<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Illustrated by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CD.+Alexander+Gregory%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">D. Alexander Gregory</a></em></p>
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<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?</p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza - here's a pic of me!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goobbue Gardener"></div></div>
<p><i>I LOVE MY SMILE!</i></p>
<p>This week, oh jeez where do I even begin?</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
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<h2>HELLO, MIKE</h2>
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<p><em>I have been playing Commander with my group for a while now and we have slowly made our decks quite powerful. I play a mono green Elves deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezuri, Renegade Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Ezuri, Renegade Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the commander. In my most recent set of upgrades to the deck, I added an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because it goes well with my deck. In our group, there is only one player who has green in their deck other than me but I did not think about this when adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</em></p>
<p><em>The past few times that we have played, I have used one of the many tutors in my deck to find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and due to the large number of cards with similar function to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Archdruid" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Archdruid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and lots of untapping cards, I would be able to knock the other green player out very quickly in all of these games. This made them upset because nobody else had Forests in their decks and they felt that it was unfair to put <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in my deck since they were the only other green player. I told them that it was part of my deck and that I would not remove it, and now they don't want to play with me anymore.</em></p>
<p><em><strong>Am I the Bolas for putting the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in my deck and then not wanting to remove it after making the only other green player upset?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Sincerely,</em><br />
<em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wirewood Symbiote" href="#" target="_blank">Wirewood Symbiote</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></em></p>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elvish Champion"></div></div>
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<h2>HOWDY, WIREWOOD SYMBIOTE!</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>Let's examine the facts we have from your submission. You're part of a playgroup. You play regularly. The group has begun to slowly power creep. You're playing notorious commander <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezuri, Renegade Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Ezuri, Renegade Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> which is an Elfball legend that should raise some alarms for anybody who is familiar with it. You mention you've got several tutors and you opted to get the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Okay. I have no idea what to say about this one besides I don't think I have enough information to give a full-on verdict, but I'll try.</p>
<p>If you're all slowly powering up your decks, it should be fair for you to pack some head like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Everybody should be running creature removal too, so hopefully that's part of the creeping, but clearly in this story, that doesn't come up. I have to hope you've also included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to tutor for if you're playing the Champion because otherwise this <em>is </em>just a silver bullet for that one other player in the pod.</p>
<p>Here are the issues I have about this story. I never like tutors beyond land ramp tutors, like fetch lands. I play Commander because I like variability. But I understand why you'd want to play them and it's a rule for myself, not the format, so live and let live.</p>
<p>If you're tutoring <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at this table, it seems like there's only one reason, and that's to kill this one green player at the table. Pretty brutal way to go about it, but if that's the nature of the group, I guess it's okay.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the protests from that one player tell me it's likely not the vibe. To become defensive about it is not my favorite response to this, but it's fair. This is your decklist and if you were to take this deck to an LGS and you could use it against unknown players, you'll probably be able to take out some more players and it'd be fair game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great card for Elf decks, for sure.</p>
<p>But this being a playgroup of friends means that you have some considerations if you want to keep playing. The way you describe this player is "there is only one player who has green in their deck other than me.<em>" </em>You know that much. It will feel targeted if nobody else in your group plays green.</p>
<p>Anyway, I want you to consider allowing for some special rules for playing the card against your playgroup, especially when it's only that player also playing green. Rules like "I can't tutor for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>" in those games. Let there be some tension about it! You'll both know the card is in the deck. If it's not out yet, it's on its way! Maybe it's in your hand and you're trying to find your moment! That's interesting.</p>
<p>If I'm playing in my playgroup and someone who knows I play graveyard decks 90% of the time and all my removal is on ETB abilities, I would hate playing against them if their first moves are tutoring for <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rest in Peace" href="#" target="_blank">Rest in Peace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That would straight up tick me off enough to need to take a walk. I'd begin building my decks with this in mind to kill those cards, but I'd have a conversation about it first.</p>
<p>If the whole group is building stronger and stronger decks and this is something you've all agreed on, that's awesome. There seems to be a bit of a disconnect and it doesn't seem like a conversation was very fruitful. I would recommend trying again and being open to some compromise.</p>
<p>My instinct says Bolas here. Maybe my green bias is showing, but you're already playing Ezuri and there was no mention of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to spread the love on the combat. Feels like this actually <em>might</em> be pointed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ezuri, Renegade Leader"></div></div>


Am I The Bolas? - Forestwalking the Only Other Green Player

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midgar, City of Mako|fin|313" href="#" target="_blank">Midgar, City of Mako</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> by <a href="https://josusolanoart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josu Solano</a></em></p>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em> depicts grand adventures across different locales, time periods, and plotlines. It therefore makes absolute sense that the main land cycle of the new <em>Final Fantasy</em> set is a series of famous towns you adventure in throughout the series.</p>
<p>And, they’re even mechanically adventures! Or technically speaking “cards that have an Adventure” to use specific terminology.</p>
<h2>But What Is an Adventure?</h2>
<p>In <em>Magic</em>, certain cards have two different ways you can cast them. There’s the core spell, which takes up most of the card, and a subtype Adventure spell, located in the bottom left.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Murderous Rider"></div></div>
<p>In the example above, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murderous Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Murderous Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a creature that’s a Zombie Knight, has lifelink, and when it dies it gets put on the bottom of its owner’s library. All for three mana. Nothing out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>However, instead of casting this card as the creature Murderous Rider, you can instead cast the instant Swift End. This destroys a creature or planeswalker and you lose two life, also for three mana.</p>
<p>If you cast a card using its Adventure, you put it into exile. You can then play the non-Adventure portion of the card from exile. Which, aside from meaning you can effectively play two spells with a single card, also means that once you cast an Adventure, its associated creature is “safe” from forced discard effects.</p>
<p>Below are a few more examples of Adventures. Note how the mana costs, spell type, and sometimes even colors change.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kellan, the Fae-Blooded"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Virtue of Persistence"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Monster Manual"></div></div>
<p>Broadly, Adventures are a very nice way to maximize your value per-card. It gives you the flexibility of having a permanent and non-permanent effect, oftentimes where the Adventure supports its associated spell.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gray Slaad"></div></div>
<p>Entropic Decay allows you to mill four cards before casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gray Slaad" href="#" target="_blank">Gray Slaad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, meaning you’re much more likely to have a 4/1 with menace and deathtouch. However, if you already have four creature cards in your graveyard, you can skip casting Entropic Decay.</p>
<p>In this case, it’s an optional cost to mill four cards for two mana. Which for black, is never a bad thing.</p>
<h2>Town Cycle</h2>
<p>There’s a specific cycle in the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set that I call the “Adventure Town” cycle. This is because it’s a series of lands, one of each color, each of which has the Town sub-type as well as an associated Adventure.</p>
<p>Also, they all enter the battlefield tapped, as most non-basic lands do.</p>
<p>I’m not a <em>Final Fantasy</em> fan, though I’ve certainly been interested in seeing what all of the hype is about. Though that does mean I won’t have the full lore implications of how the Adventures tie into their associated games.</p>
<p>That being said, let’s go on an adventure!</p>
<h2>Ranking the <em>Final Fantasy </em>Adventure Lands</h2>
<h3>#5 - Faith &amp; Grief (White)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ishgard, the Holy See"></div></div>
<p>First up is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ishgard, the Holy See" href="#" target="_blank">Ishgard, the Holy See</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which unfortunately is my pick for the least impactful Adventure. A city-state in <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>, it survives both the harsh snowfalls of winter as well as literal, actual dragons.</p>
<p>Seems to me like one of those is the larger threat, but hey! Snow-land synergy is real. And it’s coming for you.</p>
<p>For five mana, Grief &amp; Return allows you to return up to two artifacts and/or enchantment cards from your graveyard to your hand.</p>
<p>This is nice, but it’s overpriced. When playing a non-basic land, you have to ask yourself “Is this land’s effect worth the inability to access its mana the turn I play it?” Spending five mana to grab up to two artifacts or enchantments and put them in your hand is most certainly not. If it was cheaper? Not constrained to artifacts and enchantments?</p>
<p>Even if it was limited to a single artifact or enchantment but returned directly to the battlefield, it might be worth it. But as it stands, it only half-supports commanders such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Midgar Mercenary" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Midgar Mercenary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Therefore, I’d just pass.</p>
<h3>#4 - Lasting Fayth (Green)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zanarkand, Ancient Metropolis"></div></div>
<p>Next up is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zanarkand, Ancient Metropolis" href="#" target="_blank">Zanarkand, Ancient Metropolis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which as a green player I was hoping to be able to put higher. Luckily, it isn’t the worst ability, just a bit expensive. This former metropolis is most known for its role in <em>Final Fantasy X</em>, where it occupies an odd double reality of being both a destroyed city as well as a perfect recreation of said city.</p>
<p>For six mana, Lasting Fayth creates a 1/1 colorless Hero creature token. Then you can put a +1/+1 counter on it for every land you have.</p>
<p>This is a lovely effect that absolutely does not work for six mana.</p>
<p>Green doesn’t hurt for mana production, meaning you could reasonably activate this effect earlier than turn six. However… Then you’d be limiting its growth. It needs lands to scale, meaning you need to wait until you can play a fair amount of lands. Which you already want to do, even if you’re not playing a commander like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa Lockhart" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa Lockhart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>If you wait with this card dead in your hand or you just don’t draw it until later in the game, there are other things you can spend your mana on at that point.</p>
<p>A 7/7 is nice. For six mana it needs to be justified, which with this Hero’s scaling is certainly justifiable. However, it’s holding back the land it’s attached to. And because of that, I can’t say it’s fantastic.</p>
<h3>#3 - Mage Siege (Red)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lindblum, Industrial Regency"></div></div>
<p>Running in the middle is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lindblum, Industrial Regency" href="#" target="_blank">Lindblum, Industrial Regency</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, though if you were to bump it up or down a spot on your list, I couldn’t blame you. A sprawling city in <em>Final Fantasy IX</em>, it pushes technological, mercantile, and even logistical boundaries as it advances ever forward.</p>
<p>For three mana, Mage Siege creates an 0/1 black Wizard creature token that deals one damage to each opponent each time you cast a noncreature spell. Something to note, this is also the only instant of the Adventures in this cycle, the rest are sorceries. How often that will come up, I’m not sure. But it’s worth noting!</p>
<p>Ping damage is always nice, though I don’t need to harp on how fragile a 0/1 creature is. The fact it’s a Wizard does actually hold some weight, as Wizard typal is an archetype that does encompass red.</p>
<p>It’s three mana, and with the mana cheating red does so efficiently, having this land enter tapped isn’t as bad as in some of the other colors. So I don’t see any reason to avoid bringing this along, particularly if you’re trying to capitalize off of its synergy with some of the <em>Final Fantasy</em> commanders, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Lots of artifact support in this set!</p>
<h3>#2 - Overture (Blue)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jidoor, Aristocratic Capital"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jidoor, Aristocratic Capital" href="#" target="_blank">Jidoor, Aristocratic Capital</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is home to the wealthiest man in the world, at least in <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>. It’s an economic hub for players to stock up before setting out.</p>
<p>For six mana, Overture forces target opponent to mill half their library, rounded down.</p>
<p>This is probably the most niche of the Adventures, as six mana in blue isn’t cheap. However, any mill deck would love this. Even control decks might flirt with it, since disrupting an opponent’s deck can be quite powerful. Milling half their deck with Overture before clearing their board with a commander like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is absolutely devious.</p>
<p>And, of course, no color excels at returning cards to their hand like blue does. Lands are certainly trickier to return, but if you can do it? That’s high value, even if at a high cost. Definitely worth including in the right circumstances.</p>
<h3>#1 - Reactor Raid (Black)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Midgar, City of Mako"></div></div>
<p>My pick for the best Adventure of this cycle is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midgar, City of Mako" href="#" target="_blank">Midgar, City of Mako</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. And based on the popularity of <em>Final Fantasy VII</em>, where it plays a key role as the oppressive and struggling opening area, I shouldn’t be surprised!</p>
<p>For three mana, Reactor Raid allows you to sacrifice an artifact or creature to draw two cards. It's cheap, it draws you cards, and it sacrifices a permanent. All things black loves.</p>
<p>With all the artifact support this set is seeing, you could burn a disposable artifact. But my mind immediately went to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Again, for only three mana, you draw two cards, you gain a life, an opponent loses a life, and you are 25% of the way to transforming Sephiroth.</p>
<p>Reactor Raid gives you value in the early game, the mid game, even the late game. Card draw is invaluable, and sacrificing will contribute towards other triggers.</p>
<p>Far and above, Midgar is supreme.</p>
<h2>What Do You Think of the Adventure Lands?</h2>
<p>Let me know in the comments! I’m confident Faith &amp; Grief is the worst, even with the artifact support of the set. I’m also set on Reactor Raid, given how flexible it is. I could really shuffle the others around any order, so I’d love to hear what you think!</p>


Final Fantasy Adventure Lands Ranked

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's Wednesday, June 4th, which means it's time for the next entry in our <em>Final Fantasy</em> count-up series! Each day leading up to <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/final-fantasy">the release of the new <em>Universes Beyond</em> set</a>, I'm denoting my picks for the most powerful and flavorful cards from each game in the main series. Yesterday, we went over <em>FFVII</em>, and today marks Day 8 of our count-up, so naturally, we're covering <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> today.</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These usually will be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. (Today's list will only have one card.)</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's begin!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rinoa Heartilly"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rinoa Heartilly" href="#" target="_blank">Rinoa Heartilly</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our Honorable Mention in this list. She has a lot of cool, flavorful applications to her. Namely, Rinoa can create Angelo and then essentially launch him at opponents. This is more of a case for Angelo than Rinoa, as Angelo is <em>the</em> bestest boy in this game. However, as Angelo is a token and linked to Rinoa, we have to give this superlative to her.</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Squall, SeeD Mercenary"></div></div>
<p>I've noticed that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall, SeeD Mercenary" href="#" target="_blank">Squall, SeeD Mercenary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is practically identical to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seifer Almasy" href="#" target="_blank">Seifer Almasy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in many ways. Both are 4-mana 3/4 legendary creatures that can give double strike to a lone attacker. Plus, both have a trigger on dealing combat damage that recurs a card with a mana value of 3 or less. However, with this stiff competition, Squall beats out Seifer here in that Squall doesn't give the creature cards he recurs finality of any sort. Seifer effectively does, since he exiles the instants and sorceries he allows you to cast from your graveyard. Both are very powerful recursion engines, but Squall is a stronger card in this way. To this end, Squall, SeeD Mercenary is my pick for Best as a Commander.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="PuPu UFO"></div></div>
<p>I'm a fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Walking Atlas" href="#" target="_blank">Walking Atlas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. I think they're fantastic and have a lot of useful utility. As such, I will be giving the Best in the 99 superlative to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="PuPu UFO" href="#" target="_blank">PuPu UFO</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an even better Walking Atlas effect than Walking Atlas itself. Sure, Atlas has one more power in any normal situation, but PuPu UFO is a 0/4 flyer that can get huge in Limited. There are even some Commander decks that will synergize well with PuPu UFO, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Obviously, by the strictest definitions, it's not <em>strictly</em> better than Atlas, but it's certainly pushed and power crept.</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triple Triad"></div></div>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/best-final-fantasy-spoilers-from-may-12th-15th">I've covered</a> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triple Triad" href="#" target="_blank">Triple Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the past. I truly like the card. Put simply, it's a minigame that is heavily based on the card game minigame from <em>FFVIII</em> and beyond. There are a bunch of layers to this that we can unpack, but at the end of the day, it's just a really fun card that's bursting with flavor.</p>
<p>With that, we've gotten to our Best In Show for <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em>. Which card earned this superlative?</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jumbo Cactuar"></div></div>
<p>It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jumbo Cactuar" href="#" target="_blank">Jumbo Cactuar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>Jumbo Cactuar is a strong card with humorous flavor implications. It's probably the most memetic card in the set right now on social media. Since its reveal, people have been trying to find ways to adequately break the giant cactus monster, and many have succeeded. It's essentially the new "Congratulations, we finally broke _____" card, always funny to a fault.</p>
<p>Additionally, the card itself <em>is</em> disgustingly powerful. Give this thing trample, flying, or even haste against an unsuspecting board, and you have a card that will defeat opponents quickly and easily. 10,000 power is no joke, dear reader, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>ing 10,000 power is itself a power move. And let's not even talk about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Consumption" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Consumption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Defeating one opponent and gaining an unreasonably high amount of life is usually a way to end games outright. Plays like that are why Jumbo Cactuar is our Best In Show for this game.</p>
<p>That wraps up our coverage of <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> for this count-up series! Do you think we missed any important points here? What are your picks for any of these superlatives? Sound off below! And, in the meantime, if you want to look at any of our previous entries, you can find them below as well.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-five-ffv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 5: <em>FFV</em></a> |</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-six-ffvi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Day 6: <em>FFVI</em></strong></a><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-seven-ffvii">Day 7: <em>FFVII</em></a></strong></p>


Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Eight: FFVIII

Discard Your Way, Trim-Style, With This Captain Howler, Sea Scourge Commander Deck

Final Fantasy: A cEDH Set Review

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adelbert Steiner" href="#" target="_blank">Adelbert Steiner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/lorenzomastroianni" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lorenzo Mastroianni</a></em></p>
<p>It's very much my job here as the writer of <em>The Monolith</em>, aside from talking about monocolored decks of course, to tempt you in to building decks that aren't your standard fare. Decks that forgo obviousness and power for interesting ideas and fun restrictions. What better time then, as we continue to pick apart the legendary creatures revealed in the upcoming <em>Universes Beyond</em> set <em>Final Fantasy</em>, to talk about Pauper EDH!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adelbert Steiner"></div></div>
<p>Now I'm not the first person to delve into the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/does-shantotto-work-as-a-pauper-commander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wonderful world of Pauper Commander</a> here on EDHREC.com. But when a set comes out with this many legends, some of them are bound to be non-rares. We had the same thing happen in <em>Lord of The Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth</em>. And when you've got access to uncommon legends with interesting effects, why not whack together a PEDH deck to fit around them!</p>
<h2>What Is Pauper Commander (PEDH)?</h2>
<p>Much like the absolutely wonderful 60-card format it's based on, Pauper EDH carries all the same rules that Commander does, but with one exception. You can only put a card in your deck if it was printed at common at some point in its history.</p>
<p>That includes cards that have been up-shifted in rarity in later sets, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. As long as it was common at some point in <em>Magic</em>'s history, it's legal in PEDH. Otherwise, you can't put it in your 99. As for the commander itself though, you're allowed to push up to the uncommon rarity.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guttersnipe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soulherder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Third Path Iconoclast"></div></div>
<p>The fun thing is, your uncommon commander doesn't even have to be legendary. You can play with regular old uncommons as your leader. That'll give you access to super powerful creatures you wouldn't normally be able to put in your command zone, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guttersnipe" href="#" target="_blank">Guttersnipe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soulherder" href="#" target="_blank">Soulherder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<h2>Adelbert's Finer</h2>
<p>To helm our Pauper EDH list we're looking at the brand new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adelbert Steiner" href="#" target="_blank">Adelbert Steiner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> 2/1 Human Knight with an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="All That Glitters" href="#" target="_blank">All That Glitters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> style effect on him. For each Equipment you control, Adelbert will get +1/+1. That's not Equipment attached to Adelbert either, that's just any Equipment you have on the battlefield.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adelbert Steiner"></div></div>
<p>Combined with lifelink, we've got ourselves the potential for a really juicy, Equipment focused, Voltron Commander build. For those not in the know, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/voltron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Voltron decks</a> attempt to whack as many buffs onto a single creature they control as possible - usually your commander, so you can kill opponents even easier. Once they're big enough, swing in for the win!</p>
<h2>Free Real Estate</h2>
<p>As Adelbert gets a buff just from the Equipment hitting the field, we'll sort of get to have our cake and eat it too. Whereas most Voltrons would either need to pay for the equip cost of their Equipment, or have an ability to get around that, Adelbert can receive a small benefit right away.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="All That Glitters"></div></div>
<p>Then later, when we actually get the Equipment attached to him, we'll be double dipping with the buffs it provides. And that's if we even want to equip to him. By having another big threat with all the Equipment attached to them we can also split our attacks as we see fit.</p>
<h2>The Living Weapon</h2>
<p>Seeing as Adelbert doesn't mind where your Equipment cards are when he's checking for his buffs, we can use a certain type of Equipment to give us a bit of an edge in battle.</p>
<p>Equipment cards are great in comparison to Auras, because they won't send themselves to the graveyard when their attached creature leaves the battlefield. We can even use the equip ability to swap our swords and shields round to whichever creature needs them on the fly.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flayer Husk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sickleslicer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skinwing"></div></div>
<p>The tradeoff though, is that Auras attach themselves as soon as you cast them. Equipment gets cast, and then needs additional buy-in to attach it to your creature. Enter: living weapon cards. These Equipment cards will enter the battlefield and immediately attach themselves to a token they make when they enter.</p>
<p>There's only so many Pauper legal living weapons, but a few other cards do the same thing. For Mirrodin! was a very similar mechanic from <em>All Will Be One</em>, for example.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirran Bardiche"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancestral Blade"></div></div>
<h3>Leave Something Back</h3>
<p>One of the trickier aspects of playing a Voltron Commander deck is keeping yourself alive after you've swung. It's all well and good having a giant commander, but once they're tapped, who's defending your life total? Vigilance is great for that but so is just having some chump blockers available - especially when your opponents are going wide.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glimmerlight"></div></div>
<p>By using these cards that come with an extra body, we can hold the line after Adelbert attacks. And if we end up getting Adelbert killed so many times that his commander tax is untenable? There's backup options to fight with. Speaking of...</p>
<h2>Forking Your Voltron</h2>
<p>As I mentioned earlier, Adelbert can get a decent amount of pump without actually equipping our weapons. With that in mind, we have the option to fork off our damage between two different creatures. That way we'll get slightly less powerful creatures, but having two means we can swing at multiple players.</p>
<p>This is a four-person format, after all. And targeting down one player can leave our other two opponents a little too much space to build up their game plans.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gingerbrute"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guardian of the Guildpact"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beloved Princess"></div></div>
<p>If we want some solid targets for the wall of weapons we'll be equipping them with, we need to find something that'll get through our opponents' blockers. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian of the Guildpact" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian of the Guildpact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have really solid evasion, with protection from monocolored giving it a good chance of slipping through the cracks of our opponents' defenses. Not to mention dodging a lot of removal!</p>
<p>Likewise, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gingerbrute" href="#" target="_blank">Gingerbrute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can punish players who aren't equipped with hasty creatures by making itself all but unblockable. That'll teach you for not playing mono-red!</p>
<h2>Choosing the Right Gear</h2>
<p>The main consideration for building out Adelbert's arsenal is which Equipment cards we include in our 99. First of all, we're going to need a lot of them! In this deck we're going to favor quantity over quality, so low cost Equipments are best (unless they come with a friend).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bone Saw"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bonesplitter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leather Armor"></div></div>
<p>We also want to keep an eye out for any gear that'll give Adelbert some evasion tactics to make it over walls of blockers. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bladed Pinions" href="#" target="_blank">Bladed Pinions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will put in some vital keywords for our Voltron commander, like flying and first strike. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haunted Cloak" href="#" target="_blank">Haunted Cloak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will help as well with trample and vigilance allowing us to hit over and also keep our commander up to block.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bladed Pinions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haunted Cloak"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whispersilk Cloak"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whispersilk Cloak" href="#" target="_blank">Whispersilk Cloak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make our glorious leader unblockable and also give him protection from removal, but remember to equip it last as the shroud will also stop <em>us</em> from targeting him when it comes to attach more Equipment.</p>
<h3>Double Your Benefits</h3>
<p>Whilst it might be banned in regular 60-card Pauper, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="All That Glitters" href="#" target="_blank">All That Glitters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (from what I can tell, anyway) is perfectly legal in PEDH. Adding this Aura to Adelbert will double his buff from Equipment cards as well as giving some additional power and toughness for any other artifacts or enchantments you control.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="All That Glitters"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golem-Skin Gauntlets"></div></div>
<p>And don't sleep on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golem-Skin Gauntlets" href="#" target="_blank">Golem-Skin Gauntlets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> either. It might only affect the power of our commander and not benefit his toughness, but cards that say "for each" on them can get out of hand fast. Why do you think we're building this commander?</p>
<h2>Carry Some Protection</h2>
<p>A word of warning: whilst it might not have the flashiest removal spells in <em>Magic, </em>Pauper does tend to be quite removal heavy! It's worth padding the deck out with a few options to protect Adelbert from harm when swinging in for big damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blacksmith&#039;s Skill"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Benevolent Bodyguard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ajani&#039;s Presence"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blacksmith&#039;s Skill" href="#" target="_blank">Blacksmith&#039;s Skill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the best instant-speed protection spells in the game, let alone Pauper. But we can also run a few permanent versions to have in our back pocket for when we need them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Benevolent Bodyguard" href="#" target="_blank">Benevolent Bodyguard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> acts as a perfect fit, giving us a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selfless Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Selfless Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> style protection effect we can activate at instant speed. But also allowing us to make Adelbert unblockable by any monocolored boards.</p>
<h2>Adelbert Steiner PEDH Decklist</h2>
<p>If you're interested in joining the PEDH community and giving Adelbert a build, I've included a rough example decklist below that you can build yourself or just jump off from. If you're new to Pauper in general I highly recommend giving either the Commander variant or 60-card competitive format a go. The latter is my absolute favorite way to play <em>Magic;</em> it's a format that just keeps on giving.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Adelbert Steiner Pauper EDH" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Adelbert Steiner
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Beloved Princess
*1 Benevolent Bodyguard
*1 Coalition Honor Guard
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Gingerbrute
*1 Guardian of the Guildpact
*1 Inspiring Overseer
*1 Outlaw Medic
*1 Voyager Quickwelder
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 +2 Mace
*1 Amorphous Axe
*1 Ancestral Blade
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Armory of Iroas
*1 Bladed Pinions
*1 Blight Sickle
*1 Bonder&#039;s Ornament
*1 Bone Saw
*1 Bonesplitter
*1 Candy Trail
*1 Ceremonial Knife
*1 Darksteel Axe
*1 Delver&#039;s Torch
*1 Flayer Husk
*1 Fountain of Ichor
*1 Gilded Pinions
*1 Glimmerlight
*1 Gold Pan
*1 Golden Egg
*1 Goldvein Pick
*1 Goldwarden&#039;s Helm
*1 Golem-Skin Gauntlets
*1 Greataxe
*1 Haunted Cloak
*1 Jalum Tome
*1 Leather Armor
*1 Mandibular Kite
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirran Bardiche
*1 Network Terminal
*1 Prying Blade
*1 Relic of Progenitus
*1 Sickleslicer
*1 Skinwing
*1 Utility Knife
*1 Vorrac Battlehorns
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 All That Glitters
*1 Benevolent Blessing
*1 Journey to Nowhere
*1 Oblivion Ring
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Afterlife
*1 Ajani&#039;s Presence
*1 Blacksmith&#039;s Skill
*1 Break Ties
*1 Crib Swap
*1 Destroy Evil
*1 Frantic Salvage
*1 Lens Flare
*1 Thraben Charm
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Jolted Awake
*1 Recommission
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Ancient Den
*1 Avishkar Raceway
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Desert of the True
*1 Escape Tunnel
*1 Haunted Fengraf
*1 Idyllic Grange
*29 Plains
*1 Secluded Steppe
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="Fn8wMpFCKJ"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/does-shantotto-work-as-a-pauper-commander/">Does Shantotto Work as a Pauper Commander?</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Does Shantotto Work as a Pauper Commander?&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/does-shantotto-work-as-a-pauper-commander/embed/#?secret=IyguoXKHMq#?secret=Fn8wMpFCKJ" data-secret="Fn8wMpFCKJ" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="dBILFsWxhN"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/brewing-a-pauper-commander-deck-with-kheru-goldkeeper/">Brewing a Pauper Commander Deck With Kheru Goldkeeper</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Brewing a Pauper Commander Deck With Kheru Goldkeeper&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/brewing-a-pauper-commander-deck-with-kheru-goldkeeper/embed/#?secret=VqChDggru9#?secret=dBILFsWxhN" data-secret="dBILFsWxhN" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>

PEDH Voltron With Adelbert Steiner

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Flyquest</h6>
<p>Mark your calendars, <em>Final Fantasy</em> fans! <a href="https://archidekt.com/flyquest">Archidekt is teaming up with Flyquest</a>, a multi-title American esports organization, to host the epic celebrity Duel Land event!</p>
<p>Duel Land is a streaming charity and <em>Final Fantasy</em> prerelease tournament hosted by Flyquest, featuring sixteen well-known names from the <em>Magic</em> and esports worlds.</p>
<p>These titans of their respective gaming universes will clash head-to-head for $5,000 to go to the charity of the winning team's choice.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Introducing Duel Land: A Celebrity Magic: The Gathering Tournament" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2B7-O30WSwI?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>
<h2>Who's hosting the event?</h2>
<p><a href="https://archidekt.com/flyquest">Brought to you by Archidekt</a>, Duel Land will be hosted by <em>Magic</em> personality <strong>Brian Kibler</strong> and esports veteran <strong>Travis Gafford</strong>. The event seeks to put sixteen creators into eight teams of two for this 2-day 2HG competition.</p>
<p>Each team shall consist of a <em>Magic</em> player and an esports player. The format? <em>Final Fantasy</em> 2-Headed Giant Sealed.</p>
<p>Your favorite MTG and esports personalities will also be showcasing some of Archidekt's coolest collection and deckbuilding features to check out on stream as you brew up your own <em>Final Fantasy</em> decks.</p>
<h3>What does the event schedule look like?</h3>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155176" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png" alt="flyquest event schedule" width="512" height="236" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png 512w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule-300x138.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p>
<p><strong>On Day One</strong>, the competing teams will be put into two groups to compete.</p>
<p>The top two teams from each group will face each other on <strong>Day Two</strong> for the title, and $5,000 to go to the charity of their choice.</p>
<p>You can also<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/EDHRECast"> expect to see the EDHRECast</a> at the event for a Commander Showmatch on Day Two!</p>
<p><strong>Day Three</strong> also promises epic action on the Bracket stage!</p>
<h2>Where can I watch?</h2>
<p>The Duel Land charity event will be streaming LIVE on <strong>June 14th and 15th</strong>!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/FLYQUEST">Be sure to bookmark the Flyquest Twitch page</a> and get notifications for match start times.</p>
<p>For more information on this prestigious for-charity event, you can also visit <a href="https://flyquest.gg/pages/duelland">Flyquest's dedicated event page</a>.</p>
<p>Which celebrities and MTG personalities do you think will head up this epic charity prerelease event?</p>
<p>More information will be available soon, <a href="https://edhrec.com/flyquest">so stay tuned</a>!</p>


Archidekt x Flyquest To Host Celebrity Final Fantasy Prerelease Event June 14-15

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>Wizards of the Coast is partnering with the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), and that partnership is coming in the form of a brand-new Secret Lair called <em>Nuestra Magia</em>.</p>
<p>The cards featured in the release were created with the input of multiple Latinx artists. Even the langauge usage on the cards themselves was selected in line with the partnership; alternate names in Spanish and Portuguese were used on select cards, such as "<em>La abundancia de Yúcahu</em>," or, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Library" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Library</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Two different versions of this drop are available for purchase. One is printed with Spanish and Portuguese rules text, while the other is printed with English rules text. Both versions of the drop will be available in non-foil and rainbow foil. <em>Nuestra Magia </em>is set for release on June 16 at 9 a.m. PST and will be available through July 13.</p>
<p>Here are the contents of the Secret Lair, <em>Nuestra Magia</em>:</p>
<ul>
<li>1x Tireless Provisioner as "La abuela, siempre generosa"</li>
<li>1x Sylvan Library as "La abundancia de Yúcahu"</li>
<li>1x Ancient Greenwarden as "Pastor da Selva"</li>
<li>1x Expressive Iteration as "La danza del pueblo"</li>
<li>1x Xenagos, God of Revels as "La Madre Tierra"</li>
<li>1x Lightning Greaves as "Chancla Relámpagos"</li>
<li>1x Sol Ring</li>
<li>1x Food token</li>
<li>1x Treasure token</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_PIu6y6fWlO.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155142" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_PIu6y6fWlO-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="384" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_PIu6y6fWlO-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_PIu6y6fWlO-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_PIu6y6fWlO.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_oTC2aXWR7i.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155141" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_oTC2aXWR7i-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="384" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_oTC2aXWR7i-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_oTC2aXWR7i-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_oTC2aXWR7i.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_ySag4P9faw.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155145" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_ySag4P9faw-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="384" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_ySag4P9faw-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_ySag4P9faw-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_ySag4P9faw.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_Q6oML4dnVH.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155143" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_Q6oML4dnVH-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="384" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_Q6oML4dnVH-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_Q6oML4dnVH-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_Q6oML4dnVH.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_2vbDVR9bLZ.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155137" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_2vbDVR9bLZ-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="384" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_2vbDVR9bLZ-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_2vbDVR9bLZ-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_2vbDVR9bLZ.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_khPWCFjvcj.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155140" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_khPWCFjvcj-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="384" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_khPWCFjvcj-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_khPWCFjvcj-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_khPWCFjvcj.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_DNwDOtJtMZ.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155138" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_DNwDOtJtMZ-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="384" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_DNwDOtJtMZ-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_DNwDOtJtMZ-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_DNwDOtJtMZ.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_xgbUqYCibX.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155144" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_xgbUqYCibX-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="383" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_xgbUqYCibX-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_xgbUqYCibX-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_xgbUqYCibX.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_EHsHmPltnL.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-155139" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_EHsHmPltnL-215x300.webp" alt="" width="275" height="384" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_EHsHmPltnL-215x300.webp 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_EHsHmPltnL-733x1024.webp 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/en_EHsHmPltnL.webp 744w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a></p>
<p>Listed prices for <em>Nuestra Magia</em> are $29.99 USD for non-foil version, and $39.99 USD for the rainbow foil. Wizards of the Coast said fifty percent of the product price will be donated to The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures.</p>
<hr />
<div id="attachment_155152" style="width: 807px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZrmJknbvhn-1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-155152" class=" wp-image-155152" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZrmJknbvhn-1-300x169.png" alt="" width="797" height="449" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZrmJknbvhn-1-300x169.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZrmJknbvhn-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZrmJknbvhn-1-768x432.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZrmJknbvhn-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ZrmJknbvhn-1.png 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-155152" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>Tireless Provisioner | Art by: Josu Hernaiz</strong></span></p></div>
<p>According to Wizards of the Coast, all of the Secret Lair division's philanthropic drops are concepted, designed, and led by the individuals who identify with the communities these drops support.</p>
<p><em>Nuestra Magia </em>as a project was led by long-time Wizards of the Coast Art Director <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3Aovidio">Ovidio Cartagena</a>, who for this drop served as Creative Lead.</p>
<p>"Putting together the ideas for this set was a very exciting challenge," recalled Cartagena. "Anyone who has traveled across Latinoamérica has seen there is a wide range of cultures, accents, and languages that populate several types of landscapes. And so, in choosing the themes for this release, we went for a combination of specific cultural references (Yucahú, O Anhangá) and general themes that can be seen in many cultures (Food token)."</p>
<p>Cartagena said the talent people have brought to the set has been "incredible," featuring a healthy mix of artistic styles directed by Anthony Garzzona. "(It) gives audiences a taste of how varied and rich a road trip through the Américas could be. As I went over the art and concepts presented here, I was reminded of my own cultural heritage, and also that of the people I've met from all over the continent, their stories, and their customs," said Cartagena. "These cards will get fans inspired and excited to learn about Latinoamérica's cultures and people. To my Latinx friends: I hope that, like me, you see a part of yourselves in these cards; they were made thinking of the struggle that unites us and the beauty that makes us so diverse."</p>
<hr />
<p>The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) is the nation's premier nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development, and cultivation of the Latino arts field. For more information about NALAC and its programs, or to support our work in advancing Latinx arts and culture, please visit <a href="http://www.nalac.org">www.nalac.org</a>.</p>


Upcoming Secret Lair to Raise Money for Latino Org

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>On Tuesday, June 3rd, Magic.gg, the competitive news hub for <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> events, released a bunch of dates for their upcoming events. These events include regional championship qualifiers (RCQs), Eternal Weekend, and their Spotlight Series. In the context of high-level events, <em>Magic</em> tournaments tend to offer promotional cards to either participating players or those who finish well. The events they're teasing here are no exception! Below are the promo cards and dates for events that <em>Magic</em> is hosting soon.</p>
<h2>RCQ Promos</h2>
<p>First, let's look at the RCQ promotional cards. According to the article on Magic.gg:</p>
<blockquote><p>The third round of 2025–26's RCQs will begin on August 2, 2025, and will run until November 9, 2025. All WPN stores, as well as destination event organizers, will be running RCQs that feed into the round of Regional Championships that runs from January 24, 2026, to March 22, 2026.</p>
<p>RCQs run during this round can be scheduled by participating WPN stores as Standard Constructed or Limited. Larger events that are designated as "destination" qualifiers—events run in larger venues such as hotel ballrooms or convention centers—may be run as other Constructed formats. Please check with your local organizer for all specific info on qualifiers closest to you.</p></blockquote>
<p>These RCQ events will offer the following promo cards while supplies last (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast):</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-01-Shoot-the-Sheriff.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-155126" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-01-Shoot-the-Sheriff.png" alt="" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-01-Shoot-the-Sheriff.png 1240w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-01-Shoot-the-Sheriff-215x300.png 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-01-Shoot-the-Sheriff-733x1024.png 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-01-Shoot-the-Sheriff-768x1073.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-01-Shoot-the-Sheriff-1100x1536.png 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-02-Laughing-Jasper-Flint.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-155127" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-02-Laughing-Jasper-Flint.png" alt="" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-02-Laughing-Jasper-Flint.png 1240w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-02-Laughing-Jasper-Flint-215x300.png 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-02-Laughing-Jasper-Flint-733x1024.png 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-02-Laughing-Jasper-Flint-768x1073.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCQ-02-Laughing-Jasper-Flint-1100x1536.png 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<h2>Spotlight Series: Planetary Rotation Promo</h2>
<p>The next promotion we will look at is for an event in the <em>Magic</em> Spotlight Series called "Planetary Rotation". According to Magic.gg the event will feature Standard Constructed, with the following promo card (image credited to Wizards of the Coast):</p>
<blockquote><p>With the release of <em>Edge of Eternities </em>on August 1, 2025, Standard will rotate, marking a massive shift in the format we know and love. You can join in the fun of this fresh and futuristic format at <em>Magic </em>Spotlight: Planetary Rotation, held at SCG CON Orlando from August 29–31.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Spotlight-Series-01-Get-Lost.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-155128" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Spotlight-Series-01-Get-Lost.png" alt="" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Spotlight-Series-01-Get-Lost.png 744w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Spotlight-Series-01-Get-Lost-215x300.png 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Spotlight-Series-01-Get-Lost-733x1024.png 733w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>More information about the <em>Magic</em> Spotlight Series will come in late July, so stay tuned.</p>
<h2>Eternal Weekend Promotional Cards</h2>
<p>Finally, let's look at the promos from Eternal Weekend, which kicks off in October this year!</p>
<blockquote><p>Get ready for an exciting weekend of Eternal <em>Magic</em>. For more information on these events, check out each event's respective organizer page.</p>
<ul>
<li>Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—hosted by <a href="https://www.cardtitanevents.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Card Titan</a>
<ul>
<li>October 9–12, 2025</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Lucca, Italy—hosted by <a href="https://4seasonstournaments.com/eternal-weekend/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4Seasons</a>
<ul>
<li>November 27–30, 2025</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Yokohoma, Japan—hosted by <a href="https://www.hareruyamtg.com/ja/user_data/eternalweekend2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hareruya</a>
<ul>
<li>December 13–14, 2025</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>The promos for this event are foil and nonfoil versions of the following cards (images credited to Wizards of the Coast):</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-01-Tendrils-of-Agony.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-155129" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-01-Tendrils-of-Agony.png" alt="" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-01-Tendrils-of-Agony.png 1240w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-01-Tendrils-of-Agony-215x300.png 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-01-Tendrils-of-Agony-733x1024.png 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-01-Tendrils-of-Agony-768x1073.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-01-Tendrils-of-Agony-1100x1536.png 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-02-Trinisphere.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-155130" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-02-Trinisphere.png" alt="" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-02-Trinisphere.png 1240w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-02-Trinisphere-215x300.png 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-02-Trinisphere-733x1024.png 733w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-02-Trinisphere-768x1073.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Eternal-Weekend-02-Trinisphere-1100x1536.png 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a></p>
<p>For more information on Eternal Weekend or any other events, you can visit <a href="https://magic.gg/news/announcing-upcoming-rcqs-spotlight-events-eternal-weekends-and-more">Magic.gg's article</a> on the matter.</p>
<p>And now, let's let you have the floor, dear readers. Are you a fan of Legacy, Vintage, or Standard? Will you be attending any of these events? Do you think you have what it takes to compete? Sound off below!</p>


Magic.gg Teases New Promo Cards For RCQs, Other Events

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="PuPu UFO" href="#" target="_blank">PuPu UFO</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://linktr.ee/racrufi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Racrufi</a></em></p>
<p>Believe it or not, the <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Final Fantasy</em></a> set is almost here. Whether you’re going to a pre-release, a draft, buying packs, or just picking up singles, you’ll be getting tons of playable cards for Commander. Spoiler season has been headlined by some flashy rares and mythics, but today we'll be taking a look at a few great commons and uncommons that might've slipped under your radar.</p>
<p>My name is Tyler ‘Savesya’ Bucks, and on this edition of <em>Bulk Up</em> we're shining a spotlight on those cards people tend to skip over when opening a booster. With this list, I'll be highlighting new singles that can fit in a broader range of decks, or pair well with popular strategies. So, let’s not waste any more time and jump right into things!</p>
<h2>The Best Commons and Uncommons in <em>Final Fantasy</em></h2>
<h3>PuPu UFO</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="PuPu UFO"></div></div>
<p>Kicking things off this week with not only one of the best bulk cards of the set, but also one of the worst named cards of all time. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="PuPu UFO" href="#" target="_blank">PuPu UFO</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great blocker that offers up some amazing ramp capabilities in the right build. If your deck is drawing one to two additional cards each turn rotation, there's a good chance you’ll be able to throw a land down with the UFO while still hitting your land drop for the turn.</p>
<p>As for a deck I'd suggest you add this little Alien to, let’s pair it up with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, Parun" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, Parun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Those decks are already filled with ways to draw cards, which means that from the start of the game you could be throwing down an additional land each turn rotation. Having the right lands to cast your commander is paramount in this deck, so that means you’ll be dropping that egotistical Dragon earlier than anyone is ready for.</p>
<h3>Summon: Fenrir</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Fenrir"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of land ramp, the first Summon card we'll look at today can help with that. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Fenrir" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Fenrir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Saga creature that fetches a basic land on its first chapter, gives a counter to a creature you cast on the second chapter, then draws you a card if you have the biggest creature on the board before sacrificing itself. If you're running a deck that's centered around creatures primarily, this might be more helpful than a normal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in that deck.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works perfectly with these new Saga creatures. Feeding into those counter synergies as well as the fact that you can bring them back to your board if they do end up in your graveyard. I recently did an <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/build-a-tayam-luminous-enigma-deck-with-your-dragonstorm-bulk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article about a Tayam deck</a> made primarily out of bulk from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tdm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em></a>, and I definitely think you could start throwing some of these Summons in that list to power it up!</p>
<h3 class="m-2">Relm's Sketching</h3>
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<p>You know what they say: if you can’t ramp lands, copy them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relm&#039;s Sketching" href="#" target="_blank">Relm&#039;s Sketching</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a sorcery that lets you copy the best land, artifact, or even creature on the board. Four mana is a little steep for getting a copy of something, but since you can grab three different permanent types, that kind of makes up for it if you ask me. Plus, as the years go on, we've been getting more and more ways to go off with tokens. So, as we get more sets, this spell will only continue to grow in value.</p>
<p>A really interesting commander from last year that would work great with this new spell is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eluge, the Shoreless Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Eluge, the Shoreless Sea</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not only does it care about lands, but it can also reduce the blue mana in the casting cost of instant and sorcery spells you cast. If you can copy the best creature, artifact, or land with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relm&#039;s Sketching" href="#" target="_blank">Relm&#039;s Sketching</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for only two mana, you're definitely in a good position to take that game!</p>
<h3>Sidequest: Catch A Fish</h3>
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<p>Next up, let’s turn an enchantment into a land with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidequest: Catch a Fish" href="#" target="_blank">Sidequest: Catch a Fish</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. On the front side, this can help you draw a card, make you a Food token, and then flip over into a land. That's already really great, but that activated ability of the land shouldn’t be overlooked. Sacrificing an artifact, like the Food you just made, to put a +1/+1 counter on all your creatures is a really good effect to keep in your back pocket.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alela, Artful Provocateur" href="#" target="_blank">Alela, Artful Provocateur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a commander that cares both about enchantments as well as artifacts, making it perfect for this Sidequest. Creating a Faerie when you cast the enchantment side, and then again when you cast the artifact you draw off the top is very nice. Once it’s flipped over to that land side, you can wait for the right moment to throw a counter on your board of flyers to help them pack even more of a punch.</p>
<h3>Summon: G.F. Ifrit</h3>
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<p>Our next entry on this list offers both card rummaging and a little bit of ramp. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: G.F. Ifrit" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: G.F. Ifrit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another Saga creature that gives you the ability to discard a card to draw a card for its first two chapters, and then its final two gives you a red mana on your first main phase. A card like this can help you sculpt a better hand for your late game and then gives you some additional mana to enact those plans.</p>
<p>Let's go back to a classic mono-red commander with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feldon of the Third Path" href="#" target="_blank">Feldon of the Third Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He cares about filling up the graveyard with threats to replace his wife with, so the Summon’s ability to throw cards in the bin that you can make tokens of later is a great pairing. Then it will give you some extra mana that you can use to activate that ability, helping smooth out your later turns.</p>
<h3>Overkill</h3>
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<p>This next card might be in the running for the most aptly named spell of all time: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overkill" href="#" target="_blank">Overkill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If you or someone you know is still a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> believer (and I know you’re out there) this is just another nail in your favorite kill spell’s coffin. Giving a creature -0/-9999 at instant speed is just a wild ability and can help get you out of some extra tricky situations. Indestructible creatures won’t stand a chance against <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overkill" href="#" target="_blank">Overkill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is especially brutal if someone was holding up a protection spell like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boros Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Boros Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to protect a key piece.</p>
<p>If you’re looking to make your opponents' creatures die with zero toughness, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Girl, Known Killer" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Girl, Known Killer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the commander for you! Her decks are usually filled with all kinds of ways to lower the board's stats, drawing you a whole bunch of cards all at once. Which is great value, but sometimes you just need to clear one thing off the board. So, three mana to remove a threat, and then draw a card isn’t too bad of a combo.</p>
<h3>Phoenix Down</h3>
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<p>One of the most important items in the <em>Final Fantasy</em> franchise is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phoenix Down" href="#" target="_blank">Phoenix Down</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and its ability was perfectly captured with this card. Sure, the ability to snipe a few specific creature types might come up in a game once in a while. However, the main star of the show is that recursion ability. The fact that this can sit on the battlefield gives you the opportunity to activate it when the time is right. Pair this with a commander that loves to fill your graveyard, and your deck just got all the more resilient.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Kayla bin-Kroog" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Kayla bin-Kroog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a commander I’ve considered building around for a while, because it just plays so well with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phoenix Down" href="#" target="_blank">Phoenix Down</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Since Queen Kayla has you discard your hand, and lets you return some of the cards you threw away to the battlefield, you can choose this new artifact to be one of them. Once it’s on your board, you can then use it to bring back something else you discarded, which helps give you even more access to the cards in your bin.</p>
<h3>Self-Destruct</h3>
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<p>We have a new addition in the long line of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style spells with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Self-Destruct" href="#" target="_blank">Self-Destruct</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Two mana for an instant-speed way for one of your creatures to deal a killing blow to a troublesome creature or even an opponent is a great rate. The fact that it deals that damage to itself as well is where things can get tricky. Of course, if your creature’s power is lower than its toughness that's great, but if the creature you choose is indestructible you don’t have to deal with that downside.</p>
<p>I recently did an <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-kuja-genome-sorcerer-on-a-budget-fourteen-cards-under-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article covering the new card</a> for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which was based around Wizards and burn. If you're planning to build that deck, I think you should consider throwing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Self-Destruct" href="#" target="_blank">Self-Destruct</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in there. Once Kuja doubles the damage your Wizards do, this new instant could be a way to just take a player out at any point. Sure, you might lose one of your creatures in the process, but that’s a risk Kuja is willing to take.</p>
<h3>Quina, Qu Gourmet</h3>
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<p>Token strategies are incredibly popular, especially in green, which is what makes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quina, Qu Gourmet" href="#" target="_blank">Quina, Qu Gourmet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> such a great Legend in the uncommon slot. Whenever you make any type of token, you will also make a 1/1 Frog. That means you can be adding more bodies to a board with other creature tokens or give a bit more punching power to a deck that only makes noncreature tokens, like Treasures, Clues, or Food.</p>
<p>Let’s make our own little <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/blb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomburrow</a></em> party with Quina and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chatterfang, Squirrel General" href="#" target="_blank">Chatterfang, Squirrel General</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With just those two out, anytime you make a token you’ll also make a Frog and a Squirrel. That turns a popular card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tireless Provisioner" href="#" target="_blank">Tireless Provisioner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into an outlet for getting three tokens anytime a land enters your board. Just think about that interaction for every other token engine in your deck… Now that's what I call value right there!</p>
<h2>The Wrap Up</h2>
<p>There you have it, some of the best commons and uncommons from the new <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin"><em>Final Fantasy</em></a> set. Which were your favorites? Were there any bulk cards I missed? Let me know in the comments below! I might revisit this set with another Bulk Up in the coming weeks since the power level of these cards keep getting better and better. So, until next time, enjoy forming your team, and slaying your foes!</p>


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