Monomania - All Things Considered: Black

Ranking Every Land with EDHREC – Part 32: Join the Cabal of Coughers

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="It That Betrays" href="#" target="_blank">It That Betrays</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/morano">Tomaz Jedruszek</a>)</h6>
<h1><strong>A Hands-On Approach</strong></h1>
<p>Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania</em>. In this article series we build mono-colored decks as a way to explore ramp and draw packages that are synergistic with our particular deck’s strategy, challenging staples and misconceptions about the color pie. Today’s featured commander is a rapacious tentacle man, and all he wants to do is poke an opponent once. What's in our hand? Is it an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undertaker" href="#" target="_blank">Undertaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="It That Betrays" href="#" target="_blank">It That Betrays</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? That's the line between life and death.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Volrath the Fallen"></div></div>
<p>Volrath the Fallen and I have a history. I built a budget-friendly version of this deck years ago, played it a few times, and realized that the deck’s fun factor is fairly dependent on cards that cost $10 or more. Some black decks just need <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vesuva" href="#" target="_blank">Vesuva</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I dismantled the deck and largely forgot about the commander until recently. In this article, I’m revisiting the first Volrath, entering a shadow dimension of unrestricted budgets, and seeing what I can put together.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shriekmaw"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sibsig Muckdraggers"></div></div>
<p>The concept is simple and compelling: we want high-CMC creatures that we can pitch to pump Volrath. First and foremost, we’re hoping to kill our opponents with commander damage. However, this commander also gestures in two other directions as well. First, because we will be discarding big creatures, we might as well reanimate them afterward. This deck wants cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Delver" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Delver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Artisan of Kozilek" href="#" target="_blank">Artisan of Kozilek</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Secondly, because we’re running such expensive creatures, a big mana package is a great contingency plan to cast some of these game-ending monsters from our hand in case Volrath is no longer an option. Our build is creature-focused and loves cheating mana costs. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shriekmaw" href="#" target="_blank">Shriekmaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sibsig Muckdraggers" href="#" target="_blank">Sibsig Muckdraggers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Stone Idol" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Stone Idol</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may not be amazing on their own, but they have increased utility here because they work two shifts as big buffs on our commander or utility effects.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Volrath the Fallen" href="#" target="_blank">Volrath the Fallen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only leads 58 decks listed on EDHREC but deserves a more careful eye. Because he can activate his ability more than once in a turn, it will be easy to one-shot a single opponent. Unlike other Voltron strategies, this deck also has the ability to transition into a big-creature build. Let’s get into it and see what cards will most successfully support what Volrath is trying to do.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Wind Up</strong></h2>
<p>I’ve mentioned this before on Monomania, but the big mana package available to mono-black is difficult to exclude. Unless you are pursuing a low-to-the-ground, aggressive strategy, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vesuva" href="#" target="_blank">Vesuva</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deserted Temple" href="#" target="_blank">Deserted Temple</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are almost always powerful additions. Here, they are imperative. When Volrath is inevitably removed from the board, we want the ability to cast cards that cost 10 mana or more for their sticker price. Big mana is an essential component of our ramp package for this reason.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bog Witch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crypt of Agadeem"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oblivion Sower"></div></div>
<p>Above we have three flex inclusions that I have chosen to supplement our other ramp strategies. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bog Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Bog Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my favorite underrepresented cards to champion. This card fits into more decks than one may think. As is typical of the Spellshaper creature type, we have to discard a card in order to activate its ability, but in any deck that wants a discard outlet, this isn’t a cost as much as it is an extra benefit. In our deck, this creature can both discard a bomb to the graveyard as well as produce mana necessary to cast a reanimation spell. It only sees play in 496 decks listed on EDHREC and I’m positive there are more graveyard-based decks that want this card.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crypt of Agadeem" href="#" target="_blank">Crypt of Agadeem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perfect for our build as well, since we'll be pitching creatures to the yard with our commander or cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bog Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Bog Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Sower" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Sower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another powerful flex creature in our deck. While exiling four cards in the hopes of hitting one or two lands isn’t an amazing rate for six mana, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Sower" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Sower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a few exceptional use cases that push it over the top. First, if you hit three or four lands from the top of your opponent’s deck, this is suddenly an exceptional ramp effect. Second, graveyard hate is very common in certain metas, including my own. In almost every game I play, a graveyard becomes exiled at some point. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Sower" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Sower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn’t care if a land was exiled with its ability or with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. if it’s in exile, we can snag it. Using this card to target the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord Windgrace" href="#" target="_blank">Lord Windgrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> player, I've been able to sneak nine lands onto the battlefield.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Reload</strong></h2>
<p>The card advantage package is really where our deck finds some interesting, off-the-wall inclusions. We want to keep the focus on high-cost creatures and the graveyard while also including powerful card advantage effects.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sandstone Oracle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baleful Force"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kozilek, the Great Distortion"></div></div>
<p>These three inclusions embody our primary theme. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sndstone Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Sndstone Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a low floor but also a very high ceiling. We have several discard outlets in our deck, which means we will normally be playing with a smaller hand and have a higher chance of drawing three, four, five, or more cards.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baleful Force" href="#" target="_blank">Baleful Force</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is secretly a decent card. Given a full turn rotation at a four-player pod, you will draw four cards in exchange for four life. The real advantage of this card is actually how unassuming it is. If you play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vilis, Broker of Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Vilis, Broker of Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an opponent may get spooked immediately and remove it on sight. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baleful Force" href="#" target="_blank">Baleful Force</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, however, is just innocuous enough to avoid attention. Finally, the new and old Kozileks can also help us draw through our deck. The Great Distortion could even be another discard outlet for us if necessary.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oversold Cemetery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undead Gladiator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Scrabbler"></div></div>
<p>Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oversold Cemetery" href="#" target="_blank">Oversold Cemetery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tortured Existence" href="#" target="_blank">Tortured Existence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fill a particular role in our deck, cycling creatures in and out of our graveyard. These are important pieces because they will help us repeatedly pump Volrath with the same high-cost creatures. Or, if we’re at that stage in the game, we could play a bomb like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emrakul, the Promised End" href="#" target="_blank">Emrakul, the Promised End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> every turn and force our opponents to remove it again and again.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undead Gladiator" href="#" target="_blank">Undead Gladiator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Scrabbler" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Scrabbler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> don’t provide us with card advantage directly, but do fulfill that very important role in our deck, once again cycling cards in and out of the graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undead Gladiator" href="#" target="_blank">Undead Gladiator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another underrepresented card in our format, only seeing play in 437 decks. This card can help fill in gaps and sculpt bad hands into better ones. You can discard irrelevant cards or a creature you want to reanimate. Whatever you use the Gladiator for, he fits right in with Volrath.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>The Deck</strong></h2>
<p>With all that set and settled, let’s take a look at the deck as a whole. Ramp and draw take up an outsized proportion of slots here because we want to ensure that we play our six-mana commander early and power out beaters as fast as possible. There are still other notable inclusions, however, that we can dive into. As always, season to taste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emrakul, the Promised End"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Delver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Empty the Catacombs"></div></div>
<p>Emrakul is at the top of her class in this deck. While she doesn’t pump Volrath to lethal, she does everything we want—she provides a significant buff, has a discount effect, and can hose a player out of the game in a pinch. In addition to this, I’ve also included many other Eldrazi such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Void Winnower" href="#" target="_blank">Void Winnower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="It That Betrays" href="#" target="_blank">It That Betrays</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pathrazer of Ulamog" href="#" target="_blank">Pathrazer of Ulamog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These cards can sneak a win all on their own if necessary. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Delver" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Delver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> leads the team of reanimation effects present here, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entreat the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Entreat the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animate Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Animate Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood for Bones" href="#" target="_blank">Blood for Bones</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Finally, I’m highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Empty the Catacombs" href="#" target="_blank">Empty the Catacombs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> here to advocate for its inclusion both with our commander and with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Conrad, the Grim" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Conrad, the Grim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card can refill your hand with fodder for Volrath. In a well-tuned Syr Conrad deck it could just end the game on the spot. I can’t believe this only sees play in 185 decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Tentacular Now" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Volrath the Fallen
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Undertaker
*1 Bog Witch
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Fleshbag Marauder
*1 Merciless Executioner
*1 Plaguecrafter
*1 Undead Gladiator
*1 Crypt Ghast
*1 Dread Presence
*1 Filth
*1 Grave Scrabbler
*1 Ravenous Chupacabra
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Magus of the Coffers
*1 Phyrexian Delver
*1 Shriekmaw
*1 Nirkana Revenant
*1 Oblivion Sower
*1 Meteor Golem
*1 Sandstone Oracle
*1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
*1 Baleful Force
*1 Razaketh, the Foulblooded
*1 Vilis, Broker of Blood
*1 Artisan of Kozilek
*1 Sibsig Muckdraggers
*1 Void Winnower
*1 Ancient Stone Idol
*1 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
*1 Kozilek, the Great Distortion
*1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
*1 Pathrazer of Ulamog
*1 It That Betrays
*1 Emrakul, the Promised End
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Dead of Winter
*1 Entreat the Dead
*1 Blood for Bones
*1 Empty the Catacombs
*1 Mutilate
*1 Decree of Pain
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Key to the City
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Extraplanar Lens
*1 Mimic Vat
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Thran Dynamo
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Tortured Existence
*1 Animate Dead
*1 Dance of the dead
*1 Oversold Cemetery
*1 Dauthi Embrace
*1 Strands of Night
*1 Whip of Erebos
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Cabal Coffers
*1 Cabal Stronghold
*1 Crypt of Agadeem
*1 Desert of the Glorified
*1 Deserted Temple
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Polluted Mire
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scrying Sheets
*22 Snow-Covered Swamp
*1 Strip Mine
*1 Thespian&#039;s Stage
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vesuva
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<p>What do you think of the old Volrath? Does this style of deck have a chance or is it just too slow? What did I miss? Where have I gone wrong? Let me know in the comments below! Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


Monomania – The Tentacular Now

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grim Return" href="#" target="_blank">Grim Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.sebmckinnon.com/illustration">Seb McKinnon</a>)</h6>
<h1>The One You Send to Kill the Boogeyman</h1>
<p>Greetings everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania</em>. In this article series we build mono-colored decks as a way to explore ramp and draw packages that are synergistic with our particular deck’s strategy. In these articles I try to challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie. Today, we'll be stepping into the shoes of a professional assassin.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toshiro Umezawa"></div></div>
<p>Enter Toshiro Umezawa, a meticulous assassin that uses everything at his disposal to fulfill his contracts. This commander’s effect is essentially card advantage, making our graveyard a well of resources. However, it includes a few important restrictions—most notably that it can only target instants. What’s more, we can only <em>Flashback</em> one instant for each creature that dies. This leads to a very particular strategy and identity inherent to this general. He’s resourceful, precise, and loves his dog.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-35009 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/jwdog2.gif" alt="" width="480" height="200" /></p>
<p>Obviously, we want a critical mass of instants to take full advantage of the effect, but we also want a variety of effects on those instants—from card advantage to removal to haymakers—so that we can respond to the game state appropriately. We also want to lean toward removing creatures one at a time. Board wipes, although necessary, will usually mean wasted triggers for us. One way that we are going to counteract this is by employing targeted removal. Another is that we are going to use the classic black big mana package with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vesuva" href="#" target="_blank">Vesuva</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make enough mana to capitalize on multiple triggers.</p>
<p>The power here is the flexibility of the commander. We can be extremely reactive to the table. We can play with very specific timing. If any creatures die incidentally, we can choose if we have an apt instant for the moment in our graveyard. That being said, be wary. If your meta or playgroup is creature-light, a Toshiro deck can very easily have trouble getting off the ground. Luckily, we're playing a multiplayer format, so we're likely to have a minimum of one creature-based deck at the table.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Guns. Lots of Guns.</h2>
<p>To build <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toshiro Umezawa" href="#" target="_blank">Toshiro Umezawa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, our ramp package is contingent upon how we’re going to draw cards. So first let’s look at how we're going to maintain a full clip.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-35005 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/john-wick-gun.gif" alt="" width="480" height="200" /></p>
<p>We want draw spells that are also instants so we can flash them back later, or spells that can leverage the big mana that black is capable of. I've included a diverse selection of draw spells, some explosive and others piecemeal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Diabolic Revelation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dregs of Sorrow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necrologia"></div></div>
<p>These explosive draw spells are cost-prohibitive, but have the potential to excel. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diabolic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Diabolic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dregs of Sorrow" href="#" target="_blank">Dregs of Sorrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both sorceries, but take advantage of big mana like very few other card advantage effects in black. If we can find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Stronghold" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Stronghold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, these X-spells become the best cards in our deck.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrologia" href="#" target="_blank">Necrologia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only sees play in 20% of Toshiro Umezawa decks on EDHREC, but it should be a staple. Although it drains life and can only be played right before our discard phase, this instant is extremely valuable, allowing us to choose exactly how many cards we want to draw without any additional mana cost before discarding down to hand size.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Costly Plunder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Insidious Dreams"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moonlight Bargain"></div></div>
<p>These instant-speed effects are all powerful with our general, even though they draw a relatively restricted number of cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Costly Plunder" href="#" target="_blank">Costly Plunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, only net one card; however, it's the ability to flash these instants back that makes these cards so valuable. Because our graveyard is like a second hand for us, we don't mind stashing our instants there with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insidious Dreams" href="#" target="_blank">Insidious Dreams</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moonlight Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Moonlight Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Now that we know how we’re going to dig through our deck, let’s see how we’re going to ramp up for some truly spectacular values for X.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Everything’s Got a Price</h2>
<p>Our commander costs one generic and two black mana to cast, meaning without <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it will be nearly impossible to cast him earlier than turn three. As such, our ramp package won't focus on getting to any particular amount quickly, but rather to facilitate our spell-slinging strategy.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-35006 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/knife-fight.gif" alt="" width="480" height="200" /></p>
<p>We don't employ a curve in the traditional sense; we won't be trying to put pressure on the board from turn one. Instead of trying to reach six mana on turn four, we will rather be aiming to reach fifteen or more mana at a pivotal moments a few turns later.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crypt Ghast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magus of the Coffers"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Market"></div></div>
<p>First, we have a suite of big mana effects in black to complement <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Stronghold" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Stronghold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Each of these can help us produce large amounts of mana to search for all of the best cards in our deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diabolic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Diabolic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or to reanimate our entire graveyard with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Finale of Eternity" href="#" target="_blank">Finale of Eternity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is especially powerful for us because it benefits from our innately trigger-happy core strategy.</p>
<p>Everyone knows <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While it isn't necessarily at its best in Commander, it does perform well in Toshiro, sometimes allowing us to chain removal spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spoils of Evil" href="#" target="_blank">Spoils of Evil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on the other hand, has been largely forgotten and is extremely underrated, seeing play in only 79 decks on EDHREC. Sure, the floor is low—in specific circumstances, it might only gain a few points of life. Graveyard-based decks are extremely popular, though, and if we sit down across from a necromancer, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spoils of Evil" href="#" target="_blank">Spoils of Evil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will produce a ridiculous amount of mana at some point in the game. On top of that, our strategy relies on filling our opponents’ graveyards, which in turn adds fuel for this card.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spoils of Evil"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thought Vessel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jet Medallion"></div></div>
<p>Because we’re playing cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skeletal Scrying" href="#" target="_blank">Skeletal Scrying</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrologia" href="#" target="_blank">Necrologia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necropotence" href="#" target="_blank">Necropotence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which only allow us to draw big before our discard phase, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought Vessel" href="#" target="_blank">Thought Vessel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perfect here. We want to avoid discarding cards, and as such, eliminating our maximum hand size is very desirable. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jet Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Jet Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also furthers our strategy, discounting our removal spells as well as the instants we recast. Since our deck is built to cast multiple spells in a turn, we will get the discount on each of them and the Medallion will easily outperform any other mana rock available.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Deck</h2>
<p>With a solid foundation for ramp and draw, let’s bring it all together with a decklist. Because this deck plays so aggressively with its life total as well as the cards in its graveyard, it can be fairly difficult to pilot, presenting us with important decision points on any given turn. Toshiro likes to be poised, reposed, and reactive, waiting for specific moments to strike. Among the other notable inclusions here, we have various packages to support our main strategy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Revel in Riches"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sangromancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exquisite Blood"></div></div>
<p>To supplement our deck's fun factor, we can try to steal a win with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or stampede over our opponents with their own deceased creatures using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Betrayal" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Betrayal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>With all of the spells in our deck that cause incidental life loss, we need some way to gain it back. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sangromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Sangromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a decent effect that can gradually replenish our life total over the course of the game without appearing too threatening. In addition, we have other ways to incidentally drain life such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Wurm" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Wurm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pontiff of Blight" href="#" target="_blank">Pontiff of Blight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>While these effects can help put our opponents within killing range, we have no way to abuse them; therefore, we will usually need something else to deliver the final stroke such as a supercharged <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torment of Hailfire" href="#" target="_blank">Torment of Hailfire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exsanguinate" href="#" target="_blank">Exsanguinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If all else fails, we can assemble the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanguine Bond" href="#" target="_blank">Sanguine Bond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exquisite Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Exquisite Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo to finish the job.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="They Call Him Baba Yaga" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Toshiro Umezawa
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Crypt Ghast
*1 Falkenrath Noble
*1 Sangromancer
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Chainer, Dementia Master
*1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
*1 Magus of the Coffers
*1 Ogre Slumlord
*1 Harvester of Souls
*1 Kokusho, the Evening Star
*1 Massacre Wurm
*1 Pontiff of Blight
*1 Overseer of the Damned
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Cremate
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Defile
*1 Skeletal Scrying
*1 Tragic Slip
*1 Undying Evil
*1 Altar’s Reap
*1 Cabal Ritual
*1 Costly Plunder
*1 Grasp of Darkness
*1 Without Weakness
*1 Grim Return
*1 Ob Nixilis’s Cruelty
*1 Spoils of Evil
*1 Succumb to Temptation
*1 Sudden Spoiling
*1 Tribute to Hunger
*1 Vona’s Hunger
*1 Dark Bargain
*1 Insidious Dreams
*1 Price of Fame
*1 Tendrils of Corruption
*1 Moonlight Bargain
*1 Necrologia
*1 Thrilling Encore
*1 Wretched Confluence
*1 Fated Return
*1 Scour from Existence
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Exsanguinate
*1 Finale of Eternity
*1 Torment of Hailfire
*1 Mutilate
*1 Diabolic Revelation
*1 Dregs of Sorrow
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer’s Bauble
*1 Jet Medallion
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Nevinyrral’s Disk
*1 Primal Amulet
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Necropotence
*1 Black Market
*1 Exquisite Blood
*1 Revel in Riches
*1 Sanguine Bond
*1 Grave Betrayal
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Cabal Coffers
*1 Cabal Stronghold
*1 Detection Tower
*1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Reliquary Tower
*26 Swamp
*1 Thespian’s Stage
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vesuva
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<p>That's all for today. What do you all think of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toshiro Umezawa" href="#" target="_blank">Toshiro Umezawa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Have you seen him in action before? Do you think he shares an uncanny resemblance to Keanu Reeves? As always, please do comment with interactions I missed, your thoughts, and alternative directions for the commander. Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. Take care and I'll see you all on down the road.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-35007 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/keanu-thumb.gif" alt="" width="200" height="200" /></p>


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