<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emry, Lurker of the Loch" href="#" target="_blank">Emry, Lurker of the Loch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/dopaprime">Livia Prima</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Rivers and the Lakes that You're Used To</h1>
<p>Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania Takes on Eldraine</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, and to challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie. We took a hiatus from the <em>Throne of Eldraine</em> commanders, but we’re circling back to the fairy tale set in this entry. Today, our commander is all about indulging combos. We're in familiar waters, but let's see if we can find a pearl of interest here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emry, Lurker of the Loch"></div></div>
<p>At first glance, Emry seems to embody a few things that I don’t find appealing about mono-blue:</p>
<ul>
<li>She’s yet another blue artifact commander</li>
<li>Instead of opening up new space for the color, she seems to suggest a combo-heavy build</li>
<li>Most of the cards I want to jam in an Emry deck are cards I would play with any other commander</li>
</ul>
<p>What appeals to me, however, is how many different combos Emry can join together effectively in one deck. Because the only cost to cast an artifact from our graveyard is a simple tap, zero-mana artifacts can open up several infinite combos in conjunction with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirran Spy" href="#" target="_blank">Mirran Spy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a sacrifice outlet such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasting Station" href="#" target="_blank">Blasting Station</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We can play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memnite" href="#" target="_blank">Memnite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, over and over until we’re dizzy. The fundamental concept of this deck revolves around sticking our commander on the table, playing an artifact at no cost, sacrificing that artifact, then exploiting Emry’s ability with an effect that untaps her to replay the same artifact from the graveyard, then repeat until something breaks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirran Spy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etherium Sculptor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grinding Station"></div></div>
<p>Even <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> can become a combo piece with Emry and a cost reduction effect such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Perhaps my favorite incidental combo here revolves around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: because we want to cycle through our deck and fill the graveyard, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trade Routes" href="#" target="_blank">Trade Routes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would be a decent inclusion, anyway, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trade Routes" href="#" target="_blank">Trade Routes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes a potent weapon with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a payoff spell such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nexus of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Nexus of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This deck is combo soup—it likely won’t be for everyone or make any friends, but it might be a good addition to a collection if you have a play environment comfortable with going infinite.</p>
<p>With this degenerate direction in mind, let’s take a look under the hood.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Pumping Water</h2>
<p>This deck has a low curve, which means that we want to focus our ramp package on pieces that will actively engage with our overall plan. Luckily, many combo pieces can help us ramp when necessary.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etherium Sculptor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Foundry Inspector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ugin, the Ineffable"></div></div>
<p>These cost reduction effects, for example, fit perfectly in any artifact deck. When we combine them with <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>, Emry, a sacrifice outlet, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirran Spy" href="#" target="_blank">Mirran Spy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can produce infinite colorless mana. Swap <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> for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Codex Shredder" href="#" target="_blank">Codex Shredder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and we can mill out the whole table in one go.</p>
<p>I've had a few months playing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin, the Ineffable" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin, the Ineffable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> now, and I've been touched by this angel. Ugin 2.0 is the real deal, and it's jumped categories in my mind. When brewing for EDH, I only sincerely consider a small set of planeswalkers for inclusion in this format. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin, the Ineffable" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin, the Ineffable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> vaulted into that pool. I consider it in any deck with ten or more artifacts: it provides card advantage, significant ramp, <em>and</em> removal in one card. Nobody is sleeping on Ugin, but consider picking up extra copies, because this is a Commander staple. In addition to the three cards featured above, I’ve also included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jhoira’s Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Jhoira’s Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for consistency.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Altar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashnod’s Altar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krark-Clan Ironworks"></div></div>
<p>Here we have the other side of the coin: many sacrifice outlets can also help us ramp when we need to. All of these cards will produce the extra mana when we need it in a pinch, or they'll create an infinite loop. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in particular, shines in this deck. It's the only outlet we have to create infinite colored mana. This becomes important when we want to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Capsize" href="#" target="_blank">Capsize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all of our opponents’ permanents in one turn. Any of these options fulfill the role we really need them to, basically creature a spin cycle of cards in and out of the graveyard.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Feeding the Lake</h2>
<p>With our ramp in order, let’s see how we’re going to find the pieces we need when we need them. Luckily, Emry gives us great direction in how to gain card advantage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thirst for Knowledge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frantic Search"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Careful Consideration"></div></div>
<p>Cards that rifle through our deck are perfect. Our graveyard is a resource, which means looting has little downside for us. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thirst for Knowledge" href="#" target="_blank">Thirst for Knowledge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is exceptional because we want artifacts in the graveyard, anyway. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frantic Search" href="#" target="_blank">Frantic Search</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can keep an explosive turn rolling and make the most out of limited mana before we find a loop. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Careful Consideration" href="#" target="_blank">Careful Consideration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my personal pet cards; when played at instant speed, it nets zero card advantage; when played at sorcery speed, it puts you up one card. Even so, it's hard to deny the tremendous rate on this card: digging four cards deep at instant speed for four mana is objectively good. In a deck that utilizes the graveyard, it is exceptional. At the time of writing, this card only sees play in 676 decks on EDHREC; it deserves better.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golden Egg"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chromatic Star"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aether Spellbomb"></div></div>
<p>Finally, this style of artifact deck loves "Eggs." Any low-cost artifact that draws a card upon entering the battlefield or the graveyard is right at home with Emry. Not only will these cards help hurtle through the deck, they'll also give us decent targets for Emry’s ability in the early game before we assemble a combo. Eggs are underrated in Commander, but they can grease a deck’s engine and fill in gaps. I’ve included five other Eggs for consistency, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alchemist’s Vial" href="#" target="_blank">Alchemist’s Vial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conjurer’s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Conjurer’s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While they seem low-impact, Eggs are vital to our deck's ecosystem.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Deck</h2>
<p>Now let’s put it all together with a coherent deck list. The goal here is that every card buttresses our overall plan of finding and executing a combo.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aetherflux Reservoir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Capsize"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Codex Shredder"></div></div>
<p>Among the other notable inclusions, we have several cards that can win us the game when we implement an infinite loop. What’s you flavor? Do you want to nuke your opponents? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherflux Reservoir" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherflux Reservoir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can obliterate opponents 50 damage at a time. Want to draw out and savor the victory? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Capsize" href="#" target="_blank">Capsize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all their permanents until you find a way to end the game. Dream of milling the table? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Codex Shredder" href="#" target="_blank">Codex Shredder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altar of the Brood" href="#" target="_blank">Altar of the Brood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are here for you. For moments of infinite colorless mana, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Walking Ballista" href="#" target="_blank">Walking Ballista</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and if we draw our whole deck using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vedalken Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Vedalken Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can slap a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Laboratory Maniac" href="#" target="_blank">Laboratory Maniac</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the table.</p>
<p>To protect the board we’ll use to win, I’ve included five cheap counterspells, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swan Song" href="#" target="_blank">Swan Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dispel" href="#" target="_blank">Dispel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delay" href="#" target="_blank">Delay</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Finally, everything hums with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lotus Petal" href="#" target="_blank">Lotus Petal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Combos aren’t fun for everyone, but sifting through the pieces with Emry might be fun enough to amuse your table and yourself.</p>
<p>This list may not be tuned to perfection, but I believe that it succeeds in the central goal. Season to taste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Madder Lake" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Memnite
*1 Ornithopter
*1 Phyrexian Walker
*1 Walking Ballista
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Riddlesmith
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Laboratory Maniac
*1 Mirran Spy
*1 Tribute Mage
*1 Trinket Mage
*1 Trophy Mage
*1 Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Vedalken Archmage
*1 Chakram Retriever
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Dispel
*1 Mystical Tutor
*1 Pongify
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Swan Song
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Delay
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Capsize
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Thirst for Knowledge
*1 Aetherize
*1 Careful Consideration
*1 Aetherspouts
*1 Nexus of Fate
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Compulsive Research
*1 Fabricate
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Lotus Petal
*1 Aether Spellbomb
*1 Altar of the Brood
*1 Chromatic Sphere
*1 Chromatic Star
*1 Codex Shredder
*1 Conjurer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Terrarion
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Alchemist&#039;s Vial
*1 Golden Egg
*1 Grinding Station
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Blasting Station
*1 Phyrexian Altar
*1 Aetherflux Reservoir
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Mystic Forge
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Trade Routes
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon
*1 Intruder Alarm
*1 Future Sight
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Cephalid Coliseum
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Desert of the Mindful
*1 Emergence Zone
*1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
*1 High Market
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*22 Island
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*1 Phyrexia&#039;s Core
*1 Remote Isle
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Tolaria West
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>What do you all think of the list? Is there anything I missed? Do you frequently include infinite combos in your decks? Do you find it fun to win that way? Should we chase waterfalls or are familiar evils sufficient fun? Please let me know in the comments! As always, remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


Monomania Takes on Eldraine – Madder Lake

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eyes of the Watcher" href="#" target="_blank">Eyes of the Watcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://ronspearsart.com/">Ron Spears</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Heist</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, and to challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie. Today, we’re gathering our crack team to steal everything in sight.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Memnarch"></div></div>
<p>To the untrained eye, Memnarch may seem like an awkward, unreliable card in EDH—too expensive to be effective and difficult to exploit. But it is actually a fair game-ender in conjunction with some variety of infinite mana combo. Given how casually blue can blunder into infinite mana, Memnarch is a powerful commander option in mono-blue.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Palinchron"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Isochron Scepter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grand Architect"></div></div>
<p>The purpose of this commander is to go infinite—there’s no two ways about it. Whether it be with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Palinchron" href="#" target="_blank">Palinchron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadeye Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Deadeye Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dramatic Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Dramatic Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Architect" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Architect</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pili-Pala" href="#" target="_blank">Pili-Pala</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we’re packing plenty of ways to steal every permanent our opponents control.</p>
<p>With that in mind, how will we supplement that strategy? While we wait for infinite mana, what will we be doing? We have to plan the perfect heist.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Putting a Plan Together</strong></h2>
<p>When putting together a ramp package for this commander, we have to be very sensitive to its cost. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memnarch" href="#" target="_blank">Memnarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> costs seven mana but has no effect on the board without at least another four mana pumped into its second ability. We might as well think about this card as costing eleven mana, because it would feel really bad to shell out seven mana for Memnarch only for it to be removed before we can leverage its abilities. Given how extremely mana-intensive this general is, I have included a total of twenty ramp effects in this deck. With such a high density, we’re hoping to be able to leverage our general’s abilities even without an infinite combo.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sky Diamond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Training grounds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heartstone"></div></div>
<p>Mana rocks are very important components of our ramp package in this deck. Because we have included the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dramatic Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Dramatic Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, we need mana rocks to tap and untap unto infinity. The more mana rocks, the better! What’s more, because of the colored mana restriction on our general’s abilities, we need mana rocks that can produce blue mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Star Compass" href="#" target="_blank">Star Compass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, is basically an additional <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sky Diamond" href="#" target="_blank">Sky Diamond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Next, we have cards that will reduce the cost of Memnarch’s abilities. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Training Grounds" href="#" target="_blank">Training Grounds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an immediate inclusion in this deck, reducing the cost of our general’s first ability by one generic mana, and the second ability by two. With this enchantment on the battlefield, the entire process of making any permanent an artifact and stealing it will cost a total of four mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartstone" href="#" target="_blank">Heartstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plays the same function, though is obviously worse. Even so, because we’re leaning so heavily into our commander, this card still deserves a nod.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vedalken Engineer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blinkmoth Urn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gilded Lotus"></div></div>
<p>I’ve also included a few miscellaneous ramp effects that will work perfectly with Memnarch. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vedalken Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Vedalken Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is above the curve for a mana dork, and its restriction is a non-factor in this deck—we will always have outlets for this mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blinkmoth Urn" href="#" target="_blank">Blinkmoth Urn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an extremely potent ramp tool for artifact decks. Even though it has the appearance of symmetry, we will almost always be able to abuse this mana more than our opponents. Once we start stealing our opponents’ artifacts, this card only becomes better. Finally, there’s not much more to be said about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilded Lotus" href="#" target="_blank">Gilded Lotus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It is expensive, but extremely effective.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Assembling the Team</strong></h2>
<p>In this deck, we aren’t really looking to set up a long-term card advantage engine. In this style of deck, we want heavy card filtering. As such, we have a set of draw effects that will allow us to draw at rate that is above-the-curve.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Careful Consideration"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thirst for Knowledge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="One with the Machine"></div></div>
<p>Filtering effects are exactly what we’re looking for, as seen on cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thirst for Knowledge" href="#" target="_blank">Thirst for Knowledge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Careful Consideration" href="#" target="_blank">Careful Consideration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While discarding cards seems like a downside in a deck with no graveyard interaction, we’re looking to craft a winning hand rather than keep our hand as full as possible. Each of these effects dig through our deck at a stellar rate, and allow us to sculpt a hand that will hopefully lead us to victory.</p>
<p>I did acquiesce to a few straightforward draw effects, mainly those that lean into the artifact synergy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="One With the Machine" href="#" target="_blank">One With the Machine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may seem weak here because I have included few high-cost artifacts, but it has a very high ceiling; if we have our commander on the battlefield, we draw a full seven cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thoughtcast" href="#" target="_blank">Thoughtcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can also help with some quick refill when we need it. Overall, though, the card advantage we're seeking in this deck isn't with cards in our hand, but by stealing things from our opponents!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trinket Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tribute Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Treasure Mage"></div></div>
<p>The Tri-cycle tutors are extremely powerful in EDH. While these cards only replace themselves and don’t act as card advantage, they each fetch cards that are crucial to our strategy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trinket Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Trinket Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can fetch <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="Glaring Spotlight" href="#" target="_blank">Glaring Spotlight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> depending on the moment, whether we need efficient ramp or the ability to steal specific permanents with our commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tribute Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Tribute Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can fetch important combo pieces such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pili-Pala" href="#" target="_blank">Pili-Pala</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or it can nab us <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> in a pinch. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has very few targets, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mycosynth Lattice" href="#" target="_blank">Mycosynth Lattice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> alone makes it worth the inclusion.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>The Deck</strong></h2>
<p>Now that we’ve looked through the ramp and draw consideration that are pertinent to this general’s strategies, let’s put it all together with a decklist. If we navigate the waters correctly, we might just get away with the big score.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liquimetal Coating"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Padeem, Consul of Innovation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirrodin Besieged"></div></div>
<p>Among the other notable inclusions, we have a few cards to further facilitate our commander’s abilities, some for protection, and some others just to spice up the playstyle. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liquimetal Coating" href="#" target="_blank">Liquimetal Coating</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a necessary inclusion for us, allowing us to cut down on activation costs to turn our opponents’ stuff into artifacts. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Padeem, Consul of Innovation" href="#" target="_blank">Padeem, Consul of Innovation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an essential protection tool for us, and if it can draw us a card our two, that’s just gravy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirrodin Besieged" href="#" target="_blank">Mirrodin Besieged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can loot through our deck turn by turn, but it can also add an auxiliary menace to our deck by threatening to knock an opponent out if the game goes long. As always, season to taste.</p>
<p>Here's our master plan! Let the heist begin.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="One Last Job" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Memnarch
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Merchant’s Dockhand
*1 Pili-Pala
*1 Vedalken Engineer
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Grand Architect
*1 Treasure Mage
*1 Tribute Mage
*1 Trinket Mage
*1 Padeem, Consul of Allocation
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Peregrine Drake
*1 Deadeye Navigator
*1 Duplicant
*1 Palinchron
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 High Tide
*1 Mystical Tutor
*1 Pongify
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Swan Song
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Dramatic Reversal
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Words of Wisdom
*1 Thirst for Knowledge
*1 Aetherize
*1 Careful Consideration
*1 Fact or Fiction
*1 Aetherspouts
*1 Intellectual Offering
*1 Dig Through Time
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Compulsive Research
*1 Fabricate
*1 One With the Machine
*1 Thoughtcast
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Glaring Spotlight
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer’s Bauble
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Isochron Scepter
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Liquimetal Coating
*1 Sky Diamond
*1 Star Compass
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Coalition Relic
*1 Commander’s Sphere
*1 Extraplanar Lens
*1 Heartstone
*1 Nevinyrral’s Disk
*1 Thran Dynamo
*1 Unwinding Clock
*1 Vedalken Orrery
*1 Blinkmoth Urn
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Caged Sun
*1 Mycosynth Lattic
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Training Grounds
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon
*1 Mirrodin Besieged
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Desert of the Mindful
*1 Detection Tower
*1 Inventors’ Fair
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Remote Isle
*1 Scrying Sheets
*1 Seat of the Synod
*28 Snow-Covered Island
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<p>What do you all think of Memnarch? Have you played it in the 99? Have you ever considered it as a potential commander? Where would you have taken the general? Please let me know in the comments! Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics.</p>


careful consideration

Monomania Takes on Eldraine – Madder Lake

Monomania — One Last Job