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>


Let It Snow

Singleton Shmingleton - Uktabi Orangutan

A Beginner's Guide to MTG Card Storage and Accessories

Top 10 One-Mana Creatures for Plagon

<h1>How to Win a Commander Game</h1>
<h4><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-build-a-commander-deck">Article 1: How to Build a Commander Deck</a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-choose-your-commander">Article 2: How to Choose Your Commander</a></h4>
<p class="p1">Hello there, and welcome to the world of Commander, <em>Magic: The Gathering's </em>most popular format! My name is Brian, and I aim to be your guide for navigating this format that we at EDHREC know and love so much.</p>
<p class="p1">In this series, we're focused on helping out players new to the format get started. If you missed the previous articles, make sure to check out the links above.</p>
<p class="p1">Today we’re discussing how to win a game of commander. I’m not going to get into the various ways to reduce opposing life totals to zero, dealing 21 commander damage, milling the table, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa’s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa’s Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p class="p1">Those are all deck specific. What I’m talking about is more general, and can be used for any deck, anywhere. We’ll cover some deck building elements, gameplay concepts, and the all important social aspect to maneuver your way to a win. Winning is not everything in this casual format, but it does feel good when you do!</p>
<h3 class="p1">Deckbuilding</h3>
<p class="p2">Before you even sit down to play, the composition of your deck needs to consist of ways to finish the game. Check out <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-build-a-commander-deck/">Article 1</a> for more details, but this is the first thing I’m thinking about during the deckbuilding process. Most of the time, these cards will synergize directly with your commander.</p>
<p class="p2">For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa Karlov" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa Karlov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doubling up your death triggers means your wincons could be something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vengeful Bloodwitch" href="#" target="_blank">Vengeful Bloodwitch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vengeful Bloodwitch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teysa Karlov"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zulaport Cutthroat"></div></div></p>
<p class="p1">The rest of your deck should support using those cards to win the game. Work your way backwards as you build, asking yourself how the rest of your choices support using these cards to win the game.</p>
<p class="p1">In our example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could be considered one of your card velocity options, since it is extremely potent with Teysa to dig through your deck, along with helping to kill off your small creatures to trigger your win cons</p>
<h3>Card Advantage</h3>
<p class="p1">Another deckbuilding consideration that can help you win is including cards to help you achieve card advantage. You may have heard this term used to describe drawing cards, but I consider that card <em>velocity</em>.</p>
<p class="p1">To me, card <em>advantage</em> is how to leverage your cards to nullify as many of your opponents' cards as possible. Remember, you have 100 cards against your opponents' collective 300. So including cards that can even the score can also help you win.</p>
<p class="p1">A classic example is targeted removal versus wrath effects. Consider <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> versus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When you use Swords to remove an opposing creature, you’ve spent one card to remove one opponent’s card. But the other two opponents are now up a card on you, so you’ve created negative card advantage.</p>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swords to Plowshares"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrath of God"></div></div></p>
<p class="p1">On the flip side, if each of your opponents have a creature on the battlefield and you use Wrath, you’ve spent one card to remove three, putting you neutral.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Anything more than that, and you're ahead! </span><span class="Apple-converted-space">Don't get me wrong, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an incredibly efficient removal spell, but I make sure I'm to including enough cards that can take out more than one threat at a time.</span></p>
<h3 class="p1"><strong>Mulligans<span class="Apple-converted-space"> &amp; Turn Planning</span></strong></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">One of my biggest level ups playing Commander was when I really started paying attention to mulligans and sequencing my first few turns. A mix of lands and spells is nice to see in those first seven cards, but it's important for those spells to be relevant in the early game. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Ask yourself when looking at that first seven, "what do my first three turns look like?"</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">If your cards don't do anything in the first couple turns, I'd consider pitching that hand and drawing a new hand. I'm always hoping for some mana acceleration (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) and card velocity (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckless Impulse" href="#" target="_blank">Reckless Impulse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) so I can continue to have things to do after the first couple of turns. Don't forget, your commander counts as a card to play too!</span></p>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckless Impulse"></div></div></p>
<p>On the other hand, I'll tend to throw back a hand that has a recursion spell (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) since it probably won't be useful in the first couple of turns.</p>
<p>It may seem obvious, but I'll also put back hands with too many high mana value spells. It may be exciting to see your most powerful spells when you start the game, but if your opening hand is four lands, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terror of the Peaks" href="#" target="_blank">Terror of the Peaks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crucible of Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Crucible of Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Copper Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Copper Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, your first couple of turns might be pretty rough, especially if you don't draw another land.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terror of the Peaks"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crucible of Fire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Copper Dragon"></div></div>
<h3 class="p1"><strong>Hand</strong> Dumping</h3>
<p>The concept of "hand dumping" is still something I struggle with. The instinct to play out all your cards and use your mana every turn makes sense. Let's say you're playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait" href="#" target="_blank">Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If you play it as soon as have six mana, you'll give your opponents plenty of time to eliminate it before you can get any value from it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you can play Aesi and immediately follow it up with a land drop, you can guarantee that you'll at least draw a card before your opponents can do anything about it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait"></div></div>
<p>Another good example would be an <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/equipment">Equipment deck</a>, the most popular archetype in Boros (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-wr" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) If you've got a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Fire and Ice" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Fire and Ice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in your hand, maybe you want to hold on to it, even if you don't have something to do on turn three.</p>
<p>The reason? Well if you need a turn to play it, it could get destroyed before you can ever equip it. You might consider waiting until you can cast it and equip it in the same turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Fire and Ice"></div></div>
<p>Finally, you may want to hold on to your cards if you know your opponent can deal with them. Let's say one opponent just used <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystical Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Mystical Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because they need a way to deal with your other opponent, who has a huge board of Goblin tokens thanks to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Even if you can spend the mana, it certainly doesn't make sense to play your creatures knowing that they'll get swept away soon.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystical Tutor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div></div>
<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>
<p>The other way that hand dumping can work against you is leaving you without any answers to opposing threats. Let's say I'm playing 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 I decide to use my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anguished Unmaking" href="#" target="_blank">Anguished Unmaking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to nab my opponent's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>It's tempting after all, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful card and has probably given them a big advantage already. But, on their next turn, another player casts the scourge of my existence, <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>. All of a sudden my deck is completely shut off, and I used my interaction on something that wasn't immediately threatening me.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ratadrabik of Urborg"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anguished Unmaking"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rest in Peace"></div></div>
<p>It's important to understand what will be the biggest roadblocks stopping you from winning the game. It could be a card like <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> shutting off your graveyard deck, or your opponent's commander that will win them the game if untap with it. Another good question to ask yourself while playing: "what stops me from winning the game?"</p>
<h3 class="p1">The Social Aspect</h3>
<p>Commander is a multiplayer game. That's an obvious statement, but it's important to remember that you're not the only one trying to win. However, you can use that to your advantage.</p>
<p>Deals and helping each other are commonplace in our game, and I'd argue one of the most essential skills to learn if you want to increase your win percentage.</p>
<p>Let's go back to the Ratadrabik example. When that Rest In Peace comes down, and I'm out of ways to get rid of it myself, I'll ask my other opponents to kill it for me. Why? Because if my deck doesn't work then maybe I can't deal with a threat that will end the game.</p>
<p>Another example that comes up all the time is a commander with "boots". Many decks will play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and/or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swiftfoot Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Swiftfoot Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as ways to protect their commander. If that commander if becoming a big threat, but you only have a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pongify" href="#" target="_blank">Pongify</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to deal with it, you can work with another player to use their <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disenchant" href="#" target="_blank">Disenchant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to kill the boots.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning Greaves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pongify"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disenchant"></div></div>
<p>Here's the catch: In both examples, I was being socially proactive. No one is going to work with you if you don't ask. When you ask yourself "what stops me from winning the game?" but you can't deal with it, now ask "who else does it stop from winning the game?". Just like the rest of <em>Magic, </em>social interaction is something that takes practice, so give it a try during your next game!</p>
<h3>Wrapping up</h3>
<p>We covered a lot today, and hopefully that means you learned a lot! If you have any questions, be sure to ask down below in the comments. If you're a more experienced player and have some more tips of our newer friends, be sure to drop those down there too. Be on the lookout for more beginner articles from me, and you can also check out my budget deckbuilding series, <em>Brew For Your Buck, </em>right here on EDHREC. Until next time, happy playing!</p>


Beginner Content - How to Win a Commander Game

2024’s EDHighlights - Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher" href="#" target="_blank">Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> art by David Gaillet</h6>
<p>Welcome to <em>Bottom of the Barrel</em>! This is a new series where we pick a theme from EDHREC and look at the “bottom of the barrel.” This means that we look at the least played color-combination and pick a commander in those colors to brew a spicy new deck around!</p>
<p>It’s likely that this commander has not been considered for this theme before, and that’s the point! This allows us to play around with themes that we enjoy while keeping our decks unique and interesting.</p>
<p>Our theme for our first excursion into the “bottom of the barrel” is: Equipment. This is an extremely popular theme, especially in Boros/Lorehold colors (red and white).</p>
<p>There have been a plethora of commanders that have been printed with Equipment in mind, and we’ve even gotten a couple of Esper (black/white/blue) options this year in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain" href="#" target="_blank">Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ratonhnhaké:ton" href="#" target="_blank">Ratonhnhaké:ton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ratonhnhaké:ton"></div></div>
<p>Esper Equipment provides an interesting new territory to explore, and I personally loved the idea of adding new colors into an already-developed theme. With this being said, I believe today’s deck shows just how interesting Equipment strategies can be in non-Boros colors.</p>
<p>Since our theme of the article is Equipment, I clicked around the color combinations to see which ones needed some love.</p>
<p>With a whopping 183 decks to its identity, Simic/Quandrix (green and blue), was our winner! There were several 4-color combinations that had under 183 decks with an Equipment theme, but limiting our colors will really force us to find creative ways to play, and that’s the whole point of this series!</p>
<p>Let’s meet our commander, or should I say commanders:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raised by Giants"></div></div>
<p>Why <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher" href="#" target="_blank">Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? The simple answer is: she helps to pay for equip costs. I’m sure you’re thinking: “wait, but she’ll be tapped if you use her to pay for equip costs! How will that work??” Thus, takes us into our first category…</p>
<h2>Category #1: Evasive Threats</h2>
<p>Unlike most Equipment decks that are solely reliant on making their commander huge and killing someone in one hit, this deck relies on small evasive threats to carry our sword for us. For example, something like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pollywog Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Pollywog Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an absolute house in a deck like this.</p>
<p>It comes down early, and the bigger it gets, the more likely we are to draw cards from its ability! It’s a win/win! The other all-stars from this category are cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ledger Shredder" href="#" target="_blank">Ledger Shredder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invisible Stalker" href="#" target="_blank">Invisible Stalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cold-Eyed Selkie" href="#" target="_blank">Cold-Eyed Selkie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ledger Shredder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invisible Stalker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cold-Eyed Selkie"></div></div>
<p>We can include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inkmoth Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Inkmoth Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if we want to go the poison route, but I know that’s not for everyone, so I didn't include those in my list.</p>
<p>There are 3 specific cards I wanted to mention in this category that pull double duty for us: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel" href="#" target="_blank">Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azure Beastbinder" href="#" target="_blank">Azure Beastbinder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cephalid Facetaker" href="#" target="_blank">Cephalid Facetaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azure Beastbinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cephalid Facetaker"></div></div>
<p>Malcolm is a powerful commander in his own right, but in this deck he gives us the ability to consistently loot from turn 2, and can turn into a powerful value engine when he gets to 4 chorus counters.</p>
<p>Azure Beastbinder can blank our opponent’s best creature on attack until our next turn, which is absolutely crazy. Finally, Cephalid Facetaker is already unblockable, but can turn into an unblockable version of the best creature on the board! (Yes, it’ll still be a 1/4, but that’s nothing a few swords can’t fix!)</p>
<p>Now that we’ve covered a few great evasive threats, let’s move into our next category: using Vhal’s ability.</p>
<h2>Category 2: Using Vhal’s Ability</h2>
<p>Seeing Vhal’s ability, it’s no secret that she can go infinite with just about anything, but we’re trying to avoid that in this deck. In my list, I do include Umbral Mantle, and while that’s a notorious combo piece, it’s also an Equipment, so it’s on theme. It can also make Vhal huge. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Umbral Mantle"></div></div></p>
<p>In theory, using Vhal’s ability for equip costs makes sense, but there are other cards that can profit off of her, and I have included those cards in this deck.</p>
<p>For example, we can draw cards with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prophet of Distortion" href="#" target="_blank">Prophet of Distortion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diviner’s Wand" href="#" target="_blank">Diviner’s Wand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Book of Rass" href="#" target="_blank">Book of Rass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; untap our lands with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magus of the Candelabra" href="#" target="_blank">Magus of the Candelabra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; filter out mana of any color with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Energy Refractor" href="#" target="_blank">Energy Refractor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; or just store mana for later with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kruphix, God of Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Kruphix, God of Horizons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>These abilities are only the tip of the iceberg, as Vhal’s ability only cares about not casting spells from our hands. What this means is, we can take huge advantage of casting spells from other zones. One of the best cards in this deck for this reason, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Forge and Frontier" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Forge and Frontier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>It allows us to “impulse draw” 2 cards, which we can use Vhal’s mana to cast. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Thief’s Bandana" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Thief’s Bandana</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to do something similar, but we are getting spells from the top of an opponent’s deck instead of our own.</p>
<p>Since flashback is also casting a spell not from our hand, I added <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dryad’s Revival" href="#" target="_blank">Dryad’s Revival</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a piece of recursion that we can cast from our graveyard on later turns.</p>
<p>Plot costs can also be paid with her mana, so I included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fblthp, Lost on the Range" href="#" target="_blank">Fblthp, Lost on the Range</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to let us plot cards from the top of our library and set up huge turns.</p>
<p>Using Vhal’s mana for equip costs is a way for us to spread the Equipment to our evasive threats, but we can also wait until our second main phase to activate Vhal. This way, she can attack if she’s equipped, and since she has vigilance, we can use her ability to equip something after combat.</p>
<h2>Category #3: Protection and Removal</h2>
<p>Whenever you go all in with an aggressive strategy like Equipment, you need to make sure you can protect yourself and deal with any problems on the board. For that reason, I’ve decided to add cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherize" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, both of which serve as fantastic protection against any aggression we may cause.</p>
<p>To protect our creatures, I have included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ring of Evos Isle" href="#" target="_blank">Ring of Evos Isle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This can give the equipped creature hexproof while growing the equipped creature on each of our upkeeps. (Growing Vhal every single turn is very good)</p>
<p>The removal portion of this deck is tricky because most removal spells in blue and green involve giving a creature in “exchange” for destroying something (i.e. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pongify" href="#" target="_blank">Pongify</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). This can cause problems because we need to get in for damage and giving opponents blockers can put a wrench in our gameplan. I still included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this deck, as it’s too versatile to not include, but I shied away from things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pongify" href="#" target="_blank">Pongify</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rapid Hybridization" href="#" target="_blank">Rapid Hybridization</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>Category #4: Cost/Budget</h2>
<p>With any deck building, it’s important that we keep budget in mind. Equipment decks would seem strange without any of the “sword of” cycle, but I tried to keep this deck as “budget conscious” as I could. I splurged on a couple of cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Academy Ruins" href="#" target="_blank">Academy Ruins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> especially, but there are easy swaps for these cards that I recommend.</p>
<p>Shadowspear can be swapped for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loxodon Warhammer" href="#" target="_blank">Loxodon Warhammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as those cards occupy a similar space with what they do. There is already <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Ruin" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Ruin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the deck, so Academy Ruins isn’t necessary, but extra recursion is never bad.</p>
<h2>Category #5: Secret Spice</h2>
<p>When it comes to building a deck, there’s always an option to add those few tech cards that can make your deck truly unique. I call this the “secret spice” of the deck, and this deck’s “secret spice” revolves around 2 cards.</p>
<h3>1. Assault Formation</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Assault Formation"></div></div>
<p>Assault Formation seems like a strange inclusion, but it allows us to sink our mana from Vhal into something before damage because she has vigilance! This can lead to Vhal dealing a ton of damage out of nowhere. We are already including a few Equipment that care about boosting toughness, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slagwurm Armor" href="#" target="_blank">Slagwurm Armor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Accorder’s Shield" href="#" target="_blank">Accorder’s Shield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, so Assault Formation can put in some work in the right circumstances.</p>
<h3>2. Swashbuckler's Whip</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swashbuckler&#039;s Whip"></div></div>
<p>This relatively unknown card from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan might seem underwhelming at first, but remember, Vhal has vigilance. This allows us to attack with Vhal, and then activate the whip in our second main phase as long as it’s attached to another creature we control. Discover 10 is insane, and it’s sure to grant us some ridiculous value. Even if we can’t tap for 8, the first ability gets a blocker out of the way in a pinch, and that’s very valuable in this deck.</p>
<p>This brings us to the end of our first edition of Bottom of the Barrel! I hope you enjoyed exploring a lesser-played color-combination in the world of Equipment, and hope you’ll take my ideas and brew your own craziness around Vhal and Raised by Giants!</p>
<p>Check out my decklist below!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Bottom of the Barrel 1 Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher and Raised by Giants" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Raised by Giants
*1 Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Azure Beastbinder
*1 Cephalid Facetaker
*1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Edric, Spymaster of Trest
*1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Fblthp, Lost on the Range
*1 Gunner Conscript
*1 Invisible Stalker
*1 Kodama of the West Tree
*1 Kruphix, God of Horizons
*1 Looter il-Kor
*1 Magus of the Candelabra
*1 Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel
*1 Phyrexian Metamorph
*1 Pollywog Prodigy
*1 Prophet of Distortion
*1 Sai, Master Thopterist
*1 Shimmer Dragon
*1 Tanuki Transplanter
*1 The Reality Chip
*1 Urza, Lord High Artificer
*1 Vedalken Archmage
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Accorder&#039;s Shield
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bitterthorn, Nissa&#039;s Animus
*1 Bone Sabres
*1 Book of Rass
*1 Champion&#039;s Helm
*1 Diviner&#039;s Wand
*1 Dream-Thief&#039;s Bandana
*1 Energy Refractor
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Nettlecyst
*1 Pip-Boy 3000
*1 Power Fist
*1 Quietus Spike
*1 Ring of Evos Isle
*1 Robe of the Archmagi
*1 Scepter of Celebration
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Slagwurm Armor
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swashbuckler&#039;s Whip
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Forge and Frontier
*1 Talisman of Curiosity
*1 Umbral Mantle
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Dryad&#039;s Revival
*1 Ezuri&#039;s Predation
*1 Rise and Shine
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Beast Within
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Three Steps Ahead
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Assault Formation
*1 Kenrith&#039;s Transformation
*1 Propaganda
*1 Well Rested
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Archway of Innovation
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Evolving Wilds
*8 Forest
*1 Hedge Maze
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*11 Island
*1 Overflowing Basin
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Roadside Reliquary
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Tanglepool Bridge
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Tree of Tales
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>



Bottom of the Barrel - Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher and Raised by Giants

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a href="https://scryfall.com/card/j25/49/gornog-the-red-reaper">Gornog, the Red Reaper</a> | Art by: <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CIshikawa+Kenta%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Ishikawa Kenta</a>)</h6>
<h1>Warriors Come Out to Play!</h1>
<p>Red Hot! That is the deck that we have for you today. I will not fluff this one too much with an intro because this deck is too strong for an intro. This deck is too <strong>hot</strong> for an into. This deck is too much of a <strong>Warrior</strong> for an intro. This deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gornog, the Red Reaper" href="#" target="_blank">Gornog, the Red Reaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and I am Nick. The most important thing you need to know about this deck is that Cowards can't block Warriors. Here we go!</p>
<h2>I Thought You Said Eggnog.</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gornog, the Red Reaper"></div></div>
<p>The only cow that I would never want to meet in a dark alley alone at night. I have been in love since I saw the spoiler for this card. I might be alone, however, since the Red Reaper is the fifth most-built commander from <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/j25">Foundations Jumpstart</a>.</em> I thought, why aren't more people building this deck?</p>
<p>And there is only one conclusion that I could formulate in my mind. Everyone else is a Coward. Originally thought of as a bit of a joke, like on cards, the phrase, Cowards can't block Warriors, is a key aspect of this deck. So, outside of Gornog, the Red Reaper, how will we make all of the opponents' creatures quake in their boots?</p>
<h2>Cowardice.</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kargan Intimidator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="An-Zerrin Ruins"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roaming Throne"></div></div>
<p>The most unfortunate part about this deck is that the depth of cards that can turn creatures you do not control into Cowards is not vast. However, decks have been built on slimmer margins than those we work with.</p>
<p>The first one is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kargan Intimidator" href="#" target="_blank">Kargan Intimidator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. An occasional player in standard occasionally, the intimidation can do a bit of everything as long as we have some mana to spare. It's a bit small on the back side, but we can deal with that if our opponents ever figure out how to block.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="An-Zerrin Ruins" href="#" target="_blank">An-Zerrin Ruins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card I had never heard of before putting together this list. If you ever face someone playing a typal deck of their own, this card will stonewall them as a nice side benefit, but in this deck, it provides turn-by-turn lockdown ability, clearing the way for our creatures to pump out more damage. I will admit that this card is a bit slower than something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Static Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Static Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but we want our board to remain untouched by this effect.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> choosing the creature-type Warrior is a phrase that will strike fear into the heart of players at a table for games to come after this deck. The throne will allow us to get more benefit out of Gornog by not triggering off of each Warrior that attacks, and it will pump our team even higher when we attack, thanks to the increasing numbers of Cowards. Roaming Throne is a staple in typal decks, and while it is a card that I am not the biggest fan of because of how good it is, this deck does need a boost in some places.</p>
<p>A once major player in the world of EDH, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strionic Resonator" href="#" target="_blank">Strionic Resonator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a lot of work in this deck. With 25 of our 32 total creatures having some triggered ability, the possibilities might not be endless with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strionic Resonator" href="#" target="_blank">Strionic Resonator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but they are plentiful. The ability I most want to copy is the one from our commander, but there are other fun options in the deck.</p>
<h2>Tokens.</h2>
<p>You get a war when you remove the creature type's first three letters from most of our deck. And what does the war of this deck need but more and more Warriors? The best way to do that in the game is to make tokens. And the color red makes tokens with a flare.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Charge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flamerush Rider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirror-Style Master"></div></div>
<p>Red is a color that likes to make tokens but does not like them to stick around. We could do something about this, like adding a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundial of the Infinite" href="#" target="_blank">Sundial of the Infinite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but instead, I would make more and more tokens. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Echoes" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Echoes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to double up on every attacking Warrior we make. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Charge" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Charge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a bit expensive at six mana, but it has no restriction if we have tokens lying around and can allow us to attack with token copies of creatures we might want to hold back. I am unsure why we would ever do that since this deck lives on a 90-degree angle.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamerush Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Flamerush Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror-Style Master" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror-Style Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both great by themselves and together. The Backup ability allows <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror-Style Master" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror-Style Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to always have a modified creature to copy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamerush Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Flamerush Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Having Dash lets us get a copy of a creature every turn for four mana. A bonus card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Uncivil Unrest" href="#" target="_blank">Uncivil Unrest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, not only helps out these two cards by giving them haste but can allow our other creatures to become modified if we put a counter on them instead.</p>
<p>One card in this deck is a personal favorite of mine. Much like this deck, it does not come with a guarantee and can do nothing or anything, depending on how the coins fall.</p>
<h3>Mirror March.</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirror March"></div></div>
<p>This might be my favorite red enchantment in the game. I also think it is an absolute slam dunk in this deck. I have to stress this card does not guarantee the user's success; it depends on how many coins come your way, but when they do, the rewards will be great. Some cards can be duds in this deck to get copies of, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archetype of Aggression" href="#" target="_blank">Archetype of Aggression</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Manic Vandal" href="#" target="_blank">Manic Vandal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Those, however, are the floor for this card. The ceiling can be as high as fifteen copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zealous Conscripts" href="#" target="_blank">Zealous Conscripts</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stealing an entire board. Or an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ogre Battledriver" href="#" target="_blank">Ogre Battledriver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with five identical friends. Even a few extra copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devilish Valet" href="#" target="_blank">Devilish Valet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be game-changing.</p>
<p>But I told you that this deck had some hot tech to it. And sometimes, that hot tech stares back at you in the mirror. Specifically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Box" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Box</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>Mirror Box.</h3>
<p>What is inside this box is a whole bunch of legends.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gimli of the Glittering Caves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lovisa Coldeyes"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Box" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Box</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to change the game by throwing the legend rule out the window. This allows us to get even more triggers from our big bovine boy <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gornog, the Red Reaper" href="#" target="_blank">Gornog, the Red Reaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, giving our same-named legends a nice +1/+1 boost. It could be many copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lovisa Coldeyes" href="#" target="_blank">Lovisa Coldeyes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make our team massive.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor" href="#" target="_blank">Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> making their best impression of Cowards can't block Warriors by saying the survivors it makes are not allowed to do anything to you. Maybe you want all of the copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gimli of the Glittering Caves" href="#" target="_blank">Gimli of the Glittering Caves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to contest with one another for who can get the most counters.</p>
<p>Or maybe you want to make opponents never think about blocking even if they do not have a single Coward with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Neheb, the Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Neheb, the Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and one of the most unfun mechanics in Afflict.</p>
<h2>Spice Cabinet.</h2>
<p>Much like the proverbial pepper, this deck has spice, at least concerning my pallet. If we cannot turn everything on the board into Cowards, we need another way to clear the way. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insurrection" href="#" target="_blank">Insurrection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> used to be the go-to for how a red deck would win the game. Most people have decided that the card is for those who regularly complain about back pain. Nowadays, it is all about goad.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disrupt Decorum"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spectacular Showdown"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disrupt Decorum" href="#" target="_blank">Disrupt Decorum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card most players have run across at the table, and it should be seen more often. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spectacular Showdown" href="#" target="_blank">Spectacular Showdown</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another card that surprised me while building. <em>Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate</em> is a set that will never stop giving commander players hidden gems, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spectacular Showdown" href="#" target="_blank">Spectacular Showdown</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is, well, spectacular.</p>
<p>Versatility is the name of the game, and it is either targeting one particular creature you do not want to swing your way or turning into the most insane way to dish out massive amounts of damage with a vast quantity of double-striking creatures.</p>
<h2>Wrap Up.</h2>
<p>This is one of the most fun decks I have ever teched. It is fun and fast, and I will never get bored of telling players that Cowards can't block Warriors. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gornog, the Red Reaper" href="#" target="_blank">Gornog, the Red Reaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might not be for everyone, and I think that my lane of leaning into tokens and turning other creatures into Cowards might be a bit off the wall in terms of a build for this deck.</p>
<p>If you are not a Coward, and I know you are not, then you should check out the rest of the decks that I have teched or any of the other articles that I have done, ranging from planeswalkers to being wrong on the power level of cards in set reviews. You can also check out many <a href="https://commandersherald.com/articles/">fantastic articles here or on Commanders Herald</a>.</p>
<p>As always, I have been Nick. Thanks for checking out how I teched this deck.</p>
<h2>Deck List.</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Warriors Come Out to Play!" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gornog, the Red Reaper
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aggravated Assault
*1 An-Zerrin Ruins
*1 Mirror March
*1 Molten Echoes
*1 Rising of the Day
*1 Shared Animosity
*1 Uncivil Unrest
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Anger
*1 Archetype of Aggression
*1 Aspiring Champion
*1 Brighthearth Banneret
*1 Combat Celebrant
*1 Death-Greeter&#039;s Champion
*1 Devilish Valet
*1 Falkenrath Marauders
*1 Flamerush Rider
*1 Frontier Warmonger
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Iraxxa, Empress of Mars
*1 Jaxis, the Troublemaker
*1 Kargan Intimidator
*1 Karlach, Fury of Avernus
*1 Laelia, the Blade Reforged
*1 Lovisa Coldeyes
*1 Manic Vandal
*1 Markov Blademaster
*1 Mirror-Style Master
*1 Moraug, Fury of Akoum
*1 Neheb, the Eternal
*1 Ogre Battledriver
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Roaming Throne
*1 Star Athlete
*1 Taurean Mauler
*1 Varchild&#039;s War-Riders
*1 Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor
*1 Voldaren Thrillseeker
*1 Zealous Conscripts
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Coat of Arms
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Dolmen Gate
*1 Helm of the Host
*1 Mirror Box
*1 Patchwork Banner
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Strionic Resonator
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Deflecting Swat
*1 Great Train Heist
*1 Savage Beating
*1 Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Disrupt Decorum
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Isengard Unleashed
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Kindred Charge
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Spectacular Showdown
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Fabled Passage
*27 Mountain
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Talon Gates of Madara
*1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>




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