<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atsushi, the Blazing Sky" href="#" target="_blank">Atsushi, the Blazing Sky</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/victoradameart">Victor Adame Minguez</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo, and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atsushi, the Blazing Sky" href="#" target="_blank">Atsushi, the Blazing Sky</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atsushi, the Blazing Sky"></div></div>
<p>Atsushi suffers from being a better card in the 99 than as a commander. While the commander death rule change made it a lot easier to use commanders with these types of abilities, we still have to deal with an ever-increasing commander tax without any of the proper tools to deal with it. This goes double for pure-value-based commanders such as Atsushi, since we want to trigger them as often as possible.</p>
<p>That being said, once we accept our commander's shortcomings, we have a powerhouse of a tool for mono-red. Both modes on Atsushi's death trigger are solid, providing either mana or card draw, two things that mono-red always looks for.</p>
<p>While red won't be the best color to support a detah trigger commander, there are still plenty of good clone effects to copy our commander, forcing the copy to die to the legend rule. Bear in mind that these cards should be used mainly as support or a secondary theme, since it would be awkward to spend resources just to get more resources.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>So, how will we give this Dragon a brand new twist?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrathful Red Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blazing Sunsteel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blasphemous Act"></div></div>
<p>One of the biggest challenges when using the '<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects + gigantic damage spell' interaction is, of course, choosing the right commander. These strategies often get stuck in a situation where they need to deal tons of damage to the whole table to trigger <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cards, which of course kills their own commander, making it impossible to choose a ocmmander that you rely upon for help with that game plan. Atsushi negates this problem altogether! Our commander's death will only bring rewards! Atsushi's trigger is exactly what we need to either rebuild with a quick bump of extra mana to help replay our threats, to use the pseudo-draw to help us find them.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrathful Red Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Wrathful Red Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an impressive addition to our deck, as the tribal synergies with our commander could certainly be the difference between whether we can OHKO an opponent or not. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a more flexible <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and is an all-star in our list for its reliability, and for being so easily tutorable. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blazing Sunsteel" href="#" target="_blank">Blazing Sunsteel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a versatile card that makes any creature into a Stuffy Doll, turns our commander into a decent Voltron threat, and goes infinite with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toralf, God of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Toralf, God of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repercussion" href="#" target="_blank">Repercussion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are excellent at punishing people for having too wide of a board.</p>
<p>The other part of our 'combo' is filled with some common red board wipes. This is a big upside when playing this type of strategy: we're able to fill both the interaction and synergy slots with cards that we'd want to play anyway, which opens up a lot in terms of deck slot economy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the benchmark effect, as it's cheap and does a lot of damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundering Stroke" href="#" target="_blank">Sundering Stroke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very consistent in a mono-red deck and does a lot of damage, with or without our creatures on the board. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shatterskull Smashing" href="#" target="_blank">Shatterskull Smashing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> goes even further on the versatility, working as either a combo piece, a removal spell, or a land.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfuric Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burning Earth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ankh of Mishra"></div></div>
<p>While our deck wants to 'combo' off, we lack the consistency to make it our primary win condition. Enter the group slug package. <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/group-slug">Group slug</a> is a perfect theme to complement our strategy because it helps us lower everyone's life total low enough that our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combination will actually threaten lethal damage. Our deck is very mana-hungry, so having a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Descent into Avernus" href="#" target="_blank">Descent into Avernus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can both ramp us and deal damage is very good, even if the ramp is symmetrical. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Manabarbs" href="#" target="_blank">Manabarbs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burning Earth" href="#" target="_blank">Burning Earth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spellshock" href="#" target="_blank">Spellshock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> punish players for casting spells in one way or another, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magus of the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Magus of the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> punish players for being too greedy with their mana base.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Atsushi Piñata" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Atsushi, the Blazing Sky
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Goblin Engineer
*Mogg Maniac
*Goblin Matron
*Imperial Recruiter
*Magus of the Moon
*Spiteful Sliver
*Defiler of Instinct
*Ill-Tempered Loner
*Jaxis, the Troublemaker
*Toralf, God of Fury
*Brash Taunter
*Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
*Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
*Stuffy Doll
*Wrathful Red Dragon
*Coalhauler Swine
[/Creature]
[Sorcery]
*Earthquake
*Faithless Looting
*Magmatic Insight
*Rolling Earthquake
*Shattering Spree
*Vandalblast
*Crackle with Power
*Shatterskull Smashing
*Seize the Spoils
*Chain Reaction
*Shivan Meteor
*Star of Extinction
*Sundering Stroke
*Blasphemous Act
[/Sorcery]
[Instant]
*Price of Progress
*Thrill of Possibility
*Wild Magic Surge
*Arcbond
*Chaos Warp
*Valakut Awakening
*Big Score
*Unexpected Windfall
[/Instant]
[Enchantment]
*Roiling Vortex
*Blood Moon
*Descent into Avernus
*Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
*Repercussion
*Spellshock
*Sulfuric Vortex
*Burning Earth
*Furnace of Rath
*Manabarbs
*Dictate of the Twin Gods
*Fiery Emancipation
[/Enchantment]
[Artifact]
*Everflowing Chalice
*Sol Ring
*Ankh of Mishra
*Blade of Selves
*Blazing Sunsteel
*Fellwar Stone
*Mind Stone
*Ruby Medallion
*Cursed Mirror
*Skyclave Relic
*Sword of Light and Shadow
*Hedron Archive
*Caged Sun
[/Artifact]
[Land]
*Tectonic Edge
*Ghost Quarter
*34 Mountain
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>We've assembled a decent tutor suite for mono-red. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can grab <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blazing Sunsteel" href="#" target="_blank">Blazing Sunsteel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if we want to go off even without a proper <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creature, or it can grab <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Light and Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Light and Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if we want to rebuild after combing off, or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cursed Mirror" href="#" target="_blank">Cursed Mirror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can be great in the right circumstances. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Matron" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Matron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can fetch our key creatures, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mogg Maniac" href="#" target="_blank">Mogg Maniac</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can grab enablers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or it can chain tutors together by getting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. My favorite one, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imperial Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Imperial Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is more flexible than the Matron, being able to tutor for any Goblin and even some of our cheaper non-Goblin 'combo' creatures, plus some heavy hitters like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magus of the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Magus of the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaxis, the Troublemaker" href="#" target="_blank">Jaxis, the Troublemaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Engineer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Matron"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Imperial Recruiter"></div></div>
<p>Oh, and did I mention? Damage multiplier effects are great here because a <em>lot</em> of our cards deal a <em>lot </em>of damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Emancipation" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Emancipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> goes buck wild, tripling our own damage to our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which then deal an <em>additional </em>triple damage to an opponent! Bear in mind that these types of cards take extra time to get into play, and attract a lot of attention, so opponents may gang up on us to remove them. To create a big explosion, we have to time the ignition just right.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>Our early game strategy should focus more on building a reliable foundation, rather than trying to goldfish our way through the game. As such, we should prioritize hands that offer early board interaction or mana. Our commander is a good failsafe for when we're lacking relevant plays. The mid-game is where we start tutoring to get our key pieces ready. This telegraphs our plan, but flexible deck searches will set us up quickly, and once we land a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a big blowout damage spell, our opponents might not be able to survive the initial blast.</p>
<p>If they do survive, that's no problem - our late game is pretty good, and that's where the group slug cards come in handy! Life totals will be low, so even if our damage multipliers didn't secure the win, we can nickel and dime our way to victory... or set up for another explosion! Even games where we don't set up very well can end with a combination of damage multipliers and burn spells.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think of this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which did you not? Was this experiment a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Atsushi

Epic Experiment - The Beamtown Bullies

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grolnok, the Omnivore" href="#" target="_blank">Grolnok, the Omnivore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/simondominic">Simon Dominic</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo, and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grolnok, the Omnivore" href="#" target="_blank">Grolnok, the Omnivore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grolnok, the Omnivore"></div></div>
<p>Grolnok is a versatile permanent-based commander that acts as a self-mill card advantage engine. One of the most impressive things about it is its sheer flexibility, allowing it to be at the helm of a myriad of permanent-based strategies; even <em>Flashback</em>-heavy investments have a good payoff, since they don't get exiled. It honestly really feels more like a Sultai legend than like a Simic legend, which is a good thing. The tribal aspect of Grolnok might be an underrated element of its kit; it allows for cheap <em>Changeling</em> cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Universal Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Universal Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to accelerate its mill triggers, although I wouldn't invest too heavily in tribal synergies.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mental Note"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knowledge Pool"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir"></div></div>
<p>Grolnk is a powerful way to get incremental advantages, but a secondary effect of its kit is a way to dig for specific cards. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mental Note" href="#" target="_blank">Mental Note</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought Scour" href="#" target="_blank">Thought Scour</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> become powerful digging tools, and slower cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mesmeric Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Mesmeric Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are basically free looks. All this digging needs an actual payoff, otherwise what's the point? There are a bunch of powerful cards to consider, but one combination that caught my eye very early on was the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knowledge Pool" href="#" target="_blank">Knowledge Pool</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, a powerful hard lock that has a surprisingly safe play pattern for an 11-mana combo (we use Teferi on EOT and play Knowledge Pool on our turn).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Codex Shredder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hedron Crab"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crawling Sensation"></div></div>
<p>Self-mill is an important part of our deck, and we need a solid foundation in order to fully utilize our commander's ability. <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 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wand of Vertebrae" href="#" target="_blank">Wand of Vertebrae</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are cheap self mill sources that can also help if we get an important card stuck in our graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merfolk Secretkeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Merfolk Secretkeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minister of Inquiries" href="#" target="_blank">Minister of Inquiries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hedron Crab" href="#" target="_blank">Hedron Crab</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Universal Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Universal Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (to some extent) are self-mill sources that can be used as blockers in a pinch. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crawling Infestation" href="#" target="_blank">Crawling Infestation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crawling Sensation" href="#" target="_blank">Crawling Sensation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are slow self-mill enchantments, but they provide a lot of defensive power in the mid-game.</p>
<p>Since we have the ability to dig through our deck and have access to a lot of permanents, we're using a silver bullet suite that allows us to have a nice array of answers to problematic effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venser, Shaper Savant" href="#" target="_blank">Venser, Shaper Savant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frilled Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Frilled Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are good defensive options; while we lose the element of surprise, having them constantly there can play mind games with the rest of the table whenever we leave mana open. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scavenging Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Scavenging Ooze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul-Guide Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Soul-Guide Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are effective graveyard hate that can also provide a bit of secondary value that might prove to be useful even when the graveyard hate is not all that necessary.</p>
<p>Our commander is our main source of card advantage, so keeping it alive is extremely important, which means that including a protection suite is very much a must if we want to have any sort of consistency. <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swiftfoot Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Swiftfoot Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Plate" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Plate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide some solid protection against single and mass removal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Shard" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Shard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erratic Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Erratic Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are a bit of a spicy tech that not only can protect our commander, but also get value from our many strong ETB creatures.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Grolnok" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Grolnok, the Omnivore
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Birds of Paradise
*Hedron Crab
*Merfolk Secretkeeper
*Minister of Inquiries
*Universal Automaton
*Scavenging Ooze
*Brazen Borrower
*Eternal Witness
*Reclamation Sage
*Frilled Mystic
*Sower of Temptation
*Venser, Shaper Savant
*Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
*Hullbreaker Horror
*Waker of Waves
[/Creature]
[Artifact]
*Codex Shredder
*Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*Sol Ring
*Soul-Guide Lantern
*Universal Solvent
*Wand of Vertebrae
*Lightning Greaves
*Mesmeric Orb
*Swiftfoot Boots
*Crystal Shard
*Erratic Portal
*Knowledge Pool
*Mycosynth Lattice
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Wild Growth
*Drowned Secrets
*Fertile Ground
*Frogify
*Jace&#039;s Erasure
*Kenrith&#039;s Transformation
*Omen of the Sea
*Wolfwillow Haven
*Crawling Infestation
*Crawling Sensation
*Glittering Frost
*Imprisoned in the Moon
*Overgrowth
*Verdant Haven
*Words of Wilding
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Consider
*Mental Note
*Opt
*Otherworldy Gaze
*Thought Scour
*Arcane Denial
*Curate
*Cyclonic Rift
*Deliberate
*Long-Term Plans
*Commit // Memory
[/Instant]
[Planeswalker]
*Narset, Parter of Veils
*Karn, the Great Creator
*Tamiyo, Collector of Tales
[/Planeswalker]
[Sorcery]
*Increasing Confusion
*Ponder
*Preordain
*Serum Visions
*Sleight of Hand
*Echo of Eons
[/Sorcery]
[Land]
*Barkchannel Pathway
*Botanical Sanctum
*Breeding Pool
*City of Brass
*Command Tower
*Dreamroot Cascade
*Exotic Orchard
*Hinterland Harbor
*Mana Confluence
*Prismatic Vista
*Mana Confluence
*Rejuvenating Springs
*Yavimaya Coast
*Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
*9 Forest
*14 Island
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>We have three powerful planeswalkers that, because of their sheer power, I feel are very relevant to discuss. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, the Great Creator" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, the Great Creator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an interesting addition; on the one hand, it acts as a silver bullet, but its main purpose is to imitate our commander for our key artifacts (mainly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knowledge Pool" href="#" target="_blank">Knowledge Pool</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn, the Great Creator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tamiyo, Collector of Tales"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Narset, Parter of Veils"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tamiyo, Collector of Tales" href="#" target="_blank">Tamiyo, Collector of Tales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fantastic card in this list. Her +1 is great when we have our commander out, and her -3 is a great failsafe ability in case we get a card in the graveyard that we really want back. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset, Parter of Veils" href="#" target="_blank">Narset, Parter of Veils</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful lock piece, and together with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commit // Memory" href="#" target="_blank">Commit // Memory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echo of Eons" href="#" target="_blank">Echo of Eons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we have a powerful easy to execute combo that doesn't really rely on our commander and can buy us the time to assemble our main lock.</p>
<hr />
<div id="mtgh_f554a" class="mtgh">
<div class="header">
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>For our opening hands, we're looking for cheap ways to start self-milling, because once we start going it's <em>very</em> hard to stop us. Lands and ramp are nice, but I'd prioritize ways to actually capitalize on Grolnok's ability from the first moment that it hits the table.</p>
<p>In the early game, we're trying to set up for our commander's arrival, either with some of our cheap self-mill-enablers or simply by ramping into a faster buildup. Self-milling without our commander is very dangerous, so we should carefully consider if it's worth getting a card stuck in our graveyard.</p>
<p>By the mid-game, if we're able to establish a self-mill engine with our commander, then we'll be rolling in resources. It's hard to miss on stuff like land drops or action cards with the number of cards that we can see, and the best part is that it tends to snowball. In the later stages, we should always pay attention for opportunities to flash in Teferi at the end of the turn.</p>
<p>Our deck has a very strong late game because it can build back up very quickly whenever our commander hits the table. All those precious cards that we hadn't had the chance to cast are still available to us, and by this point, mana isn't that much of a problem, so we probably will have the opportunity to chain at least one or two huge cards before passing the turn.</p>
</div>
</div>
<hr />
<div id="mtgh_f554a" class="mtgh">
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
</div>
<p>Say this current list isn't 100% your style. What else could you pursue to assist this strategy?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earthcraft"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Propaganda"></div></div>
<p>Investing heavily into Stax effects, removing the cantrips, and playing more like a pillow fort strategy could be quite effective, since one of the main obstacles of such strategy is finding its relevant effects in time.</p>
<p>Finding another permanent-based combo can also change the deck up a bit. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthcraft" href="#" target="_blank">Earthcraft</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squirrel Nest" href="#" target="_blank">Squirrel Nest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a cheap (at least mana-wise) "I win" combo that can be very easily dug out with our engine. We could even put more priority on self-mill cards to go even faster!</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think of this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which did you not? Was this Epic Experiment a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Grolnok

Epic Experiment - Tiamat

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esika, God of the Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Esika, God of the Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/algenpfleger">Johannes Voss</a>)</h6>

<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>This week, we'll start exploring <em>Kaldheim</em> with what's probably one of the most powerful commanders recently released. It's part creature, part enchantment, 100% bomb. Yes, it's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esika, God of the Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Esika, God of the Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/esika.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-62708" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/esika.jpg" alt="" width="243" height="339" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/esika.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/esika-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/prismatic-bridge.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-62709" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/prismatic-bridge.jpg" alt="" width="244" height="339" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/prismatic-bridge.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/prismatic-bridge-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Esika, God of the Tree</strong></p>
<p><strong>Vigilance</strong></p>
<p><strong>{T}: Add one mana of any color.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Other legendary creatures you control have vigilance and “{T}: Add one mana of any color.”</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Prismatic Bridge</strong></p>
<p><strong>At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a creature or planeswalker card. Put that card onto the battlefield and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>Esika has tough competition on her front side; both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kethis, the Hidden Hand" href="#" target="_blank">Kethis, the Hidden Hand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sisay, Weatherlight Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Sisay, Weatherlight Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offer a better support for the 'legendary matters' archetype. However, the versatility of having two forms can't be underestimated.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>The enchantment is quite strong. In fact, it's probably the main reason one should consider running Esika as a commander.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>The combination of the creature side plus the enchantment side is really powerful in a deck dedicated to playing haymakers, as both halves can help the gameplan in their own way.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>Cheating creatures or planeswalkers into play can be used in plenty of different ways, from getting big haymakers to a more combo-focused approach.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Esika-Sig.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-62299" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Esika-Sig-1024x510.png" alt="" width="1024" height="510" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Esika-Sig-1024x510.png 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Esika-Sig-300x150.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Esika-Sig-768x383.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Esika-Sig.png 1224w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></p>
<p>As we can see, Esika is often used as the head of a God tribal, which makes sense, in a way, since Gods tend to be quite good. This seems more like a thematic choice than one based on power, though.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stuffy Doll"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brash Taunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spiteful Sliver"></div></div>
<p>Like in my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illuna, Apex of Wishes" href="#" target="_blank">Illuna, Apex of Wishes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/epic-experiment-illuda-storm/">article</a>, the challenge of building around The Prismatic Bridge is to find out what we're trying to cheat into play. One of my favorite two-card combos is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect plus some big damage spell. This combo has always felt a bit clunky because we need to find one combo piece, play them, and then cast our damage effect. This is can lead us into two outcomes: either we play our creature early and wait for our next turn to play the damage spell, or we wait until we have the mana to cast both cards on the same turn. The Prismatic Bridge helps us find our creatures and play them for free. This makes so we can hold playing our commander until we find a damage spell, and then on the next turn we can combo out.</p>
<p>We have basically every variation of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They all look very similar, but upon further look we can see their differences. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coalhauler Swine" href="#" target="_blank">Coalhauler Swine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being able to damage every opponent makes it a very effective threat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spiteful Sliver" href="#" target="_blank">Spiteful Sliver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best target for our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clone" href="#" target="_blank">Clone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects, because they'll get multiple instances of the damage trigger. Aside from these creatures, we do have some honorable mentions that help us, too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repercussion" href="#" target="_blank">Repercussion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcbond" href="#" target="_blank">Arcbond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toralf, God of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Toralf, God of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turn our opponents' creatures into our own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s.</p>
<p>The best part of this archetype is that one of its combo pieces are board wipes. This means that we are somewhat slot-efficient and we can reliably interact with our opponents' creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the best options out there. It's cheap and does a lot of damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthquake" href="#" target="_blank">Earthquake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rolling Earthquake" href="#" target="_blank">Rolling Earthquake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> do a good job both triggering our creatures and as a burn to face. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundering Stroke" href="#" target="_blank">Sundering Stroke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful burn spell that can act both as a way to spread damage across and as a way to focus damage onto one opponent.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spellshock"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfuric Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ankh of Mishra"></div></div>
<p>We probably won't be able to wipe out all of our opponents with our combo, so we need a way to soften everyone up. This is a bit of a challenge because we want to avoid playing creatures (other than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s) and planeswalkers, so we need another way to find a constant source of pressure. Group Slug enchantments do a great job covering that weakness. They punish greed and play nicely with damage multiplier effects, another key part of our gameplan. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cindervines" href="#" target="_blank">Cindervines</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spellshock" href="#" target="_blank">Spellshock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> punish our opponents for playing multiple spells, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roiling Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Roiling Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sulfuric Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Sulfuric Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might seem a bit too slow, but they do add up by the time we're combing out.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Esika Piñata" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Esika, God of the Tree
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Mogg Maniac
*Boros Reckoner
*Hornet Nest
*Spiteful Sliver
*Toralf, God of Fury
*Spitemare
*Truefire Captain
*Brash Taunter
*Stuffy Doll
*Coalhauler Swine
[/Creature]
[Sorcery]
*Earthquake
*Faithless Looting
*Magmatic Insight
*Reanimate
*Rolling Earthquake
*Vandalblast
*Explore
*Farseek
*Nature&#039;s Lore
*Three Visits
*Tormenting Voice
*Twinflame
*Cultivate
*Grow from the Ashes
*Kodama&#039;s Reach
*Chain Reaction
*Pirate&#039;s Pillage
*Skyshroud Claim
*Shivan Meteor
*Into the Maw of Hell
*Star of Extinction
*Sundering Stroke
*Blasphemous Act
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Ankh of Mishra
*Arcane Signet
*Chromatic Lantern
*Lithoform Engine
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Phyrexian Reclamation
*Animate Dead
*Cindervines
*No Rest for the Wicked
*Roiling Vortex
*Overabundance
*Repercussion
*Spellshock
*Sulfuric Vortex
*Flameshadow Conjuring
*Manabarbs
*Dictate of the Twin Gods
*Fiery Emancipation
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Mystical Tutor
*Vampiric Tutor
*Arcane Denial
*Boros Charm
*Cyclonic Rift
*Heroic Intervention
*Thrill of Possibility
*Arcbond
*Chaos Warp
*Kolaghan&#039;s Command
*Faith&#039;s Reward
[/Instant]
[Land]
*Arid Mesa
*Blood Crypt
*Bloodstained Mire
*Cinder Glade
*City of Brass
*Command Tower
*Flooded Strand
*Ketria Triome
*Luxury Suite
*Mana Confluence
*Marsh Flats
*Misty Rainforest
*Polluted Delta
*Raugrin Triome
*Sacred Foundry
*Savai Triome
*Scalding Tarn
*Spectator Seating
*Spire Garden
*Steam Vents
*Stomping Ground
*Training Center
*Verdant Catacombs
*Windswept Heath
*Wooded Foothills
*12 Mountain
[/Land]"></span></div>
<hr />
<p>Another key component of our list are damage multiplier effects. These effects stack amazingly well with our creatures (both the damage on our creatures and the triggers are affected by the multipliers). While they are great, we do have to be careful because they tend to be win-more. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Emancipation" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Emancipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful new addition that not only scales better than any other, it's also safer because it doesn't apply to us. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dictate of the Twin Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Dictate of the Twin Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has flash, which is a pretty nice way to get first value out of it.</p>
<p>Most of our pieces lack protection, which makes them mostly a "one-time deal". That being said, having a bit of recursion goes a long way to help us continue going off. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="No Rest for the Wicked" href="#" target="_blank">No Rest for the Wicked</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great because we pay it in advance. <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> allows us to use our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects as effective blockers. We can also give the missing protection for our creatures: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boros Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Boros Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both great protection spells that could be used both to protect our pieces from removal and to allow us to continue the combo.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>We have some different kinds of opening hands and their usefulness will vary according to the type of game we're looking for. Hands with hate pieces are great for slower games where we don't need to rush for our combo out. Hands with ramp, on the other hand, can be good for faster combos, but without the board wipes we might run out of steam by the mid game.</p>
<p>For our early game we need a clear starting plan. Are we going to try to rush for our combo? Are we playing early Slug pieces? We can even take it a bit slow and dig for a plan. Regardless of the path chosen, we need to stick to it; it doesn't make any sense to try to rush for our commander without access to board wipes to combo after. One thing that is very important to keep in mind is that having access to all of our colors can be a bit tricky because our mana based is stretched to fit <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundering Stroke" href="#" target="_blank">Sundering Stroke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sundering Stroke"></div></div>
<p>In the mid game we can, hopefully, start looking to combo. Even if we don't get to, however, that's okay: our Group Slug pieces can go a long way throughout the game. A bit of politics go a long way in lying low while we search for our threats.</p>
<p>By the time we get to the late game we should be careful to not die to our own effects, but aside from that we have lots of one-shot potential even with spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthquake" href="#" target="_blank">Earthquake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angrath&#039;s Marauders"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer"></div></div>
<p>Esika is a really fun commander to build around, and it's too bad that I can't show more builds that I've tried. However, I can tell you some that were pretty close to being featured: Turbo Turns using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects to recur our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Time Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, Burn using damage multipliers on creatures to get more value out of our Burn spells and slug pieces, even a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curiosity" href="#" target="_blank">Curiosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo deck featuring every single variation of those effects and some cards that combo with it.</p>
<p>As for this build, cutting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundering Stroke" href="#" target="_blank">Sundering Stroke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help out alleviate our mana problems. Having more <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clone" href="#" target="_blank">Clone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects can also increase our all-in potential at the cost of being dead draws outside of the combo.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think about this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which did you not? Was this <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Esika Piñata

Conditions Allow - Tarox Bladewing

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umori, the Collector" href="#" target="_blank">Umori, the Collector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/styloren">Jehan Choo</a>)</h6>
<h1>Time to Make a New Friend</h1>
<p><em>Companions</em> are a game-changer. They give us access to a free card from the start of the game in exchange for some deckbuilding restrictions (and, of course, they now have an extra three-mana tax). Here on <em>Collected Company</em>, we’re going to take a look at all of them and see how we can build around their quirks.</p>
<p>In this article, we'll talk about one of the more interesting of the <em>Companions;</em> its ability to shape its deck is unparalleled, making the choice that much more impactful. It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umori, the Collector" href="#" target="_blank">Umori, the Collector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> time!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Umori, the Collector"></div></div>
<p>The cost reduction is a pretty nice effect to have, especially when considering that we are playing a very specialized deck.</p>
<p>While very similar to Zirda's ability, Umori doesn't suffer as much with the <em>Companion</em> tax. Umori's cost reduction is more versatile and that makes it that much more powerful.</p>
<p>Out of the types of permanents available, creatures are the strongest, with artifacts being a close second, then enchantments, and planeswalkers as a dead last.</p>
<h3>Notable Exclusions</h3>
<ul>
<li>ALL SORCERIES</li>
<li>ALL INSTANTS</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Endless Possibilities</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The First Sliver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karador, Ghost Chieftain"></div></div>
<p>Creature is the easiest type to find a suitable commander for. It might seem that we've got plenty of options, but, considering what we lose, we better get a lot of value from our creatures. Commanders that have innate recursion, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karador, Ghost Chieftain" href="#" target="_blank">Karador, Ghost Chieftain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are the quintessential creature-based commanders and are worth considering as the starting point for any creature-based Umori list. Tribes with plenty of creatures to spare can also benefit from the discount, especially those that are on the aggressive side. Regarding our losses, we don't lose all that much, to be honest; most of our losses can be replaced by creatures (although we'll lose some consistency and efficiency).</p>
<h3>Notable Exclusions</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birthing Pod" href="#" target="_blank">Birthing Pod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Pact" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Pact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Finale of Devastation" href="#" target="_blank">Finale of Devastation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pharika, God of Affliction"></div></div>
<p>Enchantment is another great permanent type. Between some enchantment staples and some great enchantment creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doomwake Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Doomwake Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we have plenty of great cards to build a deck. One thing to notice is that we might have some trouble finding good finishers, so we'll probably have to grind our way out of every game. We don't have the luxury of choice, either: it's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pharika, God of Affliction" href="#" target="_blank">Pharika, God of Affliction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or bust. Our losses are notable in that we lose most of the best finishers in the format, some enchantress effects, and most tutors.</p>
<h3>Notable Exclusions</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Argothian Enchantress" href="#" target="_blank">Argothian Enchantress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gray Merchant of Asphodel" href="#" target="_blank">Gray Merchant of Asphodel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enlightened Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Enlightened Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord Windgrace"></div></div>
<p>This is more of a meme than a suggestion, but Umori can really help out reducing the costs of planeswalkers. I doubt that this would be a functional shell since we'll forfeit any other type of control elements and possible bodies, leaving our planeswalkers extremely vulnerable.</p>
<h3>Notable Exclusions</h3>
<ul>
<li>EVERYTHING</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Is it Too Late For Halloween?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reaper King"></div></div>
<p>Artifacts are a very good type to pair with Umori. After all, they get the most mileage out of the cost reduction and they also tend to play similar effects. Artifacts also tend to have a more diverse choice pool and they're pretty well-rounded.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rattleblaze Scarecrow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Universal Automaton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heap Doll"></div></div>
<p>One artifact commander in particular that really appreciates the cost reduction aspect of Umori is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reaper King" href="#" target="_blank">Reaper King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Scarecrows as a tribe are filled with sub-optimal creatures that are just too expensive and that lack any real power to them. Umori helps us by making them cheap enough to justify running them, which is good because we're packing a bunch of them: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rattleblaze Scarecrow" href="#" target="_blank">Rattleblaze Scarecrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wingrattle Scarecrow" href="#" target="_blank">Wingrattle Scarecrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seem lackluster choices, but when considering that we'll always cast them with our commander on the field (which means a black permanent), we get to profitably sacrifice them to trigger our commander one more time; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adaptive Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Adaptive Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Metallic Mimic" href="#" target="_blank">Metallic Mimic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Universal Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Universal Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are some cheap tribal support that can help out a bit (we can even go infinite with the aforementioned Scarecrows); and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heap Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Heap Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scarecrone" href="#" target="_blank">Scarecrone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scaretiller" href="#" target="_blank">Scaretiller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scuttlemutt" href="#" target="_blank">Scuttlemutt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide some utility.</p>
<p>As mentioned before, Scarecrows aren't a particularly strong tribe, as such the number of cards we play is limited. This means that whenever we are online, we need to get more mileage out of triggers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helm of the Host" href="#" target="_blank">Helm of the Host</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are crazy powerful cards that have the potential to make our other supports exponentially more impactful. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blade of Selves" href="#" target="_blank">Blade of Selves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conjurer&#039;s Closet" href="#" target="_blank">Conjurer&#039;s Closet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are consistent ways to get triggers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirrorworks" href="#" target="_blank">Mirrorworks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strionic Resonator" href="#" target="_blank">Strionic Resonator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are a bit taxing, but each has a lot of utility outside of our commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grindstone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aetherflux Reservoir"></div></div>
<p>Our win conditions are mainly combo. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painter&#039;s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Painter&#039;s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Scarecrow and, together with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grindstone" href="#" target="_blank">Grindstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is a great player-sniping tool. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top" href="#" target="_blank">Sensei&#039;s Divining Top</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolas&#039;s Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Bolas&#039;s Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are build-your-own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necropotence" href="#" target="_blank">Necropotence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can be an outright win condition with <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>.</p>
<p>Umori plays a crucial role in a deck like this. It's an early play that helps us get to the point where we start chaining Scarecrows from our hand. The impact of the <em>Companion </em>tax is negligible because our early plays aren't all that exciting (since we need to hold playing Scarecrows until after we have our commander on the battlefield).</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Reaper King Umori" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Reaper King
[/Commander]
[Companion]
*Umori, the Collector
[/Companion]
[Artifact]
*Everflowing Chalice
*Grindstone
*Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*Skullclamp
*Sol Ring
*Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*Arcane Signet
*Blade of Selves
*Fellwar Stone
*Ichor Wellspring
*Lightning Greaves
*Mind Stone
*Mycosynth Wellspring
*Strionic Resonator
*Swiftfoot Boots
*Wishclaw Talisman
*Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*Birthing Boughs
*Chromatic Lantern
*Darksteel Plate
*Sculpting Steel
*Aetherflux Reservoir
*Birthing Pod
*Hedron Archive
*Helm of the Host
*Krark-Clan Ironwork
*Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk
*Panharmonicon
*Perilous Vault
*Thran Dynamo
*Cauldron of Souls
*Conjurer&#039;s Closet
*Mirrorworks
*Scourglass
*Bolas&#039;s Citadel
*Spine of Ish Sah
*The Great Henge
[/Artifact]
[Creature]
*Heap Doll
*Universal Automaton
*Baleful Strix
*Etherium Sculptor
*Metallic Mimic
*Myr Retriever
*Painter&#039;s Servant
*Adaptive Automaton
*Foundry Inspector
*Junk Diver
*Scarecrone
*Scrap Trawler
*Scuttlemutt
*Shimmer Myr
*Wild-Field Scarecrow
*Wingrattle Scarecrow
*Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*Master Transmuter
*Phyrexian Metamorph
*Scaretiller
*Kuldotha Forgemaster
*Sphinx Summoner
*Rattleblaze Scarecrow
*Sharuum the Hegemon
*Myr Battlesphere
[/Creature]
[Land]
*Ancient Den
*Arcane Sanctum
*Arch of Orazca
*Blast Zone
*Cascading Cataracts
*City of Brass
*Command Tower
*Crumbling Necropolis
*Darksteel Citadel
*Exotic Orchard
*Forest
*Frontier Bivouac
*Ghost Quarter
*Glimmervoid
*Great Furnace
*Indatha Triome
*Inventors&#039; Fair
*Island
*Jungle Shrine
*Ketria Triome
*Mana Confluence
*Mystic Monastery
*Nomad Outpost
*Opulent Palace
*Plains
*Raugrin Triome
*Reflecting Pool
*Sandsteppe Citadel
*Savage Lands
*Savai Triome
*Seaside Citadel
*Seat of the Synod
*Spire of Industry
*Swamp
*Tectonic Edge
*Tree of Tales
*Zagoth Triome
[/Land]"></span></div></p>

<hr />
<h2>This is the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jousting Dummy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chromatic Star"></div></div>
<p>I don't think that investing more into Scarecrows is worth it, but that's certainly an option.</p>
<p>One interesting build is adding Eggs to provide a more solid draw engine. Umori's cost reduction allows for a great chain of draw with low-costed artifacts.</p>
<p>Umori is a fun <em>Companion</em>! The cost-reducing ability feels great in-game, especially in an artifact shell where both our threats and our ramp are discounted. It might not seem like this is the case, but there is a lot of space when building a deck using Umori. It's a shame that we can't have instants or sorcery because it would be interesting to have a spellslinger build.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Collected Company</em>! What do you think about this article? What are your thoughts on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umori, the Collector" href="#" target="_blank">Umori, the Collector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Which<em> Companion</em> do you want to see covered next? Share your opinions in the comments.</p>


Collected Company - Umori

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doomsday" href="#" target="_blank">Doomsday</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artpad.org/">Jaime Jones</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>In this article we'll be building around the single most complex card in the game. After this card is cast, it's a whole new game. The card that I'm talking about is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doomsday" href="#" target="_blank">Doomsday</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doomsday"></div></div>
<p><strong>Search your library and graveyard for five cards and exile the rest. Put the chosen cards on top of your library in any order. You lose half your life, rounded up.</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>There are two main reason why this card is only played mostly at competitive tables. The first one is the cutthroat nature of the card; this isn't a "let's be friends" card, this is an "I'm gonna win right now" card. The second is how difficult it is to play it even with a predefined pile; there are so many variables that it often leads into a lot of dead time for the rest of the table.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>Having a cheap way to get through all five cards is crucial for a good Doomsday pile. It doesn't matter if we spend a bunch of resources into making our deck a five-card pile if we have trouble accessing said pile.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>Mana is also an inevitable barrier that we need to overcome. For us to both cast Doomsday and win on the same turn, it means that we'll need three black mana just as a start. This is both color-intensive and expensive mana-wise.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>Doomsday's interaction with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hive Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Hive Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be something worth exploring. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wound Reflection" href="#" target="_blank">Wound Reflection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and even having Symmetrical Mill effects (to get powered by Hive Mind) are basically auto-win.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Happily Ever After"></div></div>
<p>It's often common to see ourselves as part of the "good guys"; after all, we understand our actions and can relate with our motivations. That being said, what if we're actually the baddies? What if, to us, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doomsday" href="#" target="_blank">Doomsday</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our happy ending? One might even say that we'll live... <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Happily Ever After" href="#" target="_blank">Happily Ever After</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Here in <em>Epic Experiment</em>, we usually choose function over form. However, winning the game with this combination of cards seems way too funny to pass on.</p>
<p>Let's talk about this interaction. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Happily Ever After" href="#" target="_blank">Happily Ever After</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a "You Win" card that needs some set-up in order to be effective (I wrote an article about it, here's the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/epic-experiment-happily-ever-after/">link</a>). Doomsday is the perfect set-up card for it, as it stacks our deck, allowing us to have easy access to all the support we need.</p>
<p>For commander choices, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golos, Tireless Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Golos, Tireless Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a perfect pick for this strategy. Its activated ability is really powerful on its own, and it allows us to dig through our Doomsday pile very fast. Golos's ETB trigger is also very helpful because it let us find high-value lands, like <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="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Doomsday Piles</h3>
<p>From top to bottom:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Happily Ever After" href="#" target="_blank">Happily Ever After</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Turnabout" href="#" target="_blank">Turnabout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planewide Celebration" href="#" target="_blank">Planewide Celebration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beacon of Immortality" href="#" target="_blank">Beacon of Immortality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><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></li>
</ul>
<p>This is how this pile operates:</p>
<ol>
<li>We cast Doomsday with Golos on the field and enough mana to activate it</li>
<li>Activate Golos</li>
<li>Cast Planewide Celebration (choosing 1 token and the rest life gain)</li>
<li>Cast Turnabout</li>
<li>Activate Golos</li>
<li>Cast Nexus of Fate</li>
<li>Cast Happily Ever After</li>
<li>Cast Beacon of Immortality</li>
</ol>
<p>This pile allows us to start our extra turn with all the required pieces if we cast it with at least six life before casting Doomsday.</p>
<p>We have some backup for each piece other than Happily Ever After. They're easy to exchange, but some will often require some adaptation on our part.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zacama, Primal Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Zacama, Primal Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> substitutes Turnabout, but we need to replace Nexus of Fate with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Fortune" href="#" target="_blank">Final Fortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroes Remembered" href="#" target="_blank">Heroes Remembered</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can cover Beacon of Immortality. We'll need at least 26 life before Doomsday, though</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Progenitus" href="#" target="_blank">Progenitus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> covers for Planewide Celebration, but we need to replace Beacon of Immortality with Heroes Remembered, and we'll need at least 30 life before Doomsday.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Fortune" href="#" target="_blank">Final Fortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can cover for Nexus of Fate. However, we'll have to cast Beacon of Immortality before Happily ever After, so we need at least 12 life before Doomsday</li>
</ul>
<p>As you can see, life is the one constant that we need to invest heavily in, and even then, we can't fully guarantee that we'll be successful. This means that life gain is crucial; that being said, investing heavily in our life total eases our burden on the combo turn. However, as important as life gain is to us, we're not including strictly life gain cards, as these effects tend to be nullified pretty quickly. Instead, we're using a wide array of strong life gain cards that pull double duty. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Courser of Kruphix" href="#" target="_blank">Courser of Kruphix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tatyova, Benthic Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Tatyova, Benthic Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are constant sources of life gain. These might not seem much; however, during the course of a game they can add up. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudblazer" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudblazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elite Guardmage" href="#" target="_blank">Elite Guardmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knight of Autumn" href="#" target="_blank">Knight of Autumn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are one-shot effects, but they are less vulnerable to removal. The extra life buffer, coupled with the bodies, are an essential part of how we can stay afloat against more aggressive decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Biomancer&#039;s Familiar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zirda, the Dawnwaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Training Grounds"></div></div>
<p>We also have a dedicated cost-reducing suite for Golos's activate ability. These cards aren't here to help us combo; instead, their job is to help us grind better. When we start getting to the point of being able to activate Golos's ability twice a turn, we're pretty much set, and there's a noticeable difference between needing 14 mana and needing 10 mana.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Happily Ever After Doomsday" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
[/Commander]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Arcane Signet
*Chromatic Lantern
*Heartstone
[/Artifact]
[Creature]
*Arboreal Grazer
*Birds of Paradise
*Baleful Strix
*Biomancer&#039;s Familiar
*Coiling Oracle
*Elvish Visionary
*Hydroid Krasis
*Courser of Kruphix
*Drift of Phantasms
*Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
*Knight of Autumn
*Murderous Rider
*Spellseeker
*Uro, Titan of Nature&#039;s Wrath
*Zirda, the Dawnwaker
*Crypt Ghast
*Elite Guardmage
*Cloudblazer
*Mulldrifter
*Tatyova, Benthic Druid
*Felidar Sovereign
*Zacama, Primal Calamity
*Progenitus
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*Authority of the Counculs
*Training Grounds
*Blind Obedience
*Ghostly Prison
*Happily Ever After
*Revenge of Ravens
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Crop Rotation
*Mystical Tutor
*Nature&#039;s Claim
*Arcane Denial
*Cyclonic Rift
*Despark
*Dovin&#039;s Veto
*Final Fortune
*Growth Spiral
*Teferi&#039;s Protection
*Turnabout
*Beacon of Immortality
*Nexus of Fate
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Farseek
*Nature&#039;s Lore
*Cultivate
*Doomsday
*Grim Tutor
*Kodama&#039;s Reach
*Damnation
*Debt to the Deathless
*Skyshroud Claim
*Hour of Promise
*Austere Command
*Planewide Celebration
*Heroes Remembered
[/Sorcery]
[Land]
*Blood Crypt
*Bojuka Bog
*Breeding Pool
*Cabal Coffers
*City of Brass
*Command Tower
*Exotic Orchard
*Field of the Dead
*Ghost Quarter
*Godless Shrine
*Hall of Heliod&#039;s Generosity
*Hallowed Fountain
*Indatha Triome
*Ketria Triome
*Mana Confluence
*Overgrown Tomb
*Raugrin Triome
*Sacred Foundry
*Savai Triome
*Steam Vents
*Stomping Ground
*Tectonic Edge
*Temple Garden
*Tolaria West
*Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*Watery Grave
*Zagoth Triome
*2 Forest
*Island
*Mountain
*2 Plains
*Snow-Covered Forest
*Snow-Covered Island
*Snow-Covered Mountain
*Snow-Covered Plains
*Snow-Covered Swamp
*2 Swamp
[/Land]"></span></div></p>

<hr />
<p>Golos's ETB is really powerful, especially in EDH where we have a huge pool of lands, but we are restricted to only one copy. This, together with Golos's activated ability, makes Golos tricky to deal with. Remove it, we get another powerful land; leave it alone, we start activating it. There's no escape.</p>
<p>Speaking of powerful lands, the iconic duo of <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="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a quick way to get to the mana threshold that we need to combo off. <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> can be a great graveyard hate if timed right. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Field of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Field of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best land when we're looking to grind out on longer games. Outside of those, we can always grab rainbow lands like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Command Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Command Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> just for the color fixing they provide.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Felidar Sovereign"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Debt to the Deathless"></div></div>
<p>As far as back up win conditions we have a couple of decent options, both of which have their own dedicated Doomsday pile. It might not be as flavorful as Happily Ever After, but we should have some options just in case. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felidar Sovereign" href="#" target="_blank">Felidar Sovereign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a perfect fit for a deck that already has lots of life gain potential and also has easy access to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beacon of Immortality" href="#" target="_blank">Beacon of Immortality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroes Remembered" href="#" target="_blank">Heroes Remembered</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and extra turn effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Debt to the Deathless" href="#" target="_blank">Debt to the Deathless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s first job is to net us life, but we can also use it as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fireball" href="#" target="_blank">Fireball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect, especially with our untap effects. The best part is that since Doomsday also takes cards from the graveyard we don't need to keep holding it until we can K.O. our opponents.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>Our opening hands have a bit of variance into them: we're a five-color deck that has a lot of combo pieces that we DON'T want to find before going off. Luckily for us, we can recover them in the late game with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doomsday" href="#" target="_blank">Doomsday</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (as long as they haven't been exiled), so we get some of those benefits even though it's not optimal.</p>
<p>The early game should be dedicated to ramp and color-fixing and protecting ourselves. An explosive start isn't necessarily good for us, so by building a strong foundation we'll transition better into the mid game, which is by far more important than trying to goldfish.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Field of the Dead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Coffers"></div></div>
<p>In the mid game, we should start looking for opportunities to combo lines, and they'll usually start by getting our commander online. While we need our Golos to combo out, we don't mind that much if it dies; in fact, Golos's ETB makes it that much attractive to keep casting it. One important mid game decision point is which land to choose for our first Golos's trigger: do we have either of the Coffers/Urborg combo in our hand (or have access to tutors for one of them)? Then we should get the other piece. Are we going for a slower game? Then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Field of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Field of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide useful chump blockers.</p>
<p>The late game is somewhat kind to us. Our commander is a really powerful draw engine, and it generates a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation to our opponents. We also have three ways to win the game, so it'll be pretty hard to get hated out of the game. That being said, the deck is vulnerable to being aggro'd out and relies on life points to win the game, so we can't be too reckless.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Propaganda"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kambal, Consul of Allocation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Retreat to Kazandu"></div></div>
<p>If we're already being the baddies, why not go full villain and invest heavier in prison elements? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and friends works similar to life gain cards (outside the combo, of course) by making our opponents have to choose between developing the board or attacking us. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thaumatic Compass" href="#" target="_blank">Thaumatic Compass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maze of Ith" href="#" target="_blank">Maze of Ith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> each give us both political capital and make our attack taxes (attaxes?) that much more effective.</p>
<p>We could also invest in more life gain elements and rely on them to reach the late game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Retreat to Kazandu" href="#" target="_blank">Retreat to Kazandu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good constant source of life gain, especially in a deck like ours that is constantly triggering <em>Landfall</em>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects are a great way to give us a lot of life very quickly; however, they tend to work more like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fog" href="#" target="_blank">Fog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect than most cards(that's if we don't pair it with other prison elements).</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was this <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


combo