<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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alora, Merry Thief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Far Traveler"></div></div>
<p><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>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<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>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<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.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Radiant Solar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker"></div></div>
<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!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Midnight Pathlighter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seasoned Dungeoneer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thorough Investigation"></div></div>
<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.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="White Plume Adventurer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eccentric Apprentice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Imoen, Mystic Trickster"></div></div>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sludge Monster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Battlesphere"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Wrap Up and Savings</h2>
<p>Let's take a look at what we've saved:</p>
<p><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></p>
<p>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.</p>
<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>

<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.</p>
<p>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>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alora, Merry Thief"></div></div>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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!</p>
<p>So what did I decide to try with Alora? Let's get to it!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Far Traveler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reflector Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azami, Lady of Scrolls"></div></div>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barrin, Tolarian Archmage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Champion of Wits"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Naban, Dean of Iteration"></div></div>
<p>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>.</p>
<p><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.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Door of Destinies"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obelisk of Urd"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vanquisher&#039;s Banner"></div></div>
<p>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.</p>
<p><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>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<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>

<hr />
<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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Duelist&#039;s Heritage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Galepowder Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eerie Interlude"></div></div>
<p>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>
<hr />
<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.</p>
<p>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>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Augury Adept"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mist-Syndicate Naga"></div></div>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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>


blink

Brew for Your Buck - Venturing For Value

Epic Experiment - Alora

Deep Analysis - Blink

Epic Experiment - Extus, Oriq Overlord

Archetune-Up - License to Mill

Archetune-Up - Welcome to Nomad's Land

Too-Specific Top 10 - Leaving an Impression

Archetune-Up - Keep on Yarok-ing on! ?

Archetune-Up - A Crown for a (Reaper) King

Conditions Allow - Mangara of Corondor