Top 10 Double Strike Enablers

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serum Powder" href="#" target="_blank">Serum Powder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Illustrated by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMatt+Thompson%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Matt Thompson</a></h6>
<hr />
<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?</p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza and I'm making a smoothie!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dracogenesis"></div></div>
<p><em>I've got a big ol' blender!</em></p>
<p>This week, eh, let's pick another one.</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
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<h2>HELLO, MIKE</h2>
<p><em>Hey, Mike!</em></p>
<p><em>Love your column and think I might finally have a good one of my own.</em></p>
<p><em>For context we have a regular weekly playgroup, usually between seven and twelve of us with a variety of decks hovering around the "optimized casual" zone. Players range from relative newbies to Magic veterans, but we're all fairly invested/entrenched.</em></p>
<p><em>Recently The Command Zone had an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSNV6224cHg&amp;pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD">episode about updating their deck-building template</a>, fairly basic stuff but the land count section was very interesting. The point was made that even with lax mulligan house rules, it's a strategic disadvantage to play too few lands because you could be mulliganing for other things than just enough lands like ramp or synergy pieces. </em></p>
<p><em>I started the conversation with our group and it quickly came around to -</em><br />
<em>1) Several players in our group realized they should be playing a few more lands</em><br />
<em>2) Our mulligans might be a bit too lax or leading to some feelings that folks might be taking advantage</em></p>
<p><em>Essentially folks tend to take any number for free mulligans until they have a decent opener.</em><br />
<em>After pointing out at least one specific person for this behavior, I decided to push for using the actual mulligan rules going forward. Unfortunately, I think I might have ruffled a few feathers, but I also don't want to ruin the "EDH and chill" vibe we usually try to go for.</em></p>
<p><em>Is it fair to be a bit peeved that some folks might be getting away with better late game top decks by playing less lands and taking advantage of our easy-going mull rules, even if unintentionally? Or <strong>am I the Bolas for trying to tighten up our group's play and get folks to follow the actual rules even if it might sometimes lead to more non-games occasionally?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Thanks!</em></p>
<p><em>Mulligary</em></p>
<div dir="auto"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Serum Powder"></div></div></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
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<h2>HOWDY, MULLIGARY!</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>Also, what do you think of this new look? Here I am on EDHREC! Pretty cool!</p>
<p>I linked to the episode of The Command Zone video - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSNV6224cHg&amp;pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD">here it is again</a> - because I think they're correct. I've known Rachel a long time and frankly, when she says something I listen. I say Rachel even though it's the CZ team that made the video because Rachel is <em>very adamant</em> throughout the video to the point of feeling like she's trying to reach through your screen to tell you to please play more lands.</p>
<p>So, even as a staunch believer in the 36-land count, I've made changes to most of my decks from my current roster, bringing them up to 37 or 38 lands and, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/2tdbig/tifu_by_enraging_the_parents_of_my_girlfriend_by/">let me tell you</a>, it has made a difference. Is that confirmation bias talking? I can't be 100% sure, but I'll say that some decks that struggled are no longer struggling as much and that's good enough for me. So a big thank you to The Command Zone for the updated template.</p>
<p>I think this is an oddly more complicated entry in the Am I The Bolas? series. It seems pretty straightforward, right? "Hey, these are the rules, let's play by the rules." Sounds good, yeah? But instead, there's a twinge of mucking up "the fun".</p>
<p>On one hand, we're playing a game that has rules, we should play with those rules because that's just how you play games. You learn the rules and you operate within them to have your fun. House rules are a real wrench in the system and it should be noted that we're discussing an entire format that came from "house rules". I'm not saying it's time to try out a bunch of house rules, but rather that they can lead to interesting innovations in the game.</p>
<p>That said, I've never loved the "mulligan until you have a keepable seven" thing. Some house rules are interesting in that they allow for some newness in the game, like allowing any planeswalker to be your commander (like in Oathbreaker) or allowing some rule zero changes in the playgroup like allowing a deck helmed by an acorn <em>Unfinity</em> legend. Mulligan until you have a keepable seven does have an impact on deckbuilding, consciously or subconsciously.</p>
<p>When my old playgroup allowed mulling until finding a good seven, we got to a point where some players were running 32 or 33 lands and the pregame was just a lot of shuffling and waiting for one of us to be ready while the rest were good to go.</p>
<p>I think there's room for leeway. I think the mulligan rules in Commander can be particularly brutal since for every turn you take, your opponents collectively get three. So if you're also starting with four cards in hand, good luck! I think there should be some sort of penalty for needing to mulligan so much. Then there's the whole fun police element of enforcing the mulligan rules that come into play here. The real hurdle.</p>
<p>If you proposing that the group adhere to the rules didn't ruffle so many feathers, there wouldn't really be much of a story here. Just a good conversation, solid argument, your desired outcome. It's because members of your group are attached to the Keepable Seven Mulligan that your request is creating tension. Why does it create that tension though? EDH is a social format that ends up being more about the hang for some folks and the lax rules and environment are part of the point and the experience. For some people, tightening up is part of the fun.</p>
<p>Another thing I'd like to point out is that mulligans in one-on-one formats can make or break those games. In Commander, in a more relaxed environment, less so. Of course, if two players mull to five and two others have a full grip, with more players involved, you would hope that there are safeguards within the dynamic of the pod that would regulate itself. Although, my column is evidence enough that threat assessment isn't something everybody is great at.</p>
<p>So here's what I propose. There are 12 of you in the group, maybe there's something to discussing this per pod and seeing how people feel. Ask them to do it for a game and see if they notice a difference. Or you could try to come up with a mulligan you can all be on board with. Maybe it's regular mulligan rules but you can't go under five and then do a Keepable Five Mulligan. Maybe another thing that works for your playgroup.</p>
<p>How do you find that out? Have the conversation with everybody. If this is something that's stuck in your craw, discuss it with the crew. Otherwise, I recommend leading by example. Take those mulligans to four. Play through them. Show your opponents that you're committed. Make your case about how the Keepable Seven Mull is like a reward for poor deckbuilding.</p>
<p>Not the Bolas. It's totally fair to want to play by the rules.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wheel and Deal"></div></div>


Am I The Bolas? - Enforcing the Mulligan Rules

Borderland Explorer – Soundwave, Sonic Spy

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Play of the Game" href="#" target="_blank">Play of the Game</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CJung+Park%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Jung Park</a>)</h6>
<p>We are almost in the endgame of our March Magic Madness tournament. The final round, which takes place inside our regions, is upon us. By now, you know the teams and the matchups, and I do not want to delay the action any longer.</p>
<p>So I will send it to our other esteemed announcer the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arena Rector" href="#" target="_blank">Arena Rector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for any final words before we dive into the matchups.</p>
<p>Arena Rector: All I can say about these matchups is that they will be explosive. We have some incredibly intriguing matchups that should be fun for everyone involved. Without anything further, let's go down to the action for the Elite 8.</p>
<h2>Scoring:</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Color Multipliers</strong>
<ul>
<li>Colorless 1.6x</li>
<li>Mono 1.5x</li>
<li>Two-color 1.4x</li>
<li>Three-color 1.3x</li>
<li>Four-color 1.2x</li>
<li>Five Color 1.1x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deck Count &lt; or &gt; 15 Thousand</strong>
<ul>
<li>&gt; 15 Thousand 15.1x</li>
<li>&lt; 15 Thousand 14.9x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Original Print Date</strong>
<ul>
<li>Over five years ago, 5.9x</li>
<li>Printed in 202, 5.5x</li>
<li>Printed less than five years ago, 5.1x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Was it a "Design Mistake"</strong>
<ul>
<li>Yes 6.9x</li>
<li>No 7x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Game Changer</strong>
<ul>
<li>Yes 2.5x</li>
<li>No 7x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Salt Score &lt;, &gt; or = 1.2</strong>
<ul>
<li>&lt; 1.2 avg. Salt score 2.1x</li>
<li>&gt; 1.2 avg. Salt score 1.9x</li>
<li>= 1.2 avg. Salt score 2x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Basketball scores are made with a generator to align with the "math" used.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h2>Shards Region</h2>
<p>(8) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph" href="#" target="_blank">Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> vs. (6) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcades, the Strategist" href="#" target="_blank">Arcades, the Strategist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcades, the Strategist"></div></div>
<p>What a matchup to kick off the Elite 8 here today. The Kerlmorphs, led by Ghyrson Starn, is the only remaining Universes Beyond team in the tournament. This team beats you with a "death by a thousand cuts" style.</p>
<p>A point or two at a time is all they need to make sure that they get the win. A key product of the Universes Beyond region <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch" href="#" target="_blank">Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> showed what this lesser known division is really about this game.</p>
<p>Backed up with game changers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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>, the Kerlmorphs came out the gate fast and furious, relying on a strategy built around <a target="_blank" rel="noopener">pingers</a>.</p>
<p>Not to go down without a fight, Arcades leads the long-standing Walls. Unlike past tournaments, Arcades took a more<a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=arcades"> strategic approach</a>, which served them well until now.</p>
<p>Early on, with a well-timed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Barricade" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Barricade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it looked as if the walls would stand the test of time yet again. Unfortunately for them, a good, or in their case, a great defense was not enough, and the <a href="https://scryfall.com/card/eld/114/blow-your-house-down">Walls started to crumble</a>.</p>
<p>The Kelermorphs finished off this contest with a potent combo of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, Parun" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, Parun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enchanted with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ophidian Eye" href="#" target="_blank">Ophidian Eye</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They will be moving on to the Final Four as the champion of the Shards Region.</p>
<p><strong>Final Score:</strong> Kelermorphs 147 - Walls 101.</p>
<h2>Wedge Region</h2>
<p>(9) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> vs. (2) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow"></div></div>
<p>A battle of design mistakes. Commander Ninjutsu vs. <em>Eminence</em>: Who will come out on top? These teams know how to gain an advantage from their game plans.</p>
<p>Yuriko and the Ninjas make you have to guard every angle of attack or suffer the consequences. Sidar Jabari and the Knights make card after card work in their favor and can make all of your removal feel like it is a part of a losing battle.</p>
<p>The Ninjas controlled this battle from the very start. No other team has come close to dealing with the idea of presenting too many threats for an opponent to deal with all tournament long. Led by a fiecersome foursome of Yuriko themselves and three key players</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Universal Automaton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silver-Fur Master"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Satoru, the Infiltrator"></div></div>
<p>The Ninjas quickly became too much to handle. They rounded out their starting five with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fallen Shinobi" href="#" target="_blank">Fallen Shinobi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who picked off key cards when it mattered most and did not allow the Knights to close the gap.</p>
<p>The Knights did come with a good game plan; they just ran into a bad matchup.</p>
<p>Built around the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Monument to Endurance" href="#" target="_blank">Monument to Endurance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the Knights did their best to leverage newcomer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vodalian Wave-Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Vodalian Wave-Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knights&#039; Charge" href="#" target="_blank">Knights&#039; Charge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to overwhelm the opposition.</p>
<p>Against most opponents, this would have been a winning strategy, but without finding the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald of Hoofbeats" href="#" target="_blank">Herald of Hoofbeats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fatal Blow" href="#" target="_blank">Fatal Blow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was unable to land.</p>
<p><strong>Final Score:</strong> Ninjas 138 - Knights 95.</p>
<h2>Guild Region</h2>
<p>(13) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> vs. (14) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic" href="#" target="_blank">Oloro, Ageless Ascetic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Lord High Artificer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic"></div></div>
<p>A battle of two double-digit seeds to see who will escape from the wildest quadrant of the tournament we have ever seen. If you know your magic history, you will agree that this is a battle of giants against one another.</p>
<p>Urza and his High Artificers look to lock down the competition with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trinisphere" href="#" target="_blank">Trinisphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Olor and the Giants also like to make life difficult for the opposition thanks to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aura of Silence" href="#" target="_blank">Aura of Silence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The Giants found themselves on the side of David against Goliath as Urza was not going home without the win.</p>
<p>Even with a variety of taxes being levied against his team, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a unique way of taking even his stax pieces like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pithing Needle" href="#" target="_blank">Pithing Needle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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> as a way to generate resources.</p>
<p>After overcoming the lock pieces, Urza utilized the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simulacrum Synthesizer" href="#" target="_blank">Simulacrum Synthesizer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to march to victory and a spot in the Final Four.</p>
<p><strong>Final Score:</strong> High Artificers 121 - Giants 91.</p>
<h2>Blind Eternities Region</h2>
<p>(13) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> vs. (7) <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></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teysa Karlov"></div></div>
<p>The final battle before the Final Four features Kinnan and the Prodigies against Teysa Karlov and the Oligarchs. These two teams could not be more opposite in their play.</p>
<p>With Kinnan, it is all about the big play all the time. It is the epitome of the go big or go home game plan. With Teysa, small bodies are being used and reused to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eliminate the Competition" href="#" target="_blank">Eliminate the Competition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with an onslaught of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Attrition" href="#" target="_blank">Attrition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>This game was tight. Teysa and the Oligarchs played a beautiful game from the first whistle, and key contributors <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> showed they were not to be underestimated.</p>
<p>Kinnan, however, got off to a lightning-fast start thanks to Enduring Vitality letting all the entire team pitch in so that the big flips off the top got out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tidespout Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Tidespout Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Koma, Cosmos Serpent" href="#" target="_blank">Koma, Cosmos Serpent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> way ahead of schedule.</p>
<p>The Oligarchs could clean up the battlefield time and time again thanks to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dictate of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Dictate of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the sacrificing of creatures secretly doomed them to defeat.</p>
<p>The unlikely combination of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fade Away" href="#" target="_blank">Fade Away</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with an on board <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="It That Betrays" href="#" target="_blank">It That Betrays</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turned the tide for the Prodigies, and they never looked back.</p>
<p>In the closest finish and the only competitive bout from start to finish in this Elite 8, Kinnan and the Prodigies punch their way into the final spot in the Final Four.</p>
<p><strong>Final Score:</strong> Prodigies 87 - Oligarchs 80.</p>
<h2>Once More Into the Breach</h2>
<p>Wow, what a way to take us to the Final Four. The penultimate field is set with competitors who proved they are their region's champions. We have as follows:</p>
<p>Shards Region: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph" href="#" target="_blank">Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<p>Wedge Region: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<p>Guild Region: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<p>Blind Eternities Region: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<p>Who comes out on top? Will the two-seed Yuriko continue their dominant and seemingly unstopable run through the tournament?</p>
<p>Will the only remaining Universes Beyond representative in Ghyrson Starn take it home?</p>
<p>Or will either of our 13-seed teams, the Prodigies or the High Artificers, pull off the biggest upset and make their way to the finale, potentially against one another?</p>
<p>Join us as we move into the final battlefield inside the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strixhaven Stadium" href="#" target="_blank">Strixhaven Stadium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as we come closer to crowning a champion of March Magic Madness.</p>


March Magic Madness - Elite 8

Mardu Surge Precon Guide - Tarkir: Dragonstorm

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Downsize" href="#" target="_blank">Downsize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | <a href="https://www.ryanpancoast.com/">Ryan Pancoast</a>)</h6>
<div></p>
<p>Welcome to spring! My name is Ben, and you may know me from <em>Conditions Allow</em>, my article series on EDHREC and <a href="https://commandersherald.com/tag/conditions-allow/">Commander's Herald</a>. It is my great pleasure to bring the Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest to EDHREC.</p>
<p>This will be a monthly contest with a different theme each month.</p>
<p>Your goal is to build a Commander legal deck that fulfills the prompt in a creative or unique fashion. At the end of each month, three finalists will be selected for you to vote on.</p>
<p>Whoever gets the most votes will be crowned the winner, although all three finalists receive a prize.</p>
<p>This month, we're getting into the spring cleaning spirit by cutting a color from our decks.</p>
<p></div>
<div></p>
<h3>What’s The Contest All About?</h3>
<p>Working within the parameters of the prompt provided below, construct a decklist with your own creative spin. Three chosen finalists will be awarded <a href="https://www.cardsphere.com/">store credit to use on Cardsphere</a>.</p>
<p><strong>For April's deckbuilding contest, construct a Commander-legal deck that uses fewer colors than are in the commander's color identity. You may include lands to cast your commander, but spells and abilities must not require the color you're omitting. </strong></p>
<p><strong>For example, if you choose to build an Izzet deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eshki Dragonclaw" href="#" target="_blank">Eshki Dragonclaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as your commander, you cannot include any cards that require green mana to cast or use, but you can include green lands to cast Eshki. As always, decks will be judged on creativity and originality.</strong></p>
<p></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yasova Dragonclaw"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obosh, the Preypiercer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rigo, Streetwise Mentor"></div></div>
<p>This contest prompt is inspired by the growing list of commanders that don't require all of their colors to be cast. Commanders like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Smiles at Death" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Smiles at Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keruga, the Macrosage" href="#" target="_blank">Keruga, the Macrosage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jinnie Fay, Jetmir&#039;s Second" href="#" target="_blank">Jinnie Fay, Jetmir&#039;s Second</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can all helm decks that leave out one color in their identity.</p>
<p>Two color decks often have cheaper mana bases, or you might prefer how a deck with fewer colors plays. Some of these commanders also naturally push you to prioritize one color over the others.</p>
<p>An Alesha deck with no other red cards can more easily optimize it's mana base to pay for her activated ability. On the other hand, you can build Simic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yasova Dragonclaw" href="#" target="_blank">Yasova Dragonclaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to play the rare theft deck without red.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nethroi, Apex of Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prossh, Skyraider of Kher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raffine, Scheming Seer"></div></div>
<p>Of course, you can choose any commander for this challenge, not just ones that abridge their own mana costs. This is a great opportunity to push strategies outside of their normal colors while having support from a strong commander.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nethroi, Apex of Death" href="#" target="_blank">Nethroi, Apex of Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can lead a Selesnya reanimator deck, or a Golgari aggro deck that cheats its smaller attackers into play en masse. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raffine, Scheming Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Raffine, Scheming Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could make for an interesting Orzhov or even mono black tempo deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic"></div></div>
<p>Perhaps the easiest route to take is to choose a commander that doesn't need to be cast at all. You can easily build a deck of any color with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic" href="#" target="_blank">Oloro, Ageless Ascetic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been helming mono white lifegain decks for almost as long as Commander's been around.</p>
<p>These commanders tend to be more specific to a creature type or theme, however, so building a creative deck that stands out will be more difficult.</p>
<h3>How To Participate</h3>
<ul>
<li>Brew an EDH/Commander legal deck on <a href="https://archidekt.com/">Archidekt</a> that satisfies the prompt.</li>
<li>Any unreleased cards spoiled during the contest’s duration are allowed.</li>
<li>Silver-bordered and acorn cards, while cool, are not allowed.</li>
<li>Digital-only cards (such as those designed for the Alchemy format on Arena) are not allowed.</li>
<li>Strictly one deck submitted per user.</li>
</ul>
<p>Reply to the <a href="https://archidekt.com/forum/thread/11254934">Archidekt newspost</a>, or submission post on the <a href="https://discord.gg/sctEc9Ru36">Archidekt Discord</a> with a link to your deck before <strong>9:00 pm EST</strong> (UTC -5, currently) on <strong>Wednesday, April 9, 2025</strong> (do not submit the same deck in multiple places).</p>
<p>Only one submission per user! From the eligible submissions, we'll select three finalists with lists that we believe best embody the spirit of the prompt. Deck descriptions are not required but certainly may provide valuable context!</p>
<div></p>
<p>On <strong>Wednesday, April 16, 2025</strong>, we’ll announce three finalists via the Archidekt Discord and a brief article on EDHREC highlighting each deck.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.cardsphere.com/sets">Each finalist will be awarded credit to use on Cardsphere</a>. The value of the credit is in US dollars and depends on the finalist's placement in deck upvotes at the end of the week-long polling period:</p>
<ul>
<li>1st Place Prize - $250</li>
<li>2nd Place Prize - $150</li>
<li>3rd Place Prize - $100</li>
</ul>
<p></div>
<p>Finalists will be contacted via email or Discord (depending on where they submitted) regarding their winnings within roughly 24 hours following the conclusion of voting on <strong>Wednesday, April 23, 2025</strong>.</p>
<p>Please note, <a href="https://www.cardsphere.com/login">you must have a Cardsphere account</a> in order to receive your winnings. It's quick and free-- <a href="https://www.cardsphere.com/">register here</a> if you don't have an account already!</p>
<p><a href="https://archidekt.com/contestRules">Official contest rules</a>.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to ask here, or join the Archidekt <a href="https://discord.gg/sctEc9Ru36">public Discord server</a>. We look forward to seeing what you all come up with!</p>


Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest - April 2025

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| Art by <a href="https://www.howardlyon.com/">Howard Lyon</a>)</h6>
<h1>Win Conditions Aren't Equal</h1>
<p>People show up to Commander to play intense games of <em>Magic</em>. Counterspelling counterspells to ensure commanders can set up engines. Intense rushes to deal damage before an opponent draws their perfect card. Four-way political discussions where everyone bargains for just <em>one</em> more turn.</p>
<p>But what if instead of perfectly constructing a deck to achieve victory, you just… <strong>Won?</strong></p>
<p>There are plenty of alternate win conditions, or alt win cons, to damage and decking. As you would expect, not all of them are created equally. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a home in Commander.</p>
<p>Afterall, think of the value.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Llanowar Elves"></div></div>
<p><em>All valuable in their own way.</em></p>
<h3>The Value</h3>
<p>In a Standard game, you have to deal twenty damage to a single opponent, or have them deck out a sixty-card deck. But in Commander, both the life pools and deck sizes are inflated.</p>
<p>But the cost of alt win cons stays the same.</p>
<p>They might not be efficient. Or advisable. They might simply be ineffectual when you have three individuals who can counter, remove, and respond to what you play.</p>
<p>But it would be so funny if it worked, wouldn’t it?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Here’s The Deal</h2>
<p>There’s a visceral reaction folks have when they see an alt win con being played. At least in my experience, a player is more likely to take aggressive action against someone about to play an alt win con than someone who will win by traditional means.</p>
<p>Whether via commander damage or poison counters or milling, these “mundane” paths to victory often leave wiggle-room to still try your hand at negotiations.</p>
<p>But no one will listen to a word you’re saying under the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Despite the fact they’ll listen to someone fielding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> while they have nine poison counters!</p>
<p>So how do you get around this?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sheoldred, the Apocalypse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhystic Study"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smothering Tithe"></div></div>
<p><em>Just a few Swords of Damocles some folks don't mind discussing under.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Misdirect Them</h3>
<p>Whatever your engine for winning the game is, set aside just a few cards to give the impression you’re shooting for a traditional victory. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, don’t add needless heft to your deck.</p>
<p>Could be as simple as having some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroes&#039; Bane" href="#" target="_blank">Hydras</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to scale with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Chief Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Chief Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being kept dirt cheap with a powerful army due to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Encroaching Mycosynth" href="#" target="_blank">Encroaching Mycosynth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Staple combos that are effective across two or three cards regardless of the subject-matter of your deck. Not necessarily two-card “win the game” combos like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, Parun" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, Parun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curiosity" href="#" target="_blank">Curiosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Just effective closed-loop combos that keep you relevant.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mossborn Hydra"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fabled Passage"></div></div><br />
<em>This is a personal favorite to get explosive growth.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only does this lead to your opponents suspecting nothing (the fools!), but it allows you to participate in the game normally. A problem with alt win con decks in casual Commander is that there’s not much to <em>do</em> until you are in a position to end the game.</p>
<p>Just a few cards to keep yourself an active participant alleviates that.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Be Disrespectful</h3>
<p>Alternatively, you could focus on denying victory to your opponents. Whether through <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald of Eternal Dawn" href="#" target="_blank">Herald of Eternal Dawn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Platinum Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Platinum Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you have multiple preventative measures to ensure your opponents can’t steamroll past you.</p>
<p>None of these directly assist your chances of winning the game, but they do buy you time to achieve your own goals.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Everybody Lives!"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Book of Exalted Deeds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudsteel Kirin"></div></div><br />
<em>With this and its lifegain, white stalls games longer than blue.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Of course, if you were to be truly diabolical you would grab a card that forces you to lose such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of the Dross" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of the Dross</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Use any of the following cards to boot your Archfiend to an opponent once its usefulness (and oil) runs out.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fateful Handoff"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coveted Falcon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Custody Battle"></div></div><br />
<em>Because Black’s removal is so useful, splashing into it isn’t even that bad!</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Actually Winning</h2>
<p>Below are just a few cards that allow you to win the game. Some are more viable than others, and certainly some require more support than others. It’s really up to you and your playstyle which ones you gravitate towards.</p>
<p>Just make sure to play it smart. One counter or removal spell or even any of the above-mentioned “win prevention cards” will ruin these strategies if you’re not careful.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Approach of the Second Sun"></div></div>
<p>I can’t speak to if this is the most famous alt win con, but it certainly feels as though it’s had its time to shine since its release in 2017.</p>
<p>This alt win con really is quite simple, in that once you play the first casting of it, your goal is to not die. If any of your opponents have any milling capabilities, that’s something to be careful for, but generally that shouldn’t be a major issue.</p>
<p>Further, watch out for red’s propensity to exile the top card of opponents' decks with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Conqueror" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Conqueror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If they time it right, your second casting is exiled. So make sure you have access to counters, card draw, or a means of doing more than just waiting seven turns.</p>
<p>Also, a fun fact about this card is that the first casting doesn’t have to resolve for the second casting to win you the game. So if the first casting is countered and the second isn’t, you still win the game! Just make sure that second casting doesn’t get countered as well.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Biovisionary" href="#" target="_blank">Biovisionary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Biovisionary"></div></div>
<p>In a single-card format, having a creature requiring multiple copies of it seems ridiculous. And, frankly, it kind of is!</p>
<p>Which is exactly why no one will see it coming. Because tokens count towards this alt win con and it’s in your end step, all you need is a great deal of mana and a decent amount of cards in-hand. Fortunately for you, those are two things Simic excels at.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Croaking Counterpart" href="#" target="_blank">Croaking Counterpart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives you two castings in a single card, if you can afford it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Metamorph" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Metamorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to pay with your life for part of it, which is a fantastic boon. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Steps Ahead" href="#" target="_blank">Three Steps Ahead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the flexibility to act as a counter or card draw on top of advancing your alt win con.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phantasmal Image"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flesh Duplicate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cephalid Facetaker"></div></div><br />
<em>Cheap copies’ downsides don’t matter if you win the turn you cast them!</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barren Glory" href="#" target="_blank">Barren Glory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barren Glory"></div></div>
<p>This might be the most out-there of all these options. Afterall, how do you get to such a low point and still survive?</p>
<p>If you can get a board clear, you’re fine. Alternatively, do the math on how much damage your opponents can deal, Commander or otherwise. If you won’t lose as a result of that or something like poison counters, it doesn’t matter that you can’t defend yourself.</p>
<p>Don’t run the deck with too many permanents other than creatures, and all them to die before you play your alt win con. Then cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armageddon" href="#" target="_blank">Armageddon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a similar means of removing your lands from play.</p>
<p>If your opponents’ boards are clear or if the math checks out, you’ll win next turn assuming you can trash your hand. If you have cheap instants and sorceries, that will allow you to burn through your hand in your final turn. Self-discard is even better.</p>
<p>Just make sure no opponent has a means of destroying an enchantment on the board when you cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armageddon" href="#" target="_blank">Armageddon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Otherwise, even with a single mana from their next-turn land drop, they’ll just remove your alt win con and you’re stuck behind the curve.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Various Counter-Building Cards</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azor&#039;s Elocutors"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chance Encounter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darksteel Reactor"></div></div>
<p><em>All variations of “keep this card in play to eventually win the game.”</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>You build counters on them, sometimes with ways for opponents to remove counters. Other times, they're just hoping not to be removed before their clock can reach its endpoint.</p>
<p>As with most things counter-related, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is your friend and Proliferate is your new favorite mechanic. Look to All Will Be One and March of the Machine for plenty of cards to bump up your counter production.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vraska, Betrayal&#039;s Sting"></div></div><br />
<em>Phyrexians are your friends when proliferation is your goal.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>And, of course, be on the lookout for removal. These are generally cards that take some time to mature, meaning there's plenty of time for them to be removed.</p>
<p>Particularly given that you're now the person seen as most likely to win, even if your alt win con isn't viable.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>A Fair Warning</h2>
<p>Just be aware that at any higher level of play, so much as the assumption you have an alt win con will put a target on your back.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter if someone has <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solphim, Mayhem Dominus" href="#" target="_blank">Solphim, Mayhem Dominus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and has been chipping away the pod’s life all game. Nor does it matter if someone went full Voltron and their <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heliod, Sun-Crowned" href="#" target="_blank">Heliod, Sun-Crowned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 20/20 with Flying, Trample, and Infect. Though I’d love to see someone pull that off!</p>
<p>The mere existence of an alt win con will have the entire table rally against you. Expect no more negotiating and for past deals to be reneged. Every creature on the table to be pointed at you.</p>
<p>So either win fast or enjoy the chaos you’re causing on the way down.</p>
<p>Alternatively, play a game where no one is allowed to win via life loss, decking out, or poison counters. An Alt Win Contest, if you will.</p>


Have You Tried Simply "Winning?" A Guide to Alt Win Cons in Commander

Temur Roar Precon Guide - Tarkir: Dragonstorm

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidisi, Regent of the Mire" href="#" target="_blank">Sidisi, Regent of the Mire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diana.franco.art/?hl=en">Diana Franco</a></h6>
<h1>Close Enough, Welcome Back Birthing Pod</h1>
<p>Welcome back intrepid single color Commander players to <em>The Monolith</em>, my weekly series in which we talk all things monocolored. Today we're looking at another monocolored legend from <em>Magic: The Gathering's </em>brand new standard legal set, <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em>.</p>
<p>On a previous outing, I attempted to create a <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-hybrid-commanders-as-if-they-were-monocolored">mono-green Aristocrats deck</a> by building a hybrid mana commander as though they were only one color.</p>
<p>That commander was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis" href="#" target="_blank">Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and in the deck I theorized the fun idea of continuously sacking Hogaak to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birthing Pod" href="#" target="_blank">Birthing Pod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to tutor out disgusting 8-drops from our deck.</p>
<p>But you can't always draw one of the 99 cards in your deck. If you really want to play with an effect it should really exist in your command zone. Well what if we could have Birthing Pod in our command zone? ...sort of.</p>
<h2>Birthing Pod on Legs. Legs?</h2>
<p>Introducing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidisi, Regent of the Mire" href="#" target="_blank">Sidisi, Regent of the Mire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a brand new commander from <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> with a lovely and low mana cost of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> that gives us a 1/3 Zombie Snake Warlock. Now of course it's Sidisi's activated ability that we care about the most:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidisi, Regent of the Mire"></div></div>
<p>By tapping Sidisi and sacrificing another creature we can reanimate a creature card from our graveyard. However the creature card we reanimate has to have a mana value equal to one plus the mana value of the sacrificed creature. So if we sack a one drop, we get a two drop. Sound familiar?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Birthing Pod"></div></div>
<p>Yep, it's basically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birthing Pod" href="#" target="_blank">Birthing Pod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> but without the cost to activate. In exchange though, we now need to search our <em>graveyard</em> for the card we want to tutor onto the battlefield rather than our library.</p>
<p>So is it basically Birthing Pod with extra steps? Yes. But is it also a Birthing Pod we can run as a commander? You betcha. And that's exactly what we'll be doing today.</p>
<h2>The Plan</h2>
<p>So here's the plan. With Sidisi on board, which won't be too hard given her tiny mana cost, we'll be able to start performing mischief by as early as turn three.</p>
<p>All we really need is a three cost creature, perhaps one with a nice ability when it dies, and then we can start to trade up. Provided we can put the right creatures in our graveyard, we can keep activating Sidisi's ability in a chain.</p>
<p>You sack the three drop and get a four drop. Sack the four drop get a five drop. Sack the five drop get a six. And so on and so forth until... we maybe win the game? Most likely we get a giant threat on the board super early and try to establish a dominant position with it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Entomb"></div></div>
<p>To do that we need to establish a line of creatures in increasing value that we can reliably tutor or mill into our graveyard. Each one then in turn being sacrificed to bring in the next.</p>
<p>And whilst we're missing out on the functionality of simply tutoring these creatures from our library, black does have access to a powerful ability that will help us bridge the gap. And that's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects.</p>
<p>Abilities that search our library for a creature card and put it into our graveyard. In fact, by casting the titular card, we can have our first reanimate target sitting in our graveyard waiting by the end of our first turn.</p>
<p>But for an additional cost there's plenty of other options that'll get the job done. Like one of my budget favorites reprinted in <em>Modern Horizons 3</em>:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buried Alive"></div></div>
<h3>Tutoring Out a Perfect Line</h3>
<p>There's a very easy way for us to ensure a target for our next reanimate effect, and that's by reanimating a creature that can entomb when it enters play.</p>
<p>By sacrificing a three mana creature we can return <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vile Entomber" href="#" target="_blank">Vile Entomber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from our graveyard to the battlefield. When it enters we can then use the ETB effect to tutor another creature from our library into the graveyard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vile Entomber"></div></div>
<p>And that creature can have its own tutor effect. In fact once we've got Vile Entomber onto the field we've got a perfect line from four mana all the way up to seven mana using the following creatures:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Corpse Connoisseur"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burning-Rune Demon"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpse Connoisseur" href="#" target="_blank">Corpse Connoisseur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works as a really nice piece of tech as its Unearth ability allows us to get two uses out of the ETB effect. It works as a nice bit of backup for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burning-Rune Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Burning-Rune Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as we do technically have to give the choice of our seven drop to an opponent.</p>
<p>But at least we can go searching for another option if they pick our least favorite of the two. Alternatively you could even use CC's ability to look for your eight drop instead and keep the train going.</p>
<h3>Seven Mana Creatures</h3>
<p>So what good creatures can we grab for the big seven mana that we've elaborately set up for all this time? Well there's a few spicy options. One big target for someone that's filling their own graveyard with nasty creatures is of course the Pauper all-star, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lotleth Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Lotleth Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lotleth Giant"></div></div>
<p>Whilst we can only take down a single target with the giant, a full graveyard can be absolutely lethal to one of our opponents. And I'm sure it won't be too difficult to reanimate him for a second hit should we need to.</p>
<p>If our yard is looking full but not quite full enough to kill a player we could instead search for something generically nasty and reanimatey like Sheoldred or the Brass Dragon:<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sheoldred, Whispering One"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Brass Dragon"></div></div></p>
<p>These will allow us to continually reanimate all the nasty creatures we've been slotting into our graveyard over the course of the game whilst also providing a huge threat to our opponents.</p>
<p>There's also a very funny interaction you can have with your opponents when you reanimate your Burning-Rune Demon.</p>
<p>Hand them a Giant and Sheoldred or the Dragon and say if they don't put the dragon in the bin you'll target them with the Giant. Tehe.</p>
<p>When this inevitably makes you the arch enemy of the table you could always grab your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Platinum Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Platinum Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from the grave for some protection as well.</p>
<h3>Three Mana Creatures</h3>
<p>To get our combo chain going nice and early we'll need to start with a three drop. That way, in our best case scenario where we've entombed a four mana creature into the bin on the first turn, we're good to go from turn three.</p>
<p>We can play the three mana creature and then immediately sacrifice it to Sidisi, reanimating our four mana creature and setting off the chain.</p>
<p>So what's a good first creature to use? One thing that can help with our game plan is to fill up our graveyard with powerful mill effects.</p>
<p>Whilst we'll have the ability to tutor out creatures in a row, if we've already found one of the cards in our chain through self milling, it gives us a chance to reanimate something more spicy halfway through the plan.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stinkweed Imp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necroplasm"></div></div>
<p>These dredging three drops should provide a perfect way to continuously fill up our graveyard from turn to turn. We'll likely want some permanents that allow us to discard cards from our hand in case we end up with something needed for our combo gathering dust in there. Something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Putrid Imp" href="#" target="_blank">Putrid Imp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>By utilizing this repeatable discard effect we can continuously fill up our graveyard instead of drawing cards.</p>
<h2>Untapping Sidisi</h2>
<p>Now this is all well and good but you may have noticed that this is all a bit... well, slow. Reanimating one creature per turn and ending up with a 7 drop one turn earlier than we would have it if we'd just made a land drop every turn isn't exactly super impressive. If we want this deck to look scary we need to be activating our commander's ability more than once per turn.</p>
<p>To do that we need to go out of our color pie, as I am want to do, and do some mono black untapping!</p>
<p>Now there's a few tools we can use to untap our commander with colorless cards. Thousand-Year Elixir is an absolute no-brainer for this deck.</p>
<p>It not only gives us a second charge of Sidisi for just one mana, but also allows us to activate her as though she had haste. If she gets taken out on a previous turn it won't be too hard to get rolling again with our tasty beverage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thousand-Year Elixir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of the Paruns"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Puppet Strings"></div></div>
<p>If we've got a fair bit of mana to work with then let's equip Sidisi with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Paruns" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Paruns</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That'll allow her to pop off multiple activations in a single turn. But <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Puppet Strings" href="#" target="_blank">Puppet Strings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can also help us out, even if it's just once per turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mobile Garrison"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sting, the Glinting Dagger"></div></div>
<p>There's also a few card options that will provide some untapping every combat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mobile Garrison" href="#" target="_blank">Mobile Garrison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic but it'll require us to crew and attack with it to get the effect.</p>
<p>We can likely just shove in the soon-to-be corpse of our next sacrificial victim for this one. But for one of my favorite untappers, you can't go wrong with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sting, the Glinting Dagger" href="#" target="_blank">Sting, the Glinting Dagger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a guaranteed two sacs per turn.</p>
<h2>Get Birthing</h2>
<p>It's certainly a little more tricky to pull off than just casting Birthing Pod, but Sidisi could get up to some real shenanigans as a commander.</p>
<p>And it's about time I theory crafted an Aristocrats deck that actually plays black! So the only question that remains is, does this deck have legs? Technically no, she's a Snake. But mechanically, I think we could have something fun here!</p>
<p>You can of course fill this deck with all your standard reanimator tech. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exhume" href="#" target="_blank">Exhume</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to your heart's content, of course.</p>
<p>But with the chain of tutors, this deck will at least do something fun and flashy. Even if it's not going to be joining any CEDH pods any time soon.</p>
<p>Let me know if this list idea tickled your fancy and give me some recommendations for more cards to add in the comments below!</p>
<p>I'll see you on the next edition of <em>The Monolith -</em> your home for almost good, monocolored deck ideas. And until then, have a wonderful time playing EDH and get building some monocolored decks!</p>


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