Top 10 Big Birds for Bartz and Boko

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral, the Windcrested</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://jesperejsing.com/">Jesper Ejsing</a></h6>
<h1>Early birds and night owls</h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello there! Welcome once again to <em>EDHighlights</em>, the mini-series where I build decks for the year's most popular commander for each color combination. As 2024's set releases have finished, I'll take a look at the most popular releases from the past year. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I've built a deck for each monocolored commander (you can find those </span><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/cooper-gottfried/?utm_source=edhrec&amp;utm_medium=article_preview"><span style="font-weight: 400;">at this link</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and I'm now moving on to the two-color commanders. We'll be kicking things off this week with an Azorius deck, and our first kindred deck in the series. This deck will be led by… <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral, the Windcrested</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kastral, the Windcrested"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love Bloomburrow, I love birds, and I love creature-heavy Azorius decks. This is the first deck in the series that I'm actually considering buying in paper. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is, surprisingly, a bluejay (</span><a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Kastral#:~:text=4%20References-,Description,a%20bluejay%20birdfolk%20from%20Bloomburrow."><span style="font-weight: 400;">according to the MTGWiki</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">). Given her name, I would have assumed she's a kestrel, but I guess that the fine folks making cards thought that would be too easy. But, whatever type of bird she may be, she's leading this deck. Let's get brewing!</span></p>
<h2><b>It's a bird! It's a plane!</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 4/5 Bird Scout with flying for 5 mana, and she has an ability that gives us a benefit whenever a Bird bonks one of our opponents. When one of our Birds connects we get to do one of three things:</span></p>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Put a Bird from our hand or graveyard onto the battlefield with a finality counter on it.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Put a +1/+1 counter on each of our Birds.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Draw a card.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All of these are great, and this deck will work best when we're able to get to make this choice more than once each turn. As for this deck's small twist, we'll be making the most of both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s text and our other typal synergies. Every creature in this deck will be a bird!</span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">A family that welcomes birds of all feathers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Birds of a feather flock together, and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">'s Birds are no different. There are a few cards from both recent and not-so-recent </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> history that work well when we have a board full of Birds. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keeper of the Nine Gales" href="#" target="_blank">Keeper of the Nine Gales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can act as a repeatable bounce spell, for the low cost of tapping two birds. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another old one, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Aerie Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee, Aerie Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is SLIGHTLY janky but can act as a great anthem and mana sink in the late game. And, the much newer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knightfisher" href="#" target="_blank">Knightfisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make a ton of tokens over the course of the game (and it's name alone makes it worth a slot in this deck).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Keeper of the Nine Gales"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee, Aerie Keeper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knightfisher"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crookclaw Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Crookclaw Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which turns each of our creatures into card draw if we'd rather hold them back in combat. We can even negate its high mana cost with our commander's ability, making this avian more advantageous. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seaside Haven" href="#" target="_blank">Seaside Haven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can sacrifice our birds for cards. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This card is particularly good with our commander in play, because we'll be able to reanimate any birds we throw into the bin. And, although five mana is admittedly a bit much for this effect, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murmuration" href="#" target="_blank">Murmuration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has found a slot too. It makes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Crow" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Crow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, buffs our birds, and is just overall a really fun card to slam on the field.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crookclaw Elder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seaside Haven"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Murmuration"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We've got other, non-Bird-focused flying-synergies too. There's classic anthems like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Empyrean Eagle" href="#" target="_blank">Empyrean Eagle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, anthems that get even better if we can put them into the graveyard like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even the second appearance of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Sky Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as an anthem.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Empyrean Eagle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee, Sky Warden"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's also cost reducers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Watcher of the Spheres" href="#" target="_blank">Watcher of the Spheres</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warden of Evos Isle" href="#" target="_blank">Warden of Evos Isle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and protection for our board in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsettled Mariner" href="#" target="_blank">Unsettled Mariner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Overall, birds (and some of their changeling friends) provide a wide array of effects for our lofty battlefield.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Watcher of the Spheres"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warden of Evos Isle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unsettled Mariner"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dazzling Denial" href="#" target="_blank">Maintaining brilliant plumage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One important thing to note about Kastral is that, while she can cheat out creatures from our hand or recur them from our graveyard, those creatures enter with finality counters on them. If they would die, instead they're just exiled. So, like any good Commander player, I'm going to do my best to get around that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, let's talk about the deck's blink subtheme. There's a few cards that really stand out here, like <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>. This card fills our graveyard, lets our smaller creatures punch through in combat to trigger our commander, and can blink our creatures to get rid of their finality counters. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just an absolute all-star in the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meneldor, Swift Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Meneldor, Swift Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great too, it's a bird that can blink one of our other birds every turn. Even though it's only a 3/3 for four mana, its ability makes up for those lackluster stats. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Splash Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Splash Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can blink a creature and replace itself in our hand for just one mana. If it weren't a sorcery, this would be in contention as one of the best blink spells in </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gossip&#039;s Talent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Meneldor, Swift Savior"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Splash Portal"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As an added bonus, this blink subtheme will allow our creatures to re-trigger their enters triggers, meaning that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scouting Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Scouting Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irregular Cohort" href="#" target="_blank">Irregular Cohort</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aerial Extortionist" href="#" target="_blank">Aerial Extortionist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and all our other creatures with ETB effects become even better.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scouting Hawk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Irregular Cohort"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aerial Extortionist"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are two other interesting ways to get rid of finality counters: the recently-revivified <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Power Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and recently-released <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Power Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can straight up remove the finality counters while making a creature stronger, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Senu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> actually WANTS to be exiled. Then, admittedly less interestingly, staples like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are here too,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Power Conduit"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ephemerate"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Crow" href="#" target="_blank">Storm crow descending…</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like any good typal deck, Kastral and Co. will be making use of some less-type-specific typal-synergy cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> shines here, just like it does in most kindred decks, and puts in extra work when we cheat out a feathered friend with our commander. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I'm also a big fan of the two <em>Bloomburrow</em> village lands that slot into the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lilypad Village" href="#" target="_blank">Lilypad Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help to fill the graveyard with more targets for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lupinflower Village" href="#" target="_blank">Lupinflower Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can put more birds directly into our hand in a pinch.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lilypad Village"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lupinflower Village"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that bird's-eye view of the deck, let's take a look at the decklist…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="2024&#039;s EDHighlights - Kastral, the Windcrested" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Kastral, the Windcrested
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Aerial Extortionist
*1 Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven
*1 Aven Interrupter
*1 Battlefield Raptor
*1 Bloodline Pretender
*1 Cartographer&#039;s Hawk
*1 Combat Calligrapher
*1 Crookclaw Elder
*1 Eagles of the North
*1 Empyrean Eagle
*1 Esior, Wardwing Familiar
*1 Gwaihir the Windlord
*1 Harrier Strix
*1 Irregular Cohort
*1 Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
*1 Jackdaw Savior
*1 Judge&#039;s Familiar
*1 Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant
*1 Kangee, Aerie Keeper
*1 Kangee, Sky Warden
*1 Keeper of the Nine Gales
*1 Knightfisher
*1 Ledger Shredder
*1 Lifecreed Duo
*1 Meneldor, Swift Savior
*1 Miner&#039;s Guidewing
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Mockingbird
*1 Nimble Obstructionist
*1 Plumecreed Escort
*1 Scouting Hawk
*1 Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector
*1 Shabraz, the Skyshark
*1 Shrike Force
*1 Stormscape Familiar
*1 Thrummingbird
*1 Universal Automaton
*1 Unsettled Mariner
*1 Warden of Evos Isle
*1 Watcher of the Spheres
*1 Wingmate Roc
*1 Yorion, Sky Nomad
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Gossip&#039;s Talent
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Murmuration
*1 Reflections of Littjara
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Animal Sanctuary
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Hengegate Pathway // Mistgate Pathway
*6 Island
*1 Lilypad Village
*1 Lupinflower Village
*1 Mystic Gate
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Nimbus Maze
*1 Path of Ancestry
*8 Plains
*1 Restless Anchorage
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Seaside Haven
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Three Tree City
*1 Unclaimed Territory
[/Lands]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Airborne Aid
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Raise the Palisade
*1 Splash Portal
*1 Supreme Verdict
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 And They Shall Know No Fear
*1 Cloudshift
*1 Dazzling Denial
*1 Ephemerate
*1 Lae&#039;zel&#039;s Acrobatics
*1 Lofty Denial
*1 Razorgrass Ambush // Razorgrass Field
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Strix Serenade
*1 Swan Song
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Patchwork Banner
*1 Power Conduit
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Urza&#039;s Incubator
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<h2><b>Everybody's heard about the bird!</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That's it for this week's article! As someone who does research on migratory species conservation, and as someone who just loves birds, this was such a fun deck to build. My favorite Bird in this deck is probably <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrier Strix" href="#" target="_blank">Harrier Strix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a 1/1 flyer for just one mana, and it can help us filter for more cards if we have extra mana.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In real life, though, my favorite bird is the<a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Siskin/id"> Pine Siskin</a>. I research these little guys as part of my job, and I think they're just cool looking. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">What's your favorite bird (in real life or in <em>Magic</em>)? I'd love to know, so let me know in the comments below. I'll see you all next week!</span></p>


2024’s EDHighlights -  Kastral, the Windcrested

Too-Specific Top 10 - Bird-Arms!

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Souvenir Snatcher" href="#" target="_blank">Souvenir Snatcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kev_Walker">Kev Walker</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>Welcome to <em>Dual</em><em> Shot</em>, where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck.</p>
<p>There's something about those strange, black birds. They're too clever by half. The family-minded crow, with her flock of scores, or the lonelier raven, grand and imposing. Folks have been writing about them for as long as they've had writing, and they were musing about the talkative little creatures well before any human hand put pen to paper, or chisel to stone.</p>
<p>The First Nations of the American Pacific Northwest variously mythologize the raven as a creator god and a trickster god. There are multiple crow-riders in Hindu mythology, sometimes fearsome and inauspicious, other times heralding justice, spiritual rigor, and conscientiousness. To the Irish gods, ravens were inextricable from warfare, reliably assembling to clean the flesh from the fields of battle. The Welsh god Bran is named so: literally meaning <em>raven</em>. The raven is the first bird mentioned in the Bible. They are prophecy, they are thought, they are memory. Even more, their characters exhibit industry and laziness, carnality and temperance, discipline and boredom.</p>
<p>The world over, we've seen ourselves in these birds.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Souvenir Snatcher"></div></div>
<p>In this series, we put two decks into one. This usually presents as a deck's theme being streamlined slightly, so as to accommodate the inclusion of a secondary theme, and it's the goal of the experiment to try and reconcile these two fractions. Sometimes we find unexpected synergy, and other times, things prove a little too jarring. Rarely, we tap into an unexplored theme - a combination of cards that we don't see in tandem with any statistical significance on EDHREC - either because it's perceived as too difficult to make a small or unsupported theme shine, or simply because it's weird and unwieldy.</p>
<p>And no, this one doesn't involve <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes/birds">Bird tribal</a> (although plenty of our creatures are technically going to be Birds). Instead, we'll focus on those uncanny totems that are still erected to this day, as if the warding charms of men might have anything of import to say to the crows. More often than not, I see common ravens perching on the stiff limbs of scarecrows, unafraid of whatever repellent qualities the straw might have. Like they might be mocking us. Or perhaps <em>teasing</em> is a better word, as I've never detected malice in crows - only trickery.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trickery Charm"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Problem Solving</h2>
<p>It's no great secret that crows and ravens are up to more than they let on, as anyone who has had their things tampered with by the birds can attest to. Once, when I was on the Channel Islands off the coast of California, I saw a common raven descend upon an unattended backpack in the campgrounds, unzip the largest pocket with its beak, and <em>steal a cell phone</em>.</p>
<p>I'm not sure what it needed a smartphone for, but it stands to reason that these birds have a multifarious toolbox. Thus, we arrive at "charms" tribal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crosis&#039;s Charm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bant Charm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakdos Charm"></div></div>
<p>So without any further obfuscation or meandering rumination, this is a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes/scarecrows">Scarecrow tribal</a> list helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reaper King" href="#" target="_blank">Reaper King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, reinforcing his legion with an armory of <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=charm+type%3Ainstant">charms</a>. Charms in <em>Magic</em> typically belong to cycles, each finding their identity in their modality. These modal cards are multitaskers, much like the cycle of commands.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atarka&#039;s Command"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Profane Command"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cryptic Command"></div></div>
<p>Note the difference: the Charms grant us one of the modes, while the Commands grant us two. (Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sublime Epiphany" href="#" target="_blank">Sublime Epiphany</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give us all of them.) Since this is a <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/wubrg#">WUBRG</a> list, and the charms tend to demand a little more color (and since crows are <em>charming</em> - come on, they're dressed in all black, so they're ready for any formal event!), we'll exclude the Commands and take advantage of our rainbow identity.</p>
<p>Okay, justifications aside, let's see how this works.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Reaper King Charms" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Reaper King
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Brass Herald
*1 Cairn Wanderer
*1 Chainbreaker
*1 Changeling Outcast
*1 Changeling Titan
*1 Elvish Harbinger
*1 Faerie Harbinger
*1 Fang Skulkin
*1 Farmstead Gleaner
*1 Flamekin Harbinger
*1 Graveshifter
*1 Impostor of the Sixth Pride
*1 Irregular Cohort
*1 Jawbone Skulkin
*1 Jousting Dummy
*1 Lockjaw Snapper
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Mothdust Changeling
*1 Scarecrow
*1 Scaretiller
*1 Scuttlemutt
*1 Shell Skulkin
*1 Signpost Scarecrow
*1 Tatterkite
*1 Taurean Mauler
*1 Universal Automaton
*1 Unsettled Mariner
*1 Valiant Changeling
*1 Venomous Changeling
*1 War-Spike Changeling
*1 Webweaver Changeling
*1 Wild-Field Scarecrow
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Kindred Charge
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Armillary Sphere
*1 Birthing Boughs
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Mirror of the Forebears
*1 Pillar of Origins
*1 Soul Foundry
*1 Star Compass
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Abzan Charm
*1 Bant Charm
*1 Crosis&#039;s Charm
*1 Darigaaz&#039;s Charm
*1 Dromar&#039;s Charm
*1 Esper Charm
*1 Golgari Charm
*1 Grixis Charm
*1 Jeskai Charm
*1 Jund Charm
*1 Mardu Charm
*1 Naya Charm
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Rith&#039;s Charm
*1 Simic Charm
*1 Sultai Charm
*1 Temur Charm
*1 Treva&#039;s Charm
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Dictate of Karametra
*1 Etchings of the Chosen
*1 Kindred Discovery
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Exotic Orchard
*5 Forest
*5 Island
*1 Isolated Chapel
*5 Mountain
*6 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Sulfur Falls
*5 Swamp
*1 Unclaimed Territory
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Distracted by the Shiny</h2>
<p>As you can see, this deck can do a lot of very specific things. Did our opponent field infinite creatures? Let's kill them with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Do our creatures represent lethal damage, but our opponent have a ton of blockers? Clear the way with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naya Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Naya Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We can burn, we can heal, we can deal with all manner of permanents. With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reaper King" href="#" target="_blank">Reaper King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out, we're basically playing hard control. And of course, like any decent control deck, the win conditions are... lacking.</p>
<p>Fielding a bunch of unimpressive Scarecrows and lording over them with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brass Herald" href="#" target="_blank">Brass Herald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etchings of the Chosen" href="#" target="_blank">Etchings of the Chosen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can slowly turn the tide in our favor, and we have a fair bit of countermagic available to protect us from board wipes. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Charge" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Charge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the only tool in the list that will win us the game out of nowhere - "Out of nowhere" used here to mean "once we have an already-established board presence."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brass Herald"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etchings of the Chosen"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Charge"></div></div>
<p>Outside of our charms, we also have a good deal of utility in our creatures, and our harbingers can fetch them for us. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Harbinger" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Harbinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faerie Harbinger" href="#" target="_blank">Faerie Harbinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamekin Harbinger" href="#" target="_blank">Flamekin Harbinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would all make excellent crows. However, there aren't really any game-winning fetch targets. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Entity" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Entity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can get it done, but we still need a wide board state, and plenty of mana ready. Thus, our Charms can help loot for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Charge" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Charge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treva&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Treva&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sultai Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Sultai Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will help to that end - and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naya Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Naya Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can pull anything back from the graveyard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elvish Harbinger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faerie Harbinger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flamekin Harbinger"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This is a quirky deck, but crows are quirky birds. I mean, have you seen them walk? Look, if you want a deck with 30 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angel of Despair" href="#" target="_blank">Angel of Despair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s in it, and with only a couple meaningful win cons that you have to really dig for and score off oddly specific multitools, then this is the deck for you. It should prove shiny enough to keep our attention for a little while, at least. That is, until the next unattended backpack shows itself, zippers alive with light.</p>
<p>That's it for this installment of <em>Dual Shot</em>! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reaper King" href="#" target="_blank">Reaper King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fairly popular commander, with just over 1,000 lists on EDHREC. What strange shenanigans have you gotten up to with our pumpkin-crowned liege lord? Or, perhaps a more interesting question: what are some of the weirder interactions you've seen with Charms, Commands, or modal cards in general? When did those more specific modes come in handy? Let us know in the comments below! See you soon - the next experiment doesn't look too far off, as the crow flies.</p>


Dual Shot - Clever Crows

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Empyrian Eagle" href="#" target="_blank">Empyrian Eagle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.jaestudio.com/">Jason A. Engle</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Bird is the Word!</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to another exciting edition of <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>, where I highlight the hyper-underplayed cards on EDHREC in 300 decks or less. This week's topic is all thanks to a recent visit to my LGS. A fellow patron was talking about their Esper Commander deck led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sharuum the Hegemon" href="#" target="_blank">Sharuum the Hegemon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and its Bird subtheme. He said that he would much rather just play Azorius with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Aerie Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee, Aerie Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but thought there wasn't enough support for a tribal Commander deck. I don't think he knew who he was talking to....</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee, Aerie Keeper"></div></div>
<p>There are a few different things going on here with Kangee. Obviously, we're going to want to aim for Bird tribal, relying on some little-played gems to bring in some fun abilities. But there's also the use of feather counters to increase Kangee's avian buff. Turns out, there are a fair number of Bird-related cards that relate to counters. While most "counters matter" cards see way too much play to earn a spot in my articles (I'm looking at you, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrummingbird" href="#" target="_blank">Thrummingbird</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), there are a few below that could use some extra love from deckbuilders. But first, let's get into those that help the tribe.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Birds of a Feather</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soraya, the Falconer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Keeper of the Nine Gales"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crookclaw Elder"></div></div>
<p>First up, we have the original Bird lord, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soraya, the Falconer" href="#" target="_blank">Soraya, the Falconer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (215 decks). Since <em>Homelands</em>, she's been retconned to effect all Birds and not just Falcons. While I totally recognize that <em>Banding</em> is usually to be avoided like the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pox" href="#" target="_blank">plague</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the intent here is to use her solely for the buff with the activated ability there only for those brave enough to travel back to 1995. Some of you may say that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Favorable Winds" href="#" target="_blank">Favorable Winds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a better return on investment here, and you're probably right, but I like the flavor associated with Soraya, and I tend to prefer creature-based effects in tribal decks.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keeper of the Nine Gales" href="#" target="_blank">Keeper of the Nine Gales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a pretty good impression of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tradewind Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Tradewind Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, especially in a Bird tribal deck. There are a fair number of Bird token makers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Migratory Route" href="#" target="_blank">Migratory Route</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle Screech" href="#" target="_blank">Battle Screech</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, so having some spare 1/1s around to help activate the Keeper's ability shouldn't be a problem. Access to white generally makes bounce and counter strategies less the "last resort" in Azorius decks, as white can <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saltblast" href="#" target="_blank">blow up almost anything</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But with the tribal restrictions and a lack of creatures that offer repeatable removal, this is a nice addition. The Keeper sees play currently in 297 decks.</p>
<p>Also from <em>Legions</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crookclaw Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Crookclaw Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> bridges the gap between the Bird and Wizard tribes, and sees play in 266 decks. The card draw option using your leftover Bird blockers is a great way to refuel your hand. This seems to be something that Birds are generally good at doing, whether through <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Airborne Aid" href="#" target="_blank">Airborne Aid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seaside Haven" href="#" target="_blank">Seaside Haven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I generally expect a full grip from this deck on any given turn. Also of note, there are enough Wizards in this deck to make the other ability possible, though with all of your creatures already in the air, it's more of a political tool to help opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glarecaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skymark Roc"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sawtooth Loon"></div></div>
<p>Next up, we have some of the oft-neglected Birds themselves, and first on that list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glarecaster" href="#" target="_blank">Glarecaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Currently in 218 decks on EDHREC, this birdie is the master of redirecting damage. While the ability is a little costly, the effect on the game can be quite significant. This is especially true when you're redirecting commander damage with a Voltron deck at the table. Based on the wording of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glarecaster" href="#" target="_blank">Glarecaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the damage isn't filtered through anything on redirect, and would still count toward reaching the magical 21 damage for your opponents.</p>
<p>As with most tribal decks, this one is going to care about attacking often, so adding in Birds that trigger effects when they enter combat seems appropriate. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skymark Roc" href="#" target="_blank">Skymark Roc</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just such a card with a useful effect. On attack, it can remove a chump blocker from a single combat, or shred a small token on the battlefield. It's in a reasonable 192 decks right now, as this kind of effect isn't very strong on it's own, but exactly what we're looking for in a Bird.</p>
<p>I've talked about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sawtooth Loon" href="#" target="_blank">Sawtooth Loon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before when building <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-dromars-bounce-house/"><em>Dromar's Bounce House</em></a>, so you should already be familiar with its hand-filtering effect. Once again, it functions as another solid Bird with a good effect to add to the list. It's still neglected, in only 164 decks. Another Bird of note that helps with draw is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raven Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Raven Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Urza's Legacy</em> (275 decks). One of the few blue cards with <em>Echo</em>, it's just one more toolbox Bird able to provide access to options.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Fly Like an Eagle</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Empyrean Eagle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unsettled Mariner"></div></div>
<p>Not all of our pro-Bird cards are going to care about creature type. Some only care that the creatures have wings. For instance, <em>Core Set 2020's</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Empyrean Eagle" href="#" target="_blank">Empyrean Eagle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> buffs all of our flyers for a very good rate. As the set is still fairly new, the Eagle only sees play in 59 decks right now, but I expect this number to climb swiftly! I think <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> wouldn't mind the inclusion of this Eagle.</p>
<p>Also from <em>Core Set 2020</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides some much needed protection for our winged friends. This will come in handy during a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Supreme Verdict" href="#" target="_blank">Supreme Verdict</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for sure. She's also a great basher in her own right, adding some much-needed power to the field. Again, as <em>Core Set 2020</em> is still new, she only sees play in 217 decks at the moment. I'm less certain of her future, however, as she feels more like a part of the 99 than a commander. Maybe I can give her a deck of her own in a future article.</p>
<p>Then there's one of my favorite cards from <em>Modern Masters</em>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsettled Mariner" href="#" target="_blank">Unsettled Mariner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Seeing play in a measly 212 decks, this card is definitely in much need of some love. What I like most about the Mariner is that it specifies all permanents you control, not just creatures. That means that your opponent's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aura of Silence" href="#" target="_blank">Aura of Silence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is going to cost a little more when trying to blow up your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptic Gateway" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptic Gateway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Plus the card fits into any tribal-themed deck! Seriously, those playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sygg, River Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Sygg, River Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> need to update their decklists.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Don't Counter Your Chickens Before They Hatch!</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aetherstorm Roc"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jötun Owl Keeper"></div></div>
<p>As I said above, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Aerie Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> not only has love for the feathered friends but can also play into counter synergies as well. I've included cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Bastion" href="#" target="_blank">Karn&#039;s Bastion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tezzeret&#039;s Gambit" href="#" target="_blank">Tezzeret&#039;s Gambit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to help <em>Proliferate</em> Kangee's feather counters. There're also Birds like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="High Sentinels of Arashin" href="#" target="_blank">High Sentinels of Arashin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and tribal cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soulcatchers&#039; Aerie" href="#" target="_blank">Soulcatchers&#039; Aerie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that love counters.</p>
<p>Another underplayed Bird that likes counters, this time of the energy variety, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherstorm Roc" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherstorm Roc</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Played in 270 decks, the Roc builds up energy whenever a creature hits the field on your side, then turns that energy into a +1/+1 counter and removal of a blocker on an attack. Referring to two different kinds of counters, this Bird definitely benefits from <em>Proliferate</em> effects.</p>
<p>Finally, providing some unexpected counter synergy, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jötun Owl Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Jötun Owl Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (166 decks). One of my favorite cards from <em>Coldsnap</em>, the Owl Keeper builds up age counters using its <em>Cumulative Upkeep</em> trigger, and upon its death, gives you a Bird for each counter. While <em>Cumulative Upkeep</em> isn't very fun outside of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braid of Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Braid of Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, combining with <em>Proliferate</em> can help<em> </em>squeeze the most Bird tokens out of the card before its demise.</p>
<p>Alright, here's the deck!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kangee Bird Tribal" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kangee, Aerie Keeper
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Metallic Mimic
*1 Mindshrieker
*1 Pride of the Clouds
*1 Soulcatcher
*1 Thrummingbird
*1 Unsettled Mariner
*1 Adaptive Automaton
*1 Aven Mimeomancer
*1 Aven Mindcensor
*1 Cloudchaser Kestrel
*1 Empyrean Eagle
*1 Jotun Owl Keeper
*1 Keeper of the Nine Gales
*1 Lieutenant Kirtar
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Nimble Obstructionist
*1 Raven Familiar
*1 Soraya, the Falconer
*1 Warden of Evos Isle
*1 Aetherstorm Roc
*1 Commander Eesha
*1 Emeria Angel
*1 High Sentinels of Arashin
*1 Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
*1 Sawtooth Loon
*1 Skymark Roc
*1 Thieving Magpie
*1 Coveted Peacock
*1 Gustcloak Savior
*1 Wingmate Roc
*1 Crookclaw Elder
*1 Glarecaster
*1 Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Mirrorweave
*1 Ojutai&#039;s Command
*1 Return to Dust
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Contentious Plan
*1 Harsh Mercy
*1 Airborne Aid
*1 Battle Screech
*1 Supreme Verdict
*1 Tezzeret&#039;s Gambit
*1 Migratory Route
*1 Austere Command
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Azorius Keyrune
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Urza&#039;s Incubator
*1 Worn Powerstone
*1 Door of Destinies
*1 Cryptic Gateway
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Soulcatchers&#039; Aerie
*1 Leyline of Anticipation
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Command Tower
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Seachrome Coast
*1 Seaside Haven
*1 Windbrisk Heights
*13 Island
*17 Plains
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Gotta Fly!</h2>
<p>Well that about does it for this bird-brained deck on <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>. Unleash your questions, comments, and snide remarks in the comments section below. I'll be on there to talk about how just how far the mighty dinosaur hath fallen, and to convince you to play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsettled Mariner" href="#" target="_blank">Unsettled Mariner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as often as possible! Let me know if you have any hyper-underplayed tribes that you think need some more love. Or, for that matter, any generally hyper-underplayed cards and strategies that you'd like me to talk about. I love suggestions from readers! See you all in two weeks.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/maxresdefault.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-36466" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/maxresdefault.jpg" alt="" width="546" height="307" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Forgotten Harvest - Kangee Bird Tribal

<p>Greetings everyone, I'm back once again to highlight deck construction through the use of Pyramid Theory. This time I want to focus on themed decks. A themed deck is a deck which is build around a theme, rather than a commander. Tribal decks are some of the most common examples of this. Some other possible examples include decks built around lore, a specific mechanic, or card art. Basically themed decks can be designed around anything. A common heuristic that is over represented in the commander community is that themed decks are under powered. While many themes may have their limitations, a properly constructed theme deck can be as powerful as almost any other strategy. This article's goal is to illustrate how to create a fully powered themed deck that hold its own in a game filled with powerful commanders.</p>
<p>Today's theme is <b>Caw Blade</b>. Caw Blade was arguably one of the most powerful Standard decks of all time and was so oppressive that it eventually led to the banning of [Card]Jace, the Mind Sculptor[/Card] and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stoneforge Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Stoneforge Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in Standard. The power of the deck came from the card advantage engine of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squadron Hawk[/Card], used in conjunction with Jace&#039;s [card]Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Squadron Hawk[/Card], used in conjunction with Jace&#039;s [card]Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ability, allowing you to essentially draw an additional three cards a turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stoneforge Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Stoneforge Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was used to find powerful finishers cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Batterskull" href="#" target="_blank">Batterskull</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Games commonly ended with a sword-weilding hawk. I want to build a Commander version of this old Standard deck, one where the primary win condition is, naturally, sword-weilding birds.</p>
<p>As always we break down the deck, working our way through each step of Pyramid Theory. For a more detailed explanation of these steps please see <a href="http://articles.edhrec.com/pyramid-theory-101-kydele-thrasios/">my first article</a> on the subject.</p>
<h2>Steps of Pyramid Theory</h2>
<ol>
<li>Inspiration</li>
<li><span class="s2">Identify Goals</span></li>
<li><span class="s2">Identify Direct Commander Synergies</span></li>
<li><span class="s2">Solidify Sub-themes</span></li>
<li><span class="s2">Establish Win Conditions</span></li>
<li><span class="s2">Filling the Gaps</span></li>
<li><span class="s2">Mana Base</span></li>
<li><span class="s2">Analysis &amp; Refinement</span></li>
</ol>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3281" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/jace-the-mind-sculptor-714x280.png" alt="" width="714" height="280" /></p>
<h2>Inspiration</h2>
<p>When building a themed deck, inspiration is everything. Sometimes you sit down with a solid theme in mind, while other situations require a bit more exploration and refinement before beginning the deck building processes. I find that inspiration often comes from the strangest places. I've seen some crazy themed deck, and even created a few myself, and here are some important things to think about when you find an interesting theme. You should ask yourself if the deck you want to build is even possible. Some themes may be too limiting to build a 100 card deck around. While the idea of Noggle tribal (donkey-folk) may sound hilarious to you, considering there have only been four Noggles in all of Magic, the deck has no legs to stand on. If the deck isn't possible, you can considering modifying the theme, or combining a few different ideas to strengthen the theme. Maybe you just love Noggles and want to show them some love, so you create a deck build around a bunch of unsupported tribes, an island of misfit toys so to speak. Now that's an idea that could get off the ground. It's important to ensure that our theme is strong to ensure we have plenty of options. </p>
<p>The inspiration for my Caw Blade deck came from a part of Magic's history. Caw Blade however is a narrow theme, with only a few cards associated with the deck. Therefore, I need to diversify my themes as I build to ensure my deck is robust enough to have good play experiences.</p>
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-3285 aligncenter" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/noggle.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="310" />Identify Goals</h2>
<p>When we create the goals for our deck, we will have different parameters than those of other decks. We want our opponents to fully understand what the deck's about without having to say anything about it. We also want to establish what the overarching goals of the deck are. Is this themed deck designed just to have a few laughs, and have fun, or will this deck have all the enablers to make it powerful? Understand from the beginning that you will likely need to make some concessions regarding power level or theme one way or the other.</p>
<p>For my caw blade deck my goals are fairly simple. I want to play the key cards from caw blade, and kill people with swarms of birds carrying swords. I've chosen <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Derevi, Empyrial Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Derevi, Empyrial Tactician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as my commander for this deck. She is one of the best birds ever printed, fits into our theme, and has some cool tricks associated with her ability. I also think she is powerful enough on her own that we won't have to concede much in the way of power level. However, I do want to make this a fun deck to play with and against, hence I will avoid the traditional stax effects commonly played in Derevi strategies.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3511 aligncenter" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/BirdsOfParadise.jpg" alt="" width="239" height="332" /></p>
<h2>Identify Direct Commander Synergies</h2>
<h3>A Commander in Form and Function</h3>
<p>We want our commander to be emblematic of our theme while also serving to propel us to victory. In this way our commander can mitigate some of our theme's potential drawbacks. For example, I'm trying to replicate the feeling of playing with Caw Blade. Derevi is the perfect commander for this strategy, because she is a commander in both form and function. She unites our themes, while also being a powerful tool for victory. Her ability allows us to be mana efficient, and has synergy with evasive creatures. In this way the deck is both a top-down Derevi deck, and a themed deck. While building a themed deck it is important to strike a balance between powerful cards and theme-based cards. Take time to ensure your commander has as much utility as possible, while not betraying your theme or goals. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-3295 aligncenter" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/derevi.jpeg" alt="" width="223" height="310" /></p>
<h2>Solidify Sub-themes</h2>
<p>As we build our themed deck we need to nail down all the various themes and sub-themes. This involves looking at each individual theme in-depth, and deciding what cards are most advantageous to our strategy.</p>
<p>Derevi has a few different sub-themes to consider: tribal elements, equipment, and anthems. For the purposes of this article I'm just going to focus on the deck's tribal elements. For tribal decks you may want to consider looking at every single member of the given tribe to understand all of your options. For example, there are apparently 185 on-color birds in all of Magic. This is good because it allows me to be more selective in my choice of avians. Some tribes don't have this luxury, and you are forced to play almost all of the available creatures. I think it's important in tribal decks to not overdo the theme. You want to have a normal amount of creatures for the given strategy. Don't feel compelled to play bad creatures if you don't have to. For my Derevi deck I managed to narrow the 185 birds down to just 30. I'm playing a few weaker birds like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squadron Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Squadron Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Crow" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Crow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for obvious theme reasons, but on the whole, I have decent creature quality. You also want to take advantage of any tribal cards that can increase the power level of the deck. I highly suggest combing through Onslaught block for tribal cards, since it has cards for many underrepresented tribes. There you can find many gems such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seaside Haven" href="#" target="_blank">Seaside Haven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for instance.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-3520 aligncenter" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/soulcatchers.jpeg" alt="" width="223" height="310" /></p>
<h2><span class="s2">Establish Win Conditions</span></h2>
<p>Theme decks often have a common problem in ending the game quickly and concisely. To avoid this we look to establish our win conditions during this point in the deckbuilding process. We want to evaluate what we have in abundance and think about how that can translate to winning a game. Many tribal strategies win by swarming the board and casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects, while other themed deck may have combos to win the game. This is a point of the process where the strength of your theme is tested. Does your theme have it's own self-contained win conditions, or do you have to stray off theme to win games? These are the questions that can make designing a themed deck difficult, but just continue referring back to your goals to ensure you're happy with your deck's direction.</p>
<p>In my Caw Blade deck I foresee two potential win condition, commander damage, and attacking with a legion of flyers. Equipment and anthems are instrumental to both win conditions.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3525" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/forkintheroad.jpg" alt="" width="462" height="336" /></p>
<h2><span class="s2">Filling the Gaps, and Mana Base</span></h2>
<p>Filling the gaps in themed decks is essentially the same as any other deck, so long as your theme doesn't restrict you from play the common Commander staples. You will always want a healthy mix of ramp, card advantage, and removal, the particulars of which may be theme dependent. Similarly, most themed decks require nothing more than your average mana base. If you want more information on the particulars of these two steps in Pyramid Theory, I recommend that you read my first article where I break down each step in the process.</p>
<h2><span class="s2">Analysis &amp; Refinement</span></h2>
<p>Analysis and refinement can be difficult with themed decks partly due to the lack of quality replacements. Often times you want to replace a less powerful card that is on theme, but find that your theme provides limited options. How do you improve your deck without sacrificing theme? I advocate adding more mana efficient cards, lowering the curve, and adding cards that facilitate card advantage. These strategies can help to refine a deck, if a lack of power is your issue. They also are unlikely to sacrifice much in the way of theme. As always, with any deck it's important to always be looking for ways to improve upon what you have already created. </p>
<p>I hope this installment of Pyramid Theory 101 has been interesting and helpful for you. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me.</p>
<p>Happy Brewing!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Caw Blade" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Derevi, Empyrial Tactician<br />
[/Commander]</p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Birds of Paradise<br />
*1 Cloudfin Raptor<br />
*1 Augury Owl<br />
*1 Aven Squire<br />
*1 Thrummingbird<br />
*1 Storm Crow<br />
*1 Sage Owl<br />
*1 Palace Familiar<br />
*1 Owl Familiar<br />
*1 Stoneforge Mystic<br />
*1 Squadron Hawk<br />
*1 Glint-Nest Crane<br />
*1 Metallic Mimic<br />
*1 Aven Mindcensor<br />
*1 Warden of Evos Isle<br />
*1 Hunting Moa<br />
*1 Keeper of the Nine Gales<br />
*1 Adaptive Automaton<br />
*1 Tine Shrike<br />
*1 Thieving Magpie<br />
*1 Messenger Falcons<br />
*1 Kangee, Aerie Keeper<br />
*1 Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker<br />
*1 Bronzebeak Moa<br />
*1 Commander Eesha<br />
*1 Wingmate Roc<br />
*1 Waveskimmer Aven<br />
*1 Shriek Raptor<br />
*1 Gustcloak Savior<br />
*1 Celestial Gatekeeper<br />
*1 Aven Brigadier<br />
*1 Crookclaw Elder<br />
*1 Windbrisk Raptor<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Stoneforge Masterwork<br />
*1 Masterwork of Ingenuity<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Mana Vault<br />
*1 Grim Monolith<br />
*1 Umezawa's Jitte<br />
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine<br />
*1 Sword of Fire and Ice<br />
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow<br />
*1 Sword of War and Peace<br />
*1 Sword of Body and Mind<br />
*1 Urza's Incubator<br />
*1 Chromatic Lantern<br />
*1 Thran Dynamo<br />
*1 Door of Destinies<br />
*1 Batterskull<br />
*1 Coat of Arms<br />
*1 Cryptic Gateway<br />
*1 Obelisk of Urd<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Soulcatchers' Aerie<br />
*1 Favorable Winds<br />
*1 Glorious Anthem<br />
*1 Gaea's Anthem<br />
*1 Always Watching<br />
*1 Rhystic Study<br />
[/Enchantments]</p>
<p>[Sorceries]<br />
*1 Harsh Mercy<br />
*1 Airborne Aid<br />
[/Sorceries]</p>
<p>[Instants]<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Arcane Denial<br />
[/Instants]</p>
<p>[Planeswalkers]<br />
*1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor<br />
*1 Nahiri, the Lithomancer<br />
[/Planeswalkers]</p>
<p>[Lands]<br />
*1 Command Tower<br />
*1 Flooded Strand<br />
*1 Windswept Heath<br />
*1 Misty Rainforest<br />
*1 Hallowed Fountain<br />
*1 Temple Garden<br />
*1 Breeding Pool<br />
*1 Simic Growth Chamber<br />
*1 Azorius Chancery<br />
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary<br />
*1 Canopy Vista<br />
*1 Prairie Stream<br />
*1 Sunpetal Grove<br />
*1 Hinterland Harbor<br />
*1 Glacial Fortress<br />
*1 Mana Confluence<br />
*1 City of Brass<br />
*1 Reflecting Pool<br />
*1 Exotic Orchard<br />
*1 Lotus Vale<br />
*1 Seaside Citadel<br />
*1 Seaside Haven<br />
*1 Adarkar Wastes<br />
*1 Yavimaya Coast<br />
*1 Brushland<br />
*2 Island<br />
*1 Forest<br />
*7 Plains<br />
[/Lands]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>


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Pyramid Theory 101 — Caw Blade