Too-Specific Top 10 - Life Debt

<h6 class="western" align="RIGHT">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unlikely Alliance" href="#" target="_blank">Unlikely Alliance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.studiofoglio.com/">Phil Foglio</a>)</h6>
<h2 class="western">Snakes. Why Couldn't They Have Been Snakes?!</h2>
<p>Welcome to the Unlikely Alliance column! This series investigates the Commander format’s least played Partner combinations. While many Partner combinations lead to obvious builds – or are just obviously strong – we’re here to build fun lists that most others haven’t explored.</p>
<p>This time around we will be building with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who is the least-built Partner commander. We'll be pairing her with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix" href="#" target="_blank">Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30832" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ikra_kydele_art.png" alt="" width="700" height="255" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-32652" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ikra_kydele_art.png" alt="" width="300" height="109" /></p>
<h6 class="western" align="RIGHT">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://josuoh.com/">Josu Hernaiz</a>) and (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix" href="#" target="_blank">Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://deharme.artstation.com/">Bastien L. Deharme</a>)</h6>
<hr />
<h2 class="western">Inexpensive Builds</h2>
<p>A goal of this column is to build deck lists that are inexpensive. That’s not to say they are budget builds, but we won’t be using much that costs more than $10 unless those cards are absolutely on-theme and we can’t find suitable alternatives. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alhammarret&#039;s Archive" href="#" target="_blank">Alhammarret&#039;s Archive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> synergizes with both of our commanders, so goes into the deck despite being a $14+ card.</p>
<hr />
<h2 class="western">Soapbox</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an unfortunate card. From a Mel's perspective it is unfortunate that the Naga creature type was introduced, despite an existing precedent for Snake people in the Orochi from Kamigawa. Naga should have been given the Snake creature type, and while <a href="https://twitter.com/maro254">Mark Rosewater</a> agrees, apparently not everyone at WotC does.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="LEFT"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30835" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/maro_naga_snake.png" alt="" width="616" height="301" /></p>
<p>Maybe someday we'll be lucky enough to get a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for Snakes, Gorgons, and Naga. Or maybe an Ur-Ophidian with an <em>Eminence</em> ability that cares about all three creature types, because it seems unlikely that there will ever be another <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/grand-creature-type-update-2007-09-26">Grand Creature Type Update</a>.</p>
<p>From a Vorthos's perspective, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usrurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usrurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was as much of a flavor-fail as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Ludevic just has a larger fan-base. The Ikra Shidi that we were given is from Tarkir's new timeline; the timeline when she has helped a Dimir-colored <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonlord Silumgar" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonlord Silumgar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> overthrow the Sultai, purging the clan's survivors of their <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=type%3Anaga+%28set%3Afrf+OR+set%3Aktk%29">green, shamanistic ways</a>.</p>
<p>So why, as the highest-ranked member of Silumgar's entourage, is she green? There are <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=wm%3ASilumgar">no green cards bearing Silumgar's watermark</a>, <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?&amp;q=type%3Anaga+set%3Adtk">nor any green Naga</a> in the new timeline, so what gives? Why is she wielding life-magic when the Naga Wizards from her timeline are mostly necromancers who sacrifice creatures? In the original timeline only one Naga granted life, but even that was required a creature's death.</p>
<p>Here's what I think happened. Someone designed a toughness-matters Gorgon; Gorgons often have high-toughness to go along with their Deathtouch / “death gaze” abilities. However, when it came time to put a face on the card, they couldn't find a Gorgon in the lore to fill that slot. The only living, named Gorgon who is lacking a card is <a href="https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Sisters_of_Stone_Death">Ludmilla</a>, the sole survivor from among the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sisters of Stone Death" href="#" target="_blank">Sisters of Stone Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She is likely too important to Ravnican lore to have her solo debut card come from a supplemental product. So we got <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2 class="western">Commander Analysis</h2>
<p>Enough with the preaching, let's see what our Partners bring to the table.</p>
<h3 class="western">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper"></div></div>
<p>Ikra is a toughness-matters, lifegain commander who is most commonly paired with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa" href="#" target="_blank">Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, when you realize that Ikra is only Kondo's 3rd-most common pairing, you start to understand just how unpopular Ikra Shidiqi really is.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30833" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ikra_partners.png" alt="" width="361" height="292" /></p>
<p align="LEFT">While <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/lifegain">lifegain is a popular theme</a>, the <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/toughness">toughness theme</a> is much more difficult to build, and in fact Ikra Shidiqi is more likely to end up in the 99 of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doran, the Siege Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Doran, the Siege Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, than at the helm of her own. To build her, maybe we can find a class of creature that lends itself to a toughness-matters theme, without needing to go all-in.</p>
<h3 class="western">Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix"></div></div>
<p>Kydele is a mana source that scales with our ability to draw cards. More cards means more mana, and people like both. It goes without saying then, that her ability elevates her into the top 5 most popular Partner commanders list, and that her most common pairings are with the other most popular Partner commanders.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30834" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kydele_partners.png" alt="" width="358" height="286" /></p>
<p align="LEFT">Kydele is frequently built as the leader for a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/wheels">Wheels</a> or <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/draw">Card Draw</a> themed-deck, but I think we can do something more interesting than that, or at the very least, more thematically refined.</p>
<h3 class="western">The Intersection</h3>
<p>Initially there seems to be little overlap between these two commanders. While we'll include some cards that allow exchanging life for card draw, it's not much of a theme. More importantly, Ikra Shidiqi wants a deck full of attackers and Kydele wants a deck full of card draw. The question becomes, "Are there creatures that we can attack with that also happen to draw us cards?"</p>
<p>And the answer is... Snakes.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ohran Viper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ophidian"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Broodbirth Viper"></div></div>
<p>As it turns out, what Magic R&amp;D refers to as the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curiosity" href="#" target="_blank">Curiosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ability <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/few-more-words-rd-2016-11-07">was originally called the Ophidian ability</a>. Even better for us, many of the creatures that possess a variant of these abilities exchange power for toughness. So in honor of the fact that Naga are Ophidian in appearance, let's make an “Ophidian” tribal deck.</p>
<p>Now the Vorthos players among you may be asking, “How do you justify Kydele in an “Ophidian” theme? She's no Snake!” The thing is, she has 4 arms and 2 legs, just like all the best Snakes.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sakiko, Mother of Summer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kaseto, Orochi Archmage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seshiro the Anointed"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2 class="western">Narrative</h2>
<p>I normally like to summarize a deck’s narrative before fleshing out the details, but this deck is more of a puzzle than it is a story. All we have today is: attack and burn life to draw cards, then cast big spells and win.</p>
<hr />
<h2 class="western">EDHREC Resources</h2>
<p>Here are links to the EDHREC resources I used to figure out the contents and workings of our deck:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix" href="#" target="_blank">Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/ikra-shidiqi-the-usurper-kydele-chosen-of-kruphix">Ikra Shidiqi &amp; Kydele</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes/snakes">Snake tribal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/draw">Card Draw theme</a></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2 class="western">The Deck</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Ikra // Kydele – Ophidian Tribal" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix
*1 Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Pharika&#039;s Chosen
*1 Wasteland Viper
*1 Ambush Viper
*1 Coiling Oracle
*1 Hooded Hydra
*1 Kiora&#039;s Follower
*1 Mindblade Render
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Kaseto, Orochi Archmage
*1 Lorescale Coatl
*1 Ohran Viper
*1 Ophidian
*1 Pharika, God of Affliction
*1 Prowling Serpopard
*1 Shadowmage Infiltrator
*1 Skullwinder
*1 Thassa, God of the Sea
*1 Winged Coatl
*1 Erebos, God of the Dead
*1 Mystic Snake
*1 Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro
*1 Thassa&#039;s Emissary
*1 Broodbirth Viper
*1 Kruphix, God of Horizons
*1 Serpent Assassin
*1 Sturmgeist
*1 Deepfathom Skulker
*1 Gleancrawler
*1 Honored Hydra
*1 Nemesis of Mortals
*1 Sakiko, Mother of Summer
*1 Seshiro the Anointed
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Burgeoning
*1 Curiosity
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Arguel&#039;s Blood Fast
*1 Unfulfilled Desires
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Coastal Piracy
*1 Greed
*1 Kindred Discovery
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Sultai Charm
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bond of Agony
*1 Exsanguinate
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Villainous Wealth
*1 Circuitous Route
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Blade of Selves
*1 Credit Voucher
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
*1 Sword of the Paruns
*1 Well of Lost Dreams
*1 Alhammarret&#039;s Archive
*1 Book of Rass
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Alchemist&#039;s Refuge
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dimir Guildgate
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*7 Forest
*1 Gateway Plaza
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Golgari Guildgate
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*6 Island
*1 Morphic Pool
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Opulent Palace
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Simic Guildgate
*1 Sunken Hollow
*5 Swamp
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2 class="western">Spotlights</h2>
<p>Let's walk through some more of the deck's most important cards.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">"Ophidian" / Curiosity</h3>
<p>While we'll have plenty of creatures that do this on their own, the effect stacks, so let's make sure all of our creatures are able to draw us cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coastal Piracy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bident of Thassa"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deepfathom Skulker"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Evasion</h3>
<p>Our creatures only draw us cards and grant us life when not blocked, so let's make sure they get through.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thassa, God of the Sea"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rogue&#039;s Passage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whispersilk Cloak"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Recursion</h3>
<p>We want to attack aggressively when our commanders are in play, but that often mean that our creatures will die. Getting them back is easier than trying to tutor for replacements.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Reclamation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skullwinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gleancrawler"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Paying Life</h3>
<p>Ikra's life gain can be channeled into card draw that pumps Kydele's mana output.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Book of Rass"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Greed"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Erebos, God of the Dead"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">"X" Win-Cons</h3>
<p>We want a few explosive plays that can take advantage of having lots of mana and/or life.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bond of Agony"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exsanguinate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Villainous Wealth"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Big Beats</h3>
<p>Sometimes we just need some big dumb creatures to finish off an opponent.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Honored Hydra"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hooded Hydra"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nemesis of Mortals"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Commander Synergy</h3>
<p>Let's include some cards that work well with both of our commanders.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of the Paruns"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kiora&#039;s Follower"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alhammarret&#039;s Archive"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Surprise!</h3>
<p>The threat of instant-speed bodies with benefits is almost more important than actually playing these cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Snake"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Winged Coatl"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wasteland Viper"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Utility</h3>
<p>Let's not forget some value engines.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blade of Selves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burgeoning"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kruphix, God of Horizons"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2 class="western">The End</h2>
<p>Thanks for exploring <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/ikra-shidiqi-the-usurper-kydele-chosen-of-kruphix">Ikra Shidiqi // Kydele</a> with me; as always, it's been awesome!</p>
<p>Until next time, keep having fun!</p>


book of rass

Too-Specific Top 10 - Life Debt

Unlikely Alliance – Ikra Shidiqi & Kydele