Top 10 Infinite ETB Combos for Azorius

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sharae of Numbing Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Sharae of Numbing Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://evynfong.square.site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evyn Fong</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Archtypes of Imagination</em>, a series where we bring Commander archetypes found via <a style="cursor: pointer !important; user-select: none !important;" href="https://tagger.scryfall.com/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Scryfall's tagging system</a> and<a href="https://edhrec.com/tags?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> EDHREC's Tag pages</a> to life. This time around, I'm taking on tapping your opponents' stuff.</p>
<p>Here's the <a href="https://tagger.scryfall.com/tags/card/tapper">Scryfall tag page</a> for the theme. Pretty big list, but, we can narrow it down in a few ways.</p>
<p>First off, you can bring the tag into Scryfall's main search with the little box next to the tag's name. From there, I used the string "<a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=otag%3Atapper+t%3Alegendary+game%3Apaper&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">otag:tapper t:legendary game:paper</a>" to find a potential commander. EDHREC also has a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tap-untap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"tap/untap"</a> tag page which will help as well.</p>
<p>It looks like Azorius, Simic and Bant are the three popular color combinations for this archetype. Going back to Scryfall, I wanted to see how much material I have to work with in each color. Using the string "oracle:"<a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=checklist&amp;order=color&amp;q=oracle%3A%22tap+target%22+%28game%3Apaper%29+otag%3Atapper+game%3Apaper&amp;unique=cards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tap target game:paper otag:tapper </a>," using the checklist view and sorting by color, I can see the vast majority of cards I'd want to play are white and blue.</p>
<p>Stun counters are also a nice new addition to a strategy like this, so "game:paper otag:tapper o:stun" is a string I used to see what options I had with those as well.</p>
<p>My commander decision really came down to two creatures: the very popular <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hylda of the Icy Crown" href="#" target="_blank">Hylda of the Icy Crown</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and her <em>Wilds of Eldraine</em> counterpart, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sharae of Numbing Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Sharae of Numbing Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hylda of the Icy Crown"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sharae of Numbing Depths"></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>This strategy got a lot better with Wilds of Eldraine!</em></p>
<p>And honestly, I think Sharae might actually be the better choice.</p>
<h2>Why Sharae Over Hylda?</h2>
<p>So before you accuse me of being a contrarian for the sake of it, hear me out. Hylda has a lot going for her. She's a very powerful payoff for a tapping strategy and offers a lot of value. She also lets you run less payoffs and more ways to tap stuff.</p>
<p>But Sharae does a few things better. First, Sharae is a payoff <em>and</em> an enabler. Basically, she gives you something for tapping things down, and also taps things herself!</p>
<p>Second, she provides a few additional deckbuilding avenues, like using blink effects on her. Her ability also wants us to be tapping things each turn, which gives some deckbuilding direction.</p>
<p>Sharae also does something upon entering and doesn't cost any additional mana each turn like Hylda does. So while in raw power Hylda is an obvious choice, Sharae gives us more efficiency, options, and guaranteed benefit. I think she's the right call! And hey, we can (and will) still play Hylda in the 99.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Tips for Building and Playing Sharae of Numbing Depths</h2>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a very flexible deck as it can be built to suit almost any budget, or any level of competitiveness. Such is the nature of playing blue-white sometimes. What’s important to get right is having enough ways to tap things and not </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">just</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> payoffs for tapping things. Sharae can’t control an entire table by herself. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Remember: Sharae triggers once every turn. If you can find ways to maximize your tapping on other turns, you’ll be drawing a lot of cards. That’s a great place for this deck to be. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Generally speaking, it’s best to save your counterspells and removal like [[Generous Gift]] for noncreature permanents. This deck has plenty of options for taking care of bothersome creatures. The exception to this is token producers like [[Avenger of Zendikar]] or something, as this deck can struggle playing defense against go-wide strategies.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The biggest trick for </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">playing</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Sharae is not getting under the skin of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">everyone </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">at the table. If you’re constantly tapping down everything all the time, people will catch on that you’re a problem quite quickly. Likely the best way to be strategic with your tapping is to set up advantageous attacking situations for others by getting blockers out of the way.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">That said, it’s easy to appear somewhat innocent as this deck doesn’t run many individually-scary creatures (6/6 flyers are about as big as this gets). While Sharae won’t finish a game in a hurry, this is a great deck for outlasting the table as life totals slowly whittle away.</span></li>
</ol>
<hr />
<h2>Important Cards for Sharae of Numbing Depths</h2>
<h3>Tap Effects</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Valefor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Citadel Siege"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dreamshackle Geist"></div></div></span></p>
<p>We have no shortage of ways to tap things, so I can't list them all here. But hey, we're going to be a menace, right? Might as well own it.</p>
<p>I'm opting for effects that can tap repeatedly or on ETB (enters the battlefield) to take advantage of blink effects, rather than one-shot instants or sorceries. I'm also leaning more towards effects that place stun counters, as that gives us some options for controlling the board through proliferate effects.</p>
<h3>Blink Effects</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ephemerate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kykar, Zephyr Awakener"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gossip&#039;s Talent"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since creatures' ETB effects continue to get better, blink spells are a welcome addition to many decks - this one in particular. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Displacer Kitten" href="#" target="_blank">Displacer Kitten</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the blink MVP, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kykar, Zephyr Awakener" href="#" target="_blank">Kykar, Zephyr Awakener</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does the kitty one better (which I guess makes it the MVP now). It's nice to have some redundancy on such an awesome creature, in any case. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gossip&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Gossip&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is quite good here, providing card selection, evasion, and eventually some repeatable blink as well.</span></p>
<h3>Tapping Payoffs</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hylda of the Icy Crown"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fear of Sleep Paralysis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Verity Circle"></div></div></span></p>
<p>Tapping is cool and all, but let's up the value a bit. As mentioned earlier, we can't leave Hylda of the Icy Crown out! Fear of Sleep Paralysis does it all, but its big payoff is keeping stunned creatures stunned. Being a 6/6 flyer doesn't hurt, either.</p>
<p>Verity Circle is going to draw a <em>lot</em> of cards as well, which never hurts in Commander.</p>
<h3>Interaction</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Runic Shot"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lulu, Stern Guardian"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunfall"></div></div></span></p>
<p>Tapping things means we can play interaction that deals with tapped creatures, which can often be pretty efficient and budget-friendly.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Runic Shot" href="#" target="_blank">Runic Shot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is worth pointing out as it probably doesn't have a home in too many other decks. It's great here, though. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lulu, Stern Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Lulu, Stern Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a brand new addition that doesn't necessarily tap anything, but she will place stun counters if something manages to attack us. More likely than not, she'll cause people to leave us alone which is even better. Oh, she proliferates too.</p>
<p>And if the board ends up flooded with creatures with triggered abilities that we can't handle, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunfall" href="#" target="_blank">Sunfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is about as good of a reset as anything. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud&#039;s Limit Break" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud&#039;s Limit Break</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also a solid piece of removal, and hey, its fun trying out new cards.</p>
<h3>Card Draw</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mulldrifter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Borrowing 100,000 Arrows"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azor, the Lawbringer"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I already mentioned some card draw in the Payoffs section, but it's worth noting a few other pieces. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic blink target (I'm choosing to run it over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudblazer" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudblazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for the cost flexibility as we have a lot of five-drops). <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Borrowing 100,000 Arrows" href="#" target="_blank">Borrowing 100,000 Arrows</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our burst draw effect of choice. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azor, the Lawbringer" href="#" target="_blank">Azor, the Lawbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be that too, if pricey, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphinx&#039;s Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Sphinx&#039;s Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on a 6/6 flying body seems at least trying.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Compliment these with some strong planeswalkers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tamiyo, the Moon Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Tamiyo, the Moon Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Eternal Wanderer" href="#" target="_blank">The Eternal Wanderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, some mana rocks, counterspells, and an affordable mana base, and folks, we have ourselves a menace of a deck for less than $100!</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>Sharae of Numbing Depths Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tap-dancin&#039; with Sharae" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
Sharae of Numbing Depths
[/Commander]
[Planeswalkers]
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
1 The Eternal Wanderer
[/Planeswalkers]
[Creatures]
1 Gideon&#039;s Lawkeeper
1 Goldmeadow Harrier
1 Knight of the White Orchid
1 Abuelo, Ancestral Echo
1 Claim Jumper
1 Dreamshackle Geist
1 Faramir, Steward of Gondor
1 Flux Channeler
1 Lulu, Stern Guardian
1 Displacer Kitten
1 Hylda of the Icy Crown
1 Kykar, Zephyr Awakener
1 Niblis of Frost
1 Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
1 Mulldrifter
1 Summon: Valefor
1 Timin, Youthful Geist
1 Azor, the Lawbringer
1 Deadeye Navigator
1 Fear of Sleep Paralysis
1 Frost Titan
1 Grappling Kraken
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
1 Ghost Vacuum
1 Sol Ring
1 Arcane Signet
1 Azorius Signet
1 Greatsword of Tyr
1 Lodestone Needle // Guidestone Compass
1 Talisman of Progress
1 Hylda&#039;s Crown of Winter
1 Unstable Glyphbridge // Sandswirl Wanderglyph
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
1 Gossip&#039;s Talent
1 Lost in the Maze
1 Curse of Inertia
1 Imprisoned in the Moon
1 Retreat to Coralhelm
1 Solitary Sanctuary
1 Verity Circle
1 Citadel Siege
1 Control Magic
1 Court of Grace
1 Spirit Away
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
1 Blustersquall
1 Ephemerate
1 Cloud&#039;s Limit Break
1 Counterspell
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Negate
1 Cut Short
1 Generous Gift
1 Stroke of Midnight
1 Trap the Trespassers
1 Wizard&#039;s Retort
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
1 Ponder
1 Runic Shot
1 Swallow Whole
1 Borrowing 100,000 Arrows
1 Split Up
1 Sunfall
1 Suppression Ray // Orderly Plaza
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
1 Adarkar Wastes
1 Celestial Colonnade
1 Command Tower
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Irrigated Farmland
10 Island
1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
1 Lonely Sandbar
1 Mystic Gate
9 Plains
1 Port Town
1 Prairie Stream
1 Restless Anchorage
1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Skycloud Expanse
1 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Terramorphic Expanse
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<p>Sharae is a powerful and fun budget commander that's a great leader for a tapper deck. She's flexible and offers a controlling game plan that is just oppressive enough without being boring to play. Hopefully your friends understand 🙂</p>
<p>Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more deck archetypes to come.</p>
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Build a "Tapper" Deck with Sharae of Numbing Depths

 <p style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://www.karlaortizart.com/">Karla Ortiz</a></p> <p>Hello Everyone! I’m Levi from the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5n27ku41qleRMM7CKrWOh3">Thought Vessel Show</a>, and today I am very excited to debut a new series here at EDHREC called <em>Ten Under Twenty</em>, where we take a deep dive on a single commander and find those cards that are simply not getting the respect they deserve.</p> <p>You may find similarities between this series and the “Challenge the Stats” segment on EDHRECCast. The main difference is we are looking for several hidden gems for only one commander at a time. This week, we are looking at one of my favorite commanders of all time, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p> <p>In order to qualify for this list, the card has to appear in less than 20% of decks here on EDHREC. This is a buffet-style list, meaning you can take whatever you like and leave whatever you don't.</p> <p>My goal here is to simply shine some light on some great cards that deserve some love. Let’s jump right in!</p> <h3>10.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delney, Streetwise Lookout" href="#" target="_blank">Delney, Streetwise Lookout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Delney, Streetwise Lookout"></div></div> <p>Starting out our list is an absolute beast of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in Delney, Streetwise Lookout. For starters, Delney’s first ability ensures that Brago cannot be blocked by creatures with power 3 or greater, which makes the chances of Brago being able to connect for damage almost a guarantee.</p> <p>Speaking of that trigger, the Brago blink effect is also copied, meaning you can flicker every nonland permanent you control twice per turn. And those creatures coming into play with power two or less will also have their triggered abilities doubled.</p> <p>Essentially, this means that one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Omens" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Omens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will draw four cards per turn. That’s an incredible amount of value.</p> <h3>9.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%) </h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mightstone and Weakstone"></div></div> <p>Being that this is the second half of the melded combination, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Planeswalker" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Planeswalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> goes under the radar. This card can do plenty on its own without its other half, being repeatable ramp, card draw, and spot removal at the same time.</p> <p>In decks that are taking advantage of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strionic Resonator" href="#" target="_blank">Strionic Resonator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> infinite combo, the mana can be used to activate the artifact and draw your entire deck at the same time.</p> <h3>8.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glen Elendra Archmage"></div></div> <p>In a deck like this, keeping Brago safe from removal is essential. If you can do that with the right pieces on board, you can take complete control of the game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great protective tool.</p> <p>When <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is sacrificed, it comes back into play with a -1/-1 counter. When you blink it with Brago, that ability resets, and you can counter something else and keep <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> around. It becomes an extremely effective removal engine.</p> <h3>7.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Hearth and Home" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Hearth and Home</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (10%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Hearth and Home"></div></div> <p> This one is pretty simple compared to the rest of the list. Being able to protect Brago from removal spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can function like hexproof.</p> <p>Blink decks are also mana-hungry, so being able to get that extra land per turn can really add up if the game runs longer. Also, never underestimate being able to blink your best payoff one extra time per turn. Having a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent of Treachery" href="#" target="_blank">Agent of Treachery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to blink in play could make all the difference.</p> <h3>6.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blessed Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Blessed Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blessed Sanctuary"></div></div> <p>This one is more for the bracket two or bracket three style of lists. One of the biggest weaknesses of a blink-style deck is the lack of raw power to use in combat.</p> <p>If Brago were to come across a mono-green stompy deck that had the capability to prevent Brago from connecting with combat damage, this would be a tough spot to work from. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blessed Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Blessed Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would protect against damage-based board wipes like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and also provide a very steady flow of attackers or blockers in the 2/2 Unicorns it makes every time a nontoken creature enters. Off of a Brago trigger, that number could easily be 5–10 Unicorns without a lot of difficulty.</p> <h3>5.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth Conquers Death" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth Conquers Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth Conquers Death"></div></div> <p>Sagas are a really neat inclusion in a Brago deck since Brago has the capability of blinking them and resetting their lore counters to keep them around. On chapter one, you get a very versatile removal spell for any big threats.</p> <p>When it gets to chapter two, you can consistently slow things down for your opponents by making spells cost two more mana. By chapter three, if you want to let it move toward chapter three, you can bring back your best creature or planeswalker from the graveyard to use again.</p> <h3>4.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Parting Gust"></div></div> <p>It’s important in a blink deck to have removal that isn’t tied to a creature in the event that an opponent plays a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines" href="#" target="_blank">Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can completely shut down our entire strategy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the great ability to either be a removal spell or a single-target blink spell depending on what you need at the moment.</p> <h3>3.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5%) </h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll of Fate"></div></div> <p>This card is criminally underplayed. With a Brago trigger on the stack, you can manifest a card into play, which will be blinked and come in on the face-up side. This can allow us to cheat a high mana value card or combo piece without giving opponents the chance to counter the spell.</p> <p>At its floor, it can be used to manifest extra lands. Routinely, we can flash in a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Time Raveler" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Time Raveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to prevent players from casting spells on our turns. Since manifest is a more niche mechanic, this card is flying under the radar. Hopefully, that will change.</p> <h3>2.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plagon, Lord of the Beach" href="#" target="_blank">Plagon, Lord of the Beach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.88%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plagon, Lord of the Beach"></div></div> <p>For a super sleeper, we have Plagon, Lord of the Beach. Plagon allows us to draw a card for each creature you have that has a toughness greater than power. With Brago in play, this is a minimum of two cards per trigger.</p> <p>Since blink creatures are usually smaller and a good portion of them do, in fact, have greater toughness than power, Plagon can easily draw 5+ cards per turn. In a lesser capacity, you can also pay one mana to have Brago attack for four damage rather than two.</p> <p>1.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Raven’s Warning" href="#" target="_blank">The Raven’s Warning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.57%)</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Raven’s Warning"></div></div> <p>Our second saga on the list, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Raven’s Warning" href="#" target="_blank">The Raven’s Warning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is a great card for information. Initially, it will produce a 1/1 flying Bird with some life gain, which when repeated can actually be pretty effective. The second chapter lets you look at each opponent’s hand and draw cards.</p> <p>When playing a deck like this, being able to know the potential threats your opponents are hiding can make you borderline invincible. This card definitely scales with the skill of the pilot, but fair warning: this card does take a lot of time to resolve and can lead to a bit of analysis paralysis.</p> <h2>3 Cards You Don't Always Need for Brago</h2> <p>Now, with all these cards that I am suggesting, it can be intimidating to find cards to cut from the deck to make room. So, in our section, we’ll be looking at some cut candidates.</p> <p>These are good cards, showing up in over 50% of Brago decks here on EDHREC. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it's an undisputed auto-include. Let's start off with a blink staple.</p> <h3>1.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (59%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mulldrifter"></div></div> <p>Ah yes, the flying fish. Drawing two cards per entering the battlefield is indeed a strong ability. If you have a card in hand like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can actually get around the sacrifice portion of the evoke cost.</p> <p>However, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plagon, Lord of the Beach" href="#" target="_blank">Plagon, Lord of the Beach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being on the list, we’re simply able to get more bang for the buck with these cards over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p> <p>Card advantage isn’t as much of a problem in a deck like Brago that has so many repeatable card advantage engines in the 99, and it’s good to look for cards that can wear multiple hats.</p> <h3>2.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reality Acid" href="#" target="_blank">Reality Acid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (53%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reality Acid"></div></div> <p>This is a card that I actually used to run in my personal Brago list. Being able to remove something for three mana repeatedly is a very solid effect. Since you can blink this card, the time counters running out really isn’t as big of an issue as it appears to be.</p> <p>It's also nice to have a removal spell that simply says “permanent” instead of “nonland permanent” or something even more restrictive. The downside of this card is that this is a leaves-the-battlefield ability instead of an enters-the-battlefield ability.</p> <p>This means that any type of ETB-doubling cards in the deck do not impact this card at all. Additionally, with a traditional removal ETB ability like on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this can be used twice in the turn it is cast. You also have to telegraph your next removal target by enchanting it without an effective way of using it again until your next turn.</p> <p>If the enchanted permanent can be removed by sacrificing, for example, then the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reality Acid" href="#" target="_blank">Reality Acid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is taken off the board without any real ability to stop it from happening. Because of this, I’m more cold on this card than the average Brago player.</p> <h3>3.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (54%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghostly Flicker"></div></div> <p>Another staple in blink decks. The main problem with this card is that we simply have access to better cards. For less mana I would want something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for more versatility I want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and for a better utility, I want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eerie Interlude" href="#" target="_blank">Eerie Interlude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostway" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at a minimum.</p> <p>In a blink deck that also uses white, I just feel we have better things that we can be doing in the 99 with the exception of using this card as a combo piece to win the game.</p> <p>And there you have it! These are some incredible cards that you might want to consider putting in your Brago, King Eternal deck. If you have a commander that you would like to see in the next <em>Ten Under Twenty</em> article or a card you feel needs some love, leave a comment. Until next time, happy brewing!</p> 

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