<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blech, Loafing Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Blech, Loafing Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://cara.app/ilsegort/all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ilse Gort</a></span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As I typically enjoy doing when a new set releases, I’m setting out on a quest to cover creature types that gained substantial support. A couple of weeks ago, we looked at <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-wizard-typal-with-kaza-roil-chaser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wizards</a> and <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-warlock-typal-with-honest-rutstein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Warlocks</a>, two of the more prominent classifications of students at <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Strixhaven" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strixhaven</a>. Starting last week, we began touring the mascots of the different colleges. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-inkling-typal-with-felisa-fang-of-silverquill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">we covered Inklings last week</a>, we’ll continue with another mascot type to get some support before <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em></a>. Like their insectoid design, they tend to bug people; still, some find them adorable.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you guessed it? It’s <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Pest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pests</a>!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The term “pest” typically refers to animals that bother people, as reflected in the types that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blex, Vexing Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Blex, Vexing Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and his son, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blech, Loafing Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Blech, Loafing Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, refer to: Bats, Insects, Snakes, and Spiders. Bats and Spiders have been featured on previous installments, while Snakes and Spiders will have their day in the sun (the latter likely after the rain comes down). Ironically, Pests are associated with a strategy that bothers me: <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/lifegain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lifegain</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Originally, Pests gained life on death, but <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em> introduced a new kind of Pest, which instead gains life on attack. Some justify life gain by how it helps win races in combat, but life gain has always been the bane of my existence. I dislike how it extends games, makes issues with threat analysis, and struggles to translate incremental advantage into ending games. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s the earthbending to my Aang, but, like the Avatar, becoming a complete player means accepting and understanding all aspects of the game.</span></p>
<h2>Pest History</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pests are a creature type that exists primarily in the form of tokens. There are actually three kinds of Pest tokens, as Pests actually predate Strixhaven. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Signal Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Signal Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> used to be a staple of hyperaggressive decks in Standard, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nuisance Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Nuisance Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was the original Pest token maker, a role-player in early token and sacrifice themed Commander decks.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Signal Pest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nuisance Engine"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the initial <em>Strixhaven</em> set, Pests were introduced properly as the mascots of <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Witherbloom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Witherbloom</a> college, gaining life when they died. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blex, Vexing Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Blex, Vexing Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was their lord, as well as a lord of Bats, Insects, Snakes, and Spiders. He gained even more life when he died, hinting at the fate of the character, which would be confirmed with the flavor text of his son. Oddly enough, his sorcery side, castable from the command zone, was a grave-filling engine, making Blex a better graveyard commander than a Pest one.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blex, Vexing Pest"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em> and its related <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/witherbloom-pestilence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Witherbloom Commander deck</a> introduced a new breed of Pest, one where life is gained on attack instead of death. This fundamentally changed how Pests play, as they now want to get into the red zone instead of getting sacrificed or chump blocking (blocking large creatures without trample to prevent damage). This means that we want to be able to attack profitably, which is where our commander comes in.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how do we address the issues with life gain? And how do we prevent ourselves from wheel-spinning (wasting time with spells and abilities that are inconsequential to the outcome of the game)?</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blech, Loafing Pest"></div></div>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blech, Loafing Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Blech, Loafing Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blech, Loafing Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Blech, Loafing Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a game-ending threat, unlike his role-playing predecessor. For starters, Blech is a 3/4 creature for three mana - much tougher than his dad. He doesn’t gain life when he dies, but we don’t want him to die. No, we want him to be around for a long, long time, longer than our opponents will be around, that’s for sure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The nastiness comes from Blech’s triggered ability, adding layers of counters to creatures under the Pest umbrella established by Blex. These permanent boosts persist even after Blex dies, should the worst happen, and they stack on top of each other, unlike Blex’s lordship. This lets us turn the attack-based life gain into layers of counters, and, if the older Pests die, we can pump our team even more.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Merging the old and new Pests is a bit of a challenge, however. The old Pests want sacrifice effects, while the new ones want to get into combat. The old Pests don’t require combat to function, while the new ones want to continue attacking turn after turn.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If one type wants to die, and the other wants to live, how can we get the two to work together?</span></p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blech, Loafing Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Blech, Loafing Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pests predate Strixhaven and have two distinct types of tokens (and one mostly-unused one). As a result, most of the Pest cards featured will be cards that produce Pests, which includes creatures that are not Pests themselves. Pests are a largely token-based type and feature lifegain enablers and payoffs, making for a remarkably deep creature type despite only being featured in two sets, one of which just came out.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pest Infestation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pest Summoning"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pest Infestation" href="#" target="_blank">Pest Infestation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pest Summoning" href="#" target="_blank">Pest Summoning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both sorcery spells that make multiple Pests. Summoning makes a couple of Pests, while the Infestation is a mana sink, making twice X Pests and destroying X artifacts or enchantments. Fusing token production with mass removal makes a powerful and flexible card.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sedgemoor Witch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Callous Bloodmage"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sedgemoor Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Sedgemoor Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Callous Bloodmage" href="#" target="_blank">Callous Bloodmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> each make Pest tokens, although they are not Pests themselves. They are Warlocks, however, and both were part of the Warlock feature last week. The Bloodmage makes a Pest on entering, while the Witch makes them when <em>magecraft</em> triggers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But are there payoffs within the Pest type?</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blight Mound"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pest Mascot"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blight Mound" href="#" target="_blank">Blight Mound</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives our Pests an additional point of power and menace, while making Pests whenever a nontoken creature dies. This allows us to attack with the newer Pests easier. Speaking of newer Pests, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pest Mascot" href="#" target="_blank">Pest Mascot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> grows when we gain life, doubling up the counters our commander gives, threatening massive damage each turn, with trample ensuring it either connects or takes a lot with it.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moldervine Reclamation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deathreap Ritual"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moldervine Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Moldervine Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathreap Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Deathreap Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both turn the deaths of creatures into card draw for us. The Reclamation triggers whenever a creature we control dies, while the Ritual triggers each end step, checking to see if anyone’s creature died. Both can draw multiple cards per turn cycle, making them excellent engines for us.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Immoral Bargain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Withering Curse"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Immoral Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Immoral Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Withering Curse" href="#" target="_blank">Withering Curse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are solid, controllable mass removal spells. The Bargain destroys X nonland permanents, where X is the amount of creatures we sacrifice as an additional cost. Sacrificing older Pests synergizes well with our death and lifegain triggers. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Withering Curse" href="#" target="_blank">Withering Curse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> either shrinks all creatures, which works when we have enough counters stacked up, or all creatures if we’ve gained life, which can trigger our death triggers.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Susur Secundi, Void Altar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grim Backwoods"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Susur Secundi, Void Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Susur Secundi, Void Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grim Backwoods" href="#" target="_blank">Grim Backwoods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both allow us to turn creatures into card draw. The Altar needs to be stationed, but it can draw us a lot of cards in a pinch. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grim Backwoods" href="#" target="_blank">Grim Backwoods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a solid way to draw out of stalemates, and can be activated as an instant, unlike the Altar.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what are we digging for?</span></p>
<h2>How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blech, Loafing Pest" href="#" target="_blank">Blech, Loafing Pest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bastion of Remembrance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Meathook Massacre"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion of Remembrance" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion of Remembrance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Meathook Massacre" href="#" target="_blank">The Meathook Massacre</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both solid Aristocrats payoffs, turning the deaths of creatures into life loss for our opponents. The Massacre is a mass removal spell that sticks around to be an Aristocrats-style finisher. It’s especially good here because of our mass removal and penchant for having things die.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exquisite Blood"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sanguine Bond"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Together, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exquisite Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Exquisite Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanguine Bond" href="#" target="_blank">Sanguine Bond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> form one of the more infamous insta-win combos in Commander. Separately, each serves a solid role in ending the game: one makes opponents lose life when we gain it, and the other makes us gain life when opponents lose it. Both of these work with Pests that gain us life and our commander, which grows our board when we gain life. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having both in the deck increases the power level, but the adherence to a theme that’s focused around 1/1 creatures balances that out. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Still, it’s best to inform the table that the combo exists in the deck before the game starts.</span></p>
<h2>Blech, Loafing Pest Commander Deck List</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Blech, Loafing Pest Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Blech, Loafing Pest
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Beledros Witherbloom
*1 Blex, Vexing Pest // Search for Blex
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Callous Bloodmage
*1 Eccentric Pestfinder // Turn Stones
*1 Essenceknit Scholar
*1 Gorma, the Gullet
*1 Lluwen, Exchange Student // Pest Friend
*1 Mirkwood Bats
*1 Morbid Opportunist
*1 Moseo, Vein&#039;s New Dean
*1 Overgrown Pest
*1 Pest Mascot
*1 Pest Rescuer
*1 Pestbrood Sloth
*1 Professor of Zoomancy
*1 Ribtruss Roaster
*1 Sedgemoor Witch
*1 Shopkeeper&#039;s Bane
*1 Signal Pest
*1 South Wind Avatar
*1 Teacher&#039;s Pest
*1 Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Blight Mound
*1 Deathreap Ritual
*1 Exquisite Blood
*1 Feral Appetite
*1 Grave Pact
*1 Grave Venerations
*1 Moldervine Reclamation
*1 Phyrexian Arena
*1 Ripples of Undeath
*1 Sanguine Bond
*1 Sothera, the Supervoid
*1 The Meathook Massacre
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Edict
*1 Containment Breach
*1 Culling Ritual
*1 Deadly Brew
*1 Dread Return
*1 Hunt for Specimens
*1 Immoral Bargain
*1 Pest Infestation
*1 Pest Summoning
*1 Rise of the Witch-king
*1 Send in the Pest
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Withering Curse
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Cauldron of Essence
*1 Nuisance Engine
*1 Pestilent Cauldron // Restorative Burst
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Well of Lost Dreams
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Tend the Pests
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*15 Forest
*1 Grim Backwoods
*1 High Market
*1 Mortuary Mire
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*1 Spymaster&#039;s Vault
*1 Susur Secundi, Void Altar
*15 Swamp
*1 Three Tree City
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pests are a relatively new creature type, but represent the Witherbloom college well. They’re fun and play in interesting ways, including having a few different options at commander.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how would you build Pests? And which commander would you choose?</span></p>


Building Pest Typal With Blech, Loafing Pest

<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverquill, the Disputant" href="#" target="_blank">Silverquill, the Disputant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CAntonio+Jos%C3%A9+Manzanedo%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antonio José Manzanedo</a></i></span></p>
<p>The original name of the Commander format, EDH, stands for Elder Dragon Highlander. The name is a reference to the five original Elder Dragons from <em>Legends, </em>who were, in the beginning, the only options for commanders. Since the original, we've been introduced to 22 more legendary Elder Dragon options, ten of which come from both <em>Strixhaven </em>sets.</p>
<p>So in this week's deck tech, I wanted to showcase the power of one of the new Elder Dragons, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverquill, the Disputant" href="#" target="_blank">Silverquill, the Disputant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Quick note: I'll be referring to instants and sorceries as spells from this point forward. Yes, spells are anything you cast, but no one wants to read instants and sorceries a hundred times.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silverquill, the Disputant"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Silverquill, the Disputant Do?</h2>
<p>Silverquill lets you copy spells by sacrificing a creature with power one or greater. At first glance, it might seem tricky to build this properly. After all, you'd have to balance the number of creatures and spells in the deck. But Orzhov (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) has hundreds of spells that make tokens. So instead of worrying about creatures, I decided to load the deck up with cheap spells to make tokens, which can be sacrificed for value.</p>
<p>The original idea was a beatdown deck that leveraged enchantments to buff the tokens and swing face. But after some initial testing, it felt too slow and too fragile. Instead, I leaned into the copy effect and built a creatureless Storm deck. The idea is simple: make tokens, copy rituals and tutors, then close out the game.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverquill, the Disputant" href="#" target="_blank">Silverquill, the Disputant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<h3>Token Generation</h3>
<p>Deciding what token generation to include was the hardest part, given the sheer number of options. In the end, I narrowed it down to three types of generation.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lingering Souls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inkshield"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Nation Occupation"></div></div>
<p>First are the efficient spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lingering Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Lingering Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's only three mana for two bodies, plus it has flashback. If a card only made tokens and it cost four or more mana, I cut it.</p>
<p>Second are the utility token spells. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inkshield" href="#" target="_blank">Inkshield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a great job of stopping a lethal swing, and providers sacrifice fodder. Don't try to copy it, as you'll still only get one set of tokens.</p>
<p>And finally, enchantments that make tokens. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Nation Occupation" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Nation Occupation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been an MVP in every deck I've seen, so it felt like a no-brainer to include.</p>
<h3>Rituals</h3>
<p>To properly storm off, we need a ton of mana, which is where the rituals come in.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Ritual"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Ritual"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bubbling Muck"></div></div>
<p>Copying <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> nets you five mana. If you have threshold online, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will net a total of eight mana for the low price of two mana. And finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bubbling Muck" href="#" target="_blank">Bubbling Muck</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a black <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="High Tide" href="#" target="_blank">High Tide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If you resolve two copies of Bubbling Muck, all Swamps become Dark Rituals.</p>
<p>This is symmetrical, so your opponents will also benefit from it.</p>
<h3>Tutors</h3>
<p>While I generally avoid tutors, I decided to lean into it since this is a Storm deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Diabolic Intent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Diabolic Tutor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Petition"></div></div>
<p>I didn't include the expensive ones, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diabolic Intent" href="#" target="_blank">Diabolic Intent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great budget-ish Demonic Tutor replacement. You need to sacrifice two creatures, one to copy and one to cast, but that won't be an issue. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diabolic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Diabolic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is four mana, but if copied, it's like two Demonic Tutors. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Petition" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Petition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can actually net one mana if spell mastery is online.</p>
<h2>How Does Silverquill, the Disputant Win?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exsanguinate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Professor Onyx"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sentinel Tower"></div></div>
<p>The primary goal is to chain together several rituals and tutors to cast a giant <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exsanguinate" href="#" target="_blank">Exsanguinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If you want, you could also add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torment of Hailfire" href="#" target="_blank">Torment of Hailfire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as an additional big X spell.</p>
<p>But before that happens, you'll want to get chip damage in where possible. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Professor Onyx" href="#" target="_blank">Professor Onyx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> drains four every time you cast, then copy a spell. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sentinel Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Sentinel Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pings any target for increasing amounts of damage. It doesn't check when you copy a spell, but the damage still adds up.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Codex Shredder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faith&#039;s Reward"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuran Orb"></div></div>
<p>You can also try assembling the three-card combo of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Codex Shredder" href="#" target="_blank">Codex Shredder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faith&#039;s Reward" href="#" target="_blank">Faith&#039;s Reward</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuran Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Zuran Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div id="1315-1532-1721" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="0" height="0" /> <script id="1315-1532-1721" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&amp;uses=%5B%22Faith's%20Reward%22%2C%22Codex%20Shredder%22%2C%22Zuran%20Orb%22%5D&amp;requires=%5B%5D&amp;produces=%5B%22Infinite%20landfall%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20lifegain%22%2C%22Infinite%20lifegain%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20magecraft%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20mana%20lands%20you%20control%20can%20produce%22%2C%22Infinite%20storm%20count%22%5D&amp;id=1315-1532-1721&amp;color=W&amp;extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></p>
<h2>Silverquill, the Disputant Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Creatureless Token Storm" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Silverquill, the Disputant
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aligned Heart
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Caretaker&#039;s Talent
*1 Fire Nation Occupation
*1 Monologue Tax
*1 Ninja Teen
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Battle Menu
*1 Beckon Apparition
*1 Cabal Ritual
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Corrupted Conviction
*1 Costly Plunder
*1 Cut Down
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Erode
*1 Eviscerator&#039;s Insight
*1 Faith&#039;s Reward
*1 Fanatical Offering
*1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
*1 Grand Crescendo
*1 Infernal Grasp
*1 Inkshield
*1 Kaya&#039;s Guile
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Rain of Filth
*1 Raise the Alarm
*1 Silence
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Codex Shredder
*1 Diary of Dreams
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 River Song&#039;s Diary
*1 Sentinel Tower
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bubbling Muck
*1 Circle of Power
*1 Clowning Around
*1 Cornered by Black Mages
*1 Dark Petition
*1 Decorum Dissertation
*1 Diabolic Intent
*1 Diabolic Tutor
*1 Exsanguinate
*1 Finale of Glory
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Lingering Souls
*1 Mastermind&#039;s Acquisition
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Righteous Confluence
*1 Secret Rendezvous
*1 United Front
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General
*1 Professor Onyx
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Eclipsed Steppe
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fountainport
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Midgar, City of Mako // Reactor Raid
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Orzhov Basilica
*1 Path of Ancestry
*4 Plains
*1 Shadowy Backstreet
*1 Shattered Sanctum
*1 Shineshadow Snarl
*1 Snowfield Sinkhole
*1 Sunlit Marsh
*13 Swamp
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Turbulent Moor
*1 Umbral Expanse
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>If you're looking for a unique take on Storm, I can't recommend Silverquill enough. I played against a version of this deck the last two weekends, and it crushed the table. But it didn't have the long storm turns you'd expect. It even won a few games by ramping into big token spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="United Front" href="#" target="_blank">United Front</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> then beating face.</p>
<p>Also, if you want to see even more <em>Magic</em> content from me, you can find plenty of that on my YouTube channel <a href="http://youtube.com/@BRBMTG?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BathroomBrewsMTG</a>. Alrighty nerds, I'll see you in the next one!</p>


Silverquill, the Disputant Creature-less Storm Deck

Trample Your Opponents With This Nev, the Practical Dean Commander Deck

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muddle, the Ever-Changing" href="#" target="_blank">Muddle, the Ever-Changing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CAndrew+Mar%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrew Mar</a></em></p>
<p>There aren't many cards in the game that use the word muddle. In fact, there's exactly enough for me to make the "I'd have two nickels" joke. While I won't be discussing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muddle the Mixture" href="#" target="_blank">Muddle the Mixture</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this article, I will be talking about a new commander from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em></a>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muddle, the Ever-Changing" href="#" target="_blank">Muddle, the Ever-Changing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Muddle, the Ever-Changing"></div></div>
<p>Muddle isn't the type of creature that I would normally build a deck around, but something about the combination of turning into another creature and having myriad, while being part <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spellslinger</a>, piqued my interest. Muddle has many ways to mix up a decklist, so follow along as I show you what I did to stir up boardstates.</p>
<h2>Build Paths for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muddle, the Ever-Changing" href="#" target="_blank">Muddle, the Ever-Changing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>As I mentioned, there are a few different ways that you can build Muddle, the Ever-Changing. One option is enter the battlefield (ETB) triggers, using something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Or you could build <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/elementals/izzet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Izzet Elementals</a> due to Muddle's creature type. Maybe a deck focusing on cloning or copying Muddle and getting around the legend rule?</p>
<p>Regardless of how you build Muddle, there are two things every deck will need: instants and sorceries.</p>
<p>That includes, if you take the deck the way I built it, creatures that want to connect. This deck wants to do one thing and one thing only: hit the other players upside the noggin. But how are we doing it?</p>
<h2>Creature Connection</h2>
<p>Why focus on hitting the opponents? I didn't want to do a Panharmonicon deck because it's a tad boring, and Muddle offers a great path for just getting in damage. <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> is full of cheap spells to trigger Muddle, and those cheap spells can often give evasion so that at least one of the creatures we turn sideways can connect. If we find a way to get in with more than one, great, but we have a plan.</p>
<p>Speaking of those cheap spells, this deck is full of them, and here are some of the favorites.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Distortion Strike"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leap"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shadow Rift"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Distortion Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Distortion Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic from back when I played Modern Infect. The spell does exactly what we want by allowing Muddle to copy a creature and become unblockable. The best part is that on the next turn, we get to run this card back for free, thanks to rebound casting the spell from exile at no cost to us.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leap" href="#" target="_blank">Leap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> not only has some of the best art in the game, but it also has the three best words in the game printed on it: draw a card. Against some decks, flying is the same as unblockable, and for only a single <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, there's not much better than the classic.</p>
<p>If anything could challenge the previous card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadow Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Shadow Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is up for the challenge. The shadow keyword is as close to unblockable as possible, with not a large <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=oracle%3Ashadow+%28game%3Apaper%29+prefer%3Abest+t%3Acreature&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">card pool</a> to pull blockers from. If Shadow Rift wanted to be worse, it wouldn't replace itself, but thanks to the designers of <em>Tempest,</em> that wasn't the case.</p>
<h2>Evasive Action</h2>
<p>Instant and sorceries are not the only way to guarantee Muddle gets through the red zone. Some of our creatures do a good job at helping out, too.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elturel Survivors"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Professional Face-Breaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bria, Riptide Rogue"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elturel Survivors" href="#" target="_blank">Elturel Survivors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that more aggressive red decks should be playing, and it's a house in a list like this. While it starts as a 0/4 even being played on curve, Survivors is going to attack for anywhere between four and six power, depending on how many opponents in the pod have land ramped. Trample means that no matter what, this card should be able to find a way to connect.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Professional Face-Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Professional Face-Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that players are all too familiar with. What happens when there are suddenly three attackers on a turn? Players are going to take damage, and you're getting a big payoff in the form of Treasures and card advantage. This card might secretly be the most dangerous thing in the deck; if you see a Muddle player cast Face-Breaker, remove it with full aggression.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bria, Riptide Rogue" href="#" target="_blank">Bria, Riptide Rogue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't a creature that we'll copy with Muddle, but it's one that we would love to have on the board when going to combat. Since we need to cast an instant or sorcery to trigger Muddle in the first place, Bria will let Muddle gain unblockable right away. Everything else is going to benefit from prowess, and depending on the spells we have in hand and the mana available, maybe get unblockable as well.</p>
<h2>First and Second Contact</h2>
<p>Where one combat is good, more is better. We could slam the deck full of extra combat effects in the form of cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aggravated Assault" href="#" target="_blank">Aggravated Assault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combat Celebrant" href="#" target="_blank">Combat Celebrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but those aren't the best with myriad. Instead, I turned to extra combat effects that trigger off of the connection this deck seeks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodthirster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Port Razer"></div></div>
<p>Two creatures specifically, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodthirster" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodthirster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Port Razer" href="#" target="_blank">Port Razer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are exactly what we want for more and more combat steps. It might get a bit confusing about which opponent can be attacked when you start to stack up extra combats, but that's why math is for blockers.</p>
<p>I did squeeze in a sorcery-speed extra combat spell, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seize the Day" href="#" target="_blank">Seize the Day</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it is one of the best.</p>
<p>Why Seize the Day over anything else? The repeatability. Finding the right mix of creatures to noncreatures in the deck is key to making the deck work, and Seize the Day helps by giving two instances of triggering Muddle and being a card for both the early and late game.</p>
<h2>The Price of Contact</h2>
<p>We know how to make contact, and we know how to make contact over and over again, but what's the big deal? Why are we doing all this? Profit, that's why. Profit in the form of some very big creatures with some very big effects.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Copper Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphinx Ambassador"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Twinflame Tyrant"></div></div>
<p>This deck is light on legendaries, but that doesn't mean that the effects on some of these creatures are not legendary. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Copper Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Copper Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets the Muddle player get anywhere between four and 80 Treasures in a single combat step. Alone, this is more mana than you could ever need, but pair it with the secret all-star of the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Professional Face-Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Professional Face-Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and now you won't run out of cards any time soon.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphinx Ambassador" href="#" target="_blank">Sphinx Ambassador</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help you make deals with players at the table to get creatures who can answer common board problems and test players' knowledge of their own decks. The thought of playing mind games with the table about what creature you might have taken out of their deck was too good not to include in the 99.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twinflame Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Twinflame Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> wins games. Nothing special about this card other than the amount of damage you can do from four 3/5 flyers with damage doubling as their ability.</p>
<h2>Spice Rack</h2>
<p>Every deck needs a bit of spice to set it apart from the others, and this list is no different.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sundial of the Infinite"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nevermaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Screaming Nemesis"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundial of the Infinite" href="#" target="_blank">Sundial of the Infinite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a spotlight to let you know that a deck is up to no good. While it might cause us to skip all the remaining steps and phases of our turn after combat, the trade-off is that we get to keep the tokens made off of myriad. Worth it, I say.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nevermaker" href="#" target="_blank">Nevermaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might feel more at home in a list slanted towards Elementals, but it fits well with myriad copies <em>leaving</em> the battlefield due to exile. Thankfully, Nevermaker doesn't need to die to put a nonland permanent back on top of the library, so every myriad copy lets us build our own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plow Under" href="#" target="_blank">Plow Under</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Screaming Nemesis" href="#" target="_blank">Screaming Nemesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might need to be cut from this deck for being downright too mean. This card sucks if you have to block it, and it sucks if you can't block it. At least your opponents can all suck it up together as they rapidly lose life to your combat steps.</p>
<h2>Wrap Up</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muddle, the Ever-Changing" href="#" target="_blank">Muddle, the Ever-Changing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the most unique commanders from <em>Secrets of Strixhaven.</em> With multiple build paths open to it and infinite customization from the creatures to noncreatures, the lists are...ever-changing. I will concede that the best build of this commander is something slanted towards ETB effects with a focus on Elementals.</p>
<p>With the new influx of Elementals from the previous set, <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/ecl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lorwyn Eclipsed</a>, </em>and myriad giving you additional ETBs for any creature, the deck starts to build itself. The best part about Muddle might be that all of the divergent paths work well in combination with one another without making the deck feel too unfocused. Just make sure you have enough of the right creature type before sleeveing up something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion of the Path" href="#" target="_blank">Champion of the Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>And remember to shy away from things with attack triggers, as those don't work the way you want to when considering the myriad tokens.</p>
<p>What other cards from <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em> are you excited for? What do you think of the new prepared mechanic? Why is Elemental Otter Shapeshifter the best creature type-line ever? Let me know here or on the interwebs. Make sure you check out all the great content focusing on our second year at the Strixhaven Academy.</p>
<h2>Muddle, the Ever-Changing Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tech The Deck - Muddle, the Ever-Changing" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Muddle, the Ever-Changing
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Crimson Wisps
*1 Expedite
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Leap
*1 Pongify
*1 Prismari Charm
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Run for Your Life
*1 Shadow Rift
*1 Shore Up
*1 Snap
*1 Temur Battle Rage
*1 Three Steps Ahead
*1 You Come to a River
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Ancient Copper Dragon
*1 Ancient Silver Dragon
*1 Anticausal Vestige
*1 Archaeomancer
*1 Bladegriff Prototype
*1 Bloodthirster
*1 Bria, Riptide Rogue
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Curiosity Crafter
*1 Dazzling Sphinx
*1 Elturel Survivors
*1 Enduring Curiosity
*1 Gogo, Mysterious Mime
*1 Goldlust Triad
*1 Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar
*1 Marang River Regent // Coil and Catch
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Nevermaker
*1 Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak
*1 Port Razer
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Redoubled Stormsinger
*1 Screaming Nemesis
*1 Spark Double
*1 Sphinx Ambassador
*1 Starwinder
*1 Twinflame Tyrant
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Dolmen Gate
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sundial of the Infinite
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Artful Dodge
*1 Crash Through
*1 Distortion Strike
*1 Enter the Enigma
*1 Gitaxian Probe
*1 Isengard Unleashed
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Slip Through Space
*1 Stock Up
*1 Strike It Rich
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Amonkhet Raceway
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Diamond City
*1 Fiery Islet
*10 Island
*1 Izzet Boilerworks
*7 Mountain
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scorched Geyser
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Training Center
*1 Turbulent Springs
[/Lands]"></span></div>


Myriad Possibilities With Muddle, the Ever-Changing in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quandrix, the Proof" href="#" target="_blank">Quandrix, the Proof</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.lucasgraciano.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lucas Graciano</a></span></i></p>
<p>We're headed back to school! Ordinarily, that would be a drag. But, when school's got Dragons, spells, and even a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spectacular Skywhale" href="#" target="_blank">Spectacular Skywhale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it's much more appealing.</p>
<p>As part of our return to Strixhaven's campus, we've got a <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/sos#cardlists" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brand new cycle of Elder Dragons</a>. All five of these big creatures grant our instants and sorceries some powerful keywords, providing us with a payoff after spending a ton of mana to get them onto the field.</p>
<p>In our case, we're focusing on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quandrix, the Proof" href="#" target="_blank">Quandrix, the Proof</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the Simic (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander from the cycle. This version is much more powerful than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tanazir Quandrix" href="#" target="_blank">Tanazir Quandrix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from our last trip to the magical school, so I'm super excited to see what she can do at the helm of a Commander deck!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quandrix, the Proof"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Quandrix, the Proof Do?</h2>
<p>For <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, we get a flying, trampling 6/6 with cascade. That lets us immediately derive some value from our commander, even if the spell gets countered on the stack. Once she's on the battlefield, Quandrix provides cascade to each instant and sorcery spell that we cast from our hand.</p>
<p>I'm reminded of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty" href="#" target="_blank">Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's another Simic commander that gives our stuff cascade, but Imoti forces us to cast huge spells to get any benefit from her abilities. Quandrix triggers on <em>any</em> instant or sorcery we cast from our hand, letting us cascade more often!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty"></div></div>
<p>Our 99 is built to maximize the value that Quandrix provides. We'll focus on ramping up to our commander in the early game, manipulating the top of our library to ensure that we always cascade into the right spells, and making use of some splashy cards to close the game out in style.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quandrix, the Proof" href="#" target="_blank">Quandrix, the Proof</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<h3>Top-Deck Manipulation</h3>
<p>To make sure that we get the spells we need <em>when</em> we need them, we've got a few ways to manipulate the top of our deck. It's disappointing to cascade into a simple ramp spell like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nature&#039;s Lore" href="#" target="_blank">Nature&#039;s Lore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> when we've already got enough lands, or into a counterspell when there's nothing else on the stack. Cards from this group help us avoid that painful possibility.</p>
<p>One of my favorites is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Palantír of Orthanc" href="#" target="_blank">Palantír of Orthanc</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can take a big chunk out of opposing life totals if we mill over something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Apex Altisaur" href="#" target="_blank">Apex Altisaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The Palantír is a consistent way to keep the top of our deck clean, draw a few cards, and it can hit the battlefield way before our commander does.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Palantír of Orthanc"></div></div>
<p>Then, there's a collection of other cards that let us change the top card of our library. From <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Portent" href="#" target="_blank">Portent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainsurge" href="#" target="_blank">Brainsurge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, there's lots of ways to put exactly the card we want in prime position for cascading.</p>
<p>We've even got a few lands, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Grotto" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Grotto</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rivendell" href="#" target="_blank">Rivendell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to provide extra card selection in a pinch. Some top-deck tutors like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Personal Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Personal Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystical Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Mystical Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> round out this cadre, while also taking up one of our <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer slots</a>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brainstorm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystal Grotto"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Personal Tutor"></div></div>
<h3>Discounted Spells for Bigger Cascades</h3>
<p>We're happy to cast any spell from our hand to trigger Quandrix's cascade ability, but there's some spells that have high mana values and can be cast for less. The <a href="https://tagger.scryfall.com/tags/card/cheaper-than-mv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"cheaper-than-mv" tag on Scryfall</a> was super helpful in building out this section of the 99. Free spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Will" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Misdirection" href="#" target="_blank">Misdirection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great examples, letting us cascade for five while being cast for (basically) free.</p>
<p>This is where two of our Game Changers slot in!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Will"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Misdirection"></div></div>
<p>We can cascade for five by spending just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="This Town Ain&#039;t Big Enough" href="#" target="_blank">This Town Ain&#039;t Big Enough</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, cascade for five with either <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dig Through Time" href="#" target="_blank">Dig Through Time</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure Cruise" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure Cruise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or even cascade for seven while grabbing an opponent's spell with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commandeer" href="#" target="_blank">Commandeer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Any one of these cards can really turn the game around for us, providing us their own effect and grabbing another card from our library for free.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="This Town Ain&#039;t Big Enough"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dig Through Time"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Commandeer"></div></div>
<h3>Synergy Pieces</h3>
<p>Finally, we get to the synergy pieces. One of the best cards in this deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whirlwing Stormbrood" href="#" target="_blank">Whirlwing Stormbrood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which lets us cast our commander <em>and</em> all 25 of the sorceries that we've got in our deck at instant speed. This Dragon lets us hold up mana for interaction while also being able to ramp or draw cards if that interaction isn't necessary! It's even got its own spell built in, if we need a cascade trigger in a pinch.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whirlwing Stormbrood"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archmage of Runes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quandrix Apprentice"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archmage of Runes" href="#" target="_blank">Archmage of Runes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also provides us with some valuable card advantage and cost reduction, letting us keep throwing out spells from our hand at a rapid pace. We shouldn't have a problem reaching its <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> casting cost, either.</p>
<p>Last but certainly not least, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quandrix Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Quandrix Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This Human Wizard is one of my favorite creatures in all of Commander. It can hit the board early and keep our hand full of lands throughout the game. It's important that we continue gaining access to more mana after we cast our commander, so we can cast multiple three- and four-mana spells each turn. This two-drop creature ensures that we're able to do so.</p>
<p>It's only in 0.51% of eligible decks on EDHREC's database, and I'd love to see that number go up!</p>
<h2>How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quandrix, the Proof" href="#" target="_blank">Quandrix, the Proof</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While most of our 99 is focused on generating value with our commander's cascade triggers, we do have a few specific win conditions. </span></p>
<p>First up, there's <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Legend of Kuruk" href="#" target="_blank">The Legend of Kuruk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This Saga starts off by providing us with a bit of top-deck maniuplation and card advantage, but turns into a Spirit token factory that also lets us take an extra turn at an opportune moment. The tokens created by Avatar Kuruk may only be 1/1s, but they're extremely evasive and can serve as a neat game-ending clock.</p>
<p>The extra turn that this transformed creature provides can also provide us with the window we need to win the game, provided that we didn't spend all of our mana to activate the ability in the first place.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Legend of Kuruk"></div></div>
<p>Then there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deekah, Fractal Theorist" href="#" target="_blank">Deekah, Fractal Theorist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She lets us create huge creature tokens, and can make those tokens unblockable for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. The Fractals that she creates have a power and toughness that's dependent on the mana value of the spell we cast, not the amount of mana we spent to cast it. That means that the spells that we cascade into will make us some big tokens too!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deekah, Fractal Theorist"></div></div>
<p>Finally, failing all of that, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clone Legion" href="#" target="_blank">Clone Legion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We don't run a ton of creatures in our 99 - just 20 - so these big spells should provide us with the power and toughness we'll need to crash through for victory in combat. Clone Legion has the added benefit of cascading into another spell, letting us pull off some truly crazy turns.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Craterhoof Behemoth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clone Legion"></div></div>
<h2>Quandrix, the Proof Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Proof of Life" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Quandrix, the Proof
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Apex Altisaur
*1 Archmage of Runes
*1 Bloomvine Regent // Claim Territory
*1 Cavalier of Gales
*1 Craterhoof Behemoth
*1 Deekah, Fractal Theorist
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Fanatic of Rhonas
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Haughty Djinn
*1 Hullbreaker Horror
*1 Jadzi, Oracle of Arcavios // Journey to the Oracle
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Nyxbloom Ancient
*1 Quandrix Apprentice
*1 Studious First-Year // Rampant Growth
*1 Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror
*1 Whirlwing Stormbrood // Dynamic Soar
*1 Wistfulness
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary
*1 Bridgeworks Battle // Tanglespan Bridgeworks
*1 Clone Legion
*1 Ezuri&#039;s Predation
*1 Farseek
*1 Last March of the Ents
*1 Majestic Genesis
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Nissa&#039;s Pilgrimage
*1 Personal Tutor
*1 Ponder
*1 Portent
*1 Portent of Calamity
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn
*1 Season of Gathering
*1 See the Truth
*1 Three Visits
*1 Treasure Cruise
*1 Wisdom of Ages
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
*1 Auroral Procession
*1 Blessed Respite
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Brainsurge
*1 Commandeer
*1 Counterspell
*1 Dig Through Time
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Force of Will
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Harrow
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Misdirection
*1 Mystic Confluence
*1 Mystical Tutor
*1 Obscuring Haze
*1 Reclaim
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 This Town Ain&#039;t Big Enough
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Buster Sword
*1 Palantír of Orthanc
*1 Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Sylvan Library
*1 The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk
[/Enchantments]
[Battles]
*1 Invasion of Segovia // Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia
[/Battles]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crystal Grotto
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Flooded Grove
*8 Forest
*1 Hedge Maze
*1 Hidden Grotto
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*7 Island
*1 Kishla Village
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Rivendell
*1 Rumble Arena
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Waterlogged Grove
*1 Willowrush Verge
*1 Yavimaya Coast
*1 Zhalfirin Void
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each of the five new <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/ranking-every-elder-dragon-on-a-tier-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elder Dragons</a> is super interesting. They allow us to do something really strong with our instants and sorceries, while still feeling tied to their college's identity. I am happy to see <em>Wizards</em> bring storm back in a relatively controlled way, and I'm also thrilled to see the return of casualty. I think that casualty, in particular, has been in need of some love. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's great to see this <em>New Capenna</em> mechanic tied to <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em>'s most iconic creatures.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silverquill, the Disputant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prismari, the Inspiration"></div></div>
<p>Regardless of my affinity (no pun intended) for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> decks, I'm particularly intrigued by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This flying beater reduces the cost of our spells under specific conditions while helping us meet those conditions, providing a unique sort of value engine.</p>
<p>Which of these five Dragons is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll be back next week with more <em>Strixhaven</em> commentary!</p>


Building a Spellslinger Deck with Quandrix, the Proof

Goading and Enchanting With Killian, Decisive Mentor

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/jsraphael" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joshua Raphael</a></em></p>
<p>The <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Miracle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">miracle</a> mechanic has a storied history in the game of <em>Magic</em>, which could be the reason why the commander of the deck we're building today, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is so interested in them. Casting spells for a cheaper cost if they were the first card you drew that turn has led to some truly epic in-game moments ever since their introduction in <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/avr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avacyn Restored</a></em>.</p>
<p>Now, as we go back to <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Strixhaven</em></a>, we'll see the long-awaited return of this mechanic, which causes players to draw their first card each turn in a very weird way.</p>
<p>So, join me <a href="https://linktr.ee/pillowfortmtg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks</a> as I cover a budget 99 that you can pick up for about $45 (based on <a href="https://www.tcgplayer.com/product/675584/magic-secrets-of-strixhaven-lorehold-the-historian?irclickid=SfrVsYSKHxycUQrwtpRxjWrOUkuwCOyzESECz40&amp;sharedid=&amp;irpid=4913290&amp;irgwc=1&amp;afsrc=1&amp;utm_source=impact&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=Space%20Cow%20Media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TCGPlayer</a> pricing, and excluding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> since its presale price is so high).</p>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lorehold, the Historian"></div></div>
<p>Flying in from the plane of <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Arcavios" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arcavios</a> we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the Elder Dragon founders of the Strixhaven college. This commander gives your instant and sorcery spells miracle, which will require you to set aside the first card you draw each turn. Which is important to keep in mind, since Lorehold lets you discard a card in order to draw a card on each opponent's upkeep.</p>
<p>This will make for some wild plays, where you'll get to disregard timing restrictions, and change the game at the start of someone else's turn.</p>
<h2>Budget Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>As I built around this commander, I realized just how important it was to find the right balance for the deck. You want to be able to have a high level of instants and sorceries in this list, in order to not draw any "duds," which are basically lands, artifacts, enchantments, and creatures. One of the things that helped with this goal is our first section, which is full of lands that're also spells.</p>
<h3>Spells in the Land Slot</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emeria&#039;s Call"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Song-Mad Treachery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sundering Eruption"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emeria&#039;s Call" href="#" target="_blank">Emeria&#039;s Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a great example of why modal double-faced cards (MDFCs) are so great in the list. Not only can this be an untapped land when you need it, but it can also be a game altering spell when you're able to cast it for that miracle cost off the top.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song-Mad Treachery" href="#" target="_blank">Song-Mad Treachery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: While resolving a theft effect like this on another player's turn might not seem like the best move, it can still be useful to take someone's commander away at the start of their turn, tripping up their game plan.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundering Eruption" href="#" target="_blank">Sundering Eruption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Blowing up someone's powerful land and making a big portion of the board unable to block is a great combo to hit at the start of an opponent's turn. Plus, since your commander has flying, you can still block once this spell has resolved.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sejiri Shelter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Legion Leadership"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sejiri Shelter" href="#" target="_blank">Sejiri Shelter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: While this might not be the greatest spell to cast for miracle cost, it still can help protect your commander, since it'll likely be a lightning rod for removal.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legion Leadership" href="#" target="_blank">Legion Leadership</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Targeting Lorehold with this spell can be useful for lowering someone's life total, but it also helps when you employ some politics. Since you can double the power of another player's creature in order to send it towards a shared enemy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Top-Deck Manipulation</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hidden Retreat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brainstone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon&#039;s Rage Channeler"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hidden Retreat" href="#" target="_blank">Hidden Retreat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a very tricky card to include in this deck. It gives you the ability to throw the expensive cards that're stuck in your hand right on top of your library, which sets it up to be the first card you draw that turn.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstone" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Drawing three cards and then putting two back on top allows you to place a couple of great spells you'll want to cast for their miracle costs in a row.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon&#039;s Rage Channeler" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon&#039;s Rage Channeler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: There's a large number of noncreature spells in this list which'll ensure you're constantly surveilling with this creature as the game goes on, setting up your future draws.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loran&#039;s Escape"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystal Ball"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conduit Pylons"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loran&#039;s Escape" href="#" target="_blank">Loran&#039;s Escape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: There are several protection spells in this list that help you keep your commander on the board, and this is a great example of what they can provide, since it can save your game plan while allowing you to scry.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Ball" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Ball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: While three mana might be expensive to get this down, spending only one mana to scry 2 will ensure that you have better chances to draw an expensive card to cheat out with your commander.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conduit Pylons" href="#" target="_blank">Conduit Pylons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a representative of the <em>eight</em> lands in this deck that enter and allow you to manipulate the top of your library. In this case, you get an untapped land that lets you surveil 1 when it hits the board, while also filtering your mana.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Big Splashy Spells</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm Herd"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brass&#039;s Bounty"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hit the Mother Lode"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Herd" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Herd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: When it comes to casting huge spells, this sorcery is one of the first cards that came to mind. If you're looking for a way to win the game, your Pegasus army is here to help.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brass&#039;s Bounty" href="#" target="_blank">Brass&#039;s Bounty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a card that gets better and better as the game goes on. Making Treasures based off of the number of lands you control for as little as two mana could put you in a place where you can cast some of the big spells that have gotten stuck in your hand.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hit the Mother Lode" href="#" target="_blank">Hit the Mother Lode</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's another way to cast some of these big spells in the deck. Plus, even if you hit a cheaper spell with this, you'll make tapped Treasures equal to the difference.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waltz of Rage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invoke Calamity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Into the Time Vortex"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waltz of Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Waltz of Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a great one-sided board wipe that leaves your commander behind, while also offering some card advantage if you have creatures on the board.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invoke Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Invoke Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Casting this spell at the start of someone's turn could change the game out of nowhere. Whether you sweep the board, remove some permanents, or even just draw some more cards, this can turn the game around for you.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Into the Time Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Into the Time Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: While this doesn't have any effect on its own, it does allow you cascade for five, and then lets you cast it again for free on your next turn, making for a great one-two punch.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mana Advantage</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bender&#039;s Waterskin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Laser Screwdriver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bender&#039;s Waterskin" href="#" target="_blank">Bender&#039;s Waterskin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This mana rock is perfect for the deck's strategy, since you can untap it on other people's turns in order to use it towards your miracle costs.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Laser Screwdriver" href="#" target="_blank">Laser Screwdriver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a bit of a Swiss Army Knife in the list. It offers up several useful abilities, especially that surveil option, assisting your top deck manipulation.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Since this deck is looking to cast big instants and sorceries, this Dwarf is here to help your engine roll along, building up Treasure tokens over time.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grinning Ignus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cartographer&#039;s Hawk"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grinning Ignus" href="#" target="_blank">Grinning Ignus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This creature does some great work in the deck for a few reasons. You can get it down in the early game, and then bounce it back to your hand to help with casting your commander. Once it's there, you can discard it to draw a card on an opponent's turn.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cartographer&#039;s Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Cartographer&#039;s Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Typically, the fact that you need to return this Bird to your hand when it hits someone else is a drawback. However, as I mentioned before, putting this back into your hand gives you the chance to rummage it away in order to make a miracle to happen.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Lorehold, the Historian Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Lorehold, the Historian - Budget Build by Tyler &#039;Savesya&#039; Bucks" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Lorehold, the Historian
[/Commander]
[Sorceries]
*1 Brass&#039;s Bounty
*1 Emeria&#039;s Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Fiery Confluence
*1 From the Ashes
*1 Gift of Estates
*1 Hit the Mother Lode
*1 Inspired Tinkering
*1 Into the Fire
*1 Into the Time Vortex
*1 Kayla&#039;s Command
*1 Mob Verdict
*1 Pirate&#039;s Pillage
*1 Promise of Loyalty
*1 Scouring Sands
*1 Season of the Bold
*1 Seize the Spoils
*1 Snort
*1 Song-Mad Treachery // Song-Mad Ruins
*1 Storm Herd
*1 Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure
*1 Thrilling Discovery
*1 Throes of Chaos
*1 Waltz of Rage
*1 Will of the Jeskai
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Big Score
*1 Blacksmith&#039;s Skill
*1 Boon of Safety
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Expose to Daylight
*1 Fiery Temper
*1 Giantfall
*1 Gods Willing
*1 Intimidation Bolt
*1 Invoke Calamity
*1 Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold
*1 Loran&#039;s Escape
*1 Rally the Monastery
*1 Raphael&#039;s Technique
*1 Redeem the Lost
*1 Reprieve
*1 Riddle of Lightning
*1 Sejiri Shelter // Sejiri Glacier
*1 Sheltering Light
*1 Stroke of Midnight
*1 Unexplained Absence
*1 Your Temple Is Under Attack
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Cartographer&#039;s Hawk
*1 Dragon&#039;s Rage Channeler
*1 Grinning Ignus
*1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Summon: G.F. Cerberus
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bender&#039;s Waterskin
*1 Brainstone
*1 Crystal Ball
*1 Laser Screwdriver
*1 Mana Geode
*1 Ore-Rich Stalactite // Cosmium Catalyst
*1 Seer&#039;s Lantern
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Hidden Retreat
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Conduit Pylons
*1 Crystal Grotto
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Furycalm Snarl
*1 Hidden Grotto
*1 Lorehold Campus
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Promising Vein
*1 Rugged Prairie
*1 Rumble Arena
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Zhalfirin Void
*11 Mountain
*7 Plains
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Three More Interesting Cards Before I Go</h2>
<p>I'm not done talking about the cards in this deck just yet, because there's some interesting inclusions that fill up this list that might not make total sense at first glance.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Squee, Goblin Nabob"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gift of Estates"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="From the Ashes"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squee, Goblin Nabob" href="#" target="_blank">Squee, Goblin Nabob</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives you a free card to throw away in order to set up for a miracle on another player's turn, which adds up to a lot of advantage over time when it returns to your hand. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gift of Estates" href="#" target="_blank">Gift of Estates</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also gives you some discard fodder, while also thinning out your deck, making it less likely you'll draw a land when you don't want it.</p>
<p>Finally, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="From the Ashes" href="#" target="_blank">From the Ashes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which brings some <em>light</em> land destruction to the list (allowing people to search up replacements) but more importantly, it pulls lands out of your deck, and brings them in untapped!</p>
<h2>My Final Thoughts on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>So, there you have it, a budget 99 build around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorehold, the Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Lorehold, the Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that you can pick up for $45. This deck will lead to some truly wild games, as you get to see your opponents quake in fear after each card you draw.</p>
<p>If you're looking for more budget content from me, you can find it right <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/tyler-bucks?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here on EDHREC</a> as well as on my YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzUtnBZogc1TSttr8eLUK_w/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Pillow Fort</a>, where I do everything I can to make <em>Magic</em> more accessible for everyone.</p>


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best secrets of strixhaven commanders