<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anthousa, Setessan Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Anthousa, Setessan Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.howardlyon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Lyon</a></em></p>
<p>Imagine this: You go to your Local Game Store and sit down for a game of Commander. You have the Rule 0 conversation and determine you're just looking for a casual game, something in the realm of Bracket 2. The table pulls out the usual suspects: a precon here, a janky brew there. Then, there's one player who simply says: "I'll play this mono-green deck."</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, you're worried. <em>Green is pretty strong</em>. You ask, "Are you sure it's a Bracket 2?"</p>
<p>The player reveals his commander: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anthousa, Setessan Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Anthousa, Setessan Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. "Oh, I'm playing mono-green Spellslinger."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anthousa, Setessan Hero"></div></div>
<p>The tenseness of the situation fades. You take a deep breath. That is, until you see what the deck does.</p>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Bottom of the Barrel</em>! This is a series where we pick a theme from EDHREC and look at the “bottom of the barrel.” This means we look at the least played color-combinations and pick a commander in those colors to brew a spicy new deck around!</p>
<p>Today's episode is one close to my heart, as it's my current favorite personal deck I've built. The idea came from an exercise similar to this series, so I felt it was the perfect time to share it with you all.</p>
<h2>Green Spellslinger?</h2>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger/mono-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to EDHREC</a>, there are 131 Spellslinger themed decks in mono-green, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legolas, Master Archer" href="#" target="_blank">Legolas, Master Archer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> leading the charge. This is an amazing card for Spellslinger, but I wanted something a little more unique. That's where Anthousa came in.</p>
<p>There are 186 <em>total</em> decks built around her in the database, with <em>only three</em> focusing on Spellslinger.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Legolas, Master Archer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aeve, Progenitor Ooze"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gargos, Vicious Watcher"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Upon first glance, Anthousa might not seem very special, but turning a cantrip into three 2/2 Warriors seems pretty strong! The main issue is mana production vs. mana usage. Anthousa is five mana, which isn’t too difficult to achieve in green, but she does basically nothing unless we have an immediate follow-up. And by then, the lands we want to turn into Warriors are tapped.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even when we have open mana after casting Anthousa, casting spells requires us to use our “creatures” for mana. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This presents a conundrum. How can we solve this so it feels like we aren’t being starved for mana?</span></p>
<h2>Category #1: Mana Production vs. Mana Usage</h2>
<p>There are a few ways to negate the possible pitfalls of our lands being what we attack with, and the first way comes in the form of vigilance and "untappers."</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angel&#039;s Trumpet" href="#" target="_blank">Angel&#039;s Trumpet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is amazing in this deck for two reasons: It allows our lands to act as attackers <em>and</em> mana sources in the same turn; and it punishes our opponents for trying to sit back while opening them up to future attackers. Shoutout to Rachel Weeks from The Command Zone for the inspiration on this add!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angel&#039;s Trumpet"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copperhorn Scout" href="#" target="_blank">Copperhorn Scout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great way for us to use our lands as attackers <em>and </em>as mana producers in the same turn, similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angel&#039;s Trumpet" href="#" target="_blank">Angel&#039;s Trumpet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Copperhorn Scout"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Llanowar Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Llanowar Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another great way for us to regain our mana production ability from our Forests that attack, even if it's only a single-use case.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Llanowar Druid"></div></div>
<h2>Category #2: Recursion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A big problem that presents itself with Anthousa is consistency. Having cards that we can cast repeatedly to target Anthousa are cards we should be focusing on. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rancor" href="#" target="_blank">Rancor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is probably the best card in the deck because it gets returned to our hand when Anthousa gets removed, so we can cast it again.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rancor"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prey&#039;s Vengeance" href="#" target="_blank">Prey&#039;s Vengeance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great too because it has rebound, allowing us to get Anthousa's trigger on two consecutive turns without spending mana the second time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prey&#039;s Vengeance"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Running “Regrowth” effects can be critical to our success as well, as getting back our “target” spells allows us to recover quickly after running out of gas.</span></p>
<p>Our main Regrowth effects are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bösium Strip" href="#" target="_blank">Bösium Strip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pair o&#039; Dice Lost" href="#" target="_blank">Pair o&#039; Dice Lost</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Pair o' Dice Lost returns spells we've used directly to our hand, but Bösium Strip lets us recast them from the graveyard as long as the top card of our graveyard is an instant or sorcery.</p>
<p>Considering we have 32 total instants and sorceries in the deck, that isn't a hard prerequisite to meet.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bösium Strip"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pair o&#039; Dice Lost"></div></div>
<h2>Category #3: Cheap Spells</h2>
<p>Ultimately, the goal is to consistently target Anthousa with cheap spells, and I tried to limit these spells to ones that are one mana or less. There are twelve spells in this deck that cost one or less mana that trigger Anthousa, and my includes fall into three categories:</p>
<p>1. Something that pumps Anthousa by a ridiculous amount (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Might of the Masses" href="#" target="_blank">Might of the Masses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Get a Leg Up" href="#" target="_blank">Get a Leg Up</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Bellow" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Bellow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>)</p>
<p>2. Something that grants our commander trample in some way (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rancor" href="#" target="_blank">Rancor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massive Might" href="#" target="_blank">Massive Might</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Charge Through" href="#" target="_blank">Charge Through</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>)</p>
<p>3. Something that's free to cast (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invigorate" href="#" target="_blank">Invigorate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gather Courage" href="#" target="_blank">Gather Courage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutagenic Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Mutagenic Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>)</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Might of the Masses"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Massive Might"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mutagenic Growth"></div></div>
<p>Since we have several spells that increase our commander's power, winning with commander damage is very possible in this deck. Therefore, trample is a must!</p>
<h2>Category #3: Card Draw</h2>
<p>Green doesn't struggle with drawing cards, but it's usually associated with casting creature spells. How can we draw enough cards in this deck to not run out of gas?</p>
<p>The most obvious answer is with a green staple: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Library" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Library</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Here are some less obvious includes:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Season of Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Season of Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> draws cards whenever we target our commander.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Family&#039;s Favor" href="#" target="_blank">Family&#039;s Favor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can protect our commander in combat <em>and</em> draw us cards when she deals damage.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ohran Frostfang" href="#" target="_blank">Ohran Frostfang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toski, Bearer of Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Toski, Bearer of Secrets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both can turn our "land creatures" into an absurd amount of card advantage.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Runic Armasaur" href="#" target="_blank">Runic Armasaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> draws cards when our opponents activate abilities.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elder Gargaroth" href="#" target="_blank">Elder Gargaroth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can draw us cards <em>or </em>gain us life <em>or </em>generate creatures!</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hylda&#039;s Crown of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Hylda&#039;s Crown of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can draw cards when an opponent overextends.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonize" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is always good in green decks.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sylvan Library"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toski, Bearer of Secrets"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harmonize"></div></div>
<h2>Category #4: The "Secret Spice"</h2>
<p>This week's "secret spice" includes each serve different purposes, but each put in <em>work</em> in this deck.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harvest Season" href="#" target="_blank">Harvest Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a ridiculous ramp spell in this deck because if we have a way to target Anthousa first, we can turn the lands we tap to cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harvest Season" href="#" target="_blank">Harvest Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into creatures, guaranteeing at least <em>three lands</em>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harvest Season"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="River Song&#039;s Diary" href="#" target="_blank">River Song&#039;s Diary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> serves two purposes in this deck: recursion and "theft." Being able to reuse pump spells is amazing, but being able to steal our opponents' used instant and sorcery spells is a huge plus for this card.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="River Song&#039;s Diary"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Box" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Box</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our final "secret spice," and it's for a reason you may not expect. We aren't doing any cloning, so the first line of this card is completely irrelevant to us. The second line however, is where this card shines.</p>
<p>When we turn our Forests into creatures <em>they are creatures that have the same name!</em> Meaning: they pump each other up based on the amount of other Forest creatures we have! Also, we run things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Woods" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Woods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Staff of Titania" href="#" target="_blank">Staff of Titania</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that also create Forest creatures, and this card works wonders with those includes too.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirror Box"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Awaken the Woods"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Staff of Titania"></div></div>
<h2>Closing Thoughts</h2>
<p>That will do it for this week's episode of <em>Bottom of the Barrel!</em> I hope you enjoyed exploring this underplayed commander with me, and I hope you'll give it a try. After building this deck in paper and tinkering with it over the past few months, it's slowly cemented itself as my favorite personal deck, and I'm glad to sing its praises every chance I get.</p>
<p>Check out my decklist below.</p>
<h2>Anthousa, Setessan Hero Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Lands = Creatures" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Anthousa, Setessan Hero
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Family&#039;s Favor
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
*1 Rancor
*1 Season of Growth
*1 Sylvan Library
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Animist&#039;s Might
*1 Awaken the Woods
*1 Cultivate
*1 Harmonize
*1 Harvest Season
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Overwhelming Stampede
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Scale the Heights
*1 Season of Gathering
*1 Three Visits
*1 Triumph of the Hordes
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Arachnogenesis
*1 Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi
*1 Beast Within
*1 Charge Through
*1 Deglamer
*1 Galadhrim Ambush
*1 Gather Courage
*1 Get a Leg Up
*1 Invigorate
*1 Massive Might
*1 Might of the Masses
*1 Mutagenic Growth
*1 Obscuring Haze
*1 Pair o&#039; Dice Lost
*1 Prey&#039;s Vengeance
*1 Primal Bellow
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
*1 Tail Swipe
*1 Trash the Town
*1 Vitality Charm
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Copperhorn Scout
*1 Dosan the Falling Leaf
*1 Elder Gargaroth
*1 Giggling Skitterspike
*1 Jolrael, Empress of Beasts
*1 Kamahl, Heart of Krosa
*1 Llanowar Druid
*1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer // Nissa, Sage Animist
*1 Ohran Frostfang
*1 Runic Armasaur
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Thunderfoot Baloth
*1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Angel&#039;s Trumpet
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bösium Strip
*1 Dolmen Gate
*1 Emerald Medallion
*1 Hylda&#039;s Crown of Winter
*1 Mirror Box
*1 River Song&#039;s Diary
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Staff of Titania
*1 Throne of Eldraine
[/Artifacts]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Blast Zone
*1 Cascading Cataracts
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Emergence Zone
*29 Forest
*1 Inkmoth Nexus
*1 Lair of the Hydra
*1 Tranquil Thicket
[/Lands]"></span></div>


anthousa

Mono-Green Spellslinger With Anthousa, Setessan Hero