Ravenous SquirrelRavenous Squirrel | Art by Dan Scott

Like most people, the first Commander deck I ever built was a total mess of cards with no real theme. At first, I had Vraska, Relic SeekerVraska, Relic Seeker in the command zone, until I was informed that planeswalkers couldn't be commanders. (I still think that's stupid.) Then, it was Pharika, God of AfflictionPharika, God of Affliction, because I thought that card looked sick. Unfortunately, even though it did have some awesome art, it wasn't very good.

But finally, I landed on Mazirek, Kraul Death PriestMazirek, Kraul Death Priest, and I had enough random sacrifice cards in the deck that it was actually alright! I still have that deck to this day, and it's grown pretty strong.

But of course, this is a Pauper series, and Mazirek is not an uncommon commander. So instead, we're gonna be building around Ravenous SquirrelRavenous Squirrel, a one-mana rodent that wants to see as many cards on the altar as possible.

Every time we sacrifice a creature or artifact, the Squirrel grows, and we can pay three mana to sacrifice one of those in exchange for a card and a life. Not exactly Mazirek, but I think we can make a deck with the same spirit - and hopefully equivalent Pauper power level.

To the Altar!

So obviously, the place to start is with sacrificing. Carrion FeederCarrion Feeder and Viscera SeerViscera Seer are the perfect cards to begin with, as one-mana creatures that can sacrifice any number of others in a turn. We'll support them with Phyrexian GhoulPhyrexian Ghoul, Nantuko HuskNantuko Husk, and Bloodthrone VampireBloodthrone Vampire, who are more expensive, but still highly effective.

Finally, there's Ashnod's AltarAshnod's Altar, the best sacrifice outlet of them all, and a card that I'm always surprised was printed at common.

Now, I'd like to play as many artifacts and creatures as possible, so that our sacrifice outlets can also be our sacrifice fodder, but there are a few instants and sorceries that are just too good to pass up.

Deadly DisputeDeadly Dispute, for instance, sacrifices a creature, draws two cards, and makes another permanent that can trigger our commander, all for two mana. Reckoner's BargainReckoner's Bargain, Village RitesVillage Rites, Corrupted ConvictionCorrupted Conviction, and Fanatical OfferingFanatical Offering all exist in the same vein, sacrificing permanents in exchange for cards.

It's a great deal to make; we trigger our commander for cheap, and draw more cards that can enlarge our commander further.

Victims

That should be enough to consistently grow our Squirrel, but it's not terribly efficient to pay three for a Phyrexian GhoulPhyrexian Ghoul and sacrifice it to itself. So let's see what cards can make a ton of sacrifice fodder.

Elfsworn GiantElfsworn Giant has to be the best one in the deck, making an Elf for every land we play, and SporemoundSporemound is a nearly identical twin.

Then there's Drey KeeperDrey Keeper and Kozilek's PredatorKozilek's Predator, which create a total of three bodies on entry, and the Keeper has the upside of giving our commander menace, while the Predator's tokens can sacrifice themselves. GlittermongerGlittermonger is also spectacular, creating a Treasure token every single turn.

Finally, at the bottom of our list, we have some creatures that can die twice, sometimes literally, like Young WolfYoung Wolf, or just in principle, like Shambling GhastShambling Ghast and BlisterpodBlisterpod.

Now To War!

Now for the matter of putting this slaughter to use. Our commander is pretty great, so why not have multiple? Both BloodbriarBloodbriar and Gixian InfiltratorGixian Infiltrator grow with every sacrifice, just like our Ravenous Squirrel. Along with Carrion FeederCarrion Feeder and all our other creatures that can grow, we could have quite a few threatening giants.

And we don't want to leave them hanging, do we? Well, maybe, if they're hanging from a glider. Flying is absolutely the most effective evasive ability, so we'll pack the deck with Equipment like Cobbled WingsCobbled Wings, Gilded PinionsGilded Pinions, Wings of HubrisWings of Hubris, and any other cards that can put a colossal Squirrel in the air.

We'll make sure to use Equipment, rather than Auras, because we may want to put them on the altar at some point. It's an unlikely scenario, but theoretically you could sacrifice those wings after blockers have been declared to get a game winning point of damage.

But that extra +1/+1 counter is useless if your opponents just remove the big Squirrel. So, as with any Voltron deck, we need some protection. Luckily, we're in green, so it's easy peazy.

Tamiyo's SafekeepingTamiyo's Safekeeping, Gaea's GiftGaea's Gift, Ranger's GuileRanger's Guile, yeah yeah yeah. All the usual stuff. What I didn't know about, however, was that black actually has some decent protection spells. And I'm not talking about Not Dead After AllNot Dead After All, because that card wouldn't bring back the counters. I mean Oblivion's HungerOblivion's Hunger, a card that gives our commander indestructible and draws a card! Awesome.

Finally, the last step of any good Voltron deck, throwing our commander at someone's face for a ton of direct damage. Usually, that would be done with FlingFling or some other red variant of those cards. Fling cards are very popular, and for good reason, but there are actually two underplayed black spells that may be even better.

Rite of ConsumptionRite of Consumption is literally FlingFling, but it gains you life! And then, for one more mana, you have Essence HarvestEssence Harvest, which doesn't even require a sacrifice! Perfect, right?

Ok, yeah, clearly the problem is that they're not instants. Yes, I do agree that FlingFling is a better card because it's an instant, but Rite of ConsumptionRite of Consumption isn't as terrible as sorcery speed removal. Most of the time, you'll be casting FlingFling right after combat, in your second main phase, in an attempt to win the game.

Sure, you could wait till your opponent's turn, but because it's often the last action in a game, I don't see sorcery speed as a huge deal for these cards. Also, we're not in red. Duh.

Ravenous Squirrel Pauper Commander Deck List

Well, there's what Mazirek, Kraul Death PriestMazirek, Kraul Death Priest would look like if he got transmogrified into a Squirrel. Much less intimidating, I have to say. Yeah, this deck does basically the exact same thing as a Mazirek deck, but the payoff is so much worse. For sacrificing half our board, we get one moderately sized Squirrel that only does anything if we have evasion and protection in hand.

I remember now why I stopped playing Voltron decks.

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