<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="G&#039;raha Tia, Scion Reborn" href="#" target="_blank">G&#039;raha Tia, Scion Reborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Art by <a href="https://www.mtgpics.com/illus?art=2208" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yasunari Hirasaka</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome back! In this week's <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>, I'm killing two birds with one stone. Firstly, I'm tackling a deck centered on a mechanic that I'm currently enamored with. Secondly, every card in today's deck will be from the <em>Final Fantasy</em> release, highlighting my personal ambitions for the set. And I'm doing it with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="G&#039;raha Tia, Scion Reborn" href="#" target="_blank">G&#039;raha Tia, Scion Reborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="G&#039;raha Tia, Scion Reborn"></div></div>
<p>Between the precons, the notoriously anxiety-inducing <em>Secret Lair Drops</em>, the bonus sheet, and the main set itself (Starter Kit included), building a Bracket 2 deck was easy. However, there's no small number of <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changers</a>, making Bracket 3 decks very possible. Those, and even mono-color decks are very possible here.</p>
<p>A set as large as this one is something I've been waiting for a long time, and the stars aligned!</p>
<p>But you didn't click the link to hear me gush about the set. You're here because of the deck list, so let's not waste anymore time (or words for that matter).</p>
<h2>Entering the Crystal Tower</h2>
<p>G'raha Tia was a major character in the critically acclaimed <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>, guiding the hero character in various main quests. Specifically, he's a descendant of an ancient race, and the newest member of the Scions.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="G&#039;raha Tia, Scion Reborn" href="#" target="_blank">G&#039;raha Tia, Scion Reborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> wants two things: noncreature spells and Hero tokens. There's going to be quite a few subthemes with G'raha, since we also need some lifegain to buoy our life total to take advantage of his ability.</p>
<p>There's two ways to approach our commander. The first puts much greater emphasis on his ability, filling the deck with noncreature spells, and the Hero tokens will come out stronger.</p>
<p>The other takes the focus off G'raha and utilizes <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/ranking-the-job-select-equipment-cards-from-final-fantasy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the various job select cards</a> from throughout the <em>Final Fantasy</em> release. The former paints a bigger target on our commander, as we'll be more dependent on him to stick around.</p>
<p>However, if you picked up the hint from the introduction, we're going the latter route, putting the job select cards to perfect use.</p>
<h2>Choose Your Character</h2>
<p>Before I begin, I want to say that I originally wanted to make this five color to add the red and green job select cards. That said, their numbers were few, and there's no five-color commander that fits the bill perfectly. Hopefully, we'll get one some day, but I digress.</p>
<p>Looking at the card pool for job select, there's only so many. Not only does cutting two of the colors sting a bit, but we only have one release to go on. So, we're running as many as we can here.</p>
<p>Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dancer&#039;s Chakrams" href="#" target="_blank">Dancer&#039;s Chakrams</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows our Hero to put up a performance, getting +2/+2 and lifelink, but also giving our commander the same deal. With all of the artifacts we'll be having in the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Machinist&#039;s Arsenal" href="#" target="_blank">Machinist&#039;s Arsenal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes our Hero token into a sizeable threat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dancer&#039;s Chakrams"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Machinist&#039;s Arsenal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reaper&#039;s Scythe"></div></div>
<p>Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paladin&#039;s Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Paladin&#039;s Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may be costly to equip, but it also provides some protection with ward <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thief&#039;s Knife" href="#" target="_blank">Thief&#039;s Knife</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> nets us a card each time the equipped Hero connects.</p>
<p>Speaking of connecting, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ninja&#039;s Blades" href="#" target="_blank">Ninja&#039;s Blades</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't just net us a card, but also makes us discard and make our opponent lose life equal to the mana value.</p>
<p>Thirdly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reaper&#039;s Scythe" href="#" target="_blank">Reaper&#039;s Scythe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make our equipped Hero token grow quickly, especially if multiple players lost life during our turn.</p>
<p>Finally, even the commons have some uses. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Mage&#039;s Rod" href="#" target="_blank">Black Mage&#039;s Rod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pings opponents when we cast a noncreature spell - useful if Reaper's Scythe is out as well. On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Knight&#039;s Greatsword" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Knight&#039;s Greatsword</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns our equipped Hero into a sizeable but fragile threat.</p>
<p>Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sage&#039;s Nouliths" href="#" target="_blank">Sage&#039;s Nouliths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has us untap a creature when the equipped Hero attacks, giving us a potential blocker later.</p>
<p>That said, we need to buff those Heroes further. I wonder how we can do that. But, of course! The Cids!</p>
<h2>Are You Cid-ding Me?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer"></div></div>
<p>I'm not sorry for pulling that pun, by the way. No regrets, because I'm evil.</p>
<p>We're running a total of 15 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s here. We don't need too many of those, as they'll only end up clogging our hand. Crucially, the idea is to keep a few back, and cycle the rest. The reason is that the Cids will have targets painted on their backs the second they drop. Removal spells will be flung, boards will be wiped, and your graveyard can get exiled, setting back your hard work.</p>
<p>If you have access to instant-speed recursion or cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clever Concealment|fic|236" href="#" target="_blank">Clever Concealment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, use those to protect both G'raha and what Cids are in play. They only draw one card, but they can cycle through your deck.</p>
<p>However, for reasons I stated above, it's best to not cycle or play every Cid you see. Those Hero tokens will be weak on their own, and will need some help to become threats.</p>
<h2>G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Beyond the Multiverse-G&#039;raha Tia" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 G&#039;raha Tia, Scion Reborn
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Astrologian&#039;s Planisphere
*1 Black Mage&#039;s Rod
*1 Dancer&#039;s Chakrams
*1 Dark Knight&#039;s Greatsword
*1 Dragoon&#039;s Lance
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Machinist&#039;s Arsenal
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Monk&#039;s Fist
*1 Ninja&#039;s Blades
*1 Paladin&#039;s Arms
*1 Reaper&#039;s Scythe
*1 Sage&#039;s Nouliths
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Thief&#039;s Knife
*1 Tome of Legends
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 White Mage&#039;s Staff
*1 World Map
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Ashe, Princess of Dalmasca
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Weapons Vendor
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Combat Tutorial
*1 Damn
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 The Crystal&#039;s Chosen
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Battle Menu
*1 Clever Concealment
*1 Into the Story
*1 Overkill
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Restoration Magic
*1 Stroke of Midnight
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Void Rend
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Champions from Beyond
*1 Forge Anew
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Adventurer&#039;s Inn
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Capital City
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Contaminated Aquifer
*1 Darkwater Catacombs
*1 Desolate Mire
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Idyllic Beachfront
*1 Insomnia, Crown City
*1 Ishgard, the Holy See // Faith &amp; Grief
*4 Island
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Jidoor, Aristocratic Capital // Overture
*1 Midgar, City of Mako // Reactor Raid
*4 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Sharlayan, Nation of Scholars
*1 Shineshadow Snarl
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Starting Town
*1 Sunlit Marsh
*4 Swamp
*1 The Gold Saucer
*1 Treno, Dark City
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Saving the World</h2>
<p>Taking the Cids out of the equation, our decklist today is very low to the ground in its mana curve. Even so, we can only trigger our commander once each turn, so be sure to cast some instant-speed stuff on our opponents' turns as well.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Combat Tutorial"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Champions from Beyond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forge Anew|sld|7002"></div></div>
<p>That said, some hawk-eyed readers will notice some odd card choices in this list. I also went a more flavorful route, and added the "game" cards (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combat Tutorial" href="#" target="_blank">Combat Tutorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) in there. I thought it'd be a fun take on a deck. They, too, have their uses.</p>
<p>While Combat Tutorial draws us cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle Menu" href="#" target="_blank">Battle Menu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very flexible, but you're mostly using the options to destroy a creature or, when needed, the lifegain option. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="World Map" href="#" target="_blank">World Map</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't ramp us, but it does search for any land if we pay more into it.</p>
<p>Another notable card in the list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champions from Beyond" href="#" target="_blank">Champions from Beyond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which gives us an army of Hero tokens on top of the benefits the card provides. Just be sure to protect that board, because even getting back up to four might take some turns.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forge Anew|sld|7002" href="#" target="_blank">Forge Anew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can bypass the first equip cost each turn, and can return an Equipment card from the graveyard onto the battlefield. Speaking of bypassing equip costs, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weapons Vendor" href="#" target="_blank">Weapons Vendor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Puresteel Paladin|fic|250" href="#" target="_blank">Puresteel Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> help reattach Equipment that have been fallen off because the equipped Heroes have been removed.</p>
<h2>The Search for More Heroes</h2>
<p>Going beyond <em>Universes Beyond</em> (and <em>Final Fantasy</em> in this case), we can be sure to find more artifact and/or Equipment support for the deck. We even gain a color in red if we take the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silas Renn, Seeker Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Silas Renn, Seeker Adept</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> &amp; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder" href="#" target="_blank">Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pairing. That said, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akiri, Line-Slinger" href="#" target="_blank">Akiri, Line-Slinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also works instead of Bruse.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Steelshaper&#039;s Gift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mondrak, Glory Dominus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silas Renn, Seeker Adept"></div></div>
<p>Outside of that, a lot of the key Equipment cards are reprinted in <em>Universes Beyond</em>, so what I'll do for this section is to cover cards outside of <em>Final Fantasy</em>, both in-universe and beyond it.</p>
<p>Firstly, tutor cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steelshaper&#039;s Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Steelshaper&#039;s Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can find our job select cards that much faster. Meanwhile, token doublers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mondrak, Glory Dominus" href="#" target="_blank">Mondrak, Glory Dominus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> multiplies the number of Hero tokens that arrive.</p>
<p>If you want to expand your Equipment options beyond the job select cards, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hammer of Nazahn" href="#" target="_blank">Hammer of Nazahn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allow for more Equipment options because, flavorfully, heroes tend to find Equipment. This can be a legendary blade, or something outright superior to what they're already wielding.</p>
<p>In addendum, anthem effects that bolster the Hero tokens are another way to go, making them stronger without having to rely so heavily on Equipment, and being slowed down by the equip costs.</p>
<h2>Saving the Day</h2>
<p>To wrap things up, the job select mechanic is something I adored when it was revealed. Even better, though, is improving on the whole process of creating your Hero. Who said the names have to be "Hero"? Name your Hero tokens!</p>
<p>Maybe you want to take the immersive (some would call vain) route and put yourself on the battlefield. Maybe it's your friends, or characters that you wrote for a novel. Feel that personal attachment, and it's almost as though you're literally playing a <em>Final Fantasy</em> game for real. That's part of the fun for me with this deck. Do you name your Hero tokens?</p>
<p>Before checking out for the week, I do intend on covering box-mander (Commander decks from a booster box, in a nutshell) next week, and I have no less than two lists for you in store. However, whether I cover one or all in detail is something I haven't decided yet. Tune in next week to see what I've assembled from said boxes.</p>


Beyond the Multiverse-G'raha Tia

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/lasahido" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lius Lasahido</a></em></p>
<p>As mentioned in my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-a-demon-typal-deck-with-ardyn-the-usurper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Demon Typal Deck Tech</a> last week, <em>Final Fantasy</em> is a cool IP that doesn’t speak to me. There are, however, tons of interesting designs, many of which are amazing as IP-agnostic game pieces. The one I’m focusing on today is a timewalking mechanist who reminds me of when I was just learning the game in high school. The school I went to has a mascot named Sidney Raider, after the Spanish hero El Cid. This timeless hero of gallantry, bravery, and sacrifice seems a fitting commander for a deck, so let’s learn how to build around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, Cid reminds me of high school in more than just his name: he works with artifacts and cycling, which were themes of a couple of my early decks! I started playing with <em>Champions of Kamigawa</em>, right after <em>Mirrodin</em> block, which was a terrible time to learn. Damage went on the stack; mana burned if it wasn’t all spent; and broken-in-half artifacts enabled incredibly explosive starts. My first deck that could compete was a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grinding Station" href="#" target="_blank">Grinding Station</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Cheerios combo deck; my second was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Astral Slide" href="#" target="_blank">Astral Slide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ETBs and Morphs. Somehow, someway, Cid manages to bridge my high school experience and my current deckbuilding kick: strange typal decks!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Cid, Timeless Artificer Do?</h2>
<p>Cid is an intriguing card in the 99, and can even take multiple slots, as a deck can have any number of cards named <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It also has cycling, which is another ability better served in the 99. So…why run Cid as a commander? Well, in addition to being an aggressively-costed four-drop, Cid gives artifact creatures and Heroes +1/+1 for each Artificer we control and each Artificer in our graveyard. This pump only happens if we have a copy out, so we can use our commander to take advantage of the waves and waves of Cid’s past lives we cycle away.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Lord Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Prince of Kroog"></div></div>
<p>There are a number of legendary Artificers who could helm an Artificer-themed deck, most of whom involve adding or subtracting a color from our Azorius color identity. Ironically, the closest we can get to a predecessor to the kindly and paternal Cid is one of the incarnations of the curmudgeonly eugenicist, Urza. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Prince of Kroog" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Prince of Kroog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both in the deck, so we could tag them in as the commander if wanted. The Lord Protector reduces the cost of artifacts, instants, and sorceries we cast, although we already do have some cost reducers and we don’t run many instants or sorceries. The Prince of Kroog acts as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tempered Steel" href="#" target="_blank">Tempered Steel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a means of copying artifacts, but Cid already pumps the artifact creatures and we don’t have a glut of mana to pour into the Prince’s ability, so he doesn’t really add anything.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hare Apparent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon&#039;s Approach"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Persistent Petitioners"></div></div>
<p>Trying to place this deck into known archetypes is a bit of a tough ask, as Cid has an ability that breaks a fundamental rule of singleton formats. The more successful cards that can have any number of copies tend to be focal points of their decks: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hare Apparent" href="#" target="_blank">Hare Apparent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon&#039;s Approach" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon&#039;s Approach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persistent Petitioners" href="#" target="_blank">Persistent Petitioners</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slime Against Humanity" href="#" target="_blank">Slime Against Humanity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Cid is a bit more of a role-player and is the first to be able to go into the command zone. While cycling may be a blank on a commander (without committing to the bit), Cids do work together by offering flexibility. They need artifact creatures and/or Heroes to pump, however, so we can’t just pack our deck with a bunch of Cids. While there is probably a more Cid-focused cycling deck or a cheap, evasive artifact-focused aggro deck, our list is a moderate tempo-based version.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Cid, Timeless Artificer</h2>
<p>One of the most important cards in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck is…<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! Why is that? Well, it does the things we need, which is why we have it as a commander and why we’re playing a card where we can have any number of copies. But how many is enough? Is there such a thing as too many? Unlike other cards with similar effects, we don’t need more than 20, nor do we need a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrumming Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Thrumming Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as we’re cycling instead of casting. We also have a version in the command zone, so we’re likely casting it as the primary copy and the rest will be cycled away to dig for the “real” spells. As a result, 15 Cids seems like a fair amount - one for each variant!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|407"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|409"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|414"></div></div>
<p>The other Artificers need to either produce or interact with artifacts, as Cid pumps them and many effects care about them. <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sai, Master Thopterist" href="#" target="_blank">Sai, Master Thopterist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can draw us cards with our artifacts. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam" href="#" target="_blank">Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combine to give the deck a fairly strong engine: bouncing, re-casting, copying, and recurring artifacts to slowly develop a wide board through synergy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whirler Rogue" href="#" target="_blank">Whirler Rogue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides evasive bodies that soak up the Cid boosts like a sponge and can also tap to punch through extra damage in a pinch.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Padeem, Consul of Innovation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mishra&#039;s Bauble"></div></div>
<p>While <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> isn’t usually an important card to go into detail about, the deck is mana-hungry and there are interesting combos and synergies with it. It both provides mana to fuel Drafna’s abilities and is an incredible outlet for them, as making extra Sol Rings is one of the more powerful things one can do. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra&#039;s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are similarly powerful artifacts to juggle around, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ornithopter of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Ornithopter of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can quickly go from a setup mana creature to a game-ending threat!</p>
<h2>How Does This Cid, Timeless Artificer Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>Ideally speaking, our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck wins by powering up incidental bodies using copies of our namesake card. It’s worth noting that Cid cares about all Artificers, not just copies of himself, so we wind up with ways to add almost 40 power and toughness if we can flip our whole deck into play. While that's unlikely, it shows how many Artificers we're running, many of whom make bodies for us to pump.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|419"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|418"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|417"></div></div>
<p>When a single Thopter can slice off half of your life? Yeah, that’s a powerful aggressive line. When you factor in that that’s not even using our better cards? You better believe this deck has potential. While we’d prefer to win through cycling Cids to stack up boosts on evasive creatures, sometimes we need to rely on the synergies shared between members of the Artificer creature type, using spare copies of Cid to dig to our more powerful cards and to piece together the synergies needed to build inevitability.</p>
<h2>Cid, Timeless Artificer Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Artificer&#039;s Assistant
*1 Aspiring Aeronaut
*1 Aviation Pioneer
*14 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Digsite Engineer
*1 Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Etherium Spinner
*1 Experimental Aviator
*1 Grand Architect
*1 Hangarback Walker
*1 Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator
*1 Inspired Sphinx
*1 Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*1 Leonardo da Vinci
*1 Lita, Mechanical Engineer
*1 Losheel, Clockwork Scholar
*1 Master Transmuter
*1 Master Trinketeer
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Oltec Matterweaver
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
*1 Renowned Weaponsmith
*1 Riddlesmith
*1 Sai, Master Thopterist
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Sharding Sphinx
*1 Thopter Mechanic
*1 Thought Monitor
*1 Urza, Lord Protector
*1 Urza, Powerstone Prodigy
*1 Urza, Prince of Kroog
*1 Whirler Rogue
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Cloud Key
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mishra&#039;s Bauble
*1 Retrofitter Foundry
*1 Shorikai, Genesis Engine
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Mightstone and Weakstone
*1 Thopter Fabricator
*1 Whirlermaker
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Thopter Spy Network
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*20 Island
*20 Plains
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>There are some powerful cards in our deck, which enable fast starts. <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are the more egregious offenders, especially since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be annoying to track. At least, with its synergy with Cids, the Sentinel can get strong enough that most players will just not be able to pay its cost. While we do play some staples, we have ways to make those staples more interesting. And while we do play 15 of the same card, that card has a lot of “play” to it. When do you cast it? When do you cycle it? Do you cast a spare copy or the commander itself? We can even use the spare copies to have access to our commander without paying for tax!</p>
<p>This deck is one for those who enjoy tempo decks with a solid amount of flexibility and problem solving. It’s easy to play but tough to master, as every card has decision-making trees. If you enjoy Kaijudo/Duel Masters, you’ll love the decision trees that come with each copy of Cid, as those games are largely defined by the choices of how you want to play each individual card.</p>
<p>How would you build a Cid deck? And how many Cids is too many? Let us know in the comments.</p>


cid

Beyond the Multiverse-G'raha Tia

Building an Artificer Typal Deck with Cid, Timeless Artificer