<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mairsil, the Pretender" href="#" target="_blank">Mairsil, the Pretender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://izzymedrano.com/main/">Izzy</a>)</h6>
<h2>What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?</h2>
<p>Once again, it's time for another <em>Forgotten Harvest,</em> the article series where I highlight the most underplayed cards on EDHREC, clocking in at 300 decks or less. And, as has become common practice for me in this series, I'll be taking a commander that isn't supposed to "Voltron" and suiting it up for battle. <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-mono-red-voltron/">We did it</a> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-muldrotha-voltron/">and then again</a> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muldrotha, the Gravetide" href="#" target="_blank">Muldrotha, the Gravetide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This time, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mairsil, the Pretender" href="#" target="_blank">Mairsil, the Pretender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets a chance to supersize!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mairsil, the Pretender"></div></div>
<p>Now, before I get into some of the interesting and hyper-underplayed cards that can help Mairsil get swole, it's important to mention those that have covered the Pretender before me: fellow EDHREC writers <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/commander-showdown-mairsil-vs-experiment-kraj/">Joseph Schultz</a> and <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/ultra-budget-brews-mairsil-the-pretender/">Andrew Cummings</a> both did a great job covering many options for Mairsil. I'm going to be covering a few of the cards that they've mentioned before, but I highly recommend checking those articles out to get the full picture of this commander. I've limited my deck to specifically pumping up Mairsil with +1/+1 counters via his cage counter trick. To do this, we'll be leaning on looting and self-mill effects to ensure a plethora of targets, as well as effects that allow Mairsil to hit the battlefield multiple times, plus a healthy amount of evasion.</p>
<p>There are also a fair number of cards which can function as stand-ins for Mairsil should he find himself <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imprisoned in the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Imprisoned in the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or listening to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of the Dryads" href="#" target="_blank">Song of the Dryads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrotic Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Necrotic Ooze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fantastic alternative, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quicksilver Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Quicksilver Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Havengul Lich" href="#" target="_blank">Havengul Lich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do more than just copy activated abilities: if Mairsil is on the field, they can borrow his activated abilities.</p>
<p>Alright, let's find those underplayed gems that help make Mairsil a Voltron!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Counter Argument</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Souldrinker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Markov Dreadknight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Syndicate Trafficker"></div></div>
<p>First on our list of hyper-underplayed cards is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Souldrinker" href="#" target="_blank">Souldrinker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It sees play in just 58 decks on EDHREC, but putting +1/+1 counters on a creature doesn't get any easier: trading three life for a +1/+1 counter is an easy, systematic way to buff our Voltron. And don't forget that, while Mairsil only allows each activated ability to be used once a turn, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Souldrinker" href="#" target="_blank">Souldrinker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s "free" ability is something you can do each turn: by the time it gets to be your turn again, Mairsil could already be an 8/8.</p>
<p>But, then, if you happen to have the mana, and maybe some extra cards in your hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Markov Dreadknight" href="#" target="_blank">Markov Dreadknight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can certainly pump up Mairsil faster and with less life lost. Plus, the Dreadknight (263 decks) also has the potential to do some damage on its own, as it has evasion baked right in. The cost of discarding a card is actually a benefit here since it will allow Mairsil to pluck creatures and artifacts with tasty activated abilities right out of the graveyard.</p>
<p>Looking at the decklist below reveals the large number of artifacts in this Grixis build, so it makes sense to include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syndicate Trafficker" href="#" target="_blank">Syndicate Trafficker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, both for the easy +1/+1 counter, but also the protection of indestructibility it can grant to Mairsil when caged. It sees play in 248 decks, but offers some much needed protection in this deck to our critically important commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anthroplasm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Solarion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Consumptive Goo"></div></div>
<p>Adding one or two counters at a time is nice, but what about really cranking Mairsil's stats up to 11? For that we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anthroplasm" href="#" target="_blank">Anthroplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the first cards I ever brewed with way back in <em>Urza's Legacy</em>. Only 245 decks have this card right now, but it seems tailor-made for our purposes here. Throw a cage counter on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anthroplasm" href="#" target="_blank">Anthroplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> when our commander hits the field, and the next turn pump as much mana as possible into growing Mairsil into a beast. Sadly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anthroplasm" href="#" target="_blank">Anthroplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability doesn't stack well, as it removes all counters on the card before adding the new ones.</p>
<p>But maybe Mairsil could use Anthroplasm's ability as a start, and then follow it up with the activated ability on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solarion" href="#" target="_blank">Solarion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the next turn. This card, and a couple other <em>Sunburst</em> cards I'll talk about later, seem right at home in this deck, even if they can't be cast for their full potential. But if that option is appealing, I have included cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exotic Orchard" href="#" target="_blank">Exotic Orchard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to help turn make this Grixis deck capable of all five colors. As an aside, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solarion" href="#" target="_blank">Solarion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> sees play in only 101 decks on the site.</p>
<p>While slightly on the expensive side, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consumptive Goo" href="#" target="_blank">Consumptive Goo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides another route for +1/+1 counter amplification, while also removing a weenie in the process. Ideally used as a quick combat trick, the Goo is only found in 101 decks. Honestly, if I were looking at cards to cut, this would probably be high on the list due to the cost of the ability, but for now it helps keep the mana curve in check, and it functions well on its own without our commander.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Counters as a Cost</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spinal Parasite"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Suncrusher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Molten Hydra"></div></div>
<p>Since we're putting all these counters on Mairsil, it might be good to put those counters to use. Maybe we can use them to knock down planeswalkers with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spinal Parasite" href="#" target="_blank">Spinal Parasite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In only 14 measly decks on EDHREC, this <em>Sunburst</em> artifact creature is the only creature ever printed to have a negative toughness. And while that's not a very good reason to play it, the versatility in removing generic counters from permanents does come in handy.</p>
<p>Another <em>Sunburst</em> creature, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Suncrusher" href="#" target="_blank">Suncrusher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (95 decks), pulls double duty for us: not only can it turn extra +1/+1 counters into creature removal, but it can also give Mairsil the ability to bounce himself, allowing for a recast and another card exiled with a cage counter on it. While nine mana is high, I think there's great versatility here, and the chances that it'll wind up on the battlefield as opposed to just feeding Mairsil are low.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s abilities allow for both the addition of counters to Mairsil and a mass damage move. After a few turns of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solarion" href="#" target="_blank">Solarion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, there may be enough +1/+1 counters on Mairsil for him to go lethal using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s second ability. The Hydra sees play in 102 decks, and while I'm sure there are better iterations of both of its abilities, getting them both on a single card is very valuable.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Through the Line</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marchesa&#039;s Smuggler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Avenger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merrow Wavebreakers"></div></div>
<p>Now that we've talked about ways to make Mairsil huge, we should spend some time on just how he's going to connect with opponents. First up, we have an excellent option in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marchesa&#039;s Smuggler" href="#" target="_blank">Marchesa&#039;s Smuggler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Only seeing play in 282 decks, this has to be one of my favorite Izzet cards! The creature is well-costed, as is its activated ability, and it doesn't need any other card to work thanks to <em>Dethrone</em>. In this deck, it provides the best evasion, as well as some very relevant haste, all thanks to an activated ability that could end up on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrotic Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Necrotic Ooze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Havengul Lich" href="#" target="_blank">Havengul Lich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. A perfect fit!</p>
<p>I looked very hard at the series of "Avenger" cards printed throughout Magic. The two I settled on for this deck were <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Avenger" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Avenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah&#039;s Avenger" href="#" target="_blank">Jodah&#039;s Avenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Played in 27 and 263 decks, respectively, these cards have some great evasion-granting activated abilities, and they're just begging to get "caged" by Mairsil. While it does hurt that you can only use the effect once a turn, having multiple Avengers can help that. Maybe having even a third or fourth version of the card would be beneficial.</p>
<p>While the typical <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mairsil, the Pretender" href="#" target="_blank">Mairsil, the Pretender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck runs untapping cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leech Bonder" href="#" target="_blank">Leech Bonder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hateflayer" href="#" target="_blank">Hateflayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I like my untap effects to come with some evasion. Hence, I've included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merrow Wavebreakers" href="#" target="_blank">Merrow Wavebreakers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the deck. Providing a cheap way to untap Mairsil while also granting evasion fits right in line with this deck's gameplan. Anymore, this kind of effect seems to be found more in white, so I'm glad to see it in blue here. The Wavebreakers are in only 30 decks on the site, which seems low to me for a good Merfork card with a unique ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bane Alley Broker"></div></div>
<p>Lastly, I've included a card to help add some chaos to your Mairsil games: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bane Alley Broker" href="#" target="_blank">Bane Alley Broker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (99 decks). While it may not seem like a very good card, getting the Broker's ability on Mairsil while you also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Welder" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Welder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a cage can lead to some very interesting interactions, not to mention what happens if you exile it using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Impostor" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Impostor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability. Let me know in the comments if you pick up on any of the other fun interactions this card can create in the deck.</p>
<p>And speaking of the deck, here it is.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Pretending to be Voltron" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Mairsil, the Pretender<br />
[/Commander]</p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Walking Ballista<br />
*1 Carrion Feeder<br />
*1 Consumptive Goo<br />
*1 Grenzo, Dungeon Warden<br />
*1 Marchesa's Smuggler<br />
*1 Merfolk Looter<br />
*1 Molten Hydra<br />
*1 Pili-Pala<br />
*1 Runaway Steam-Kin<br />
*1 Sage of Hours<br />
*1 Syndicate Trafficker<br />
*1 Bane Alley Broker<br />
*1 Dark Imposter<br />
*1 Myr Welder<br />
*1 Simic Manipulator<br />
*1 Yahenni, Undying Partisan<br />
*1 Anthroplasm<br />
*1 Argent Sphinx<br />
*1 Crystalline Crawler<br />
*1 Herald of Secret Streams<br />
*1 Identity Thief<br />
*1 Mer-Ek Nightblade<br />
*1 Necrotic Ooze<br />
*1 Souldrinker<br />
*1 Gilded Lotus<br />
*1 Cinderhaze Wretch<br />
*1 Havengul Lich<br />
*1 Markov Dreadknight<br />
*1 Merrow Wavebreakers<br />
*1 Spinal Parasite<br />
*1 Torchling<br />
*1 Aetherling<br />
*1 Etherium-Horn Sorcerer<br />
*1 Jodah's Avenger<br />
*1 Quicksilver Elemental<br />
*1 Sphinx of Magosi<br />
*1 Urza's Avenger<br />
*1 Hateflayer<br />
*1 Shauku, Endbringer<br />
*1 Solarion<br />
*1 Suncrusher<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[Instants]<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Rakdos Charm<br />
*1 Reality Shift<br />
*1 Bedevil<br />
*1 Chaos Warp<br />
*1 Fact or Fiction<br />
[/Instants]</p>
<p>[Sorceries]<br />
*1 Vandalblast<br />
*1 Demonic Tutor<br />
*1 Grave Strength<br />
[/Sorceries]</p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Manifold Key<br />
*1 Retrofitter Foundry<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Dimir Signet<br />
*1 Izzet Signet<br />
*1 Rakdos Signet<br />
*1 Chromatic Lantern<br />
*1 Commander's Sphere<br />
*1 Crystal Shard<br />
*1 Mirage Mirror<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Phyrexian Scriptures<br />
[/Enchantments]</p>
<p>[Lands]<br />
*1 Blood Crypt<br />
*1 Command Tower<br />
*1 Crumbling Necropolis<br />
*1 Dragonskull Summit<br />
*1 Drowned Catacomb<br />
*1 Exotic Orchard<br />
*9 Island<br />
*6 Mountain<br />
*1 Opal Palace<br />
*1 Sanctum of Eternity<br />
*1 Shivan Reef<br />
*1 Steam Vents<br />
*1 Sulfur Falls<br />
*1 Sulfurous Springs<br />
*8 Swamp<br />
*1 Underground River<br />
*1 Watery Grave<br />
[/Lands]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>I Could've Been a Pretender!</h2>
<p>That's about all there is for this <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>. Questions? Suggestions? Snide remarks? Leave them for me below in the comments. I'll be around to talk about how I left <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Horseshoe Crab" href="#" target="_blank">Horseshoe Crab</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soliton" href="#" target="_blank">Soliton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> off of my list, and why I can't seem to stop making Voltron decks in this article series. What are some of the more interesting activated abilities that Mairsil could gain, especially from hyper-underplayed cards? Are there any activated ability interactions in Grixis that need more attention? Let me know, and I'll see you next time!</p>


Forgotten Harvest - Mairsil, Pretending to be a Voltron

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician" href="#" target="_blank">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://markwintersart.com/">Mark Winters</a>)</h6>
<h1>Commander Horizons</h1>
<p>I know, it's cheeky to call the <em>Modern Horizons </em>set "Commander Horizons" instead, but let's be honest, there are some extremely cool cards coming up in this set that we EDH players should be very excited for! We have returning mechanics, awesome lore characters, and even support for cool tribes.</p>
<p>Today I'm lucky to talk about the very best cards from <em>Modern Horizons. </em>Why are they the very best? Because these are the black cards, and black cards are the best! Let's get digging.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Mythics</h2>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"></div></div></p>
<p>Hold on, I am trying to collect my thoughts that do not just jumble together into drool over this card. It's rare to see a card that checks so many boxes. He's powerful, he's a value engine, and he's a Vorthos home-run, right down to the protection from Humans.</p>
<p>As a card in the 99, expect to see him follow a similar trajectory to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yahenni, Undying Partisan" href="#" target="_blank">Yahenni, Undying Partisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Commanders like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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> are always happy to have additional sacrifice outlets, especially when those sacrifice outselts also help draw cards, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons" href="#" target="_blank">Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> couldn't be happier to see all those -1/-1 counters.</p>
<p>At the helm of the 99, look to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder" href="#" target="_blank">Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and friends for inspiration. Creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ophiomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Ophiomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pawn of Ulamog" href="#" target="_blank">Pawn of Ulamog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reassembling Skeleton" href="#" target="_blank">Reassembling Skeleton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> present excellent choices for sacrifice fodder. Of course, Yawgmoth isn't one to be pigeonholed into a singular strategy. Yawgmoth can turn tokens into card advantage, but with that <em>Proliferate </em>ability, he can also become a home for mono-black superfriends, or a very dastardly <em>Infect </em>commander. I fully expect him and Urza to battle for the #1 spot on the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders#pastmonth">Top Commanders</a> pages for quite some time.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rares</h2>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Cabal Therapist</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Therapist"></div></div></p>
<p>One of the first cards previewed for the set, this card is designed more for Modern than Commander, where it's much more realistic to blindly guess cards your opponents have in hand. It's possible Therapist could find a spot in metas who know each other's decks very well, or in some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Telepathy" href="#" target="_blank">Telepathy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-inclusive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sen Triplets" href="#" target="_blank">Sen Triplets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> builds, but it's not really a card for EDH.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Cordial Vampire</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cordial Vampire"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar Markov" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar Markov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> sits as the second most popular commander built in the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders#past2years">past two years</a>, and with new cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cordial Vampire" href="#" target="_blank">Cordial Vampire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I can only imagine he'll maintain that popularity. Not only will your army get bigger as enemy creatures die, but Vampires have many sacrifices outlets built into their decks, which makes this a very deadly new addition. Consider him also for decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elenda, the Dusk Rose" href="#" target="_blank">Elenda, the Dusk Rose</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yahenni, Undying Partisan" href="#" target="_blank">Yahenni, Undying Partisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Dead of Winter</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dead of Winter"></div></div></p>
<p>Most of us have probably seen snow-covered lands a time or two, especially when someone uses them in conjunction with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extraplanar Lens" href="#" target="_blank">Extraplanar Lens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to collect value no one else can take advantage of. Well, now snow decks also have a variant of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutilate" href="#" target="_blank">Mutilate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one that can work in a multicolored deck with lots of snow-covered basic lands.</p>
<p>I want to believe there is a solid snow deck to be made, but the sad truth is that there are only 40 total snow creatures in the game, so there are very few options to run that will withstand your own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dead of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Dead of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Regardless, I can still accept this as a cheaper, more splashable <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutilate" href="#" target="_blank">Mutilate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Endling</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Endling"></div></div></p>
<p>The end of a cycle! From <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morphling" href="#" target="_blank">Morphling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torchling" href="#" target="_blank">Torchling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thornling" href="#" target="_blank">Thornling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brightling" href="#" target="_blank">Brightling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we can rejoice at the tying up of loose threads. This is a solid battering ram against other creatures. With deathtouch and menace, it will be extremely difficult for your enemies to interact with this creature favorably in combat. Add in the <em>Undying </em>and it's even more of a nuisance. Unlike several others in this cycle, Endling isn't just a Shapeshifter, but has a second creature type: Zombie. As such, this may see play in some classic Zombie tribal decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gisa and Geralf" href="#" target="_blank">Gisa and Geralf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as an efficient beater and an especially irksome blocker.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Force of Despair</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Despair"></div></div></p>
<p>Speaking of cycles, the black part of the “Force of” cycle is a doozy. The timing restrictions make it a worse rate than a traditional <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hero&#039;s Downfall" href="#" target="_blank">Hero&#039;s Downfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can kill a creature regardless of when it entered the battlefield, but this is certainly an efficient answer to combos 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> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pestermite" href="#" target="_blank">Pestermite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a huge influx of tokens. Look out, bursty token decks! Otherwise, though, this is a niche meta call if you're often up against aggressive decks that summon tons of creatures in one turn, but black has many other removal spells that will occupy this slot and be more effective in the majority of traditional games.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Everything Else</h2>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Ninjas</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Throatseeker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azra Smokeshaper"></div></div></p>
<p>The community has been hungry for more Ninja cards for <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> decks, and <em>Modern Horizons </em>has delivered! Yuriko is very aggressive, often not able to leave blockers behind, which means she can be targeted pretty easily. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throatseeker" href="#" target="_blank">Throatseeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helps mitigate some of that life loss, a welcome addition. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azra Smokeshaper" href="#" target="_blank">Azra Smokeshaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a tricky card that helps protect Yuriko in the combat phase. Yuriko has climbed up to the #3 most-built Dimir commander slot, and with the help of these great new Ninjas, I won't be surprised if she eventually sneaks all the way up to #1.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Zombies</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undead Augur"></div></div></p>
<p>With a tribe as deep and potent as Zombies, there's always a risk that the tribe is already overcrowded and any new cards won't be able to fight their way into decks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undead Augur" href="#" target="_blank">Undead Augur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is basically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Prophecy" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Prophecy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on legs, is potentially amazing but also potentially dangerous. Zombies are always hungry for card advantage, which could easily push this over the top, but lack of control over this ability makes me think there are better options for Zombies.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Goblins</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sling-Gang Lieutenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warteye Witch"></div></div></p>
<p>Whenever I see “Goblin” on the type line, I become very interested. Most Goblin synergies wind up in red, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grenzo, Dungeon Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Grenzo, Dungeon Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wort, Boggart Auntie" href="#" target="_blank">Wort, Boggart Auntie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have well-known followings. Grenzo in particular probably represents the best synergies; Grenzo loves to sacrifice creatures, then put them on the bottom of his deck from the graveyard with things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reito Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Reito Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and cheat them right back into play with his bottom-of-the-library ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warteye Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Warteye Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works amazingly well here too, since she can help scry fun new targets to the bottom of the deck for Grenzo!</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Shapeshifters</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Graveshifter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Changeling Outcast"></div></div></p>
<p>The Shapeshifters of this set pique my interest more than usual. This set has Goblins, Ninjas, Zombies, Vampires, and then some. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Changeling Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Changeling Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> work amazingly well to enable <em>Ninjutsu </em>and to trigger Yuriko, a welcome addition. There are probably better options for recursion in black, but it's not impossible that a few tribes would enjoy a tribal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravedigger" href="#" target="_blank">Gravedigger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to recur their fallen soldiers, like sacrifice-happy Vampires or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ETB-triggering Wizards.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Spells</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Defile"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mind Rake"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return from Extinction"></div></div></p>
<p>Of the remaining spells, the three above strike me as the most interesting in EDH. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Defile" href="#" target="_blank">Defile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has already gotten attention in Pauper, but a single-target version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutilate" href="#" target="_blank">Mutilate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for one black mana at instant speed seems great for most mono-black decks, possibly as a supplement or a replacement for the occasional <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tragic Slip" href="#" target="_blank">Tragic Slip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Rake" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Rake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s <em>Overload </em>ability is fun in a deck primed to abuse it, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nath of the Gilt-Leaf" href="#" target="_blank">Nath of the Gilt-Leaf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, though it's notable that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delirium Skeins" href="#" target="_blank">Delirium Skeins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only shows up on about 600 total decks on EDHREC. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return from Extinction" href="#" target="_blank">Return from Extinction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a decent recursion spell in tribal decks thanks to its low mana cost, possibly budging out any decks still playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aphetto Dredging" href="#" target="_blank">Aphetto Dredging</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. For these three cards, I predict the order of popularity, from highest to lowest, is the same order the cards are displayed above.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Night is Darkest Just Before the Dawn</h2>
<p>What are your favorite black cards from <em>Modern Horizons</em>? What cards are you putting into your decks? Are there any spicy cards I missed above? What cards are on your radar? Let me know in the comments below!</p>


Modern Horizons Set Review - Black

Commander Showdown - Ramos vs Niv-Mizzet Reborn

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Tiger" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Tiger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/sebmckinnon/">Seb McKinnon</a>)</h6>
<h1>Kyle is a Liar Sometimes!</h1>
<p>Hey everyone! Welcome back to <em>Forgotten Harvest, </em>where we spotlight heavily underplayed cards in the Commander format. This time we're looking at the series of Phantom cards from <em>Judgment</em>. But before getting further into that strategy, I need to come clean on something: I am a dirty, rotten liar.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-32307" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/giphy.gif" alt="" width="320" height="180" /></p>
<p>As hinted at in the last <em><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-nefarox-enchantress/">Forgotten Harvest</a>, </em>I'm sure many of you were expecting a mono-green deck focused on damage prevention. I built that deck, helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sekki, Seasons&#039; Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Sekki, Seasons&#039; Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and then quickly realized that adding white would make it <em>significantly</em> better! What you'll be reading about here is the result of that change. I'm so terribly sorry, and hopefully we can put this behind us for the rest of the article.</p>
<hr />
<h2>In the Spirit of Truthfulness</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phantom Flock"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phantom Centaur"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phantom Wurm"></div></div>
<p>I'll start with the heart of the deck: cards in the Phantom series from <em>Judgment</em>. This series of creatures have zero toughness, but all enter with a number of +1/+1 counters and have the ability "If damage would be dealt to this creature, prevent that damage. Remove a +1/+1 counter from this creature." <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Nishoba" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Nishoba</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Nantuko" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Nantuko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have both appeared in separate <em>Commander</em> products, but there are five other creatures in the series, along with a handful of creatures with similar abilities that are worth a look.</p>
<p>Less powerful than the two Phantoms already mentioned, this deck can still make good use of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Flock" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Flock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (112 decks), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Tiger" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Tiger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (97 decks), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Centaur" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Centaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (129 decks), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Nomad" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Nomad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (50 decks), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Wurm" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Wurm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (67 decks). Normally, these creatures would be fairly vanilla in an EDH deck. However, this build is going to focus on their damage prevention ability, making them the foundation of the deck's creature base. This is an ability ripe for abuse, and I'm shocked these cards don't see more play in Commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phantom Tiger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phantom Nomad"></div></div>
<p>There's also a handful of other creatures not from the Phantom series that fit into the same strategy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sekki, Seasons&#039; Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Sekki, Seasons&#039; Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deals in damage prevention and +1/+1 counters, but provides token production as well. From <em>Dissension</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sprouting Phytohydra" href="#" target="_blank">Sprouting Phytohydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't have the prevention clause, but does replicate when dealt damage. Given some of the ways we're looking to abuse the Phantom ability, this will come in handy. And WotC must be aware of the powerful nature of this ability, as it's been fixed on more recently-printed cards. Case in point, <em>War of the Spark's</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin&#039;s Conjurant" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin&#039;s Conjurant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <em>Battle for Zendikar's</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undergrowth Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Undergrowth Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both have a nerfed version of this ability. Given the latter's 2/2 body and <em>Landfall</em> trigger, I've included it in the deck.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Embellishing the Story</h2>
<p>Now that I have my all-star spirits laid out, I should get into how we're going to abuse the Phantom ability. From a careful reading, it's clear that these creatures don't require a +1/+1 counter be removed in order to prevent the damage. So, if I could get their toughness up to even a base value of one, I can score a damage-free army. And the best way to do that would be a commander with an anthem ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trostani Discordant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glorious Anthem"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leyline of Vitality"></div></div>
<p>Enter <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trostani Discordant" href="#" target="_blank">Trostani Discordant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She'll make sure all our Phantoms survive, regardless of the waves of damage they take. Add to that the anthems themselves: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glorious Anthem" href="#" target="_blank">Glorious Anthem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gaea&#039;s Anthem" href="#" target="_blank">Gaea&#039;s Anthem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not to mention the toughness-boosting powers of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spidersilk Armor" href="#" target="_blank">Spidersilk Armor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of Vitality" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of Vitality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These effects are critical to keeping the Phantom team on the battlefield and in combat.</p>
<p>That's great and all, but what's to stop my opponents from overwhelming me with their own battalion?</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Truth Hurts for a Little While, But Lies Hurt Forever</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Splintering Wind"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hail Storm"></div></div>
<p>Here we come to the reason I moved into white for this deck. Oddly enough, it was a green card that convinced me to go all-in on the Phantoms, and that card was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclone" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When our team of creatures can't die, we can just keep pumping more and more green mana into the <em>Cumulative Upkeep</em> of this card, and pretty soon our Spirits are all that's left. And with it only appearing in 44 decks currently, this card could really use some more play! It's such a unique ability for green, potentially resulting in a board wipe if unchecked. Yes, there is the possibility of indestructible creatures to contend with, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bonds of Mortality" href="#" target="_blank">Bonds of Mortality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help with that.</p>
<p>Once I found <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclone" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I expanded my search for green cards that damage. I also found <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Splintering Wind" href="#" target="_blank">Splintering Wind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which I'll even admit is a terrible card, and sees play in only 16 decks on EDHREC. To be honest, I'm still testing out this enchantment to see how reliable it'll be. I like the idea of making a bunch of 1/1 fliers in green, and I like it even more when <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s on the battlefield. Heck, that's really the only reason this enchantment is still around: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes it outstanding!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hail Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Hail Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was another terrific find in green, and is currently in only 10 decks. It's a great taunt to only leave green mana open, and then spring this spell in combat when attacked. Few will see that coming! And while they're more well known than the cards I typically talk about, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wave of Reckoning" href="#" target="_blank">Wave of Reckoning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightmine Field" href="#" target="_blank">Lightmine Field</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are some great damage sources in white that can be abused here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hedron-Field Purists"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Candles&#039; Glow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Protective Sphere"></div></div>
<p>With all this damage flying around here, it would be a good idea to have some added protection. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hedron-Field Purists" href="#" target="_blank">Hedron-Field Purists</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Rise of the Eldrazi</em> is an excellent form of that protection, helping to take the sting out of those Splinter tokens. And it's only seeing play in 290 decks at the moment. Operating as a second, far more limited <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Candles&#039; Glow" href="#" target="_blank">Candles&#039; Glow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (60 decks) can help protect some of the non-Phantom creatures in the deck, or help reload a waning spirit low on counters. From only 131 decks on EDHREC, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Protective Sphere" href="#" target="_blank">Protective Sphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an excellent way to minimize the hurt from a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclone" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> after several turns. I've also included some mana-makers in the deck to give the Sphere more versatility in holding off opponents' volleys (see <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> among others).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Saltblast"></div></div>
<p>One final card I should mention is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saltblast" href="#" target="_blank">Saltblast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I know it's not on-theme like the rest of the cards I've discussed. But in the wake of <em>War of the Spark</em>, I'm beginning to prep my decks for the wave of people in my playgroup trying out all kinds of new 'walkers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saltblast" href="#" target="_blank">Saltblast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is some excellent white removal that can handle the nonwhite loyalty countered, as well as lands and all other types of problem permanents. It's a real shame it only sees play in 101 decks. Please help me get that number higher!</p>
<p>With that out of the way, onto the deck:</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Selesnya Damages" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Trostani Discordant<br />
[/Commander]<br />
[Creatures]<br />
*1 Permeating Mass<br />
*1 Phantom Nomad<br />
*1 Carven Caryatid<br />
*1 Eternal Witness<br />
*1 Hedron-Field Purists<br />
*1 Phantom Nantuko<br />
*1 Phantom Tiger<br />
*1 Undergrowth Champion<br />
*1 Bloodspore Thrinax<br />
*1 Phantom Centaur<br />
*1 Angel of Flight Alabaster<br />
*1 Bellowing Aegisaur<br />
*1 Phantom Flock<br />
*1 Seedborn Muse<br />
*1 Sprouting Phytohydra<br />
*1 Verdurous Gearhulk<br />
*1 Phantom Wurm<br />
*1 Vigor<br />
*1 Phantom Nishoba<br />
*1 Sekki, Seasons' Guide<br />
[/Creatures]<br />
[Instants]<br />
*1 Path to Exile<br />
*1 Candles' Glow<br />
*1 Heroic Intervention<br />
*1 Beast Within<br />
*1 Eerie Interlude<br />
*1 Hail Storm<br />
*1 Krosan Grip<br />
[/Instants]<br />
[Sorceries]<br />
*1 Nature's Lore<br />
*1 Kodama's Reach<br />
*1 Day of Judgment<br />
*1 Saltblast<br />
*1 Wave of Reckoning<br />
*1 Austere Command<br />
[/Sorceries]<br />
[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Blade of the Bloodchief<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Selesnya Signet<br />
*1 Bow of Nylea<br />
*1 Chromatic Lantern<br />
*1 Cloudstone Curio<br />
*1 Conjuror's Closet<br />
[/Artifacts]<br />
[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Hardened Scales<br />
*1 Bonds of Mortality<br />
*1 Mark of Asylum<br />
*1 Sterling Grove<br />
*1 Sylvan Library<br />
*1 Aura Shards<br />
*1 Beastmaster Ascension<br />
*1 Cartouche of Strength<br />
*1 Gaea's Anthem<br />
*1 Ghostly Prison<br />
*1 Glorious Anthem<br />
*1 Protective Sphere<br />
*1 Song of the Dryads<br />
*1 Spidersilk Armor<br />
*1 Cyclone<br />
*1 Leyline of Vitality<br />
*1 Lightmine Field<br />
*1 Primal Vigor<br />
*1 Splintering Wind<br />
*1 Cathars' Crusade<br />
*1 Doubling Season<br />
[/Enchantments]<br />
[Planeswalkers]<br />
*1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride<br />
*1 Garruk Wildspeaker<br />
[/Planeswalkers]<br />
[Land]<br />
*1 Blighted Woodland<br />
*1 Bountiful Promenade<br />
*1 Command Tower<br />
*1 Evolving Wilds<br />
*1 Exotic Orchard<br />
*10 Forest<br />
*1 Krosan Verge<br />
*1 Llanowar Reborn<br />
*1 Mosswort Bridge<br />
*1 Myriad Landscape<br />
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx<br />
*7 Plains<br />
*1 Razorverge Thicket<br />
*1 Sunpetal Grove<br />
*1 Temple Garden<br />
*1 Temple of Plenty<br />
*1 Temple of the False God<br />
*1 Terramorphic Expanse<br />
*1 Windswept Heath<br />
*1 Wooded Bastion<br />
*1 Yavimaya Hollow<br />
[/Land]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>I Think I Need to Lie Down</h2>
<p>Well, that about does it for this iteration of <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>. Any questions, comments, or snide remarks you may have can be left in the comments below. I'll be there in the comments to get into why I played <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and which God-Eternal is my spirit animal.</p>
<p>What are some of the neglected series of cards like the Phantoms that you'd like to see featured in a deck? Are there any individual cards you've found that are hyper-underplayed and deserve their day in the sun? Let me know below! And I hope you stop by again next time, when I'll be tackling a five-color guild build helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, Silver Golem" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, Silver Golem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Or maybe not, you never know...</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-32310" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/tenor.gif" alt="" width="320" height="213" /></p>


Forgotten Harvest - Phantasmic Beasts and When to Damage Them

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Olivia, Mobilized for War" href="#" target="_blank">Olivia, Mobilized for War</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.ericdeschamps.com/">Eric Deschamps</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p> <span id="m_7985745279735501680gmail-docs-internal-guid-971aaafd-7fff-35c2-bef7-2bbb00875c9e">Hello, EDHREC! I’m Bernardo Melibeu and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally play our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</span></p>
<p> In this article, we'll be exploring the second appearance of Olivia Voldaren, a card that has a very powerful effect, but it got outshined by the release of Edgar Markov: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Olivia, Mobilized for War" href="#" target="_blank">Olivia, Mobilized for War</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p> Let's start by taking a quick look at her kit:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Olivia, Mobilized for War"></div></div>
<p> <strong>Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may discard a card. If you do put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, it gains haste until the end of turn, and it becomes a Vampire in addition to its other types.</strong></p>
<p> Observation 1: She's kind of funny, because with that kind of ability (granting +1/+1) one would expect her to be good in go-wide strategies. In fact, it's the opposite, since we probably won't be able to discard cards for every creature we play. She really cares about card quality.</p>
<p> Observation 2: She's decent as a <em>Dredge</em> support; she can have all the black graveyard goodies with the explosive red enablers.</p>
<p> Observation 3: She's interesting as a tribal lord because, while she can give some extra power to her tribe, she benefits non-Vampires even more! Her contribution to the tribe is the ability to add other quality cards while still garnering tribal bonuses.</p>
<hr />
<h1>The Old Formula</h1>
<p>With that in mind, let’s see how this vampire queen is usually built:</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-31914" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Olivia-Top.png" alt="" width="688" height="360" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-31913" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Olivia-Sig.png" alt="" width="695" height="355" /></p>
<p>It's not a complete shock that most of her cards are Vampires. If we delve a little deeper, we can see a trend that distinguishes her from other Vampire commanders: the discard/<em>Madness</em> theme. Both enablers and payoffs are heavily represented in those lists.</p>
<hr />
<h1>The Epic Ingredients</h1>
<p>It's gonna sound obvious, but outside of Vampire tribal, there are two main advantages to using her as a commander: haste enabler and +1/+1 counters. It seems simple enough, but the key here is finding a shell that cares about both of them. We need to see past our Rakdos color identity and take a glimpse into the future, where machines dominate and there's almost no need for colored mana.</p>
<p>We're building an artifact deck!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcbound Ravager"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hangarback Walker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Animation Module"></div></div>
<p>Artifact creatures are naturally drawn into counters, as with the ability <em>Modular,</em> or simply by gaining counters when entering the battlefield, and because of that, many of them have ways to use those counters to our advantage. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcbound Ravager" href="#" target="_blank">Arcbound Ravager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcbound Crusher" href="#" target="_blank">Arcbound Crusher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steel Overseer" href="#" target="_blank">Steel Overseer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are efficient ways to gain a large amount of counters. When combined with the <em>Proliferate</em> support of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throne of Geth" href="#" target="_blank">Throne of Geth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Contagion Clasp" href="#" target="_blank">Contagion Clasp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Contagion Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Contagion Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we get an efficient engine that cranks up the power of cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hangarback Walker" href="#" target="_blank">Hangarback Walker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Walking Ballista" href="#" target="_blank">Walking Ballista</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even the unexpected <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherborn Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherborn Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the maximum.</p>
<p>Another selling point into building an artifact-based deck is the access to some of the best artifact reanimation packages. By combining both black generic reanimation spells with red artifact-specific ones. This let us get back some of the cards that we'll eventually lose both with Olivia discarding and by sacrificing ourselves to gain more value, making it a quasi-Golgari playstyle.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Victimize" href="#" target="_blank">Victimize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trash for Treasure" href="#" target="_blank">Trash for Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrap Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Scrap Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are highly efficient one-shot effects that provide some explosiveness, since they are cheaper and faster than the recurring abilities like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Welder" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Welder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daretti, Scrap Savant" href="#" target="_blank">Daretti, Scrap Savant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bomat Courier" href="#" target="_blank">Bomat Courier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Retriever" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Retriever</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hangarback Walker" href="#" target="_blank">Hangarback Walker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great early game plays that give us value when they die. Same with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wurmcoil Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Wurmcoil Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Duplicant" href="#" target="_blank">Duplicant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triskelion" href="#" target="_blank">Triskelion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as they provide value when entering and leaving the battlefield, but, because of their high CMC, they are usually discarded early to fuel Olivia's ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrap Mastery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Welder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Victimize"></div></div>
<p>One of this deck's biggest weakness is running low on cards, which makes having a strong card advantage package one of the keys to our success. We already covered using recursion as a way to recoup some of the losses, but let's also acknowledge the raw card draw spells available to us.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daredevil Dragster" href="#" target="_blank">Daredevil Dragster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an aggro card that net us two cards, and we can even get it back multiple times for more value. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very strong in this deck, as we play somewhat as an aristocrats strategy and we're counting on losing a few creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Arena" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Arena</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't a powerhouse, but a reliable source of cards is difficult to say 'no' to. Finally, we also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reforge the Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Reforge the Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wheel of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Wheel of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, cards that do basically everything we'd like a card draw spell to do, both putting old cards in our graveyard and drawing us new cards.</p>
<hr />
<h1>The Mixture</h1>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Olivia Affinity" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Olivia, Mobilized for War
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Hangarback Walker
*Walking Ballista
*Arcbound Worker
*Bomat Courier
*Goblin Welder
*Sparring Construct
*Arcbound Ravager
*Arcbound Stinger
*Epochrasite
*Myr Retriever
*Steel Overseer
*Chief of the Foundry
*Foundry Inspector
*Quicksmith Genius
*Scarecrone
*Scrap Trawler
*Shimmer Myr
*Thopter Engineer
*Aetherborn Marauder
*Arcbound Crusher
*Arcbound Reclaimer
*Traxos, Scourge of Kroog
*Kuldotha Forgemaster
*Thopter Squadron
*Duplicant
*Hellkite Tyrant
*Triskelion
*Wurmcoil Engine
*Meteor Golem
[/Creature]
[Artifact]
*Everflowing Chalice
*Animation Module
*Skullclamp
*Sol Ring
*Universal Solvent
*Contagion Clasp
*Cranial Plating
*Fellwar Stone
*Mind Stone
*Rakdos Signet
*Talisman of indulgence
*Throne of Geth
*Commander&#039;s Sphere
*Daredevil Dragster
*Worn Powerstone
*Hedron Archive
*Thran Dynamo
*Contagion Engine
*Spine of Ish Sah
[/Artifact]
[Sorcery]
*Wheel of Fate
*Vandalblast
*Diabolic Intent
*Trash for Treasure
*Victimize
*Damnation
*Reforge the Soul
*Scrap Mastery
*All Is Dust
[/Sorcery]
[Instant]
*Terminate
*Bedevil
*Chaos Warp
[/Instant]
[Enchantment]
*Phyrexian Reclamation
*Phyrexian Arena
*Pia&#039;s Revolution
[/Enchantment]
[Planeswalker]
*Daretti, Scrap Savant
[/Planeswalker]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*Blood Crypt
*Smoldering Marsh
*Canyon Slough
*Bloodstained Mire
*Polluted Delta
*Wooded Foothills
*Dragonskull Summit
*Foreboding Ruins
*Luxury Suite
*Graven Cairns
*Exotic Orchard
*Sulfurous Springs
*Spire of Industry
*Temple of Malice
*Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*Bojuka Bog
*Great Furnace
*Vault of Whispers
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*Ruins of Oran-Rief
*Inventors&#039; Fair
*Buried Ruin
*Darksteel Citadel
*5Mountain
*5 Swamp
[/Land]"></span></div><br />
</p>
<p>The list, while not the most competitive, is very well-rounded and it doesn't lack anything particular. Our ramp is strong because we can get full value from colorless mana rocks, and our removal is flexible, ranging from some of the Rakdos staples to artifact-based permanent destruction, which we can recur, if needed. While we're only playing two board wipes, they're very powerful: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damnation" href="#" target="_blank">Damnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is a no-nonsense version of this effect, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="All is Dust" href="#" target="_blank">All is Dust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is very often is a asymmetrical effect.</p>
<p>Aside from all the synergy we have, there are two cards worth mentioning: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Traxos, Scourge of Kroog" href="#" target="_blank">Traxos, Scourge of Kroog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellkite Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Hellkite Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both of those are just in for the ride and provide a very valuable contribution as a simple threat that doesn't really care about having support, which is something very crucial for when everything else fails.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Traxos, Scourge of Kroog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hellkite Tyrant"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>This is an aggro deck, and as such we need a low curve to make it work, prioritizing hands with that have some sort of game plan. 2-3 lands, a mana rock, and some small creatures is a good start, but there'll be some hands that won't get us anywhere simply because of the lack of card draw.</p>
<p>In the early game we need to plan our curve carefully. It's important to know when to discard cards to Olivia's ability, since this is the point of the game where we are more restricted in mana and, at the same time, have a higher amount of cards in hand. Discarding to many cards without thinking is a sure way to be <em>Hellbent</em> by the mid game.</p>
<p>The mid game starts to become uphill battle where we can either hit or miss, but in these deck's case we still have lots of explosive draws either by assembling some engine or by drawing wheels and getting a reset from there. It's important to know which threats to prioritize when powering up our creatures with counters. This is where having basically an entire board of artifacts really starts to become a liability, as we're vulnerable to random <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vandalblast" href="#" target="_blank">Vandalblast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s and Wraths.</p>
<p>Our late game will depend on how many cards we actually got to see (via drawing, looting, etc). This means if we can establish the engine, it's very hard to truly keep us down, but on the other hand, if we are stuck with the same parts for too long, our deck will not go off. This point in the game our "isolated" threats can shine, and Olivia's haste is going to be crucial, so knowing when to hold cards is also something worth learning.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Epic Results</h1>
<p>Looking back at this list there are some changes that could be made to better suit other playstyles.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faithless Looting"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darksteel Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eldrazi Monument"></div></div>
<p>Adding powerful looting spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faithless Looting" href="#" target="_blank">Faithless Looting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormeting Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Tormeting Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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> can help alleviate some of the need for fresh cards. Just be careful with those cards when <em>Hellbent</em>. If going this route, adding more reanimation spells and targets would be also a good change; this deck is effectively an artifact reanimator deck, abusing Olivia's ability to both fuel graveyards and give haste to reanimation targets, which means there's always room to lean more into that strategy.</p>
<p>If board wipes are predominant, adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eldrazi Monument" href="#" target="_blank">Eldrazi Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might prove useful.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think about this "modern" (wink, wink) take on Olivia? Please fell free to leave any suggestions in the comments section. Do you have any questions about the list? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know!</p>


11 counters

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