<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss|jmp|339" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://karlkopinski.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karl Kopinski</a></em></p>
<p>No creature type in <em>Magic</em> better epitomizes the phrase “just a little guy” than Goblins. But rest assured, where there’s just a little Goblin, a lot more are hiding nearby, waiting to make a splash on the game in the most humorous and painful way possible.</p>
<p>According to the <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/kindred" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDHREC stats</a>, Goblins are the 7th most popular creature type across all data-scraped deck building sites, with over 35,000 decks built. They've been part of <em>Magic</em> since the beginning, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mons&#039;s Goblin Raiders" href="#" target="_blank">Mons&#039;s Goblin Raiders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as part of the "<a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Sligh#:~:text=The%20philosophy%20of%20the%20%22Sligh,utilize%20all%20of%20its%20mana." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sligh Principle</a>" red decks that revolutionized the way players look at deck lists, introducing the concept of a mana curve. Goblins have been featured in Duel Decks and Starter Decks, as an integral part of introducing new players to <em>Magic</em> and the color red.</p>
<p>It seems like Goblins are all over the multiverse, with each set adding to their ranks. Goblins love to go wide and go boom, and our build for this deck tech will do both!</p>
<h2>Notable Goblins for Commander Decks</h2>
<p>Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-a-dragon-commander-deck-with-the-ur-dragon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last week</a>, our commander this week, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, does one thing and does it well. He adds to our board exponentially, challenging the limits of our creativity and our ability to represent an accurate board state. Each turn, our board gets wider and wider. There are creatureless builds, highlighting how quickly Krenko alone gets out of hand, as well as combo builds, as Krenko can easily go infinite and make a quality cEDH commander. As a typal commander, however, Krenko presents a repeated must-answer threat that can easily snowball out of control.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stadium Headliner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Underfoot Underdogs"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shock Brigade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Devoted Duelist"></div></div></p>
<p>We want our creatures to hit the ground running, so there are a couple of ways to do that: make multiple bodies or enable the casting of multiple spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skirk Prospector" href="#" target="_blank">Skirk Prospector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns our excess bodies into mana, enabling massive turns and powering out our larger threats. One of the stranger aspects of newer Goblin builds, especially with a lightning rod for a commander, is that they're growing more and more hungry for mana. Cool Goblins keep getting printed, and there’s a tendency to cut lands for them, but it’s better to build in ramp without committing slots to dead cards.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Warchief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Howlsquad Heavy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skirk Prospector"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Chieftain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pashalik Mons"></div></div></p>
<p>One of the key elements of go-wide strategies is the presence of lords - creatures who provide boosts and/or keywords for those that fit certain criteria. There are lots of Goblin lords. Some provide haste, some provide a generic cost reduction, but only <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Trashmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Trashmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets us blow up artifacts.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hobgoblin Bandit Lord"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brightstone Ritual"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Trashmaster"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin King"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conspicuous Snoop" href="#" target="_blank">Conspicuous Snoop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides some interesting nuance to Goblin decks. At the highest levels of play, topdeck manipulation can set up infinite win cons. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skirk Prospector" href="#" target="_blank">Skirk Prospector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a key Goblin with an activated ability, as is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Chirurgeon" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Chirurgeon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can protect key parts of our board.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko&#039;s Command"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conspicuous Snoop"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Chirurgeon"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Instigator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Muxus, Goblin Grandee"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mogg War Marshal" href="#" target="_blank">Mogg War Marshal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an unassuming piece of cardboard, but it’s secretly the perfect role player for a deck like this. It brings a buddy along with it, and, if the echo isn’t paid, it brings another. Two 1/1s for two mana is a solid rate, and the more lords we have, the better the rate gets, especially when our commander can turn those two bodies into four!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warren Instigator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Legion Warboss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Battle Cry Goblin"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beetleback Chief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mogg War Marshal"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Lackey" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Lackey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been a key card in Goblin decks across formats, from Legacy to EDH to cEDH, and everything in between. If little red guys are being played, there are few better turn-one plays.</p>
<p>You may notice that this deck eschews <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>. How can we get away with that? Well, as good as a turn-two Krenko is, a turn-one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Lackey" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Lackey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is even better. True, the returns diminish as boards develop, but the Lackey is also a solid play after a board wipe, which could otherwise be backbreaking for a deck like this.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Lackey"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Piledriver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei"></div></div>
<h2>Complementary Cards for Goblin Decks</h2>
<p>With Goblins, speed is the name of the game. We want to take opponents out before they get a chance to get fully set up, before we even have to resort to the combat step, if need be. After all, why risk bodies in combat when we can threaten to overwhelm opponents with numbers? Well, because of board wipes. So, how do we win during this phase, before the wipe hits? Keep direct damage coming with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impact Tremors" href="#" target="_blank">Impact Tremors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects, and going with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shocking Sharpshooter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Bombardment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Impact Tremors"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin War Strike"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Witty Roastmaster"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin War Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin War Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a hard-hitting card. Its damage scales with the number of Goblins we control, so it’s best used pre-combat, after activating Krenko, before attacking. That way, our army of Goblins will be at its largest when it hits. It also enables us to alpha strike with reckless abandon (the best kind) on the turn we intend to win.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Purphoros, God of the Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Siege-Gang Commander"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Siege-Gang Lieutenant"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin War Strike"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="General Kreat, the Boltbringer"></div></div></p>
<h2>Goblin Draw Spells and Card Advantage</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a key part of the higher-level Goblin decks. Since it puts any Goblins we want on top of our library, we can set up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conspicuous Snoop" href="#" target="_blank">Conspicuous Snoop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for any number of combinations. We can also combine it with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to draw into whatever cards we put there. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be an issue if we have lords out with no ways to sacrifice creatures, as we can find ourselves in the strange position of needing help to get our creatures killed.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skullclamp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rundvelt Hordemaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Recruiter"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Ringleader"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moria Marauder"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Outpost Siege" href="#" target="_blank">Outpost Siege</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a draw engine that doubles as a source of repeatable direct damage…or it would, if we didn’t have to pick a side. Luckily, we can take the perspective that it will either find what we want or be what we want. Thankfully, both options are relevant in a deck like this.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark-Dweller Oracle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Matron"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moggcatcher"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rummaging Goblin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Outpost Siege"></div></div></p>
<h2>Removal Spells for Goblin Decks</h2>
<p>Being in mono-red, our removal options are somewhat limited. Our best options are also Goblins, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Sharpshooter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Sharpshooter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Cratermaker" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Cratermaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The Sharpshooter can mow down opposing creatures, including untapping off of creatures that would be dying anyways, to get in extra pings. The Cratermaker is primarily there to ping small creatures or blow up artifacts, but we can live the dream occasionally, blowing up an Eldrazi with a little explosives expert. He might die, but what a way to go!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Sharpshooter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Cratermaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tibalt&#039;s Trickery"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abrade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Untimely Malfunction"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gempalm Incinerator" href="#" target="_blank">Gempalm Incinerator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might just be the most exciting singular card in the deck. Not only does it cycle to draw a card, but it smacks a creature hard when it does. As an activated ability, it isn’t being cast, so it's difficult to counter. It doesn’t even stop at the Goblins we control, however, as it smacks for an amount equal to the total number of Goblins on the field. If we can hit an opponent’s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can have a lot of fun!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reverberate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return the Favor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mogg Salvage"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flare of Duplication"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gempalm Incinerator"></div></div></p>
<h2>Krenko, Mob Boss Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Krenko, Mob Boss Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Krenko, Mob Boss
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Battle Cry Goblin
*1 Beetleback Chief
*1 Conspicuous Snoop
*1 Dark-Dweller Oracle
*1 Devoted Duelist
*1 Gempalm Incinerator
*1 General Kreat, the Boltbringer
*1 Goblin Chieftain
*1 Goblin Chirurgeon
*1 Goblin Cratermaker
*1 Goblin Instigator
*1 Goblin King
*1 Goblin Lackey
*1 Goblin Matron
*1 Goblin Piledriver
*1 Goblin Recruiter
*1 Goblin Ringleader
*1 Goblin Sharpshooter
*1 Goblin Trashmaster
*1 Goblin Warchief
*1 Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei
*1 Hobgoblin Bandit Lord
*1 Howlsquad Heavy
*1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
*1 Legion Warboss
*1 Mogg War Marshal
*1 Moggcatcher
*1 Moria Marauder
*1 Muxus, Goblin Grandee
*1 Pashalik Mons
*1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
*1 Rummaging Goblin
*1 Rundvelt Hordemaster
*1 Searslicer Goblin
*1 Shock Brigade
*1 Shocking Sharpshooter
*1 Siege-Gang Commander
*1 Siege-Gang Lieutenant
*1 Skirk Prospector
*1 Squee, Dubious Monarch
*1 Stadium Headliner
*1 Underfoot Underdogs
*1 Warren Instigator
*1 Witty Roastmaster
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Brightstone Ritual
*1 Flare of Duplication
*1 Mogg Salvage
*1 Return the Favor
*1 Reverberate
*1 Tibalt&#039;s Trickery
*1 Untimely Malfunction
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Goblin War Strike
*1 Krenko&#039;s Command
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Outpost Siege
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Skullclamp
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*40 Mountain
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>Goblins are single-minded, and their decks are similar. They swarm the field, attack, and burn opponents coming and going. Sometimes, their speed literally blows up in their face, but one thing’s for sure: their lives may be short, but they’re not boring!</p>


Building a Goblin Commander Deck with Krenko, Mob Boss

Brewing Mardu Goblins on a Budget With Zurgo Stormrender

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, the Unifier|sld|1932" href="#" target="_blank">Spongebob Squarepants</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://caleb-meurer.squarespace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caleb Meurer</a></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello everyone! I’m Levi from the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5n27ku41qleRMM7CKrWOh3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thought Vessel Show</a>, and this is </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ten Under Twenty</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> where we take a deep dive on a single commander and find those cards that are simply not getting the respect they deserve. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week we're looking at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, the Unifier|sld|1932" href="#" target="_blank">Spongebob Squarepants</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or, probably more commonly known as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, the Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Jodah, the Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In order to qualify for this list, the card has to appear in less than 20% of decks here on EDHREC. This is a buffet-style list, meaning you can take whatever you like and leave whatever you don't. My goal here is to simply shine some light on some great cards that deserve some love. Let’s look at SpongeBob first before jumping into the list.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jodah, the Unifier|sld|1932"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">SpongeBob might be the closest commander we have currently to the universally good WUBRG commander ever since Golos was banned. Having both a pump effect and an upgraded cascade effect out of the command zone will both bring a lot of power and attention to the table. There's rarely a game in which a SpongeBob deck is played where it is not the center of attention in non-cEDH pods. The deck usually wants to run the best legendary creatures possible in order to take advantage of the free casting and use the buffed attack power to close out the game. With this strategy in mind, let’s start our list with number ten.</span></p>
<h2>10) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kolvori, God of Kinship" href="#" target="_blank">Kolvori, God of Kinship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kolvori, God of Kinship"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Starting out, we have a pretty underrated card in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kolvori, God of Kinship" href="#" target="_blank">Kolvori, God of Kinship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In a deck that's legend-focused, being able to choose between a two mana value mana rock or a 6/6 vigilant legendary creature that can also provide card advantage is a phenomenal place to be. Attacking, blocking, ramping, or gaining card advantage, there really isn’t a single point in the game in which this would be a dead card thanks to that versatility. The fact that it's only showing up in fourteen percent of SpongeBob decks on EDHREC is criminal!</span></p>
<h2>9) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the numbers for Ragavan might be a bit lower due to its price, this is still one of my favorite includes in this deck. Most of the time, when you cast Ragavan, it can be easy to block and trade off before generating Treasure and card advantage since this is a mere 2/1 Monkey. With SpongeBob in play, Ragavan becomes significantly stronger and will survive chump blocks. The extra mana from the Treasures will allow for multiple legends to be cast in the same turn or even permit SpongeBob to be cast earlier if Ragavan is played in the early game. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since it's a lower mana value legend, it will also find its way onto the field pretty consistently through SpongeBob’s ability since it can still be cast off of two- and three-mana legends.</span></p>
<h2>8) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Temporal Sundering" href="#" target="_blank">Karn&#039;s Temporal Sundering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn&#039;s Temporal Sundering"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">SpongeBob specifically cares about legendary spells, not legendary creatures. Though extra turns are sometimes seen as taboo in Commander, this is an excellent finisher. For starters, you'll be able to bounce a nonland permanent an opponent controls back to their hand. This could be a protection piece like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or possibly that one pesky deathtouching blocker that's in the way. It's also a six mana legendary spell, so it'll find a five-mana or less legend to come right into play. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That extra turn will also bring extra cards, mana, and most importantly, an extra combat step. It’s not too far-fetched to believe that an extra turn in SpongeBob can be enough to close out the game. Fourteen percent of decks using this card is way too low.</span></p>
<h2>7) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basim Ibn Ishaq" href="#" target="_blank">Basim Ibn Ishaq</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Basim Ibn Ishaq"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This card is flying under the radar like many other cards from the <em>Assassin’s Creed</em> set. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basim Ibn Ishaq" href="#" target="_blank">Basim Ibn Ishaq</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another phenomenal low mana value legend to catch the four- and three-mana legends that provides card advantage once per turn. It also grows with the +1/+1 counters and becomes unblockable to get through any potential blockers. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For under $5, this should be an auto-include in these decks.</span></p>
<h2>6) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aurelia, the Warleader" href="#" target="_blank">Aurelia, the Warleader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aurelia, the Warleader"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As I mentioned with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn’s Temporal Sundering" href="#" target="_blank">Karn’s Temporal Sundering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the level of damage this deck can produce can lead to victory by simply adding one more turn of combat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aurelia, the Warleader" href="#" target="_blank">Aurelia, the Warleader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> provides that extra push. It's an added bonus that the card comes with haste, so you can start attacking for flying damage right away. There's even a combo that this deck can run by including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for infinite combat steps, if one were inclined to use it. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a top-end finisher, we could do a lot worse.</span></p>
<h2>5) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma&#039;s Will"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking of Angel-related powers, the next card on the list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is played in only 7% of SpongeBob decks here on EDHREC. It's strange that a card can be used defensively and as a finisher at the same time. The only thing that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">doesn’t provide is stat modification, which SpongeBob has in droves. It's honestly a perfect match. </span></p>
<h2>4) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minsc &amp; Boo, Timeless Heroes" href="#" target="_blank">Minsc &amp; Boo, Timeless Heroes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Minsc &amp; Boo, Timeless Heroes"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is one that a lot of players don’t think about since it’s a planeswalker, and most planeswalkers that are being played in SpongeBob are in a dedicated Superfriends deck. Minsc, of course, brings along <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boo" href="#" target="_blank">Boo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which normally can be pumped up with the first loyalty ability or sacrificed to spread around damage and draw cards. In a deck that's pumping the stats of all legendary creatures, that's going to push out a lot of damage and be a lot of cards drawn. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cherry on top: the beginning of the next upkeep will bring Boo back to be used in combat or for a sacrifice again.</span></p>
<h2>3) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar" href="#" target="_blank">Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6.8%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next we have another card from the <em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</em> universe, and now in the SpongeBob universe as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar|sld|1928" href="#" target="_blank">Squidward, Sarcastic Snob</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grazilaxx</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is sneaky good in SpongeBob as it puts opponents in a lose-lose situation. Either players allow themselves to get hit by legendary creatures and SpongeBob gets to draw cards, or they can block and Grazilaxx</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> allows the SpongeBob player to put the card back into hand, which allows them to be recast and trigger SpongeBob again, adding even more legendary creatures to the battlefield. It also makes it nearly impossible to lose an attacking creature in combat.</span></p>
<h2>2) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion of Fiora" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion of Fiora</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6.2%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invasion of Fiora"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's always a good idea to include a couple of one-sided board wipes. This is especially true for SpongeBob, since it would be able to clear out most blockers that are in the way. Since it's a battle, it wouldn’t be very difficult to attack and take out the battle to get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marchesa, Resolute Monarch" href="#" target="_blank">Marchesa, Resolute Monarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">into play for some extra combat damage and card draw.</span></p>
<h2>1) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4.1%)</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And finally, at the top of our list, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It almost feels like cheating to play this in</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SpongeBob since their stats are drastically increased, so SpongeBob can virtually bring back any creature in the graveyard right away. The +1/+1 counters are also a nice touch. Ultimately, this card deserves a lot more inclusion in SpongeBob decks than 4.1%.</span></p>
<h2>Overplayed Cards With SpongeBob</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When looking to add some, if not all, of these legendary cards to your SpongeBob deck, it can be intimidating to figure out what to cut from your deck. Though I can't make that decision for you, I do have some suggestions of some cards that are popular for SpongeBob, showing up in about 50% of eligible decks or more on EDHREC, that may not be worth the hype that they are getting. These are my cut candidates. </span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chromatic Lantern"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Annie Joins Up"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mox Amber"></div></div>
<p><b>1) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (60%)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – I get this is a five-color deck that legitimately needs to have all five colors available as soon as possible, but with the amount of dual lands that we're getting in sets these days, I don’t think color fixing is as big of an issue as it once was. I would much rather use my three mana value slot in the deck toward <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relic of Legends" href="#" target="_blank">Relic of Legends</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> which is going to be far more impactful to the overall strategy of the deck.</span></p>
<p><b>2) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Annie Joins Up" href="#" target="_blank">Annie Joins Up</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (50%)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – This is a good card in SpongeBob, no doubt about it. Coming in and dealing five damage to a target and then doubling SpongeBob triggers moving forward is great. I don’t like that the card itself is legendary, because in a lot of games with SpongeBob, this is either going to come in instead of a legendary creature that will boost the team, or it will be cast on the turn and it brings along a three mana or less legendary creature. Yes, it will add more legends to the board, but I would rather cast or flip into cards that will help me push for the win rather than a value engine. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are some decks that would absolutely want this, like if you were using a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Najeela, The Blade-Blossom" href="#" target="_blank">Najeela, The Blade-Blossom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">combo and you wanted to increase the rate of using SpongeBob’s ability on three mana or less cards, then this would be a great include. I would just suggest building your deck, recognizing the play patterns, and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">then</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Annie Joins Up" href="#" target="_blank">Annie Joins Up</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">into the 99.</span></p>
<p><b>Bonus Card – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mox Amber" href="#" target="_blank">Mox Amber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (29%)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – Though it doesn’t quite make the list for a cut candidate since it shows up in only 30% of SpongeBob decks, I still wanted to discuss this card and why it may not be a good inclusion for SpongeBob in general. When SpongeBob triggers off of a legendary cast, it's going to take the next legendary spell in the order. While you still would be able to get this card off of casting a one-mana legend like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, it would also take up that legendary spell off of a bigger cast as well. And since it's not a creature, it wouldn’t increase the power of the rest of the legends either. It just isn’t worth the hassle most of the time in this deck.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">SpongeBob is like a superhero in this format. It’s an incredibly powerful card, but it will attract a lot of attention at the same time. Most SpongeBob players know this and are more than willing to accept the challenge. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I hope you find some or all of these cards helpful for your current or future SpongeBob builds. If you have a commander you'd like to see on </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ten Under Twenty</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, send us an email at thoughtvesselshow@gmail.com. Until next time, happy brewing.</span></p>


Ten Underplayed Cards for SpongeBob Squarepants (AKA Jodah, the Unifier)

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>On Friday, May 9th, social media outlets for <em>Final Fantasy</em> revealed a handful of cards in advance of the PAX East preview event. The cards previewed are a <em>FFXIV</em>-themed reprint of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Confidant" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Confidant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the set's iteration of Y'shtola Rhul. Notably, Y'shtola is also a character from <em>FFXIV</em>, who serves as the face commander for one of the precons. Furthermore, this marks a major return for Dark Confidant into the Standard format. But who are these cards representing, and what makes these cards important? Read on and find out!</p>
<h2>Y'shtola Rhul</h2>
<p>Known as "Night's Blessed" and a member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Y'shtola Rhul is a Miqo'te who is part of the party roster in <em>Final Fantasy</em> <em>XIV</em>. She claims to be 23, but the timelines don't add up in her story. Her life and personality is equally mysterious, with wisdom beyond her years. Y'shtola is a conjurer character with a collected demeanor abut very little patience for disrespect.</p>
<div id="attachment_152172" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Yshtola-Rhul.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152172" class="wp-image-152172" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Yshtola-Rhul.png" alt="Y'shtola Rhul, a new card from the main set of Final Fantasy. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Yshtola-Rhul.png 600w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Yshtola-Rhul-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152172" class="wp-caption-text">Y'shtola Rhul, a new card from the main set of <em>Final Fantasy</em>. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>In <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>'s context, Y'shtola Rhul is great at flickering your cards into and out of exile, and getting additional effects off of them entering or leaving the battlefield. She can also double your abilities that trigger on your end step. The flicker effect lends itself well to many different creatures' assets, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrine Drake" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrine Drake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frost Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Frost Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to name but a few. Naturally, when Y'shtola generates a second end step for you, you can flicker a creature once more! The potential for absurd plays is very present here.</p>
<h2>Dark Confidant, <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>-Style</h2>
<p>According to those in the know, the reprint of Dark Confidant in a style befitting <em>FFXIV</em> is in the form of an Ascian. According to the official <a href="https://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/a_realm_reborn/world/#!/threats/content?threats_08"><em>FFXIV</em></a> website, this is how they describe one of these figures:</p>
<blockquote><p>Known also as "Paragons," these malevolent, black-robed figures sow the seeds of conflict across the lands of Eorzea. Just as their faces are concealed by sinister masks, the true motives of the Ascians remain obscured behind veils of secrecy and terror.</p></blockquote>
<p>Spooky, to be sure!</p>
<div id="attachment_152173" style="width: 275px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dark-Confidant-main.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152173" class="wp-image-152173 size-full" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dark-Confidant-main.png" alt="Dark Confidant, a reprinted card from Final Fantasy. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="265" height="370" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dark-Confidant-main.png 265w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dark-Confidant-main-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 265px) 100vw, 265px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152173" class="wp-caption-text">Dark Confidant, a reprinted card from <em>Final Fantasy</em>. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>What's even spookier is that this card was an absolute <em>terror</em> in Standard. This card, affectionately known as "Bob" after <em>Magic</em> Invitational winner <strong>Bob Maher</strong> (whose likeness was used for the original illustration), wreaked havoc on <em>Ravnica: City of Guilds</em>-era Standard. What horrors will it portent here when <em>Final Fantasy</em> releases on June 13th? Time will tell.</p>
<p>But now, we open the floor to you, dear readers. Are you excited about these newly revealed <em>Final Fantasy</em> cards? Would you play Standard with Bob running around again? Sound off below!</p>


Final Fantasy Social Media Reveals Y'shtola Rhul And More

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: PAX East</h6>
<p>On Saturday, May 10th, the <em>Final Fantasy</em> preview season officially kicks off! Notably, a preview panel at PAX East in Boston, Massachusetts, showcases the first round of previews for the new Universes Beyond set. As such, we will recap it as the cards begin to roll in. You can find this stream on <a href="http://twitch.tv/magic"><em>Magic</em>'s Twitch channel</a> between noon and 2 pm Eastern time. But what do we expect to see when the panel gets underway? Read on!</p>
<h2>What <em>Final Fantasy</em> Previews Will We See?</h2>
<p>At this time, PAX East is already well underway. In fact, one of our writers, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/cooper-gottfried"><strong>Cooper Gottfried</strong></a>, is already on the scene.</p>
<p>Images from the convention have already begun to circulate around social media. We have seen oversized teasers of cards featuring <em>Final Fantasy</em> characters, both beloved and notorious alike. We have even seen images of a Chocobo wearing costuming that resembles <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra Nalaar" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra Nalaar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s clothing. Truly, the collaboration is now in full swing.</p>
<div id="attachment_152160" style="width: 429px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/chocobo-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152160" class="wp-image-152160" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/chocobo-scaled.jpg" alt="The statue of &quot;Chocobo, Awakened Inferno&quot; from the play area of PAX East. Photo credit: Cooper Gottfried" width="419" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/chocobo-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/chocobo-225x300.jpg 225w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/chocobo-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/chocobo-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/chocobo-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 419px) 100vw, 419px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152160" class="wp-caption-text">The statue of "Chocobo, Awakened Inferno" from the play area of PAX East. Photo credit: <strong>Cooper Gottfried</strong></p></div>
<p>As for the question posed above, you'll have to wait for tomorrow's panel to get a first look at the cards previewed therein. Alternatively, we will have a panel recap ready for you tomorrow after 2 pm as well. Stay tuned for this development!</p>
<div id="attachment_152127" style="width: 755px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cloud-Midgar-Mercenary-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152127" class="wp-image-152127" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cloud-Midgar-Mercenary-scaled.jpg" alt="A teaser of Cloud, Midgar Mercenary, a card from the upcoming Final Fantasy set. Photo credit: Cooper Gottfried" width="745" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cloud-Midgar-Mercenary-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cloud-Midgar-Mercenary-300x225.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cloud-Midgar-Mercenary-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cloud-Midgar-Mercenary-768x577.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cloud-Midgar-Mercenary-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cloud-Midgar-Mercenary-2048x1538.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152127" class="wp-caption-text">A teaser of Cloud, Midgar Mercenary, a card from the upcoming <em>Final Fantasy</em> set. Photo credit: Cooper Gottfried</p></div>
<div id="attachment_152128" style="width: 755px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tifa-Lockhart-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152128" class="wp-image-152128" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tifa-Lockhart-scaled.jpg" alt="A teaser of Tifa Lockhart, a card from the upcoming Final Fantasy set. Photo credit: Cooper Gottfried" width="745" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tifa-Lockhart-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tifa-Lockhart-300x225.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tifa-Lockhart-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tifa-Lockhart-768x577.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tifa-Lockhart-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tifa-Lockhart-2048x1538.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152128" class="wp-caption-text">A teaser of Tifa Lockhart, a card from the upcoming <em>Final Fantasy</em> set. Photo credit: Cooper Gottfried</p></div>
<h2>More Previews Coming Soon</h2>
<p>As this is only the start of the <em>Final Fantasy</em> preview season, expect to see more and more reveals pop up in various places <em>after</em> PAX East as well. We are so excited that we can hardly contain ourselves, but contain ourselves we must. All things come to those who wait, dear readers. All in good time.</p>
<p>But in the coming hours leading up to the <em>Final Fantasy</em> panel, we'd love to hear from you. What are you most anticipating from the panel? What previews are you most excited about? And how about that darling red Chocobo? Feel free to let us know how you're feeling about all of tomorrow's upcoming excitement in the comments below!</p>


Final Fantasy Panel Livestreams May 10th At PAX East

Top 10 Coalition Victory Commanders

The Best Free White Spells for Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By <a href="https://www.artstation.com/fajareka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fajareka Setiawan</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>! This week we're tackling something on my short list, but also an actual deck I currently own (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourteenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourteenth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from the other week).</p>
<p>However, I must first address the elephant in the room. I'm talking about the recent announcement regarding the <em>Spider-Man </em>set. The <em>Traversing the Omenpaths </em>product line will have in-universe equivalents, but for digital only. I may be an ardent supporter of <em>Universes Beyond</em>, but I cannot condone this. I digress, though, because you and I want to delve into today's deck, and that I will deliver on that.</p>
<h2>Greeting Your Mentor</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ezio Auditore da Firenze"></div></div>
<p>Ezio, coming from the <em>Assassin's Creed</em> franchise, was a Florentine nobleman who's more well-known (to us real worlders anyway), as a master assassin. He came to learn of his assassin heritage at 17, with the death of several family members, including his father. From there, Ezio went on to thwart the Templars on numerous occasions. He died of a heart attack while visiting Florence with his wife and daughter, yet he would go on to become the ancestor of one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desmond Miles" href="#" target="_blank">Desmond Miles</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Consequently, given his backstory, Ezio needs us to run a load of Assassins to take advantage of his first ability. This actually comes in handy, especially with the more expensive spells in the deck. In addition, don't rely on the second ability too much. It's neat when you pull it off, but Ezio himself is sitting with a 3/2 statline, meaning it'll take a while for you to be able to trigger. There's a faster, more impactful way of outright eliminating players - but we'll get to that in a moment.</p>
<h2>Ezio Auditore a Firenze Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Advent Creed" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ezio Auditore da Firenze
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Achilles Davenport
*1 Adéwalé, Breaker of Chains
*1 Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad
*1 Arbaaz Mir
*1 Arno Dorian
*1 Aveline de Grandpré
*1 Aya of Alexandria
*1 Basim Ibn Ishaq
*1 Bayek of Siwa
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Edward Kenway
*1 Eivor, Battle-Ready
*1 Evie Frye
*1 Ezio, Blade of Vengeance
*1 Jacob Frye
*1 Kassandra, Eagle Bearer
*1 Layla Hassan
*1 Lydia Frye
*1 Mary Read and Anne Bonny
*1 Queen Marchesa
*1 Ramses, Assassin Lord
*1 Ratonhnhaké꞉ton
*1 Shao Jun
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Desynchronization
*1 Harrow
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Unexpected Windfall
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Assassin Gauntlet
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Haystack
*1 Hidden Blade
*1 Hidden Footblade
*1 Hookblade
*1 Hunter&#039;s Bow
*1 Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
*1 Phantom Blade
*1 Raven Clan War-Axe
*1 Smoke Bomb
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Cultivate
*1 Eagle Vision
*1 Farseek
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Restart Sequence
*1 Viewpoint Synchronization
*1 What Must Be Done
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Coastal Piracy
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Rooftop Bypass
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Brotherhood Headquarters
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fiery Islet
*2 Forest
*1 Haunted Ridge
*2 Island
*2 Mountain
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*2 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*1 Silent Clearing
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunken Hollow
*2 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Waterlogged Grove
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Advent Creed</h2>
<p>I'm willing to bet you didn't think I was going to post the list this early in the article, did you? There's actually a story behind this list. It began when I had an idea of doing an advent calendar for Christmas last year. Originally I was going to do <em>Foundations Jumpstart</em>, but insatiable curiously killed it. Acting quickly, I went with a couple of boxes of the <em>Assassin's Creed</em> set, and the rest is history (I pulled a regular version of our commander on the first day. Talk about luck, right?). After the calendar was done, I finished it off with buying the few singles I needed from the set. In addition, this included a couple of cards from one of the <em>Secret Lair </em>drops.</p>
<p>Assembling the deck, especially towards the end, it was really difficult to make the last cuts, and I had to make some hard choices to finish the decklist. Some might say it's all of that Equipment the deck's using, but there's a reason for that.</p>
<h2>The Team Across Time</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edward Kenway"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ramses, Assassin Lord|sld|1560"></div></div>
<p>Above all, the reason I started with the list early is because of the Assassin support. Before the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>set, Assassin support was sparse to nonexistent. Now, we have a truckload to work with, laced together with historic and Equipment subthemes. Unfortunately, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desmond Miles" href="#" target="_blank">Desmond Miles</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (17,119 decks) is about the biggest hole in the list, and I'm currently trying to fit him in somehow. Like I said above, the list was tight enough for me to make some difficult cuts.</p>
<p>Most importantly, the Assassins are the backbone of our deck. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad" href="#" target="_blank">Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9,276 decks) ensures that, with time, we'll be swinging with a swarm of Assassins, albeit temporarily. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edward Kenway" href="#" target="_blank">Edward Kenway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,200 decks) nets us Treasures to ramp us. However, it's a shame that he and Altaïr don't combo together, since the latter's tokens are gone post-combat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arno Dorian" href="#" target="_blank">Arno Dorian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14,539 decks) buffs even the token Assassins we'll be making enough to be block-worthy. Speaking of buffs, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bayek of Siwa" href="#" target="_blank">Bayek of Siwa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,176 decks) gives our creatures double strike, capable of carrying out a devastating attack.</p>
<p>The most dangerous card in the deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ramses, Assassin Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Ramses, Assassin Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Basim, Master Assassin; 16,544 decks). This was the more impactful way I was alluding to of taking players out. Time him right, and you could potentially win out of nowhere. Otherwise, he's a decently sized anthem with deathtouch, which is good with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aveline de Grandpré" href="#" target="_blank">Aveline de Grandpré</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,568 decks). There's a few ways to give deathtouch to your other creatures, but it'll be just Aveline getting bigger most of the time.</p>
<h2>Growing the Brotherhood</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rooftop Bypass"></div></div>
<p>There are a few cards in the deck that produce Assassin tokens. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rooftop Bypass" href="#" target="_blank">Rooftop Bypass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11,901 decks) can give us up to three, given that we hit each player. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aya of Alexandria" href="#" target="_blank">Aya of Alexandria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (16,061 decks) is similar, but has the potential to give us even more tokens. Meanwhile <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Marchesa|sld|1559" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Marchesa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Amunet, Tyrant's End; ironic I mention her after Aya; 29,530 decks) introduces the monarch to the game. We'll get a card if we have it, and a hasty Assassin with deathtouch if we don't.</p>
<h2>Ancient Arsenal</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ratonhnhaké:ton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eivor, Battle-Ready"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hookblade"></div></div>
<p>In addition to the historic element of the deck, you'll notice a lot of Equipment there. The main reason is not just flavor (which works, too), but they're to work with a pair of Boros legends we covered a while ago: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Battle-Ready" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Battle-Ready</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer" href="#" target="_blank">Kassandra, Eagle Bearer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,363 and 8,656 decks, respectively). Eivor is a threat in her own right, dealing damage equal to our Equipment stash, and having a sizable body to work with. Meanwhile, Kassandra works specifically with legendary Equipment, hence why we run a few here. I'd use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Wolf-Kissed" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Wolf-Kissed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I didn't have enough targets to make her worthwhile.</p>
<p>However, those aren't the only creatures working with Equipment. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ratonhnhaké:ton" href="#" target="_blank">Ratonhnhaké:ton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,301 decks) brings back Equipment, which is automatically equipped to the Assassin token he creates. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bureau Headmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Bureau Headmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (16,232 decks), our only non-legendary creature in the deck, helps us cast our Equipment, and makes equip costs more manageable. Lastly, Equipment can be tapped for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shao Jun" href="#" target="_blank">Shao Jun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,787 decks)'s ability while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arbaaz Mir" href="#" target="_blank">Arbaaz Mir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,652 decks) will drain opponents since Equipment are also historic by their nature.</p>
<p>Our Equipment suite mostly draws from the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>set, but there's some good stuff here. We have access to the likes of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (136,870 decks) down to the lowly, but useful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hookblade" href="#" target="_blank">Hookblade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5,615 decks). The colored Equipment cycle (and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hidden Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Hidden Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,493 decks)) all enter and equip themselves to a creature automatically, so there's no equip cost to worry about initially. Moreover, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (60,260 decks) and the ever-useful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Spear of Leonidas" href="#" target="_blank">The Spear of Leonidas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (21,116 decks), both of which can make our commander into a major threat. Lastly, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes" href="#" target="_blank">Caduceus, Staff of Hermes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Regalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (39,122 and 86,747 decks, respectively) work to protect our creatures, if not our commander.</p>
<h2>Beyond the Franchise</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guardian Project"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crush Contraband"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Austere Command"></div></div>
<p>Trying to build a deck using exclusively cards from the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>deck is a fool's errand: we have basics, yes, but outside of those, there's really only nine nonbasic lands to its name. In addition, your access to the essentials, like ramp, are minimal at best.</p>
<p>Besides the obvious includes of <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Command Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Command Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we also have format all-stars like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (1,226,154 and 940,197 decks, respectively), which both help ramp us to keep up with our opponents. Card draw has a stronger presence within the set, but it could be a bit better. In that vein, this is where cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian Project" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian Project</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (229,853 decks) come in handy. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unexpected Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Unexpected Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (181,542 decks) provides us with both ramp and draw; not many cards in the list can do that.</p>
<p>Where the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>set excelled was in its removal. There was a lot of removal in there, so I took a bit to see what was worth adding. While some of the Equipment count as removal, we need more of it, especially more superior options. While the set had <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Assassin&#039;s Trophy" href="#" target="_blank">Assassin&#039;s Trophy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (376,282 decks), it's hard to pass up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anguished Unmaking" href="#" target="_blank">Anguished Unmaking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (321,075 decks). Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crush Contraband" href="#" target="_blank">Crush Contraband</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (35,439 decks) has the capacity to hit two targets instead of one.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the two-ish wipes the set had were very good. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desynchronization" href="#" target="_blank">Desynchronization</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (39,827 decks) is a one-sided <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> in this deck, and will hit very few of our cards. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="What Must Be Done" href="#" target="_blank">What Must Be Done</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,867 decks) is flexible utility, though you'll mostly choose the wipe option. I felt like the deck could benefit from one more wipe, and I picked <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Austere Command" href="#" target="_blank">Austere Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (337,633 decks) for its adaptability.</p>
<p>Lastly, for the mana base, I mostly drew from the <em>Doctor Who</em> release, since the precons there had some of the best mana bases to exist. While we have access to the enemy-colored Horizon duals, forming a panorama (more bonus points if you're using the full-art Ezio to complete it), that release came with nearly the full cycle of slow duals (ex. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haunted Ridge" href="#" target="_blank">Haunted Ridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), finished only by a couple of scry lands for now.</p>
<h2>Back to the Present</h2>
<p>Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourteenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourteenth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <em>Doctor Who</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mostly just needed some stuff from beyond the release to help stabilize its foundations. For a small set, with its setup similar to the much-maligned <em>March of the Machine: Aftermath </em>release, there were a lot of cool cards in <em>Assassin's Creed</em>.</p>
<p>Return next week, when we'll take center stage in another franchise. Until then, if you're reading up on something historical, perhaps you can learn about the respective time periods the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>franchise drew its inspiration from.</p>


Building Ezio Auditore da Firenze Using Only Universes Beyond Cards

Making a Group Slug Deck With Neheb, the Eternal

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>On the evening of Thursday, May 8th, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasy/posts/pfbid02T3VmsH45Nimu25H198i2wFv1t9DzafUQKwTcPvobfVXNCsSrhHtiJXyqcLVZ4e12l">the official Facebook account for <em>Final Fantasy</em></a> revealed the remaining two alternative commanders for their Commander precons. Yuna, Grand Summoner is part of the Counter Blitz deck, which features characters from <em>Final Fantasy X</em>. Graha Tia, Scion Reborn is the alternate commander of the Scions &amp; Spellcraft deck, showcasing the characters of <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>.</p>
<h2>Yuna, Grand Summoner</h2>
<p>One of the main characters of <em>FFX</em> and the love interest of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tidus, Yuna&#039;s Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Tidus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Yuna is an extremely vital figure in the <em>FFX</em> canon. A summoner, Yuna can conjure beings known as "aeons" to aid in combat. She is also a proficient White Mage, using healing magic to act as a support role in the game and its sequel.</p>
<div id="attachment_152073" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152073" class="wp-image-152073" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png" alt="Yuna, Grand Summoner, a new card from within the &quot;Counter Blitz&quot; precon for Final Fantasy. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152073" class="wp-caption-text">Yuna, Grand Summoner, a new card from within the "Counter Blitz" precon for <em>Final Fantasy</em>. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>In the context of Commander, Yuna acts as a pseudo version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ozolith" href="#" target="_blank">The Ozolith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but rather than the counters of the dead creature retaining their classification, Yuna effectively converts them into +1/+1 counters for another creature. What's more, Yuna is a mana-producing creature that puts +1/+1 counters on the creature that mana is spent on. In that way, she seems to do a bang-up job in somewhat imitating <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Great Henge" href="#" target="_blank">The Great Henge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, her showcase borderless version can be seen below!</p>
<div id="attachment_152074" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152074" class="wp-image-152074" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png" alt="The borderless showcase version of Yuna, Grand Summoner. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152074" class="wp-caption-text">The borderless showcase version of Yuna, Grand Summoner. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<h2>G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn</h2>
<p>G'raha Tia, also known as the "Crystal Exarch," is a major character in <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>. He is a member of the protagonist's party and a member of the Miqo'te race in the game's setting. He is playful and eccentric, and, in the context of the MMO setting of <em>FFXIV</em>, can play the role of a Paladin, White Mage, or Black Mage. Versatile!</p>
<div id="attachment_152075" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152075" class="wp-image-152075" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png" alt="G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn, a new card from within the &quot;Scions &amp; Spellcraft&quot; precon for Final Fantasy. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152075" class="wp-caption-text">G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn, a new card from within the "Scions &amp; Spellcraft" precon for <em>Final Fantasy</em>. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>In the context of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>, G'raha Tia is a token generator with lifelink. His second ability appears to synergize somewhat with the face commander of the "Scions &amp; Spellcraft" precon, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but only just. However, the existence of a 1/1 colorless Hero token seems interesting. Usually, nonartifact creature tokens have a color associated with them. Is this indicative of something greater?</p>
<h2>Final Days Before the <em>Final Fantasy</em> Panel</h2>
<p>These two precon commander alternatives are pretty interesting. We look forward to seeing what else comes of the set and decks! If you're also interested, the panel at PAX East will be livestreamed on Twitch on Saturday, May 10th, from noon to 2 pm Eastern!</p>
<p>Meanwhile, how do you feel about these reveals? Are you excited to test out any <em>Final Fantasy</em> commanders? Sound off below!</p>


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