Too-Specific Top 10 - Living Weapons

Jodah - Multiverse Pride

Recross the Paths - Bess, Soul Nourisher

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitter Reunion" href="#" target="_blank">Bitter Reunion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://jakemurraystudio.com/">Jake Murray</a>)</h6>
<h1>Let's Call it a Draw</h1>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Preview Review</em>, the series where we go over cards you might have missed in the eternal preview season! These cards have been performing at my table, so maybe with a bit of luck, they can perform at yours. Let's dive in!</p>
<p>For some time now, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> has been on a mission to ensure that good card draw can be found in each color. White is typically on everyone's minds when we think of colors that need card draw support. Recently, white has been getting plenty of exciting card draw options, and I feel like it's taking attention away from some great options in other colors. Namely, red.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Secret Rendezvous"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cut a Deal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smuggler&#039;s Share"></div></div>
<p>In this article, we'll cover some of red's new hits. It should go without saying that card draw and card advantage are some of the most important parts of the deckbuilding process. It doesn't matter how impactful your game-winning combo or haymaker is if you don’t draw it, after all. Today we’re going to look at two types of card draw: impulse and discard, and how to choose the right one for your deck.</p>
<h2>Act on Impulse</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrenn&#039;s Resolve"></div></div>
<p>Let’s begin by looking at impulse draw. Impulse draw refers to cards similar to <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>. Typically, this involves exiling cards from the top of your library and giving you a limited time to play them. It’s this limited timeframe that gives impulse draw its name. Red mages, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra, Torch of Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra, Torch of Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, embody impulse draw. In fact, multiple Chandra planeswalker cards actually feature impulse draw as one of their loyalty abilities. All of these abilities represent red's ferocity in pulling spells from the raw elements themselves and making the best of them whilst it's able to.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckless Impulse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chandra, Torch of Defiance"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrenn&#039;s Resolve" href="#" target="_blank">Wrenn&#039;s Resolve</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the newest in this suite of impulse draw spells. It offers your choice of two cards for one generic and one red mana until your next end step. This means from the turn you cast it, you have until the end of your following turn to make use of the cards it exiles. After that, they’re gone forever. Unless you’re running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, the Great Creator" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, the Great Creator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, of course. Two mana for your choice of two cards for nearly two entire turns is a pretty good rate. However, some deckbuilders shy away from impulse draw, especially those who are newer to Commander. At some of these tables, criticism of impulse draw goes a little something like this:</p>
<blockquote><p>What if I exile something I really need?</p>
<p>I run a combo. I don’t want to exile half of my combo.</p></blockquote>
<p>Well, here’s the thing:</p>
<h2>Live in the Moment</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gravecrawler"></div></div>
<p>Your entire deck is full of the cards you need. In fact, if your deck contains cards you don’t need, then why are they even in your deck at all? Now, of course there’s the valid point of having some redundancy. If a theme or strategy is integral to your deck’s ability to function, wouldn’t it be a good idea to include those cards in multiples? This way, if you do accidentally exile something you need, you’re more likely to have similar cards in your deck that have an identical function. After all, if you only run one of these cards and your opponent resolves a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> against it, you’ve lost it anyway. Redundancies are key to good deckbuilding.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker"></div></div>
<p>Of course, combos are how a good deal of Commander decks are able to close out the game. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravecrawler" href="#" target="_blank">Gravecrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can go infinite with more cards than you can shake a stick at. But what if you accidentally exile one half of your combo away with impulse draw?</p>
<p>While it’s clever and sometimes sensible to include a combo in your deck, if those cards do nothing without each other, they become dead cards in your hand. Thus, it’s good practice to include either:</p>
<ul>
<li>Multiple combo pieces that you’re able to go infinite with. In the case of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, why not include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corridor Monitor" href="#" target="_blank">Corridor Monitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well as <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>? You’re twice as likely to find that game-winning card, and you’re also twice as likely not to accidentally exile the other half of your combo.</li>
<li>Cards that fulfill a role outside of your combo. If we flip the scenario and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets exiled, what use are <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corridor Monitor" href="#" target="_blank">Corridor Monitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in your deck? Are they still worth running if their complementary card is exiled? Can you use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corridor Monitor" href="#" target="_blank">Corridor Monitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s untap ability in another way? Maybe, if your deck runs a lot of blink or enter-the-battlefield abilities. <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>'s ability to gain control of any permanent on the battlefield can become pseudo-removal when paired with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a sacrifice deck. My key point is that each card can't be dead in your hand if you ensure that those cards have a purpose whenever you draw them.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckless Impulse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrenn&#039;s Resolve"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chandra, Fire Artisan"></div></div>
<p>Impulse draw can be found on namesake cards, 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>, newer ones, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrenn&#039;s Resolve" href="#" target="_blank">Wrenn&#039;s Resolve</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and as the hallmark abilities of planeswalkers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra, Fire Artisan" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra, Fire Artisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But this wouldn’t be a preview review article without me pointing you in the direction of underrated sleeper cards, would it?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mishra&#039;s Research Desk"></div></div>
<p>Be sure to include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra&#039;s Research Desk" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra&#039;s Research Desk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as your third pseudo-copy of <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>. Aside from being relevant for artifact strategies, it’s impulse draw for two colorless mana. No need to worry about which color pips you have, and if you’re missing one, this card can help you find it. The <em>U</em><i>nearth</i> ability is where this card really shines, though, and for three mana we can activate it late game to add more fuel to the fire!</p>
<p>Don’t forget that <em>Unearth</em> goes really well with commanders who care about cards leaving your graveyard, too (looking at you, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quintorius, Field Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Quintorius, Field Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<h2>What a Thrill...</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrill of Possibility"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tormenting Voice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathartic Reunion"></div></div>
<p>There's also discard draw, known as rummaging. This includes cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrill of Possibility" href="#" target="_blank">Thrill of Possibility</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormenting Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Tormenting Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathartic Reunion" href="#" target="_blank">Cathartic Reunion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Discard draw has been solid for a long time, and for years was the only real kind of card draw in red. The benefits of discard draw are less focused on whether you should include it rather than how to make the best of it. It's also important to note that discard draw has been getting some stealthy upgrades in recent sets.</p>
<p>While the classics are still very playable, the overall quality of discard draw has increased over the years. If you’re looking for a replacement for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormenting Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Tormenting Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I encourage you to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitter Reunion" href="#" target="_blank">Bitter Reunion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead, or simply run both of them. Their enchantment card type is relevant for enchantress strategies, and the enter-the-battlefield ability can be reused when paired with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flicker of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Flicker of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Finally, the ability to give haste can help you keep the pressure on your opponents by consistently attacking, or it can allow your combo piece to go off that turn rather than having to protect it for a table-wide turn rotation.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bitter Reunion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flicker of Fate"></div></div>
<h2>But If It Ain't Broke...</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feldon of the Third Path"></div></div>
<p>What can we include to ensure that we’re getting the most out of the card we discard? Simple: let’s make better use of our graveyard.</p>
<p>When we think about colors that can make use of the graveyard, we usually think of black, but red is no slouch, let me assure you! Classic cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feldon of the Third Path" href="#" target="_blank">Feldon of the Third Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can create token copies of the creature cards in your graveyard, allowing you to consistently reuse your best enter-the-battlefield ability and keep the pressure on by attacking with disposable tokens. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Past in Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Past in Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can take care of the instants and sorceries you may have discarded in the early-game, allowing you access to those cards in the late-game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Past in Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Past in Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> itself has <em>Fl</em><i>ashback</i>, making itself a great card to pitch to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra&#039;s Research Desk" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra&#039;s Research Desk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the first place.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mishra&#039;s Research Desk"></div></div>
<p>Finally, a card that needs no introduction: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Underworld Breach" href="#" target="_blank">Underworld Breach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> wins games, period. Your early-game discard spells can be the subtle way you fill your graveyard with targets for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Underworld Breach" href="#" target="_blank">Underworld Breach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, allowing you to win seemingly out of nowhere.</p>
<p>For a much humbler way of utilizing your graveyard in red, opt for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magmatic Sinkhole" href="#" target="_blank">Magmatic Sinkhole</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in your deck’s removal package. Five points of damage are enough to kill some of the format’s key threats and most of its value engines. A mana value of six is a lot, but that cost could come down considerably if we’ve been strategically discarding in the early stages of the game. A potential one-mana spell turned into an instant-speed five damage out of nowhere can destabilize even the most certain of your opponents' turns.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Past in Flames"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magmatic Sinkhole"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Underworld Breach"></div></div>
<p>I hope you’ve enjoyed this theory article. It’s a little bit different from the usual <em>Preview Review</em>, as we’ve discussed a lot more "why" and a lot less "what". That being said, why we’re putting these cards in our decks can be just as important as what these cards are in the first place.</p>
<p>Do you have any pet draw cards you like to include in your decks? Let me know in the comments below. Or you can chat with me on <a href="http://twitter.com/princeofbieltan">Twitter</a>, where we’re always finding new inclusions for our decks. I’ll see you in the next one!</p>


Preview Review - Exile or Discard?

Singleton Shmingleton - Merfolk Looter

Too-Specific Top 10 - &amp;

Rally the Ancestors - Ogrekill

From the Brim the Trim - Cooking Budget and Opponents to a Crisp!

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sure Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Sure Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://liesetiawan.com/projects">Lie Setiawan</a>)</h6>
<h1>It's Short King Spring...</h1>
<p>Hey there, my name is Jordan, and I run the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjaHYyBX_RTuM-HtvI_qsoA"> EDH Jank Center</a> on YouTube. Welcome to <i>Finding Homes For Janky Cards</i>, the series where we rifle through that big pile of bulk you've got lying around, find a package of five janky, budget, or underutilized cards and pair them with a commander that will help them shine. The deck we get out of it might not be the fanciest or most extravagant at the table, but we're still going to build it, because <b>every</b> card deserves a loving home!</p>
<p>This week, our hospitable host is: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin"></div></div>
<p>I know we're coming up on summer, but that opening line was way too good to pass up. Anyway, today's selection is all about churning out as many of <em>Magic</em>'s most popular short kings as possible: Goblins!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a relatively popular commander that can produce droves of these little red 1/1s; all we have to do is buff Krenko up. People love using Equipment and Auras to do the trick, but the cards I've chosen encourage us to take this in another direction!</p>
<p>Today, we're going to be spellslinging some Goblins by replacing Equipment and Auras with instants and sorceries. Also, we're going to be doing it all for $30! (Technically $29.82 without basic lands, but who's counting?)</p>
<p>We'll have more on that in a second, but for now, let's take a look at the average <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decklist:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin - Average Decklist" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Battle Cry Goblin
*1 Conspicuous Snoop
*1 Dark-Dweller Oracle
*1 Goblin Chieftain
*1 Goblin Chirurgeon
*1 Goblin King
*1 Goblin Lookout
*1 Goblin Matron
*1 Goblin Motivator
*1 Goblin Recruiter
*1 Goblin Ringleader
*1 Goblin Sledder
*1 Goblin Trashmaster
*1 Goblin Warchief
*1 Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei
*1 Hobgoblin Bandit Lord
*1 Krenko, Mob Boss
*1 Mogg Raider
*1 Pashalik Mons
*1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
*1 Rundvelt Hordemaster
*1 Siege-Gang Commander
*1 Skirk Prospector
*1 Witty Roastmaster
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Boggart Shenanigans
*1 Bravado
*1 City on Fire
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Outpost Siege
*1 Quest for the Goblin Lord
*1 Shared Animosity
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Gleeful Demolition
*1 Goblin War Strike
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Relentless Assault
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bitterthorn, Nissa&#039;s Animus
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Coat of Arms
*1 Commander&#039;s Plate
*1 Heraldic Banner
*1 Hero&#039;s Blade
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Pennon Blade
*1 Sigil of Valor
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Stoneforge Masterwork
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Once and Future
*1 Two-Handed Axe // Sweeping Cleave
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Battle Hymn
*1 Blazing Crescendo
*1 Brightstone Ritual
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Massive Raid
*1 Raze the Effigy
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Unleash Fury
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Castle Embereth
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Goblin Burrows
*28 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As is typical, we're seeing a ton of expensive staples. Specifically, some really awesome Equipment:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Commander&#039;s Plate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Once and Future"></div></div>
<p>Per usual, we're going to throw <em>all</em> of these away to save ourselves some time and money, because let's face it: Who wants to spend all that time casting and equipping when we could be pumping up Krenko and cranking out <strong>Gobbos?!</strong> This brings us to our first selection of the day...</p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sure Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Sure Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></h2>
<p>0% of 1,206,101 decks</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sure Strike"></div></div>
<p>This card (and all of its relatives) are going to be the bread and butter for our strategy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infuriate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brute Strength"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invigorated Rampage"></div></div>
<p>Now, are instants and sorceries more reliable than permanents like Equipment or Auras? No. They are temporary by nature, but honestly, isn't that what life is all about? Let's eschew the relative safety and dependability of permanents. Let's live our life to the fullest and go as <em>fast</em> and as <em>recklessly</em> as we can, because you know what?</p>
<p><em><strong>Life is short and so are Goblins.</strong></em></p>
<p>All jokes and philosophy aside, being able to cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titan&#039;s Strength" href="#" target="_blank">Titan&#039;s Strength</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for one mana to get five Goblins out of it once we attack is a pretty amazing deal. On top of that, some cards (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sure Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Sure Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) offer us dope mechanics, like first strike or trample, or just straight-up value, like scrying or drawing cards.</p>
<p>And before you correct me, the reason we would create five Goblin tokens is because I also included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s own ability in the math.</p>
<p>Okay, onward...</p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of the Masters" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of the Masters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></h2>
<p>0% of 2,524,561 decks</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll of the Masters"></div></div>
<p>Alright, maybe I was a bit overzealous in the last section, because here's a permanent that really vibes with what we're trying to do here.</p>
<p>Obviously, we're going to be casting lots of noncreature spells with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of the Masters" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of the Masters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We're rewarded for it by accumulating charge counters (which will add up fast) and converting those charge counters into a super powerful pump effect that we can target Krenko with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin"></div></div>
<p>Over the course of the game this can get out of hand and produce a ton of tokens, and once you start buffing up THOSE guys? That's game over right there.</p>
<p>Speaking of pumping up ALL of our guys at once, let's head over to:</p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weapon Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Weapon Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></h2>
<p>0% of 1,206,951 decks</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Weapon Surge"></div></div>
<p>I have always loved this card. Honestly, that's why I'm so geeked to be writing this series, because now I get to actively find homes for all my janky or underloved favorites.</p>
<p>Anyway, it's pretty clear what this card is meant to do: <strong>Win.</strong></p>
<p>Whether you're playing Equipment and Auras or instants and sorceries, there's really only two ways to win with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and that's either through commander damage or good ol' fashioned combat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weapon Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Weapon Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> covers our bases for the latter.</p>
<p>With a bevy of 1/1 Goblins at our disposal, we can cast this card for the <em>Overload </em>cost and essentially double the power of all of our creatures, give them all first strike, and go to town.</p>
<p>Oh, and if the scenario isn't right for that, we can just play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weapon Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Weapon Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for one mana and pump our commander with it. Either way, we're winning!</p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Throne of Tarkir" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Throne of Tarkir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></h2>
<p>0% of 2,524,561 decks</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon Throne of Tarkir"></div></div>
<p>Hm, my speech for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sure Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Sure Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is aging rather poorly the more this article goes on...</p>
<p>But I mean, LOOK at what this card can do for us! If you've got a souped-up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and you're ready to finish someone off, you can <em>easily</em> end up pumpin' your Goblin army by +5/+5 or +6/+6<em>. </em></p>
<p>On top of that, this card gives them all trample. I had no idea this card even existed before making this decklist, and I am now in love with it.</p>
<p>Throne is super powerful and even more fun when combined with evasion or power-doublers:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin War Drums"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angrath&#039;s Marauders"></div></div>
<p>Since this build is only $30, you can easily save up a few bucks and buy some really fun stuff like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gratuitous Violence" href="#" target="_blank">Gratuitous Violence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 24pt;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cosmotronic Wave" href="#" target="_blank">Cosmotronic Wave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></h2>
<p>0% of 1,206,951 decks</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cosmotronic Wave"></div></div>
<p>Our last highlighted card for the article is another one of my favorite bulk commons. There's a couple of benefits that I'd like to have a chat with you about.</p>
<p>Right off the bat, we're going to be sniping anything on our opponents' boards that have toughness equal to 1. That means this card is an absolute house against token decks... but those token decks will also be our worst enemy, since they'll have enough blockers to fend off our Goblin invasion. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cosmotronic Wave" href="#" target="_blank">Cosmotronic Wave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s first ability takes care of all that.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/attack.gif"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-99288 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/attack-300x240.gif" alt="" width="300" height="240" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">But what it's really used for is ensuring that our opponents' creatures are unable to block, clearing the way for a fast, relentless, mono-red win!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Now, let's take a look at our jank-ified decklist:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin - Spellslangin&#039;" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Antagonize
*1 Balduvian Rage
*1 Battle Hymn
*1 Blazing Crescendo
*1 Bolt Bend
*1 Borrowed Hostility
*1 Brute Force
*1 Brute Strength
*1 Crowd&#039;s Favor
*1 Daring Escape
*1 Dogpile
*1 Downhill Charge
*1 Expedite
*1 Fatal Frenzy
*1 Fists of Flame
*1 Fists of the Anvil
*1 Increasing Vengeance
*1 Infuriate
*1 Inordinate Rage
*1 Invigorated Rampage
*1 Kazuul&#039;s Fury // Kazuul&#039;s Cliffs
*1 Open the Omenpaths
*1 Raze the Effigy
*1 Stolen Vitality
*1 Stun
*1 Sudden Breakthrough
*1 Sure Strike
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Titan&#039;s Strength
*1 Twinferno
*1 Unleash Fury
*1 Weapon Surge
*1 Wild Magic Surge
*1 Wild Ricochet
*1 You Come to the Gnoll Camp
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cosmotronic Wave
*1 Crash Through
*1 Renegade Tactics
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Angrath&#039;s Marauders
*1 Ardent Elementalist
*1 Backdraft Hellkite
*1 Biblioplex Assistant
*1 Bothersome Quasit
*1 Charmbreaker Devils
*1 Defiler of Instinct
*1 Izzet Chemister
*1 Magmatic Channeler
*1 Skirk Prospector
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Tuktuk Rubblefort
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Arcane Bombardment
*1 Cavalcade of Calamity
*1 Double Vision
*1 Goblin War Drums
*1 Quest for the Goblin Lord
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Dragon Throne of Tarkir
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Mask of Avacyn
*1 Mirror Shield
*1 Prowler&#039;s Helm
*1 Pyromancer&#039;s Goggles
*1 Scroll of the Masters
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Jaya, Fiery Negotiator
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Castle Embereth
*1 Looming Spires
*29 Mountain
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Teetering Peaks
*1 Tyrite Sanctum
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I used to run a deck similar to this, and writing this article has got me itching to bring my Goblins back out for a spin sometime soon. I hope you've enjoyed reading the article, and remember: every card deserves a chance to shine.</p>
<p>That just about does it for this month's installment, let me know in the comments down below what cards you'd like me to find a home for next! Your suggestions might just make it into the next article. Cheers!</p>


Finding Homes for Janky Cards - Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/dave_rapoza">David Rapoza</a></h6>
<h1>Burning <del>Man</del> Dolls</h1>
<p>Hello, fellow brewer, and welcome back to <em>Brew for your Buck</em>, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist. This time, we're building around our first mono-colored commander of the series! I had no idea this card existed as I was mashing the "random commander" button on EDHREC in search for inspiration.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kumano, Master Yamabushi"></div></div>
<p>Turns out, the dude that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kumano Faces Kakkazan" href="#" target="_blank">faced Kakkazan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a really cool card all to himself! Kumano lends himself to being built around turning your mana into damage, with lots of ways to amplify that damage to make the most of the two-mana investment. On the flip side, we have a bunch of ways in the deck to grant him deathtouch, so get him equipped and ping your opponents' creatures into sweet oblivion. And it is oblivion too, since we get the exile clause built in to stop all of the graveyard shenanigans. Kumano's average deck comes at an insanely high $451.97, especially for a mono-colored deck. Our cuts feature some mono-red staples and a few niche cards for our Master Yamabushi (anyone know what that is?).</p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deflecting Swat" href="#" target="_blank">Deflecting Swat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($58.06)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dockside Extortionist" href="#" target="_blank">Dockside Extortionist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($57.91)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruby Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Ruby Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($35.82)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><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> ($24.68)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Emancipation" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Emancipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($24.61)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repercussion" href="#" target="_blank">Repercussion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($21.25)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($19.20)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Sharpshooter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Sharpshooter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($18.48)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><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> ($17.55)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braid of Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Braid of Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($14.99)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding-left: 200px; text-align: left;"><strong>Total Value of Cuts: $292.55</strong></p>
<p>Only one land would have made it into this list. I'm glad we don't cut lands anymore, because <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle" href="#" target="_blank">Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($21.60) is one of my absolute favorites. If you did just replace it with a basic, though, it would bring our total savings to <strong>$314.15.</strong></p>
<h2>Additions</h2>
<p>As I mentioned before, I had a bit of writer's block to come up with a deck for this one, but as soon as I saw Kumano it hit me like a freight train: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s. Not only can we wreak havoc on our opponents' creatures but we can also ping our own for max value!</p>
<h3>Gobs and Dolls</h3>
<p>We'll start with the namesake card, of course. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.70) has been iterated on a few times, and we'll also add the newest one, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.00). The best part about these two are that they are indestructible. Even if we ping them while Kumano is wearing an Equipment that grants deathtouch, they won't die along the way. They also make great blockers in the face of anything with a big butt that will be hard to ping down. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coalhauler Swine" href="#" target="_blank">Coalhauler Swine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.15) is able to simultaneously hit our opponents' life totals when we ping it, and if you're playing the deck right, the downside of us also getting bonked should be minimal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stuffy Doll"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brash Taunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coalhauler Swine"></div></div>
<h3><strong>RAGE!</strong></h3>
<p>Our next group of cards don't exactly work the same way as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but more like a better version of the <em>Enrage</em> mechanic from <em>Ixalan</em>. First up, <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ill-Tempered Loner" href="#" target="_blank">Ill-Tempered Loner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.36) will dole out damage like the dolls above, but this time to any target. When it flips, ALL of your permanents pass along the pings, which means you essentially double up any damage hitting one of the other dolls. The new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feldon, Ronom Excavator" href="#" target="_blank">Feldon, Ronom Excavator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.23) can come down early for some quick hits but also can trade himself in for some good card selection later. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zalto, Fire Giant Duke" href="#" target="_blank">Zalto, Fire Giant Duke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.12) can pack a big punch and can also speed through dungeons as each instance of damage dealt, which coincidentally is exactly what our commander wants to do.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ill-Tempered Loner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feldon, Ronom Excavator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zalto, Fire Giant Duke"></div></div>
<h3>Payoffs for Pinging</h3>
<p>Next we have two cards that pay us off for all this damage we're doing. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knollspine Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Knollspine Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.46), while mana-intensive, can act as a giant one-sided wheel for us after we dome an opponent for a bunch of damage. With all of our damage-amplifiers, <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toralf, God of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Toralf, God of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($2.20) is hard not to include. If you've never seen this card go off, just get a little bit of excess damage (which also gets amplified), and it's very easy to snowball into dead opponents. Speaking of damage-amplifiers...</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knollspine Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toralf, God of Fury"></div></div>
<h3>Facilitating the Fire</h3>
<p>...<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Emancipation" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Emancipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would be one of the best cards in this deck, it's just SO expensive. Fortunately, we just had a pseudo-reprint. Those of you paying close attention will notice we added eight creatures to the deck, making <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="City on Fire" href="#" target="_blank">City on Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($3.77) a lot easier to cast. Once this hits the board, we're throwing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Strike" href="#" target="_blank">strikes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">bolts</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartstone" href="#" target="_blank">Heartstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) with Kumano like Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning, and once the game is over we can all sing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rousing Refrain" href="#" target="_blank">Rousing Refrain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.69) of "New York, New York". Yankees nostalgia aside, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rousing Refrain" href="#" target="_blank">Rousing Refrain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an underrated card, repeatedly giving us a burst of mana that can be used even outside of our upkeep. Looking at you and your hefty pricetag, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braid of Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Braid of Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="City on Fire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rousing Refrain"></div></div>
<h2>Wrap Up and Savings</h2>
<p>How did we do on savings?</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Picture1.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-99434 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Picture1.png" alt="" width="364" height="262" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Picture1.png 364w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Picture1-300x216.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Nice! Yet again, we managed to cut the cost of the deck by 2/3 and gave ourselves a new angle of attack.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Death by a Million Pings" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kumano, Master Yamabushi
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Basilisk Collar
*1 Caged Sun
*1 Darksteel Plate
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Gauntlet of Power
*1 Gorgon Flail
*1 Gorgon&#039;s Head
*1 Heartstone
*1 Illusionist&#039;s Bracers
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Neko-Te
*1 Quietus Spike
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Staff of Nin
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Angrath&#039;s Marauders
*1 Brash Taunter
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Chandra&#039;s Incinerator
*1 Coalhauler Swine
*1 Embermaw Hellion
*1 Feldon, Ronom Excavator
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Godo, Bandit Warlord
*1 Heartless Hidetsugu
*1 Humble Defector
*1 Ill-Tempered Loner // Howlpack Avenger
*1 Knollspine Dragon
*1 Leyline Tyrant
*1 Silverclad Ferocidons
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Solphim, Mayhem Dominus
*1 Soul-Scar Mage
*1 Stuffy Doll
*1 Toralf, God of Fury // Toralf&#039;s Hammer
*1 Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
*1 Zalto, Fire Giant Duke
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 City on Fire
*1 Dictate of the Twin Gods
*1 Fires of Invention
*1 Gratuitous Violence
*1 Mechanized Warfare
*1 Visions of Phyrexia
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Chain Reaction
*1 Chandra&#039;s Ignition
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Gamble
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Reforge the Soul
*1 Rousing Refrain
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Wheel of Misfortune
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Koth of the Hammer
*1 Koth, Fire of Resistance
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Seething Song
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Tibalt&#039;s Trickery
*1 Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge
*1 Wild Magic Surge
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Detection Tower
*28 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Did I miss anything you would have liked to see? Are there any other cool, old legends that I don't know exist? Any cards you would have added to support the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> theme? Do you know what a Master Yamabushi is? Let me know in the comments! And if you want more content, follow me on Twitter @BrewForYourBuck. I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!</p>
<p><em>Please note: card prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of writing, but prices can vary over time and between locations.</em></p>


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