Brew For Your Buck - Six Permanents (more, actually) on a Budget

Under the Radar - Sauron, the Lidless Eye

Top 10 Untap Spells for Brigone

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral, the Windcrested</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://jesperejsing.com/">Jesper Ejsing</a></h6>
<h1>Early birds and night owls</h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello there! Welcome once again to <em>EDHighlights</em>, the mini-series where I build decks for the year's most popular commander for each color combination. As 2024's set releases have finished, I'll take a look at the most popular releases from the past year. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I've built a deck for each monocolored commander (you can find those </span><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/cooper-gottfried/?utm_source=edhrec&amp;utm_medium=article_preview"><span style="font-weight: 400;">at this link</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and I'm now moving on to the two-color commanders. We'll be kicking things off this week with an Azorius deck, and our first kindred deck in the series. This deck will be led by… <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral, the Windcrested</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kastral, the Windcrested"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love Bloomburrow, I love birds, and I love creature-heavy Azorius decks. This is the first deck in the series that I'm actually considering buying in paper. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is, surprisingly, a bluejay (</span><a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Kastral#:~:text=4%20References-,Description,a%20bluejay%20birdfolk%20from%20Bloomburrow."><span style="font-weight: 400;">according to the MTGWiki</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">). Given her name, I would have assumed she's a kestrel, but I guess that the fine folks making cards thought that would be too easy. But, whatever type of bird she may be, she's leading this deck. Let's get brewing!</span></p>
<h2><b>It's a bird! It's a plane!</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 4/5 Bird Scout with flying for 5 mana, and she has an ability that gives us a benefit whenever a Bird bonks one of our opponents. When one of our Birds connects we get to do one of three things:</span></p>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Put a Bird from our hand or graveyard onto the battlefield with a finality counter on it.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Put a +1/+1 counter on each of our Birds.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Draw a card.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All of these are great, and this deck will work best when we're able to get to make this choice more than once each turn. As for this deck's small twist, we'll be making the most of both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s text and our other typal synergies. Every creature in this deck will be a bird!</span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">A family that welcomes birds of all feathers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Birds of a feather flock together, and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">'s Birds are no different. There are a few cards from both recent and not-so-recent </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> history that work well when we have a board full of Birds. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keeper of the Nine Gales" href="#" target="_blank">Keeper of the Nine Gales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can act as a repeatable bounce spell, for the low cost of tapping two birds. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another old one, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Aerie Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee, Aerie Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is SLIGHTLY janky but can act as a great anthem and mana sink in the late game. And, the much newer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knightfisher" href="#" target="_blank">Knightfisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make a ton of tokens over the course of the game (and it's name alone makes it worth a slot in this deck).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Keeper of the Nine Gales"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee, Aerie Keeper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knightfisher"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crookclaw Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Crookclaw Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which turns each of our creatures into card draw if we'd rather hold them back in combat. We can even negate its high mana cost with our commander's ability, making this avian more advantageous. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seaside Haven" href="#" target="_blank">Seaside Haven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can sacrifice our birds for cards. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This card is particularly good with our commander in play, because we'll be able to reanimate any birds we throw into the bin. And, although five mana is admittedly a bit much for this effect, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murmuration" href="#" target="_blank">Murmuration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has found a slot too. It makes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Crow" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Crow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, buffs our birds, and is just overall a really fun card to slam on the field.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crookclaw Elder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seaside Haven"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Murmuration"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We've got other, non-Bird-focused flying-synergies too. There's classic anthems like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Empyrean Eagle" href="#" target="_blank">Empyrean Eagle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, anthems that get even better if we can put them into the graveyard like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even the second appearance of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Sky Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as an anthem.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Empyrean Eagle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee, Sky Warden"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's also cost reducers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Watcher of the Spheres" href="#" target="_blank">Watcher of the Spheres</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warden of Evos Isle" href="#" target="_blank">Warden of Evos Isle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and protection for our board in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsettled Mariner" href="#" target="_blank">Unsettled Mariner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Overall, birds (and some of their changeling friends) provide a wide array of effects for our lofty battlefield.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Watcher of the Spheres"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warden of Evos Isle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unsettled Mariner"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dazzling Denial" href="#" target="_blank">Maintaining brilliant plumage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One important thing to note about Kastral is that, while she can cheat out creatures from our hand or recur them from our graveyard, those creatures enter with finality counters on them. If they would die, instead they're just exiled. So, like any good Commander player, I'm going to do my best to get around that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, let's talk about the deck's blink subtheme. There's a few cards that really stand out here, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gossip&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Gossip&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card fills our graveyard, lets our smaller creatures punch through in combat to trigger our commander, and can blink our creatures to get rid of their finality counters. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just an absolute all-star in the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meneldor, Swift Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Meneldor, Swift Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great too, it's a bird that can blink one of our other birds every turn. Even though it's only a 3/3 for four mana, its ability makes up for those lackluster stats. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Splash Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Splash Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can blink a creature and replace itself in our hand for just one mana. If it weren't a sorcery, this would be in contention as one of the best blink spells in </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gossip&#039;s Talent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Meneldor, Swift Savior"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Splash Portal"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As an added bonus, this blink subtheme will allow our creatures to re-trigger their enters triggers, meaning that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scouting Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Scouting Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irregular Cohort" href="#" target="_blank">Irregular Cohort</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aerial Extortionist" href="#" target="_blank">Aerial Extortionist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and all our other creatures with ETB effects become even better.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scouting Hawk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Irregular Cohort"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aerial Extortionist"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are two other interesting ways to get rid of finality counters: the recently-revivified <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Power Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and recently-released <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Power Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can straight up remove the finality counters while making a creature stronger, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Senu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> actually WANTS to be exiled. Then, admittedly less interestingly, staples like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are here too,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Power Conduit"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ephemerate"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Crow" href="#" target="_blank">Storm crow descending…</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like any good typal deck, Kastral and Co. will be making use of some less-type-specific typal-synergy cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> shines here, just like it does in most kindred decks, and puts in extra work when we cheat out a feathered friend with our commander. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I'm also a big fan of the two <em>Bloomburrow</em> village lands that slot into the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lilypad Village" href="#" target="_blank">Lilypad Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help to fill the graveyard with more targets for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lupinflower Village" href="#" target="_blank">Lupinflower Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can put more birds directly into our hand in a pinch.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lilypad Village"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lupinflower Village"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that bird's-eye view of the deck, let's take a look at the decklist…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="2024&#039;s EDHighlights - Kastral, the Windcrested" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Kastral, the Windcrested
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Aerial Extortionist
*1 Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven
*1 Aven Interrupter
*1 Battlefield Raptor
*1 Bloodline Pretender
*1 Cartographer&#039;s Hawk
*1 Combat Calligrapher
*1 Crookclaw Elder
*1 Eagles of the North
*1 Empyrean Eagle
*1 Esior, Wardwing Familiar
*1 Gwaihir the Windlord
*1 Harrier Strix
*1 Irregular Cohort
*1 Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
*1 Jackdaw Savior
*1 Judge&#039;s Familiar
*1 Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant
*1 Kangee, Aerie Keeper
*1 Kangee, Sky Warden
*1 Keeper of the Nine Gales
*1 Knightfisher
*1 Ledger Shredder
*1 Lifecreed Duo
*1 Meneldor, Swift Savior
*1 Miner&#039;s Guidewing
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Mockingbird
*1 Nimble Obstructionist
*1 Plumecreed Escort
*1 Scouting Hawk
*1 Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector
*1 Shabraz, the Skyshark
*1 Shrike Force
*1 Stormscape Familiar
*1 Thrummingbird
*1 Universal Automaton
*1 Unsettled Mariner
*1 Warden of Evos Isle
*1 Watcher of the Spheres
*1 Wingmate Roc
*1 Yorion, Sky Nomad
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Gossip&#039;s Talent
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Murmuration
*1 Reflections of Littjara
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Animal Sanctuary
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Hengegate Pathway // Mistgate Pathway
*6 Island
*1 Lilypad Village
*1 Lupinflower Village
*1 Mystic Gate
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Nimbus Maze
*1 Path of Ancestry
*8 Plains
*1 Restless Anchorage
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Seaside Haven
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Three Tree City
*1 Unclaimed Territory
[/Lands]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Airborne Aid
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Raise the Palisade
*1 Splash Portal
*1 Supreme Verdict
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 And They Shall Know No Fear
*1 Cloudshift
*1 Dazzling Denial
*1 Ephemerate
*1 Lae&#039;zel&#039;s Acrobatics
*1 Lofty Denial
*1 Razorgrass Ambush // Razorgrass Field
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Strix Serenade
*1 Swan Song
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Patchwork Banner
*1 Power Conduit
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Urza&#039;s Incubator
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<h2><b>Everybody's heard about the bird!</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That's it for this week's article! As someone who does research on migratory species conservation, and as someone who just loves birds, this was such a fun deck to build. My favorite Bird in this deck is probably <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrier Strix" href="#" target="_blank">Harrier Strix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a 1/1 flyer for just one mana, and it can help us filter for more cards if we have extra mana.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In real life, though, my favorite bird is the<a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Siskin/id"> Pine Siskin</a>. I research these little guys as part of my job, and I think they're just cool looking. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">What's your favorite bird (in real life or in <em>Magic</em>)? I'd love to know, so let me know in the comments below. I'll see you all next week!</span></p>


2024’s EDHighlights -  Kastral, the Windcrested

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=released&amp;q=%21%22Griselbrand%22+include%3Aextras&amp;unique=prints">Griselbrand</a> | <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CIgor+Kieryluk%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Igor Kieryluk</a>)</h6>
<h2>Grisel-banned As Commander</h2>
<p>In <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Banned_and_restricted_cards/Timeline">February 2006</a>, the now-disbanded Rules Committee made a new rule for a very young format. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartless Hidetsugu" href="#" target="_blank">Heartless Hidetsugu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaervek the Merciless" href="#" target="_blank">Kaervek the Merciless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were all banned as commanders only. While they could not lead your deck, you could still play them in the 99. Different legendary creatures went on and off this list as the years passed.</p>
<p>After eight years, in February 2014, the "banned only as commander" rule was eliminated, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Cabal Minion" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Cabal Minion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erayo, Soratami Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Erayo, Soratami Ascendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary" href="#" target="_blank">Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> became banned in the format, and so far, they have stayed there.</p>
<p>I wonder if they have remained for too long. Currently, there are <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=%28type%3Acreature+type%3Alegendary%29+%28game%3Apaper%29+banned%3Acommander">ten</a> legendary creatures banned in the format. I want to examine whether any of them should be the reason for bringing back the "banned only as commander" rule. Should they stay or go, or maybe some current creatures should be added to the list.</p>
<p>My name is Nick; this is <em>Myth Realized</em> <em>- Should We Bring Back Banned Only As Commander?</em></p>
<h2>Legendary Creature - Demon</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Griselbrand"></div></div>
<p>All it does is draw a bunch of cards; how bad can it be? Life can be pretty bad for your opponents in a format where you start at 40. I'm choosing to start this adventure with the card I know best out of the bunch in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I would not call myself an expert, but I have used a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animate Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Animate Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to bring the card out of a graveyard thanks to a <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> a time or two in various formats.</p>
<p>While it is not the final factor for this card or any others yet to be discussed, there is a key point to address. How good is a card if it starts in your command zone? Something that makes a card strong is always having access to it in a game. Specifically with your commander, how much better does that card become than any other in the 99? Sometimes, it is much better, but this makes it worse in the case of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>In 60-card formats, the power of this card is often showcased by how fast you can get the card on the field, and usually, that is within the first two turns of the game. But that is only possible because of the ability to put the card into the graveyard and negate the need to spend 4<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to cast the card.</p>
<p>First, let's look at how we might cast this card.</p>
<h2>Casting Cost.</h2>
<p>Black is a color in the Commander format that is no stranger to making a lot of mana to facilitate big plays. The classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or if you have one lying around a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lake of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Lake of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make all the mana for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seem trivial.</p>
<p>Ritual effects 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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even a black version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="High Tide" href="#" target="_blank">High Tide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bubbling Muck" href="#" target="_blank">Bubbling Muck</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do the trick. Even a slew of cards can help us cast our commander for free or put it into our hand to cheat it into play.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Netherborn Altar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Geode Golem"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Command Beacon"></div></div>
<p>This is not to say that these cards are ineffective and you will never pull them off, but these are usually two or more cards you must find before you can cast your commander for the first time. If someone can remove your commander, who has no built-in protection other than being a big creature, you might never cast them again. This makes it seem like the big Demon is safe to take off the list, right? That might be the case, but what about moving it to a new list?</p>
<p>There is also precedent for a commander of a similar mana value that does see play.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vilis, Broker of Blood"></div></div>
<p>They might not be super popular as there are only <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/vilis-broker-of-blood">929 Vilis decks</a>, according to EDHREC. But with the same creature type, almost identical mana cost, and a powered-down version of the pay life to draw cards ability, Vilis decks are good baselines for a deck with Griselbrand at the helm.</p>
<h2>New List, Who Dis?</h2>
<p>So what might happen if we brought back "banned only as commander"? Would Griselbrand be on that list? I would have to argue no, but that is not the only argument I would make. Outside of the high mana cost, the next thing that checks the power of this card in Commander, is that it's mono-black.</p>
<p>There are four mono-black commanders in the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">top 100</a>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sheoldred, the Apocalypse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tergrid, God of Fright"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marrow-Gnawer"></div></div>
<p>Looking at all of these, we can see that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would do great in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheoldred, the Apocalypse" href="#" target="_blank">Sheoldred, the Apocalypse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, and vice versa. But mono-black is not the easiest color to win with outside of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torment of Hailfire" href="#" target="_blank">Torment of Hailfire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> kill or an overwhelming force of rats. What concerns me is when you start branching out into other color combinations.</p>
<h3>Rakdos.</h3>
<p>Imagine the ability to run a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in any of the following decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rowan, Scion of War"></div></div>
<p>How would you like every spell to cost a minimum of seven less or potentially even 15 less after you bring out your big Demon with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chainer, Nightmare Adept"></div></div>
<p>Put something into the graveyard and give your Grizzly B haste when it comes in to gain back the life you spent on drawing cards. I cannot imagine what you might do when you move to your discard step.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakdos, the Muscle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ayara, Widow of the Realm"></div></div>
<p>Use the high mana cost of Griselbrand for all kinds of value in a deck featuring a muscle-bound cowboy or a saddened window.</p>
<p>Any of these decks or any Rakdos deck can make use of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sneak Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Sneak Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other cards like it just to put <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into play, draw seven cards, and freely attack an opponent, all at the cost of a single <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> mana.</p>
<h3>Orzhov.</h3>
<p>Maybe you don't like Rakdos, but instead, you have a more Orzhov vibe going with your decks.</p>
<p>Maybe one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not enough for you; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ratadrabik of Urborg" href="#" target="_blank">Ratadrabik of Urborg</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help with that.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selenia, Dark Angel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sorin of House Markov"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karlov of the Ghost Council"></div></div>
<p>Selenia would love to take effect of the pay life ability on Griselbrand, as it usually leads a deck that wants to kill opponents with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repay in Kind" href="#" target="_blank">Repay in Kind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While Sorin and Karlov love the ability of a creature to gain a big chunk of life all at one time, neither one will complain about using life as a resource to draw cards.</p>
<h3>More Colors.</h3>
<p>The options only grow the more variety of colors are added to a potential deck. Going into <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> treats us to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Be&#039;lakor, the Dark Master" href="#" target="_blank">Be&#039;lakor, the Dark Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and demon typal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beledros Witherbloom" href="#" target="_blank">Beledros Witherbloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would love to have Griselbrand to regain most of the life used to untap your lands, and the pests that can be made with many cards in the Golgari color combination help offset paying life.</p>
<p>Satoru Umezawa in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and the classic Kaalia of the Vast in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" 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><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> would love another large creature to cheat into play.</p>
<h2>So What Does It All Mean?</h2>
<p>It is hard to see the exact impact that either unbanning or banning only as a commander a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would have. If you asked me this question five years ago, I might have told you there is no way this card could ever be legal. If you asked me the same thing five months ago, I could see either as a possibility.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, this card has never seen the light of day in a way that can give us a good amount of data. There are <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/griselbrand">31 decks</a> featuring Griselbrand as a commander, but they are just generic mono-black strategies like Demons, Reanimator, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowborn Apostle" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowborn Apostle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>What worries me is how ubiquitous this card would become inside the 99. I would immediately slam this card into my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ratadrabik of Urborg" href="#" target="_blank">Ratadrabik of Urborg</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck and my Dimir clone deck featuring <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyruda, Doom of Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Gyruda, Doom of Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a companion. I have no problem playing the "popular" cards and no issue with others not playing them. But this card has the potential to become so dull in the format.</p>
<p>There always seems to be a new big creature that will bolster a reanimator or reanimator-like strategy printed. Most recently, it was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Terror Eater" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth, Terror Eater</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and before then, it was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Grand Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. So the question is, how much do we need another one?</p>
<h2>Rip off the Band-Aid.</h2>
<p>After reviewing it all, I favor bringing back the "banned only as commander" rule, but unfortunately, I think Griselbrand will have to stay in its current state of illegality. Sometimes, when you are first, you are last but don't tell Ricky Bobby.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be too strong to be removed from the banned list and placed on the banned only as a commander list, but I do not believe that will be the case for the other nine legends on the list.</p>
<p>What do you think, dear reader? Have you ever played when banned only as commander was a thing? Would you like to see the rule back? Do you believe that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is safe to bring into the 99?</p>
<p>Let me know here or find me on social media @nicnax96, and stay tuned for more articles asking: Should We Bring Back Banned Only As Commander?</p>


Myth Realized - Should We Bring Back Banned Only As Commander?

MTG Foundations: Choosing Your Color

From the Brim to the Trim - Slinging Budgets and Tossing Opponents

Wombo Combo - Best Colorless Combos in EDH (Part 2)

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snow-Covered Forest|SLD|5" href="#" target="_blank">Snow-Covered Forest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://www.alayna.net/">Alayna Danner</a></h6>
<p>Readers,</p>
<p>Maybe where you are, it doesn't snow. First of all, don't be smug, that will be everywhere soon. Secondly, you're missing out. It's not all sleigh rides and cocoa, as anyone who has ever spent an hour clearing their driveway to get out and go to work only for the plow to come by and dump a hard-packed, foot-tall berm at the end the driveway can attest.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adarkar Wastes|ICE|351"></div></div>
<p>Snow is coarse, irritating and it gets everywhere. Might I also suggest, however, that snow is very useful in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>? Snow-covering was just one of many wild innovations in a set that featured not one but two cycles of lands that tap for two colors at rare, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravebind" href="#" target="_blank">Gravebind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at rare and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm|ICE|61" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at common, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Orcish Lumberjack" href="#" target="_blank">a 10-foot, mechanized Dr. Wily pod with a giant buzz saw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> capable of clearing an entire forest that was a 1/1 for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>Snow has been revisited a few times in <em>Magic's</em> history and by now there are more than enough Snow cards to build your entire deck around cards that benefit from a light dusting of powder. I probably wrote an article (I probably called it "<a href="https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/jasonalt-101515-let-it-snow">Let it Snow</a>") where I jammed 99 of them in a deck with like a <em>Coldsnap</em> commander and called it a day.</p>
<p>There is more to snow than just building a snow deck, however, and today I'm making the case for putting snow-covered lands into lots of different decks.</p>
<p>Snow lands don't just look pretty, they have different names! Also, there is a snow-covered plains! Furthermore, there is also a snow-covered mountain! Swamp-lover? You're not going to believe this, there is a snow-covered swamp. Sometimes snow lands are both! And<em> that's</em> why you should run snow lands.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snow-Covered Plains"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snow-Covered Mountain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snow-Covered Swamp"></div></div>
<p>You don't seem convinced. I promise, those are all solid arguments, but I understand that some of you are nerds and you're going to make me show my work like you're my AP Calculus teacher. Fine, I will show my work, but you have to accept that the comb over isn't fooling anyone. I'm not saying you'll look better bald, you won't. Some people do.</p>
<p>You won't.</p>
<h2>They Have Different Names!</h2>
<p>The "H" in "EDH" stands for "Highlander" which is a fantastic film about an immortal man who meets an Egyptian guy from Spain with a Scottish accent who teaches him how to use a katana and, unfortunately, it has no sequels. The name of the format was later changed to "Commander" because Hasbro decided that it would be better to be sued by a football team than by a movie studio.</p>
<p>Like in that studio's movie, "There can be only one!" meaning that unless it's a basic land, you are only allowed to play one copy of the card (unless it says so on the card, like on the dozens of copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hare Apparent" href="#" target="_blank">Hare Apparent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that my opponent put into play literally just this turn, wow, super cool and original deck idea, Kevin). You can jam as many basics lands as you can fit, but some cards punish you for running too many.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Necrobloom"></div></div>
<p>If you have seven lands out but five of them are basic forests, you're going to have a really tough time getting the copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Field of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Field of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> you're somehow allowed to have in your command zone to do anything. A simple solution is to use a trick I learned from Japanese players who began including a snow-covered island into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gifts Ungiven" href="#" target="_blank">Gifts Ungiven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks in Eternal formats twenty years ago.</p>
<p>Snow-covered island plays a lot like island a lot of the time, but if the card specifically references different names, you can suddenly diversify your land base an awful lot by sprinkling in about half snow basics. This isn't going to be a big winner in every scenario - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gifts Ungiven" href="#" target="_blank">Gifts Ungiven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is banned and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realms Uncharted" href="#" target="_blank">Realms Uncharted</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't require nor even encourage you to grab basics.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eerie Ultimatum"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Field of the Dead"></div></div>
<p>However, if you're playing cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eerie Ultimatum" href="#" target="_blank">Eerie Ultimatum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you'll appreciate getting more value from your spells and landfall triggers. Anyone who has ever used a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Field of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Field of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in Commander and struggled to get even a paltry 2/2 rotter from a board lousy with basics will tell you that this quick, easy diversification makes your deck play a lot smoother and making your deck a real <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Monument to Perfection" href="#" target="_blank">Monument to Perfection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span><em>. </em></p>
<p>Still not convinced because it sounds a lot like I'm describing cards just for like one deck? Fine, I'll move on.</p>
<h2>There is a Snow-Covered Plains!</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Search for Glory" href="#" target="_blank">Search for Glory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a superlative tutor, costing about a dollar in dollars, which is the smallest number of dollars there are. I don't tend to suggest cards just because they are budget-friendly, but I build a lot of decks and I use a lot of cards and being able to upgrade the utility of a cheaper tutor rather than shelling out for a more expensive (and boringer) card by, and this is barely an exaggeration, changing some of our basics to lands with different art, appeals to me.</p>
<p>I get that this is an article about all of the times that it matters that something is a snow permanent, but I think it's worth pointing out all the times where a snow basic isn't any different than a snowless basic. Changing to all snow basics, or half, can give you more tutoring options with a card like Search For Glory, a card in 30,000 decks and counting.</p>
<p>Search for Glory being able to snag a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="On Thin Ice" href="#" target="_blank">On Thin Ice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can reward you for the minor inconvenience of playing a clunky tutor with a clunky <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> by giving you a tutor that can now also get your Oblivion Ring. The more snow cards you add, the better the other ones get, and if there is no real downside to mixing up your basics and playing slightly novel removal spells, the upside becomes pretty clear.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Search for Glory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="On Thin Ice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Depths"></div></div>
<p>Did you know <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a snow permanent? You do now. You don't have to play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gelid Shackles" href="#" target="_blank">Gelid Shackles</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to have it be worth it, literally just sprinkling in some snow basics and maybe a card that replaces one Search for Glory can't ordinarily snag and I submit to you that it was worth it. They even have full-art snow basics so you aren't necessarily sacrificing style for substance.</p>
<p>I'm not done.</p>
<h2>There is a Snow-Covered Mountain!</h2>
<p><em>Ice Age</em> felt like they were trying to A:B test different mechanics and never intended for the entire <em>Ice Age</em> card pool to be united. Sometimes the cards are worlds apart in design, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sulfurous Springs" href="#" target="_blank">Sulfurous Springs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the, I swear this is true,<strong> RARE</strong> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lava Tubes" href="#" target="_blank">Lava Tubes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Other times, though, you get the same effect in two different colors.</p>
<p>Well, one different color. It's two cards, they're not the same color, but one of them has a color. I don't know why I'm explaining, you can already see the card art below this paragraph, you already know I'm talking about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glacial Crevasses" href="#" target="_blank">Glacial Crevasses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunstone" href="#" target="_blank">Sunstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glacial Crevasses"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunstone"></div></div>
<p>While red isn't the number one color you think of when someone says "What's your favorite <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fog" href="#" target="_blank">Fog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?" red does have a second Sunstone. When I am playing red, I am doing shenanigans. Shenanigans involve cards that are kind of slow and clunky and you can sometimes struggle to keep up. The only decks I had with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Crypt" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Crypt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dockside Extortionist" href="#" target="_blank">Dockside</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were, ironically, my fun, goofy decks that really couldn't keep up any other way.</p>
<p>When only your "worst" decks take a hit, you need to do something about it, and the something that I have found that works is using Sunstone and Crevasses to keep from getting murdered on the swing-back by a table of people you have just scared by using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blim, Comedic Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Blim, Comedic Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to give someone an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oath of Lim-Dûl" href="#" target="_blank">Oath of Lim-Dûl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><em>Ice Age</em> really is the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it? You don't HAVE to be playing red to use Sunstone - in fact I use it in some <a href="https://www.archidekt.com/decks/3612219/isu_the_abominable_113022">non-red-having decks</a> of my own, but if you are in red and you're in need of some Fog effects people have likely never had to play around before, adding a few snow basics is a small price to pay for peace of mind during combat.</p>
<h2>There is a Snow-Covered Swamp!</h2>
<p>If I have a one or two color deck with black in it, my basics will all be snow-covered. Why? This guy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Draugr Necromancer"></div></div>
<p>Is this one card worth changing all of your basics? Yes. More people are playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Voidwalker" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Voidwalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but if you will reread <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Draugr Necromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Draugr Necromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you are obliged to pay the mana for Draugr Necromancer because you get to keep the Necromancer. You can cast the spells whenever provided you use mana from snow sources.</p>
<p>If you are using Draugr Necromancer partially as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of the Void" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of the Void</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, keeping him alive is better, and getting to play their spells all game rather than once is an upgrade. If all you need to do to make your Voidwalker spammable is change up your mana sources, do that. I do. Notice I said sources, because...</p>
<h2>Sometimes Snow Lands Are Both!</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfurous Mire"></div></div>
<p>There are also snow nonbasics and while they do enter tapped, some also have both basic land types making them easier to search for. A mana rock like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coldsteel Heart" href="#" target="_blank">Coldsteel Heart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are so far down on the depth chart these days that people who weren't playing five years ago will be surprised it used to be worth money, but it was actually playable outside of decks that cared about snow because there was such a dearth of two mana rocks.</p>
<p>My point is that we are only a few years removed from this rock seeing play, it's not a downgrade to a deck. Slightly obsolete rocks and comes-into-play-tapped duals aren't a huge price to pay for some of the upside that trifling with snow gives you.</p>
<p>You can add quite a bit of snow mana to a deck that wasn't running a ton of basics by adding a few other cards that tap for snow mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcum&#039;s Astrolabe" href="#" target="_blank">Arcum&#039;s Astrolabe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> terrorized Legacy players and those people face down a turn one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emrakul, the Aeons Torn" href="#" target="_blank">Emrakul, the Aeons Torn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the regular.</p>
<p>Look, I'm done with the hard sell, I'd just like to thank you for reading. I have had a lot more fun since I started adding snow cards to my decks, and isn't that what it's all about? Now if you'll excuse me, a pickup truck just skidded 90 feet down my street and took out my mailbox.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Sleigh Ride"></div></div>


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