our turn to bring back a key creature card for use on the coming turn. I won’t say he’s top-tier, and there are other, better Jund reanimator commanders, but I’ll argue that none of them do for <em>Hellbent</em> what Oakenshield can.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adun Oakenshield"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undertaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Xira Arien"></div></div>
<p>Now, I did say I would provide alternatives to expensive cards, so if you find yourself without Adun, I recommend the also-neglected <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xira Arien" href="#" target="_blank">Xira Arien</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (293 decks total). While Xira won’t give you the ability to put a specific creature into your hand, the card draw option right before you start your turn is a big help. She’s far easier on the budget, and some minor tweaks can increase her effectiveness as a replacement (I’m looking at you, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haunted Crossroads" href="#" target="_blank">Haunted Crossroads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). For the rest of the article, I’m going to stick with Oakenshield to simplify the discussion, but if you want more information about using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xira Arien" href="#" target="_blank">Xira Arien</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and similar abilities in a <em>Hellbent</em> deck, ask away in the comments.</p>
<p>Naturally, there’s a need for redundancy in the deck, so let’s look toward another neglected favorite that raises the dead and also functions as a discard source: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undertaker" href="#" target="_blank">Undertaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Found in only 280 decks online, this is a card just begging to be sleeved up. Yes, it is stuck on a skimpy 1/1 body, but the threat posed by this card is so minimal that I’ve never had trouble with its removal before I get off a couple of activations. This is a go-to card for me whenever I want a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Raise Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect, and I can’t recommend it enough.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Spells of all Shapers and Sizes</strong></h2>
<p>I would wager that Spellshapers are the most neglected of any creature type. In addition to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undertaker" href="#" target="_blank">Undertaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> above, I have a trio of Spellshapers to help enable <em>Hellbent</em>. First, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverglade Pathfinder" href="#" target="_blank">Silverglade Pathfinder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helping us to dig for land and empty our hand. Only used in 243 decks, please consider it as an alternative for (or in addition to) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in reanimator decks. Instead of reanimating the Elder over and over, the Pathfinder allows you to pitch cards for lands, which we can then recur with Oakenshield later. I’m not saying it’s at the same power level as the Elder, but it can create different scenarios.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silverglade Pathfinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Notorious Assassin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hammer Mage"></div></div>
<p>Next up is a great source of repeatable removal also from the <em>Mercadian Masques</em> expansion. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Notorious Assassin" href="#" target="_blank">Notorious Assassin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is only played in a mere 86 decks, but a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Banishing" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Banishing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> each turn can be so beneficial. I like to think of this as the equivalent to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Attrition" href="#" target="_blank">Attrition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a sacrifice deck. I will concede that four mana for the creature can be on the steep side, but the cost per activation of its ability is right where it should be.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hammer Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Hammer Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides some great mass-artifact removal, and it’s only played in 151 decks. Melting down all the mana rocks on the board for scrap can be such a fulfilling ability. Afterward, maintaining that threat on the battefield, preventing additional artifacts from hitting the board, will set your opponents back a few turns. This extra time just provides you more turns to reanimate something sweet, or maybe extra triggers on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you’re lucky.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>One with Nothing</strong></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archfiend of Ifnir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nahiri&#039;s Wrath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stitch Together"></div></div>
<p>Now, onto the deck itself! In addition to a hefty smattering of Spellshapers, there are some excellent “discard-matters” cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Ifnir" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Ifnir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri&#039;s Wrath" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri&#039;s Wrath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Big Game Hunter" href="#" target="_blank">Big Game Hunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This deck expects to play with a big graveyard and very little hand. Ergo, there are also some elements shared with reanimator decks in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stitch Together" href="#" target="_blank">Stitch Together</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anger" href="#" target="_blank">Anger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It certainly helps to have some heavy hitters, so three of the Praetors from <em>New Phyrexia</em> are also included.</p>
<p>You’ll notice that the deck is creature-heavy, and that’s intentional. This maximizes the value of our reanimating cards and allows us to easily get back anything that’s destroyed. Doing this does potentially put us at a disadvantage to cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torpor Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Torpor Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I’ll let you make appropriate adjustments depending on your playgroup’s meta.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Hellbent Oakenshield" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div><br />
[commander]<br />
*1 Adun Oakenshield<br />
[/commander]<br />
[Creatures]<br />
*1 Birds of Paradise<br />
*1 Cryptbreaker<br />
*1 Llanowar Mentor<br />
*1 Ruthless Sniper<br />
*1 Asylum Visitor<br />
*1 Blood Scrivener<br />
*1 Dawnstrider<br />
*1 Fauna Shaman<br />
*1 Hammer Mage<br />
*1 Silverglade Pathfinder<br />
*1 Undertaker<br />
*1 Big Game Hunter<br />
*1 Cunning Lethemancer<br />
*1 Eternal Witness<br />
*1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage<br />
*1 Krosan Restorer<br />
*1 Ramunap Excavator<br />
*1 Reclamation Sage<br />
*1 Undead Gladiator<br />
*1 Anger<br />
*1 Avaricious Dragon<br />
*1 Bloodhall Priest<br />
*1 Brawn<br />
*1 Hazoret the Fervent<br />
*1 Notorious Assassin<br />
*1 Archfiend of Ifnir<br />
*1 Genesis<br />
*1 Ishkanah, Grafwidow<br />
*1 Urabrask the Hidden<br />
*1 Chartooth Cougar<br />
*1 Combustible Gearhulk<br />
*1 Elvish Aberration<br />
*1 Sire of Insanity<br />
*1 Twisted Abomination<br />
*1 Krosan Tusker<br />
*1 Sheoldred, Whispering One<br />
*1 Avatar of Woe<br />
*1 Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger<br />
[/Creatures]<br />
[Instants]<br />
*1 Jund Charm<br />
[/Instants]<br />
[Sorceries]<br />
*1 Faithless Looting<br />
*1 Reanimate<br />
*1 Avacyn's Judgment<br />
*1 Gather the Pack<br />
*1 Hull Breach<br />
*1 Stitch Together<br />
*1 Nahiri's Wrath<br />
*1 Damnation<br />
*1 Increasing Ambition<br />
*1 Behold the Beyond<br />
[/Sorceries]<br />
[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Renegade Map<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Golgari Signet<br />
*1 Gruul Signet<br />
*1 Rakdos Signet<br />
*1 Commander's Sphere<br />
[/Artifacts]<br />
[Enchantment]<br />
*1 Animate Dead<br />
*1 Oversold Cemetery<br />
*1 Aether Rift<br />
*1 Necrogen Mists<br />
[/Enchantment]<br />
[Lands]<br />
*1 Blood Crypt<br />
*1 Bloodstained Mire<br />
*1 City of Brass<br />
*1 Command Tower<br />
*1 Dragonskull Summit<br />
*7 Forest<br />
*1 Karplusan Forest<br />
*1 Llanowar Wastes<br />
*1 Mana Confluence<br />
*6 Mountain<br />
*1 Overgrown Tomb<br />
*1 Rootbound Crag<br />
*1 Savage Lands<br />
*1 Stomping Ground<br />
*1 Sulfurous Springs<br />
*8 Swamp<br />
*1 Temple of Abandon<br />
*1 Temple of Malady<br />
*1 Temple of Malice<br />
*1 Verdant Catacombs<br />
*1 Wooded Foothills<br />
*1 Woodland Cemetery<br />
[/Lands]<br />
[/Deck]<br />
</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>We Did It!</strong></h2>
<p>Thanks for giving this first iteration of <em>Forgotten Harvest</em> a read. I know you all must be brimming with questions, comments, and maybe even snide remarks! Please let them loose in the comments section below. I’ll be on there to debate with you why I opted for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrogen Mists" href="#" target="_blank">Necrogen Mists</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bottomless Pit" href="#" target="_blank">Bottomless Pit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or how I dared to not include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a deck with access to black, or how the deck counts listed above have fluctuated since I submitted my article.</p>
<p>Oh, and please let me know which underplayed cards you’d like to see featured in this series! Remember that I’m looking for cards with a total deck count of 300 or less on EDHREC. Go see what hidden gems exist in sets of yore, and next time, we’ll bounce around some other ideas.</p>


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