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

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

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

Top 10 Hidden Gems for Brago, King Eternal (And 3 You Don't Need)

Brew For Your Buck - Neriv Budget Burn

Archetypes of Imagination - Making a Flicker Deck

Brew For Your Buck - Plagon Defenders on a Budget

Rally the Ancestors - 101 Reanimations

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Grand Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/ By <a href="https://martanael.com/">Marta Nael)</a></h6>
<h1>Blink, and You'll Miss It</h1>
<p> Commander players can be greedy. Case in point, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Grand Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atraxa, Grand Unifier"></div></div> Whenever she enters the battlefield, she lets you look at the top 10 cards of your library and up to 8 of those cards go to hand. Digging that deep and picking specific cards is tremendously powerful. This is a game-ending amount of value. However, players want to do this every turn. Multiple times a turn; filling your hand with more cards than you can possibly cast. Atraxa, Grand Unifier, in my mind, is the premier “winmore.deck” <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/blink">Blink</a> strategies are the most popular build path for this <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=blink">Blink</a> is shorthand for any effect that exiles a permanent and then returns it to the battlefield. This lets players get ETB, enter the battlefield, triggers multiple times instead of once. These decks have no problem controlling a board or accruing an incredible amount of resources. The problem these decks face is turning that into victory. The strategy I'm about to outline is just as "win more" as any other Atraxa brew. Like her <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">original iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, even less optimized decks will still be powerful. This strategy creates an unstoppable, impenetrable board state. Atraxa won't be in and out gathering supplies. She's going to lead the invasion firsthand. </p>
<h2>The Other Abilities</h2>
<p> Atraxa's unique combination of <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/keywords">keywords</a> make combat a nightmare for our opponents. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raffine, Scheming Seer"></div></div> </p>
<h3><strong>Flying</strong></h3>
<p> Atraxa has no issue finding someone to fly over. Players often don't have an answer to flyers barring an incidental instance of flying or reach. The rest only hope to draw removal. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderous Orator"></div></div> </p>
<h3><strong>Vigilance</strong></h3>
<p> Atraxa is online at all times. Without vigilance, an offensive creature is effectively gone after the attack. After swinging a big creature, that player is left open on their opponent's turns. Atraxa gets to swing and stays open to block each other turn. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade"></div></div> </p>
<h3><strong>Lifelink</strong></h3>
<p> Atraxa always collects. The biggest downside to big attacking creatures without trample is chump blocks. Your opponents will gladly sacrifice a Bird token to prevent losing seven. Lifelink ensures that we get value out of every single swing and block. Each swing and block grants you a substantial chunk of health back. This pairs well with vigilance. Opponents will have to be careful not to increase your life from swinging into your blockers. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baleful Strix"></div></div> </p>
<h3><strong>Deathtouch</strong></h3>
<p> Atraxa is taking her threats down with her. If you wanted to power past Atraxa you have one more thing to consider. Is swinging at the Atraxa player worth losing whatever I'm swinging with? It doesn’t matter if you're swinging with some gigantic monstrosity. Any instance of damage will be lethal. </p>
<h2>Secret Weapon</h2>
<p> Atraxa's keywords make it difficult for our opponents to approach. But what if every single creature you control had those game-warping abilities? Our secret commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Odric, Lunarch Marshal" href="#" target="_blank">Odric, Lunarch Marshal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does just that. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Odric, Lunarch Marshal"></div></div> This is my first secret commander deck of the series. Secret commander decks are where the “Build around card” is a card in the deck not the command zone. I am a fan of this strategy as it allows for deck building outside of a commander's colors, and allows for building around cards that aren’t legendary creatures. Black and green have several <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> spells to pull Odric from the deck. With some luck, Atraxa's ETB trigger is pretty good at finding him herself. Odric is the premier "Keywords" commander. This wall of text effectively reads: <strong><em>At the beginning of each combat, creatures you control gain each keyword for each keyword on a creature you control.</em></strong> In our case, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the field, Odric would gain flying, vigilance, deathtouch, and lifelink at the beginning of combat. Each other creature you control gains those abilities too! Some nuances: </p>
<ul>
<li>This is includes your opponent's combat steps</li>
<li>The abilities remain on each creature until end of turn</li>
<li>It covers 13 specific keywords, not all of them</li>
</ul>
<h2>Key to Victory</h2>
<p> Now for the fun part, the keywords that push <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from powerful to unstoppable. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oketra the True Avenging Huntbonder"></div></div> </p>
<h3><strong>Double Strike</strong></h3>
<p> What's better than a 7/7 body? One that hits twice! Double strike lets you deal damage on the first strike step and the regular damage step of combat. Alongside deathtouch, anything blocking Atraxa will die before it deals damage. Anything that gets blocked will face the same fate. First strike will interact the same way with deathtouch except there won't be an additional instance of damage at the regular damage step. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crashing Drawbridge Hall of the Bandit Lord"></div></div> </p>
<h3><strong>Haste</strong></h3>
<p> What's better than a 7/7 blocker entering the battlefield? One that can attack that same turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crashing Drawbridge" href="#" target="_blank">Crashing Drawbridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is boots on a stick. What I mean by that ridiculous sentence is that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> grants haste to one creature at a time, where Crashing Drawbridge grants haste to each creature, every turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hall of the Bandit Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Hall of the Bandit Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes a chunk of life to use, but after your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> swings immediately, you actually come ahead due to lifelink. Also, that haste doesn't go away from end of turn. So if you have Odric out (which is the point of the deck) your whole board has haste. I'd pay three life for that. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stonehoof Chieftain"></div></div> </p>
<h3><strong>Trample</strong></h3>
<p> I didn't forget about trample. Only, with a whole board of flyers, trample becomes a little redundant. There's an incidental smattering of trample in the deck. It plays well with deathtouch. As we only need to assign one point of deathtouch damage to a blocker for it to be lethal. Meaning our 7/7 can assign the other six other damage to our opponent regardless of the blocker's toughness. </p>
<h2>Attacking From a Different Angle</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma, Angel of Wrath"></div></div> Arkoma has been long beloved for having a staggering amount of keywords. She has so many keywords she had keywords before they <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma, Angel of Wrath|lgn|1" href="#" target="_blank">existed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She's a fast, resilient threat that makes opponents think twice when engaging in any form of combat. She brings four unique keywords to our board that Atraxa doesn't provide: Haste, first strike, protection from black and red, and trample. Because this deck aims to grant every creature the same swath of keywords, this makes Akroma one of the best cards in the deck. You can discard her and get those juicy keywords in play with one of our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cairn Wanderer" href="#" target="_blank">graveyard centric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Keyword cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zetalpa, Primal Dawn" href="#" target="_blank">Zetalpa, Primal Dawn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be used similarly. While not having haste, Zetalpa brings indestructible, trample, and double strike to the field. Every keyword you could want more on Atraxa, Zetalpa brings. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma, Vision of Ixidor"></div></div> The original <em>Commander Legends</em> product brought a phenomenal update to Akroma. She brings first strike and trample to the table, but more importantly a +1/+1 buff to each other creature for every keyword they have. This payoff is game-ending. Atraxa alone becomes an 11/11, letting her kill anyone after two swings from commander damage. If Odric is out, it's a +6/+6 to every creature you control. While unlikely, this brew is capable at maxing out at +10/+10 to each creature alongside ten bonkers keywords. </p>
<h2>Preparing For Invasion</h2>
<p> Atrxa is a magnet for removal. And for good reason. An Atraxa player left unchecked will have little issue taking over a game. That's why a chunk of our strategy is dedicated to make removing her as difficult as possible. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thryx, the Sudden Storm Elvish Piper"></div></div> Prevention beats a cure. A key weakness to any big spell strategy is counterspells. If a player answers our seven mana commander for two, that is a huge loss of value for us. If a player can counter Atraxa before she hits the field, they will. That's why we don't give our opponents that option. I wanted to highlight <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thryx, the Sudden Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thryx, the Sudden Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> specifically. In a deck packed with huge spells, Thryx takes away the guess work. We cast these Angels easier, unafraid of counterspells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Piper" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Piper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other similar cards are fantastic for this deck. It lets us play or huge creatures much faster and stops opponents from using conventional counter magic to stop us. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daring Fiendbonder Bastion Protector Avacyn, Angel of Hope"></div></div> If you've managed to resolve Atraxa, the next step is keeping her on the battlefield. Indestructible is pretty good at that. Swinging and blocking become even easier. Most board wipes and removal spells become a fleeting gesture. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigarda, Font of Blessings Slippery Bogbonder Swiftfoot Boots"></div></div> Hexproof, like indestructible, is an ability we want on Atraxa at all times. Your opponents will remove her if given the opportunity. So don't give them that opportunity. If you're lucky, they'll send it somewhere else too. The only way around Atraxa from this point, are specific board wipes, that exile, bounce, or reduce toughness. That's what our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swan Song" href="#" target="_blank">counter magic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is for. Nothing is stopping <strong>compleat</strong> invasion. <div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Atraxa Keywords" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander] *1 Atraxa, Grand Unifier [/Commander] [Creatures] *1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath *1 Akroma, Vision of Ixidor *1 Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice *1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope *1 Avenging Huntbonder *1 Baleful Strix *1 Bastion Protector *1 Birds of Paradise *1 Bloom Tender *1 Cairn Wanderer *1 Crashing Drawbridge *1 Daring Fiendbonder *1 Delighted Halfling *1 Elvish Piper *1 Esper Sentinel *1 Faeburrow Elder *1 Kathril, Aspect Warper *1 Likeness Looter *1 Majestic Myriarch *1 Obsessive Stitcher *1 Odric, Lunarch Marshal *1 Oketra the True *1 Raffine, Scheming Seer *1 Rayami, First of the Fallen *1 Scavenged Brawler *1 Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade *1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty *1 Sigarda, Font of Blessings *1 Slippery Bogbonder *1 Stonehoof Chieftain *1 Thryx, the Sudden Storm *1 Thunderous Orator *1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets *1 Urborg Scavengers *1 Zetalpa, Primal Dawn [/Creatures] [Instants] *1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse *1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy *1 Fact or Fiction *1 Faithful Mending *1 Frantic Search *1 Stroke of Midnight *1 Swan Song *1 Vampiric Tutor *1 Worldly Tutor [/Instants] [Enchantments] *1 Black Market Connections *1 Concerted Effort *1 Defense of the Heart *1 Mystic Remora *1 Rhystic Study [/Enchantments] [Artifacts] *1 Chromatic Lantern *1 Lightning Greaves *1 Mana Crypt *1 Monster Manual // Zoological Study *1 Sol Ring *1 Swiftfoot Boots [/Artifacts] [Sorceries] *1 Cultivate *1 Demonic Tutor *1 Farseek *1 Kodama&#039;s Reach *1 Profane Tutor *1 Rampant Growth *1 Sublime Exhalation *1 Tooth and Nail *1 Vanquish the Horde [/Sorceries] [Lands] *1 Boseiju, Who Endures *1 Cavern of Souls *1 City of Brass *1 Command Tower *1 Exotic Orchard *1 Fabled Passage *1 Field of Ruin *6 Forest *1 Ghost Quarter *1 Hall of the Bandit Lord *1 Indatha Triome *4 Island *1 Mana Confluence *1 Otawara, Soaring City *6 Plains *1 Raffine&#039;s Tower *1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters *4 Swamp *1 Zagoth Triome [/Lands]"></span></div>   </p>
<h2>Final Words of Advice</h2>
<p> While she remains unique for her color combination, I would argue that those four keywords are what make her as iconic as a commander. I feel keywords are underrated in general. Their power is demonstrated with standout cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Memorial" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Memorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, the strategy itself is not particularly popular. There are already blink decks, there are already proliferate decks. There are decks that love putting cards in hand. While Atraxa can pull off each of these strategies with great success, I am more interested in pulling off a strategy that no other commander has; blessing a board of creatures with a unique combination of keywords. Each Atraxa represents the format itself in a way. Her combined <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">popularity</a> is a testament to that. They are powerful, but allow for countless directions to brew in. This brew itself could be modified in a few different directions. In my mind, that's where much of the fun of Commander is. Pulling off ridiculous, absurdly powerful board states and interactions. Each Atraxa represents this desire perfectly. I am not the first to brew Atraxa as a "Keywords" commander, and I am certain new ways to build will continue to evolve with time. Thanks for exploring keywords with me! I'd love to hear how your brews are going. What is your favorite way to <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=atraxa">brew with Atraxa</a>? What are your favorite combination of keywords? </p>
<h3><strong>Read More:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/ultra-budget-brews-odric-lunarch-marshal/">Ultra Budget Brews - Odric, Lunarch Marshal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-other-ability-pia-nalaar-consul-of-madness/">The Other Ability- Pia Nalar, Consul of Madness</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/deep-analysis-blink/">Deep Analysis - Blink</a></li>
</ul>


The Other Ability - Atraxa's Four Other Abilities (They're Keywords)

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radiant Solar" href="#" target="_blank">Radiant Solar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/mokhman">Alexander Mokhov</a></h6>
<h1>Venture into Valuetown</h1>
<p> Hello, fellow brewer, and welcome back to <em>Brew for Your Buck</em>, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist. It's probably no secret at this point that black is my favorite color in the game, so I was on the lookout to not bore you all with another black deck but also search for something I could put together from cards in my collection. An LGS in my area was unfortunately going out of business (thankfully someone bought it and it's back!) right around the time of <em>Commander Legends: Battle for Balder's Gate </em>release, so I ended up getting a few discount boxes during their closing sale. In reading through the Background pairings possible, I noticed a really interesting synergy between these two: <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alora, Merry Thief Far Traveler"></div></div> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alora, Merry Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Alora, Merry Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make one of our creatures unblockable, but that comes with the drawback of having to return it back to our hand in the end step. However, when we order our triggers on our end step, we can target that creature with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Far Traveler" href="#" target="_blank">Far Traveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> first, blink it, then not have to return it! Now we have something most blink decks don't have: a way to win quickly. Looking at the average list on EDHREC, the deck clocks in at $189.10, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a bunch of blink staples making up our top 10. When did <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> become a $4+ dollar card?! </p>
<ol>
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<ol>
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<li style="list-style-type: none;">
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<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($37.63)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Preston, the Vanisher" href="#" target="_blank">Preston, the Vanisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($20.68)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa, Deep-Dwelling" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa, Deep-Dwelling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($13.60)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Displacer Kitten" href="#" target="_blank">Displacer Kitten</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.90)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.64)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conjurer&#039;s Closet" href="#" target="_blank">Conjurer&#039;s Closet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($7.91)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($6.05)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teleportation Circle" href="#" target="_blank">Teleportation Circle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.07)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talisman of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Talisman of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($4.68)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($4.65)</li>
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<p style="padding-left: 200px; text-align: left;"><strong>Total Value of Cuts: $119.99</strong></p>
<p> This time around, the manabase doesn't make up a huge percentage of the deck's value. We can save an additional $23.70 if we cut and replace the ones that would have made the top-10, bringing our total savings to <strong>$143.69</strong>. </p>
<hr />
<h2>Additions</h2>
<p> For all of you that are upset with taking out our blink pieces, don't worry. You'll still be able to head straight to value town and with an actual clock to boot. For our budget package, we turn to another <em>D&amp;D</em> mechanic: dungeons. It turns out that there are a lot of ways to venture into the dungeon when our creatures enter the battlefield or do combat damage to an opponent, and our commanders are set up to do both of these, so we'll be flying through dungeons and reaping the benefits in no time! </p>
<h3>Venture "Lords"</h3>
<p> Our first substitutions are the some of the best venturers we have access to. First up, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radiant Solar" href="#" target="_blank">Radiant Solar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.48) is just cracked. Not only do we get a venture trigger when it enters, but we'll venture <strong>every time</strong> we blink a creature. Not to mention <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radiant Solar" href="#" target="_blank">Radiant Solar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also flies, so we can target something else with Alora's ability and still crack in for a six-point life swing. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker" href="#" target="_blank">Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.06) is a no-brainer, doubling up our dungeon value for just existing on the battlefield. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Radiant Solar Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker"></div></div> </p>
<h3>Attacking for Value</h3>
<p> While Alora gives us some fantastic evasion, she only does so with one key creature. Our plan is to end the game through combat damage while supporting our creatures with all of our dungeon value, so granting more of our board evasion will accelerate us to a win. To start, we can add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midnight Pathlighter" href="#" target="_blank">Midnight Pathlighter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.25) to grant our board a unique form of evasion. Even though the format is clogged with more and more legendary creatures, at the bare minimum we guarantee a venture trigger with the creature we target with Alora. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seasoned Dungeoneer" href="#" target="_blank">Seasoned Dungeoneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($3.42) can give 17 out of 39 creatures in our final list protection from creatures (read: unblockable) and some card filtering with the <em>Explore</em> mechanic as well. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thorough Investigation" href="#" target="_blank">Thorough Investigation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.61) grants us Clues for attacking so much, and in turn the Clues will give us a venture in addition to a card. We can even store up the Clues and turbo through a dungeon in one big card-drawing, venturing turn! <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Midnight Pathlighter Seasoned Dungeoneer Thorough Investigation"></div></div> </p>
<h3>Completion Bonuses</h3>
<p> Now that we've accelerated our dungeon room rate, we can take a look at cards that grant us big bonuses for completing them. The recently-banned-in-Legacy <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="White Plume Adventurer" href="#" target="_blank">White Plume Adventurer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($3.22) saw a significant price drop, so we can snag a copy on the cheap. Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seasoned Dungeoneer" href="#" target="_blank">Seasoned Dungeoneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> above, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eccentric Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Eccentric Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.06) can help us attack with other creatures that aren't being sneaked through with Alora by turning a blocker into a bird. These two are also fine blink targets, as we'll take the initiative on their way in. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imoen, Mystic Trickster" href="#" target="_blank">Imoen, Mystic Trickster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.06) keeps the good times rolling, drawing us two cards per turn as long as we have the initiative, which should be trivial if we have an unblockable creature each turn. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="White Plume Adventurer Eccentric Apprentice Imoen, Mystic Trickster"></div></div> One omission from our budget package to note is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadaar, Selfless Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Nadaar, Selfless Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He's a great card for the strategy and cheap ($0.30) if you want to pick up a copy, but his inherent vigilance prevents him from being blinked with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Far Traveler" href="#" target="_blank">Far Traveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Watch out for those non-bos! </p>
<h3>Generic Value</h3>
<p> Okay, we could slot in some other dungeon cards, but I just thought it was criminal that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sludge Monster" href="#" target="_blank">Sludge Monster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.17) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Battlesphere" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Battlesphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.21) were not in the average deck list. Both of them have ETB and attack triggers that are just insane if we get them turn after turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sludge Monster" href="#" target="_blank">Sludge Monster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will lock down two creatures per turn, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Battlesphere" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Battlesphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>... well, games will just END if it sticks around for a few turns. A note on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sludge Monster" href="#" target="_blank">Sludge Monster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: just because it leaves the battlefield when it blinks doesn't mean the slime counters are removed from anything, so feel free to slime it up like a Nickelodeon show from the 90s. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sludge Monster Myr Battlesphere"></div></div> </p>
<hr />
<h2>Wrap Up and Savings</h2>
<p> Let's take a look at what we've saved: <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-97451 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1.png" alt="" width="364" height="262" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1.png 364w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1-300x216.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px" /></a> Now that's what I call some savings! We dropped the price of the deck down to just under $55, and yet again kept 90/100 cards from the original list. Value engineering at its finest. <div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Venturing for Value" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander] *1 Alora, Merry Thief *1 Far Traveler [/Commander] [Creatures] *1 Abdel Adrian, Gorion&#039;s Ward *1 Aerial Extortionist *1 Aether Channeler *1 Archaeomancer *1 Brago, King Eternal *1 Circuit Mender *1 Cloudblazer *1 Dawnbringer Cleric *1 Eccentric Apprentice *1 Flickerwisp *1 Githzerai Monk *1 Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker *1 Hero of Bretagard *1 Imoen, Mystic Trickster *1 Inspiring Overseer *1 Karmic Guide *1 Kor Cartographer *1 Midnight Pathlighter *1 Mistmeadow Witch *1 Mulldrifter *1 Myr Battlesphere *1 Oji, the Exquisite Blade *1 Pegasus Guardian *1 Peregrine Drake *1 Radiant Solar *1 Reflector Mage *1 Reveillark *1 Rumor Gatherer *1 Seasoned Dungeoneer *1 Sludge Monster *1 Solemn Simulacrum *1 Soulherder *1 Spirited Companion *1 Sun Titan *1 Venser, Shaper Savant *1 Watcher for Tomorrow *1 White Plume Adventurer *1 Yorion, Sky Nomad [/Creatures] [Artifacts] *1 Arcane Signet *1 Azorius Signet *1 Commander&#039;s Sphere *1 Fellwar Stone *1 Golden Argosy *1 Mind Stone *1 Sol Ring *1 Swiftfoot Boots [/Artifacts] [Sorceries] *1 Austere Command *1 Hallowed Respite *1 Time Wipe [/Sorceries] [Enchantments] *1 Blessed Sanctuary *1 Candlekeep Sage *1 Ghostly Prison *1 Thorough Investigation [/Enchantments] [Instants] *1 Blur *1 Cloudshift *1 Counterspell *1 Eerie Interlude *1 Ephemerate *1 Generous Gift *1 Ghostly Flicker *1 Lae&#039;zel&#039;s Acrobatics *1 Momentary Blink *1 Negate *1 Path to Exile *1 Swords to Plowshares [/Instants] [Lands] *1 Adarkar Wastes *1 Azorius Chancery *1 Command Tower *1 Deserted Beach *1 Glacial Fortress *1 Hallowed Fountain *1 Idyllic Beachfront *8 Island *13 Plains *1 Port Town *1 Prairie Stream *1 Reliquary Tower *1 Sea of Clouds *1 Temple of Enlightenment [/Lands]"></span></div>  </p>
<hr />
<p> Time for feedback! Did you like the dungeon idea? Is there a commander that you want to see next? Let me know in the comments and I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!</p>


Brew for Your Buck - Venturing For Value

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alora, Merry Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Alora, Merry Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.aaronbmiller.com/">Aaron Miller</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p> Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo, and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun. Let's take a look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alora, Merry Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Alora, Merry Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alora, Merry Thief"></div></div> Alora's kit is simple, yet surprisingly flexible. While it might seem a bit underwhelming at first, since it's a combat ability in a multiplayer format, it only targets one creature, and we have to bounce that creature back to our hand at our end step. However, upon closer inspection, there are a lot of ways that we can capitalize on this snazzy and subtle effect! The most obvious interactions with Alora are, of course, creatures that benefit from the evasion, like <em>Infect</em> or <em>Ninjutsu</em> creatures. Playing around with Backgrounds is super fun and gives us color flexibility for these archetypes, but overall, the pool on each of those specific strategies still feels limited, for some reason. The second part of her triggered ability is the thing that caught my eye. It turns out that it's actually really easy to leverage Alora's 'downside' into a strength! Bouncing our creatures can be extremely versatile! We can use it to re-trigger enter-the-battlefield effects, for instance, or invest in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Act of Treason" href="#" target="_blank">Act of Treason</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects to steal, attack with, and subsequently bounce our opponents' creatures. We can also avoid bad end-of-turn triggers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sneak Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Sneak Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ball Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Ball Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. The possibilities are endless! So what did I decide to try with Alora? Let's get to it! </p>
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<h2>Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Far Traveler Reflector Mage Azami, Lady of Scrolls"></div></div> Let's get straight to the point: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Far Traveler" href="#" target="_blank">Far Traveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an <em>incredible</em> Background to pair with Alora. First, it gives us the option to keep the creature that we targeted with our commander, because we can stack the end step triggers so that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Far Traveler" href="#" target="_blank">Far Traveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> blinks the creature first. When it re-enters, it's considered a new game object, and Alora's ability won't affect that creature anymore! Second, it allows us to get even more value out of our ETB triggers. Blinking creatures to get tons of extra effects is tried and true for white and blue, which means we have a lot of tricks to work with. In fact, while looking through cards, I realized there's a tribe of creatures that would make this deck really hum along nicely, and it has the bonus of making the deck even more D&amp;D themed: Wizards are perfect for this strategy, because they're moderately cheap, have plenty of useful ETB effects like removal and card draw, and they'll benefit from a constant source of unblockability. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barrin, Tolarian Archmage Champion of Wits Naban, Dean of Iteration"></div></div> The blue side of our deck resembles a somewhat run-of-the-mill Wizard tribal list, with lots of card draw and utility-based threats. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naban, Dean of Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Naban, Dean of Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the archetype's cornerstones, as he's cheap and allows us to go over the top pretty fast. Cheap creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faerie Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Faerie Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overwhelmed Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Overwhelmed Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sage of Epityr" href="#" target="_blank">Sage of Epityr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are solid early plays that can be bounced back to our hand as a cheap way to fuel some of our favorite cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rumor Gatherer" href="#" target="_blank">Rumor Gatherer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Watcher for Tomorrow" href="#" target="_blank">Watcher for Tomorrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerhouse in this deck and plays well with our Background, constantly digging out tons of extra cards for us. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclone Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclone Summoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be a bit wonky at times, especially when it ends up bouncing our Background and commander (ouch), but it's still a one-sided board wipe that can be used more than once throughout a game. That 7/7 body is also no joke with Alora. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Door of Destinies Obelisk of Urd Vanquisher&#039;s Banner"></div></div> Our support suite feels pretty different than most Wizards builds out there! We're trying to gather as much power as possible to make a single threat hit hard, but without committing to the usual Aura/combat tricks that characterize an evasive strategy. Those don't play nice with our commander pair, but pure power helps make <em>any </em>of our creatures a threat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Door of Destinies" href="#" target="_blank">Door of Destinies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful damage boost that grows pretty quickly when combined with Alora's play pattern, since we'll be able to cast and recast a lot of cheap creatures over and over. <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> is even more busted, granting us tons of triggers when we attack, recast, and blink our various creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azami, Lady of Scrolls" href="#" target="_blank">Azami, Lady of Scrolls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a personal favorite, since she plays extremely well with our Background, always allowing us to get a tapped creature for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Far Traveler" href="#" target="_blank">Far Traveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as well as letting us 'double dip' when that creature comes back untapped. (Remember, Azami's ability doesn't care about summoning sickness!) </p>
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<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Alora Wizard Tribal" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander] *Alora, Merry Thief *Far Traveler [/Commander] [Creature] *Faerie Seer *Overwhelmed Apprentice *Sage of Epityr *Deep Gnome Terramancer *Drannith Magister *Metallic Mimic *Mistmeadow Witch *Naban, Dean of Iteration *Omenspeaker *Raffine&#039;s Informant *Sage&#039;s Row Savant *Stonybrook Banneret *Thassa&#039;s Oracle *Voidmage Prodigy *Watcher for Tomorrow *Adaptative Automaton *Barrin, Tolarian Archmage *Champion of Wits *Cloudfin Seer *Deputy of Detention *Exclusion Mage *Gadwick, the Wizened *Mirror Entity *Patron Wizard *Rumor Gatherer *Windrider Wizard *Elite Guardmage *Galepowder Mage *Glen Elendra Archmage *Master of Winds *Riverwise Augur *Sower of Temptation *Venser, Shaper Savant *Azami, Lady of Scrolls *Cyclone Summoner *Galecaster Colossus [/Creature] [Artifact] *Moonsnare Prototype *Sol Ring *Springleaf drum *Arcane Signet *Azorious Signet *Fellwar Stone *Talisman of Progress *Door of Destinies *Panharmonicon *Vanquisher&#039;s Banner *Obelisk of Urd [/Artifact] [Enchantment] *Land Tax *Duelist&#039;s Heritage *Dictate of Helliod *Kindred Discovery [/Enchantment] [Instant] *Cloudshift *Ephemerate *Path to Exile *Swords to Plowshares *Arcane Denial *Cyclonic Rift *Disenchant *Eerie Interlude [/Instant] [Sorcery] *Fragmentize *Farewell [/Sorcery] [Land] *Adarkar Wastes *Command Tower *Deserted Beach *Exotic Orchard *Fabled Passage *Flooded Strand *Glacial Fortress *Hallowed Fountain *Hengegate Pathway *Mystic Gate *Otawara, Soaring City *Port Town *Prairie Stream *Prismatic Vista *Sea of Clouds *Temple of Enlightenment *Tranquil Cove *14 Island *6 Plains [/Land]"></span></div>  </p>
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<p> White might not be a conventional Wizard tribal color, but I think it has plenty to offer to the archetype. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reflector Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Reflector Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deputy of Detention" href="#" target="_blank">Deputy of Detention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are a solid removal duo with abilities that mono-blue doesn't usually have access to. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elite Guardmage" href="#" target="_blank">Elite Guardmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great three-for-one, and getting multiple ETB triggers can help us stabilize an otherwise lost game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rumor Gatherer" href="#" target="_blank">Rumor Gatherer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an impressive newcomer that feels like it was tailor-made for the archetype, given how easy it is to trigger its ability twice. While these are good additions to the archetype, the main selling point in white isn't its threat potential - it's the support that the color provides. I mean this both in terms of offense, with anthem effects and other combat tricks to help us pack a bigger punch, and the extra blink support, which synergizes extremely well with our gameplan. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Duelist&#039;s Heritage Galepowder Mage Eerie Interlude"></div></div> For instance, on the offensive front, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Duelist&#039;s Heritage" href="#" target="_blank">Duelist&#039;s Heritage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great card when combined with our commander, allowing our threats to scale pretty quickly. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dictate of Heliod" href="#" target="_blank">Dictate of Heliod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plays well with some of our instant-speed interactions, and turns a tribe that every expects to be tiny into an evasive, meaningful chunk of damage. Our Bakcground covers a lot of our blinking needs, but we can also enlist cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Galepowder Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Galepowder Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mistmeadow Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Mistmeadow Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which are great, tribe-relevant options. Oh, and who could forget the classics? We love to play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudshift" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eerie Interlude" href="#" target="_blank">Eerie Interlude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </p>
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<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p> Since both of our commanders cost three mana, we're mostly looking for a couple of solid early ETB Wizards in our opening hands. One-drops are especially desirable, because they curve out pretty well with our Background. Frankly, our early game is quite busy. Between playing our commander, our Background, and mana rocks/early Wizard drops, the deck tends to have a smooth transition to the mid-game without many difficult choices. The mid-game is usually when our lines start getting a bit more complex. We have to carefully choose which creature to target with Alora, and whether we want to blink it with our Background to get the instant value and keep it in play, or else let it bounce back to hand to cast later, and target a different creature with our Background for a different ETB trigger. If we make these choices carefully, we can set ourselves up for a really good late-game. We get tons of value from all our creatures flitting in and out of play, and lots of these creatures provide tons of extra utility, allowing us to grind through almost any board state. Repeating their ETB effects keeps us safe, and our evasion and pump effects transforms them into lethal threats, so our opponents won't have to suffer long! </p>
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<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Augury Adept Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation Mist-Syndicate Naga"></div></div> Any list can be improved upon, so I always like to suggest other directions you could take this idea if it strikes your fancy. Mixing Wizards, enablers, and payoffs isn't an exact science, and this ratio may vary according to personal preference. Even adding some more combat-oriented threats, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Augury Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Augury Adept</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can change how the deck plays. With all the different moving parts, it's a bit hard to find slots to add creature recursion, but I'm sure many players out there would love to add more into the 99! If I may be so bold, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could fit right into a deck with this many three-drops! And of course, Alora's also still really fun with those other strategies too! I invite you to explore those other strategies, like <em>Ninjutsu </em>or <em>Infect. </em>Frankly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ball Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Ball Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> tribal sounds fun, too! That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think of this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which did you not? Was this Epic Experiment a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>
