<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baral, Chief of Compliance" href="#" target="_blank">Baral, Chief of Compliance</a> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/wesleyburt">Wesley Burt</a>)</h6>
<h1>Technically Playable - <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baral, Chief of Compliance" href="#" target="_blank">Baral, Chief of Compliance</a></h1>
Welcome to Technically Playable, where our mission statement is "Every commander is Technically playable" (the best kind of playable). The way this works is every article will have a commander generated using EDHREC's random button, I'll talk through the card and then write about how we can build around it!
This week's random commander is <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baral, Chief of Compliance"></div></div>
Baral is one of the all-time most classic "Fun Police" mono-blue decks with an emphasis on countering spells and drawing cards built into their abilities.
<h2>Slingin' Spells...</h2>
If soldier tokens are white's thing and big monsters are green's then spells are definitely blue's bread and butter. Baral makes an amazing <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger">spellslinger</a> deck by allowing you to make your spells cheaper while turning blue's best "removal" (counterspells) into card selection by allowing you to draw and discard when you counter a spell.
The most common and most popular blue decks tend to focus on countering as many spells as possible and returning any creatures that resolve to their controllers hand to protect themselves until they reach their endgame (where they always have a full hand of cards and can slowly grind out a win).
Personally, I like to attack with creatures so I'm much happier when my spells give me bodies on the board to keep me alive.
For mono-blue alot of these cards create tokens that have flying, giving you some strong evasion and the ability to block your opponent's fliers.
Of these cards, probably the best are <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talrand, Sky Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Talrand, Sky Summoner</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Docent of Perfection" href="#" target="_blank">Docent of Perfection</a>. These cards both create a consistent stream of reasonably statted creatures that either have flying or that can gain it very easily in the case of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Docent of Perfection" href="#" target="_blank">Docent of Perfection</a>.
But tokens aren't the only way to benefit from the discard and cost reduction that Baral offers. By making spells extremely cheap we can constantly be casting them for some kind of advantage while also fueling our graveyard for creatures like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haughty Djinn" href="#" target="_blank">Haughty Djinn</a>.
On top of simply casting spells we can also discard any spells that aren't useful in the moment with Baral's ability as well as cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frantic Search" href="#" target="_blank">Frantic Search</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Careful Study" href="#" target="_blank">Careful Study</a> to make our Djinn's power constantly grow.
The main issue here is the number of cards in mono-blue that have this ability, as most of them are blue and red. There are alternatives though, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Octavia, Living Thesis" href="#" target="_blank">Octavia, Living Thesis</a> is a huge creature with a powerful Ward ability that you can cast extremely cheaply while also making all of our tokens into giant 8/8 monsters too.
This works especially well with the flying tokens from earlier to create a board that can easily knock an opponent out.
But spellslinger decks aren't just about casting a bunch of spells, because there are only so many spells you can actually run in your deck without making yourself really weak to creatures.
Cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kitsa, Otterball Elite" href="#" target="_blank">Kitsa, Otterball Elite</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ojer Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch" href="#" target="_blank">Ojer Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch</a> both give our deck easy ways to get multiple used out of each of our spells, either further fueling our graveyard or helping us to find the counterspell or bounce spell we need to stay alive.
We can also use <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thunderclap Drake" href="#" target="_blank">Thunderclap Drake</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echo Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Echo Storm</a> are also great in this deck thanks to Baral's low cost. These allow us to copy powerful spells or artifacts to help close out games or to keep us alive.
Using <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echo Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Echo Storm</a> on something like a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilded Lotus" href="#" target="_blank">Gilded Lotus</a> or even a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a> can often provide enough mana to keep up with the green decks and allow you some breathing room to reach the end game.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Docent of Perfection"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Octavia, Living Thesis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Echo Storm"></div></div>
<h2>... And Drawin' Cards</h2>
The other side of blue decks is the sheer amount of card draw that they bring to the table. Card draw decks can range hugely in power level with decks like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, Parun" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, Parun</a> even being cEDH viable.
For me, I feel like Baral fits squarely in the middle of that power spectrum not being incredibly powerful but also making very low power level pods suffer in the fun department.
For Baral the focus is on countering spells as that is how he allows you to draw cards. If you use cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dismiss" href="#" target="_blank">Dismiss</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Refute" href="#" target="_blank">Refute</a> you can double up on the card draw for countering spells and with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archmage Emeritus" href="#" target="_blank">Archmage Emeritus</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archmage of Runes" href="#" target="_blank">Archmage of Runes</a> you can draw even more for casting spells. With a combination of these you can get a solid two to three cards for every spell that you counter.
You also want some more consistent draw. I'm a big fan of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Font of Mythos" href="#" target="_blank">Font of Mythos</a> in control-focused decks as they give you some political leeway to keep yourself alive as it allows other players to benefit.
One of the best options for this is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Well of Ideas" href="#" target="_blank">Well of Ideas</a> because of its asymmetry giving you a small advantage that can very quickly snowball.
If you're looking for something to synergise with Baral's discard you can also use <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Magic Mirror" href="#" target="_blank">The Magic Mirror</a> which scales the earlier you play it giving you card draw that can very easily help you to run away with the game.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archmage of Runes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Magic Mirror"></div></div>
In terms of payoffs there are a range of ways to win the game. The obvious ones are of course <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Oracle</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Laboratory Maniac" href="#" target="_blank">Laboratory Maniac</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, Wielder of Mysteries" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, Wielder of Mysteries</a>. These give you a way to make sure you can close out the game in an instant where needed.
These work really well with cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azami, Lady of Scrolls" href="#" target="_blank">Azami, Lady of Scrolls</a> who lets Baral and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Docent of Perfection" href="#" target="_blank">Docent of Perfection</a> draw you even more cards.
Another one-two punch can also be <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychosis Crawler" href="#" target="_blank">Psychosis Crawler</a>. If you're focusing in drawing cards it's quite easy to play <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychosis Crawler" href="#" target="_blank">Psychosis Crawler</a> into a card like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Windfall</a> with a huge hand of cards to drain everyone.
The other "win the game" card that can be quite good in this deck is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triskaidekaphile" href="#" target="_blank">Triskaidekaphile</a>. While it does win you the game instantly you need some kind of way to control the number of cards in your hand like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Over Matter" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Over Matter</a> to be able to discard when you have too many cards.
Alternatively you can also go down the token route, like the spellslinger version of the deck. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chasm Skulker" href="#" target="_blank">Chasm Skulker</a> is a great option if your pod has a number of blue players as the islandwalk can be a game changer against other creature-based blue decks like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minn, Wily Illusionist" href="#" target="_blank">Minn, Wily Illusionist</a>.
There are also some other cards that can benefit drawing two cards per turn, something easily achievable with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight</a> in play.
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Homunculus Horde" href="#" target="_blank">Homunculus Horde</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mischievous Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Mischievous Mystic</a> from the newest set are both great examples of this with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Homunculus Horde" href="#" target="_blank">Homunculus Horde</a> doing a very good blue <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scute Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Scute Swarm</a> impression.
At the bottom end of the power level scale for this type of effect is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ominous Seas" href="#" target="_blank">Ominous Seas</a>. While a bit weaker and needing you to draw eight cards before any payoff it is a very cheap and efficient permanent that you can play early and can start to build up quickly.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jace, Wielder of Mysteries"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triskaidekaphile"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Homunculus Horde"></div></div>
In this article I looked at a couple of different ways to play Baral, of course you can play him as a storm deck with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="High Tide" href="#" target="_blank">High Tide</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brain Freeze" href="#" target="_blank">Brain Freeze</a> and the usual offenders, but I wanted to look at a couple of other interesting decks you can build with this commander.
If you like the idea of a deck that casts a bunch of spells, makes a ton of tokens and draws all of the cards you will probably also like <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/technically-playable-tura-kennerud-skyknight">my last article</a> as well as this one.
As with all Technically Playable articles, this was a very quick look at <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baral, Chief of Compliance" href="#" target="_blank">Baral, Chief of Compliance</a> as a commander, and a few of the cards that can really make a deck with Baral, Chief of Compliance as the commander tick.
Let me know in the comments below if you play <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baral, Chief of Compliance" href="#" target="_blank">Baral, Chief of Compliance</a>, if you want to build a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baral, Chief of Compliance" href="#" target="_blank">Baral, Chief of Compliance</a> deck, or even if you just enjoyed this article!

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<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a href="https://scryfall.com/card/ons/127/blackmail">Blackmail</a> | Art by: <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CChristopher+Moeller%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Christopher Moeller</a>)</h6>
In February 2006, the now-disbanded Rules Committee made a new rule for a very young format.<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartless Hidetsugu" href="#" target="_blank">Heartless Hidetsugu</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaervek the Merciless" href="#" target="_blank">Kaervek the Merciless</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind</a>, were all banned as commanders only.
While they could not lead your deck, you could still play them in the 99. As the years passed, different legendary creatures went on and off this list.
After eight years, in February 2014, the "banned only as commander" rule was eliminated, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Cabal Minion" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Cabal Minion</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erayo, Soratami Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Erayo, Soratami Ascendant</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary" href="#" target="_blank">Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary</a> became banned in the format, and so far, they have stayed there.
I wonder if they have remained for too long.
Currently, there are ten legendary creatures banned in the format. I want to examine whether any of them should be the reason for bringing back the "banned only as commander" rule.
Should they stay or go, or should some current creatures be added?
My name is Nick; this is Myth Realized - Should We Bring Back Banned Only As Commander?
<h2>Triple Threat.</h2>
There are five cards that I currently have not talked about as candidates to bring back as "Banned Only As Commander" candidates. Today, I cover three of those five.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Braids, Cabal Minion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emrakul, the Aeons Torn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Erayo, Soratami Ascendant"></div></div>
Let's start with my favorite of the three, and the only one I have ever played in any format, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emrakul, the Aeons Torn" href="#" target="_blank">Emrakul, the Aeons Torn</a>.
<h2>Mother.</h2>
The undisputed biggest and badest spaghetti monster of all the Magic: The Gathering universes and the only one of the <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=%28type%3Acreature+type%3Alegendary+type%3Aeldrazi%29+%28game%3Apaper%29">twelve</a> non-meld Legendary Eldrazi banned in the Commander format.
So what is the hatred for the mother of all Eldrazi monsters? This card is tough for anyone, or even a table of other players, to be able to shut down before, during, and after it hits the field.
But what makes it so hard to stop compared to a group of creatures that, on average, cost you a double-digit amount of mana?
This spell can't be countered already in the first line of text, causing a massive issue. While something I appreciate, being stapled onto a big creature occasionally is usually not a big issue outside of playing a control deck in a competitive 60-card format. But considering Emrakul, it is just the tip of the iceberg.
The next issue is that you do not get a reprieve once this card hits the board thanks to the casting of this spell giving you an extra turn. So even in the world where you use something like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sink into Stupor" href="#" target="_blank">Sink into Stupor</a> to "force" an opponent to cast it again, they will get another turn right away to do so.
Extra turn spells are some of the most disliked spells in the commander format. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Stretch" href="#" target="_blank">Time Stretch</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Expropriate" href="#" target="_blank">Expropriate</a> both find themselves on the <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/salt">salt list</a> most years on EDHrec.
If all of this was not enough, the torn comes with the following: Flying, protection from spells that are one or more colors, and annihilator 6.
So it is hard to block, will not die, and every time it attacks, the blocking player has to sacrifice six of their permanents before they can even try to block.
If extra turns were not disliked enough, the fact that this card has annihilator six also rubs people the wrong way, so much so that only the other two original Eldrazi Titans and the latest retrain of Ulamog have it (when it comes to the suite of legends).
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kozilek, Butcher of Truth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ulamog, the Defiler"></div></div>
But Nick, look how much mana this creature costs; you are not considering that it costs mana to cast this card; I hear you scream at me from the other side of the internet.
Well, I would tell those people that by my current count, <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/colorless">33 of the top 100</a> most played colorless cards can help you by either accelerating your mana, getting you more lands, or reducing the costs of your Eldrazi. Yes, is a lot of mana. Sadly, it is not as much as you think it is.
One of the best decks I have ever played against was built around <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kozilek, the Great Distortion" href="#" target="_blank">Kozilek, the Great Distortion</a> years ago. Since then, more and more cards have been released, making ramping into colorless cards more straightforward than ever.
Having this card in the command zone would be groan-inducing, to say the least. Unfortunately, to our colorless card-loving players, this one is just a bit too strong to let see the light of day.
Generally, I tend to take a medium-of-the-road stance on these cards because, most often, I do not know how bad these cards might be, or I have a strong feeling one way or another, but I can see the arguments from the other side.
This is not one of those times. This card should not be allowed back into the format in the command zone or the 99. There is too much going on, and even if the table teams up or someone has wrath to take care of it two turns after it comes down, it will be too late for at least one player.
<h2>Do A Flip.</h2>
One of the original "flip" cards and one of the original creatures on the first banned list for the format <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erayo, Soratami Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Erayo, Soratami Ascendant</a> is next up on the discussion list.
It's a cheap to-cast 1/1 flyer in blue. What could be threatening about this card? How about locking out the entire table by turn two of the game and making everyone else suffer while you put together a win that will take 25 minutes?
Play <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Island" href="#" target="_blank">Island</a>, then cast a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a> and an <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a> on turn one. Turn two; how about another <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Island" href="#" target="_blank">Island</a> and cast <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erayo, Soratami Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Erayo, Soratami Ascendant</a>, with your mana rocks?
Follow it up with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mox Amber" href="#" target="_blank">Mox Amber</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra&#039;s Bauble</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Laboratory" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Laboratory</a>. Now, the entire table can only cast one spell a turn, and that spell is automatically countered.
You are also playing mono-blue and packing every counterspell from <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Will" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Will</a> to a foil copy of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foil" href="#" target="_blank">Foil</a>.
Yes, this is a bit of a "magical Christmas land" scenario, but the real talk about this card is that it is deceptively easy to flip around and cause a hellish game state for the rest of the table.
This card might need some of the least discussion regarding the possible unbanning of cards in the commander format across the board.
Ask any person how bad it felt to play dual/French Commander when <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baral, Chief of Compliance" href="#" target="_blank">Baral, Chief of Compliance</a>, was running around, and you will know why this card should never be a guaranteed turn-two play.
Trust me when I tell you that casting four spells in one turn is far better and easier than trying to ultimate a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, Unraveler of Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, Unraveler of Secrets</a>, or resolve a lesser lockdown piece in <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nullstone Gargoyle" href="#" target="_blank">Nullstone Gargoyle</a>.
<h2>Back In Black.</h2>
Last but certainly not least, we have <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Cabal Minion" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Cabal Minion</a>. And I will not bury the lead on this one, readers, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Cabal Minion" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Cabal Minion</a> brings the total of cards that should not be allowed back into the format to....two. Braid does not up the count at all.
Yes, Braids is, in their way, an easier-to-play around <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smokestack" href="#" target="_blank">Smokestack</a> for the caster of the card. The biggest thing bolstering the power of this card and what makes it a good commander to lock out a table is that, unlike the blue version of this card, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Conjurer Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Conjurer Adept</a> is that it will punish the other three players at the table before it punishes you.
Braids is a strong commander, and I cannot deny that the earlier this card hits the board, the more havoc it can wreak on a table. But this is an effect you must build around to maximize, not one you can toss into the command zone and go your merry way.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Griselbrand"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golos, Tireless Pilgrim"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leovold, Emissary of Trest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lutri, the Spellchaser"></div></div>
Take four of the other cards that have been talked about so far in the series. All four of these cards can be built around to maximize their abilities, and if they were allowed to be played in the format, those versions of the individual decks would shine brighter than the others.
But, in all their ways, they can also be placed into the command zone and/or into a deck, and you could carry on business as usual. Braids do not have the same luxury concerning how effective a deck is just using it as a commander or as a random creature in the 99.
The best example of why I would not be worried about a card like Braids, Cabal Minion, being released from the list, especially since it would still be "banned as a commander," is the card <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tergrid, God of Fright" href="#" target="_blank">Tergrid, God of Fright</a>. Tergrid is one of the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/tergrid-god-of-fright">top 100</a> commanders of all time.
And I think it is a more effective card to have as your commander than Braids would ever be. It does not affect you negatively, and even if you draw the portion of your deck that does not make anyone discard a card or sacrifice any permanents, eventually, someone will do the work for you.
Like Tergrid, Braids would most likely have a high salt score and would be a deck and a strategy that would generally be unfun for the other people at the table to play a game with and, like many of the cards, legal to the format, would self regulate its way out of many decks.
I think that <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Cabal Minion" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Cabal Minion</a> would be a fine card to bring back, and honestly, I would like to see it banned as a commander only to make people find a way to maximize its abilities when it is inside the 99, rather than in the command zone.
<h2>Threes Company.</h2>
So, with it all said and done, two cards are never allowed to return, and one of the most unnerving smiles in magic comes back, but not with a vengeance. With only two creatures left on the list, this series is winding down to a close, but I still want to hear from you.
What do you think if <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Cabal Minion" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Cabal Minion</a> gets to have a triumphant return? How do you feel about <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emrakul, the Aeons Torn" href="#" target="_blank">Emrakul, the Aeons Torn</a>, still being trapped?
And what are your favorite four spells to flip around an <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erayo, Soratami Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Erayo, Soratami Ascendant</a>? Tell me here or on the socials anywhere you can find the name nicnax96 and come back for one more article asking: Should We Bring Back Banned Only As Commander?

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

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