<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-chippy-dugan-3459761?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BEWbBb4H6SHGZZ%2FfyICfZ8w%3D%3D">Chippy</a></em></p>
<h2>What "Dying" Looks Like</h2>
<p><em>Magic</em> players have always been eager to classify the strongest cards at their disposal. Whether it be today's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis" href="#" target="_blank">Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or yesterday's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shivan Dragon|LEA|174" href="#" target="_blank">Shivan Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, powerful cards always seem to draw everyone's attention both on and off the tabletop.</p>
<p>In an effort to classify a card's strength, some shorthanded expressions have been adopted to fast-track the conversation. This is where "dies to removal" is best expressed.</p>
<p>A card can be strong, sure, but if it's prone to removal or easy to counter then just how strong is the card really?</p>
<p>Take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for example. Its ETB + cast effect is very powerful on its own, effectively granting its controller amnesty from everything for a whole round. As if this was not enough, it also provides significant card advantage with very little downside.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring|LTR|748"></div></div>
<p>All of this is possible in every deck imaginable as well, seeing as The Ring only asks a player to invest <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> once in order to access everything The Ring offers.</p>
<p>Applying the "dies to removal" critique against The Ring, it's apparent that The Ring's strongest effect, its ETB + cast trigger, can only "die" while on the stack.</p>
<p>Once the ability resolves, there's nothing left to interact with, as The Ring's controller has already achieved their goal in "guaranteeing" survival for another round of turns.</p>
<p>Even if The Ring is exiled before they're able to tap The Ring to draw a card and eventually lose one life at their upkeep, their <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> was well spent.</p>
<p>The Ring cannot die while on the battlefield, as its ETB + cast trigger has already resolved at this point. It would need to die before this ability hits the stack in order for The Ring to be effectively removed.</p>
<h2>When Do Cards Actually "Die"?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may literally be able to go from the battlefield to any other zone and literally be removed, but that's not what this shorthand is suggesting happens when players agree that something dies to removal.</p>
<p>In order for something to be removable, players must have ample time to respond to said threat and completely remove said threat. In The Ring's case, only <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell|LEA|54" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doorkeeper Thrull" href="#" target="_blank">Doorkeeper Thrull</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects can meaningfully remove the threat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jodah, Archmage Eternal|DOM|198"></div></div>
<p>But this <em>is</em> the case for something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, Archmage Eternal|DOM|198" href="#" target="_blank">Jodah, Archmage Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Opponents facing a Jodah Commander deck have ample time to respond to the threat that is Jodah's controller casting some large spell for just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>Typically, Jodah players aim to ramp into Jodah as fast as possible, then draw into enough protection for the round Jodah is resolved. Ramp and protection is notably something Jodah requires, not something that he himself enables or provides on his own.</p>
<p>This is something important to highlight, as established powerhouses, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Arbiter Augustin IV" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Arbiter Augustin IV</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, provide hefty resource advantages as soon as they resolve with the stack being the only place to stop their controllers' from gaining this advantage.</p>
<p>Jodah, on the other hand, usually needs to wait a round before his controller can spend their next turn resolving just one spell. If this is not the case, Jodah may not be resolved until much later in the game when his controller has enough resources to resolve both him and another spell, requiring at minimum nine mana to do so: <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> for Jodah and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> for some big spell.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Absolute Virtue"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Apex Devastator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omniscience|M13|63"></div></div>
<p>This gives Jodah's opponents plenty of time to search for answers before Jodah "does the thing", if not searching for a way to knock the Jodah player out entirely. Because Jodah requires extensive protective efforts from the deck he is commanding as well as an experienced Commander player to understand how best to play him, Jodah most certainly dies to removal.</p>
<h2>Where Removal Doesn't Work</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vivi Ornitier"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, Archmage Eternal|DOM|198" href="#" target="_blank">Jodah</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being a commander does mean that he could just be recast the next turn and therefore reintroduce the threat of large spells being resolved for cheap (as cheap as <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> can be). However, this most likely means the Jodah player spends another turn resolving Jodah before a large threat is played.</p>
<p>By this time, Jodah's opponents have already gone through the effort to find answers to Jodah and are actively building their own game-winning boards. If all Jodah does is continue to be resolved and removed, the Jodah players is not going to have a pleasant experience.</p>
<p>Strategy is required on all participants to understand when it's best to resolve and answer a Jodah, which creates a desired and fulfilling gaming experience. Jodah actually dying to removal allows all players to enjoy the game of Commander.</p>
<p>This engagement is notably something missing from some of Commander's strongest cards. We only need to look at <em>Final Fantasy</em> to see <em>Magic's</em> two latest examples of unengaging Commander games.</p>
<p>As mentioned in my last article, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very difficult to interact with, if not impossible at times. Essentially, players only have two or three moments they can interact with Sephiroth before he achieves his "ultimate."</p>
<p>Players can either counter Sephiroth on the stack or remove him before he transforms. If Sephiroth is allowed to resolve, his controller only needs to resolve one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cruel Edict|9ED|121" href="#" target="_blank">edict</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect before his controller receives an immortal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist|AVR|86" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> emblem. If a player manages to remove Sephiroth before he transforms, his low mana investment of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> incentivizes players to just recast him from the command zone (or simply resurrect him from the grave if he's not too expensive to recast/part of the 99).</p>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em>'s other big "doesn't die to removal" card is, of course, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivi Ornitier" href="#" target="_blank">Vivi Ornitier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. As is the running theme, Vivi <em>must</em> either not be allowed to resolve or he must be disabled before "doing the thing" as there are no other points of interaction for stopping him.</p>
<p>In fact, it may not be enough to try and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder|M13|101" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Vivi after he resolves, as the Commander deck he pilots will mostly consist of instants and sorceries to quickly inflate his power before activating him with the intention of "<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyretic Ritual|M11|153" href="#" target="_blank">ritualing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>" into a large storm count, if not some string of spells that combo into winning the game. In other words, unless Vivi or his wincon(s) actually die to removal, there's no preventing Vivi from running away with the game.</p>
<p>For <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivi Ornitier" href="#" target="_blank">Vivi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, removal only works in very specific instances and arguably requires knowledge before the game begins for a player to adequately remove these threats. But even still, these cards are so cheap to resolve and do not ask much from a deck to be included in it that they can ultimately "die" multiple times before truly being removed. Thus, these cards do not die to removal.</p>
<h2>Why Does This Matter?</h2>
<p>These are just three current instances of the "dies to removal" argument demonstrating how these cards fail to promote an engaging game of Commander.</p>
<p>While this is not the only metric that can be used, nor does it mean that these cards absolutely cannot generate a fun or healthy Commander game, it's an important lesson to learn that many fun Commander games, if not <em>Magic</em> games as a whole, are derived from players being able to meaningfully interact with each other to prevent their opponents from winning and increasing the odds of their deck achieving victory.</p>
<p>A card not dying to removal is but one aspect players should take into account when evaluating the strengths of their cards. The fewer points of interaction your opponents have access to, the stronger your deck will be.</p>
<p>But as we are Commander players and we often search for a more casual experience, it's often necessary to intentionally allow our decks to have weak points for the sake of increasing how enjoyable the games we play are for everyone involved. To do otherwise and aim to <em>only</em> build the strongest deck possible without social consideration would be to build a Bracket 4-5 deck.</p>
<p>Powerful decks can certainly be fun, and higher Bracket games can often allow players to engage in deep strategies and political discussions, but this is only possible if it's what the other players want.</p>
<p>If I were to optimize all of my threats to be extremely durable, consistent, repeatable, etc., as possible, then players looking to engage in a social game of Commander would most likely be very disappointed when I reveal, say, a Bracket 4 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> artifacts stax deck. "Dies to removal" is a tool I should have used in order to determine what kind of game I wanted to play and where the most satisfying game could take place.</p>
<h2>How Dying to Removal Builds a Better Player</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jace, Vryn&#039;s Prodigy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jace, the Mind Sculptor|WWK|31"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">I hope that this analysis of what "dying to removal" entails helps you become a better player. <em>Magic</em> is a complex game, and Commander makes no effort to make it any easier to quantify.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Just as the Bracket system aims to help players find more compelling games, I wish for this discussion to better equip you to find opponents who seek to play a similar Commander game as you do. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Remember to always talk it out with your opponents during Rule 0! It never hurts to ask what the intentions behind a deck are or to explain what your intentions are, and if for whatever reason someone does get upset, well... perhaps it's for the best.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">"Dying to removal" is not a filter that's to be used against your opponents, rather a means of self-diagnosing where your deck and your intentions with a deck rest.</span></p>
<p>How do you feel about something dying to removal? Do you think that this explanation was to broad or generous? What are some other ways you could gauge a deck's intentions?</p>
<p>I hope that this article serves as a helpful starting point for determining what actually does and does not die to removal, but I'd love to hear from you if there's something missing or if I've started yelling at the clouds. Tune in next time to continue this deep dive in the Bracket system and more Commander Philosophy!</p>


Commander Philosophy - How Does "Dies To Removal" Actually Work?

Alpharael, Dreaming Acolyte Reanimator Deck Tech

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/eoe"><em>Edge of Eternities</em></a> is approaching fast, moving towards us at lightspeed. Before we get these new packs in our hands, it's important to know what cards we can expect in them. While the rares and mythics are taking up the spotlight, I'm here to put the commons and uncommons center stage.</p>
<p>My name is <a href="https://linktr.ee/thetylerbucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks</a>, and it's my job to dig through the bulk of each new set so you don't have to. On today's edition of <em>Bulk Up </em>we have a lot to get into, because there's a potential new staple hitting the format with each reveal.</p>
<p>So, join me as we blast off to the stars and explore <em>Magic</em>'s foray into the far reaches of space.</p>
<h3>Emergency Eject</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emergency Eject"></div></div>
<p>Our first card on the list today has “potential staple” written all over it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emergency Eject" href="#" target="_blank">Emergency Eject</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is similar to the Commander format staple <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but instead of giving a 3/3 creature token, the player gets a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lander" href="#" target="_blank">Lander</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> token.</p>
<p>Recently, I’ve been straying away from removal spells that create a creature for an opponent, since most of my white decks want to have a clear board when I move to attacks. So, when you’re opening packs of this new set, keep an eye out for this one, because it might be able to <em>land</em> in more of your decks than you think.</p>
<p>Now, as for my deck suggestion for this card, it's a little bit of a self-indulgent one. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jasmine Boreal of the Seven" href="#" target="_blank">Jasmine Boreal of the Seven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a commander that I have in my own collection and will greatly appreciate a new removal piece that doesn't put a potential blocker on your opponent's board.</p>
<h3>Seedship Impact</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seedship Impact"></div></div>
<p>Staying on the removal train, our next card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedship Impact" href="#" target="_blank">Seedship Impact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. An upgraded <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naturalize" href="#" target="_blank">Naturalize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that makes you a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lander" href="#" target="_blank">Lander</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you destroy something with mana value two or less.</p>
<p>While there have been plenty of effects like this in the past, if you have a deck that is completely built around getting lands into play, this can save you in a few situations. Blowing up a small value piece from one of your foes to set you up for some <em>landfall</em> triggers is a play pattern a lot of green decks are looking for.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kibo, Uktabi Prince" href="#" target="_blank">Kibo, Uktabi Prince</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves seeing artifacts bite the dust. So, having a cheap instant spell that can remove someone's value piece while buffing your whole board would surely catch your foes off guard. Plus, since Kibo is cheap to cast, having that Lander token around as a way to ramp you towards the late game shouldn't be overlooked.</p>
<h3>Annul</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Annul"></div></div>
<p>Counterspells are the bane of some players' existence, and when it comes time for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Annul" href="#" target="_blank">Annul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to get into blue mage’s hands, that animosity might get worse. Sure, only countering artifacts or enchantments can be limited in scope, but as we've already talked about today, those card types are some of the strongest in the game.</p>
<p>If you’ve ever played against an <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/enchantress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enchantress</a></em> deck, you’ll know that slowing them down is a tall order. Having an answer like this as early as turn one might just keep them on their toes for the rest of the game.</p>
<p>If <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alela, Cunning Conqueror" href="#" target="_blank">Alela, Cunning Conqueror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is leading one of your decks, consider adding Annul to your 99. Black and blue have a hard time permanently dealing with artifacts and enchantments, so giving this deck a removal option that would also trigger your commander makes for some tight synergy.</p>
<h3>Ruinous Rampage</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ruinous Rampage"></div></div>
<p>Apparently it’s a bad day to be an artifact, because <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruinous Rampage" href="#" target="_blank">Ruinous Rampage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also here to clear the board of those pesky metal trinkets. If you have a deck that runs little to no artifacts, that exile effect will leave you free and clear, while crippling the rest of the table.</p>
<p>Also, let’s not overlook that damage you can inflict on each opponent, because in the right deck, that could be exactly what you need. Three mana for nine damage isn’t anything to sneeze at.</p>
<p>Let's highlight the power of that burn effect by throwing this card into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, Visionary" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, Visionary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. Once your commander's out, you're looking for any way possible to deal direct damage to your opponents; and the fact this this card comes with an extra effect is just icing on the big, red, destructive cake.</p>
<h3>Decode Transmissions</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Decode Transmissions"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of lowering your opponent’s life totals, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Decode Transmissions" href="#" target="_blank">Decode Transmissions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that puts a new spin on the typical draw-two-lose-two style of card.</p>
<p><em>Void</em> is an ability from the set that unlocks new layers for some cards, and all you need to do is have a nonland permanent leave your board (or warp a card, which we'll cover later in the list). If you meet that requirement, then each other player loses two life instead.</p>
<p>Three mana for a sorcery that fills up your hand while lowering your opponents' life totals is powerful, especially when you know you can hit that <em>void</em> mode reliably.</p>
<p>One of the most popular commanders on all of EDHREC is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa Karlov" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa Karlov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the aristocrat queen. Sure, the <em>void</em> effect wouldn't trigger twice when it comes to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Decode Transmissions" href="#" target="_blank">Decode Transmissions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but a deck like this will ensure you always have something leaving your board.</p>
<h3>All-Fates Scroll</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="All-Fates Scroll"></div></div>
<p>In recent sets we’ve gotten quite a few interesting mana rocks that cost three mana, and just like those other artifacts, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="All-Fates Scroll" href="#" target="_blank">All-Fates Scroll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is something to consider for your decks. It fixes your mana and ramps you in the early game, but that’s not why I want to talk about it today.</p>
<p>For seven mana, you can sacrifice this artifact and draw cards equal to the number of differently named lands you control. In most decks that have three or more colors, this is a great way to refill your hand, since adding up your basics and non-basics with different names in the late game could draw you a big stack of cards.</p>
<p>Hailing from the <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Final Fantasy</a></em> set, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This deck's whole goal is to get as many Towns on the battlefield as possible, which will naturally add to the number of differently names lands you control. Plus, since it's a five-color deck, you might find yourself in a spot where a little mana fixing is a welcomed inclusion.</p>
<h3>Seedship Broodtender</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seedship Broodtender"></div></div>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/golgari" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Golgari</a> (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) decks tend to love one thing more than anything else: filling up their graveyards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedship Broodtender" href="#" target="_blank">Seedship Broodtender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enters the battlefield and assists you on that journey by milling three cards as early as turn two. Then, in the late game, you can spend five mana to sacrifice this new card and return a creature or Spacecraft to the battlefield from your graveyard.</p>
<p>This is a great curve for a self-mill deck, since by the time you're ready to activate that ability, you should have plenty of nasty threats to recur from your bin!</p>
<p>A deck that would love to have this new Insect join its ranks, is one built around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Picture this: turn two you cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedship Broodtender" href="#" target="_blank">Seedship Broodtender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, filling up your yard. Then when Meren comes down, you have plenty of good targets for her recursion ability. Finally, sacrifice the Broodtender to reanimate another big threat, and get it right back with Meren's end step trigger, and repeat the process.</p>
<h3>Scout for Survivors</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scout for Survivors"></div></div>
<p>If getting back things from your graveyard is what you're looking for, well the new white uncommon <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scout for Survivors" href="#" target="_blank">Scout for Survivors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is here to help.</p>
<p>With the rise of more and more commanders that care about small value creatures entering the format, a card like this can become incredibly valuable in those decks. If you have a particularly low to the ground aggressive strategy, you could reliably get back two or more creatures with Scout for Survivors.</p>
<p>But don't overlook that this card adds +1/+1 counters to the mix.</p>
<p>Let's head back to <em>Final Fantasy</em> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aerith Gainsborough" href="#" target="_blank">Aerith Gainsborough</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which, when paired with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scout for Survivors" href="#" target="_blank">Scout for Survivors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can make things can get a little tricky. Since Aerith's mana value is three, and she has a great <em>dies</em> trigger, you could bring her right back to the battlefield with another +1/+1 counter to keep that game plan rolling!</p>
<p>If only it were that easy to get her back in the video game...</p>
<h3>Umbral Collar Zealot</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Umbral Collar Zealot"></div></div>
<p>Free sacrifice outlets have always been powerful in Commander, which is why <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umbral Collar Zealot" href="#" target="_blank">Umbral Collar Zealot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is likely to find a home in many players' decks. Sure, it's similar to the format staple <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viscera Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Viscera Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, however it has a few important twists.</p>
<p>With this new card you can sacrifice a creature or an artifact to surveil 1, opening it up to so many different strategies. Any commander that incidentally makes tokens (be they creatures or artifacts) or even a graveyard centric deck that wants to put its value pieces in the bin, will be happy to include this card in the 99.</p>
<p>So nice, I had to feature the character twice - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa, Opulent Oligarch" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa, Opulent Oligarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would absolutely love this card. This commander makes you two different types of tokens, and if you find yourself with far too many Clues to handle, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umbral Collar Zealot" href="#" target="_blank">Umbral Collar Zealot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can sacrifice one of them on every turn to make you an extra Spirit token.</p>
<h3>Weftstalker Ardent</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Weftstalker Ardent"></div></div>
<p>Closing things out today, we have a member of a new creature type called the Drix, who have a proclivity for bending space and time.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weftstalker Ardent" href="#" target="_blank">Weftstalker Ardent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does this by helping you double the speed of your game in the right deck. Dealing a damage to each opponent whenever a creature or artifact hits your board is incredibly powerful. When paired with the right commander, you could close out a game quickly by having this on your board, or even spending one mana to warp it on the turn you’re ready to pop off!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arabella, Abandoned Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Arabella, Abandoned Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves turning creature tokens into damage, which is exactly what the Weftstalker can assist with. Imagine creating a whole legion of Rats with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of Totentanz" href="#" target="_blank">Song of Totentanz</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, dealing a bunch of damage to your opponents when those tokens enter. Finally, you can just move to combat, and deal even more pain off of your commander's trigger... That's just scary value.</p>
<h2>The Wrap Up!</h2>
<p>Well, there you have it, some of the best bulk cards from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/eoe" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Edge of Eternities</em></a>. Now, this set is too jam packed with great cards to condense them all into one article. So, be on the lookout for another edition of <em>Bulk Up</em>, where I cover even more strong commons &amp; uncommons from this upcoming release.</p>


Great Cards Hidden in Edge of Eternities' Bulk

The Best New Commanders in Edge of Eternities

The Top 10 Double-Faced Commanders

The Best Bird Combos in Commander

Dawnsire, Sunstar Dreadnought - Edge of Eternities Deck Tech

Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doc Ock, Evil Inventor" href="#" target="_blank">Doc Ock, Evil Inventor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CDan+Dos+Santos%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dan Dos Santos</a></span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We've had only a handful of <em>Marvel's </em><em>Spider-Man</em> cards revealed to us so far, all from the bonus set <em>Spider-Man Eternal</em>. The preview included three of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensational Spider-Man" href="#" target="_blank">Sensational Spider-Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s villains: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venom, Deadly Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Venom, Deadly Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Green Goblin, Nemesis" href="#" target="_blank">Green Goblin, Nemesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and, of course, the subject of this deck tech: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doc Ock, Evil Inventor" href="#" target="_blank">Doc Ock, Evil Inventor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doc Ock, Evil Inventor"></div></div></p>
<h2>What Does Doc Ock, Evil Inventor Bring to the Table?</h2>
<p>While I love me an artifact deck, I'm also an aristocrats guy; give me trinkets to toss away! The prospect of animating artifacts hasn't really pulled me in. But the mad lads and lasses at <em>WotC</em> said "What if we make 'em real big?" To that I say, "I'm listening!"</p>
<p>The Doc is a seven-mana, 8/8 legendary Human Scientist Villain. He's not a Doctor? Too scared of <a href="https://edhrec.com/partners#doctors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letting him have a companion</a>, <em>Wizards</em>? Also, Scientist is on 21 <em>Magic</em> cards to date, and I think that's funny (way more than I predicted!)</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doc Ock, Evil Inventor" href="#" target="_blank">Doc Ock, Evil Inventor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is all about turning your noncreature artifacts into 8/8s - as you'd expect from a Villain with eight arms.</p>
<p>In a single, elegant line of text, Doc Ock reads "At the beginning of combat on your turn, target noncreature artifact you control becomes an 8/8 Robot Villain artifact creature in addition to its other types." What are the key takeaways?</p>
<ol>
<li>This trigger comes at the combat step.</li>
<li>Only noncreature artifacts can be turned into 8/8s.</li>
<li>They're turned into Robot Villains.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Similar Commanders</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interestingly enough, the big, bad Villain has a few commander pals that can dig into similar strategies. The OG <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, Silver Golem" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, Silver Golem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sydri, Galvanic Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Sydri, Galvanic Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both animate noncreature artifacts but balance this strategy out by tying their power/toughness to the artifacts' mana value. This is much like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zur, Eternal Schemer" href="#" target="_blank">Zur, Eternal Schemer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with non-Aura enchantments.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn, Silver Golem"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sydri, Galvanic Genius"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doc offers a cool twist on a similar idea. Rather than wanting big-mana artifacts like in Karn and Sydri, Doc Ock doesn't care what your artifacts cost and makes them all huge. </span>The commander I think feels closest to it is, oddly enough, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor" href="#" target="_blank">Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which nicely rounds out the rest of the color pie.</p>
<p>This deck tech for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaHpmFeAV5s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diggy-diggy Doc</a> is simple: play a bunch of mana rocks and turn them into 8/8s to slam face.</p>
<p>Is there an extra fun little bonus subtheme? Of course, there is! What kind of mana rocks have I loved but had no reason to run as a full set? <em>Fallout</em>'s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luck Bobblehead" href="#" target="_blank">Bobbleheads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! While it would have been fun to do <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Swords</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a subtheme, they wouldn't have the abilities they'd normally grant equipped creatures, so <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyVIucceHTA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">there goes that dream</a>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agility Bobblehead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Endurance Bobblehead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Perception Bobblehead"></div></div>
<h2>What the Doc Prescribes</h2>
<p>Mana rocks are where it's at for Doc Ock: Power him out and start turning your <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> into a beater.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skyclave Relic" href="#" target="_blank">Skyclave Relic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an excellent mana rock that can quickly become three with its kicker cost and, while its mana production is nice, the real deal is that it and the copies it makes are indestructible. That's good enough reason to include a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Ingot" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Ingot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Relic" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Relic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for good measure. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mistvault Bridge" href="#" target="_blank">Mistvault Bridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both fit the same brief.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tezzeret, Cruel Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Tezzeret, Cruel Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our back-up plan for our Doctor. Getting to that emblem shouldn't be too hard, considering the deck is over 50% artifacts. Anything you drop will make him get there quicker and then you've got your game plan on something your opponents can't touch.</p>
<p>You could always keep the surprise <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyberdrive Awakener" href="#" target="_blank">Cyberdrive Awakener</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to mass-animate for a nice big swing, too.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tezzeret, Cruel Captain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cosima, God of the Voyage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a deck with such a high rate of historic cards is almost foolish not to include. A mana rock that sits in play, allowing you to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Future Sight" href="#" target="_blank">Future Sight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> until it's ready to get tinkered with by Doc Ock while qualifying for the unblockable condition on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bessie, the Doctor&#039;s Roadster" href="#" target="_blank">Bessie, the Doctor&#039;s Roadster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - unintentionally creating a bit of <em>Universe's Beyond </em>flavor gumbo.</p>
<p>What I really like about Doc Ock is that he can be a Vehicle commander without needing to crew anything.</p>
<p>My personal favorite of the bunch is <span class="edhrecp__link only-back"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cosima, God of the Voyage" href="#" target="_blank">The Omenkeel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Sorry, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cosima, God of the Voyage" href="#" target="_blank">Cosima, God of the Voyage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as cool as you are, your boat is way cooler. Make The Omenkeel an 8/8 or send it in early since it's a two-drop - either way, any Vehicle that hits exiles cards from your opponents' libraries for the damage dealt to them and you get to just play the lands exiled as long as they're there. You likely will never miss a land drop at that point, making your advantage pretty substantial.</p>
<p>Makes that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smuggler&#039;s Copter" href="#" target="_blank">Smuggler&#039;s Copter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> feel like it draws a lot more than just one card.</p>
<h2>How to End the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doc Ock, Evil Inventor" href="#" target="_blank">Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s Appointment</h2>
<p>While some more enterprising combo players might use this as an excuse to run the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dramatic Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Dramatic Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo with a dash of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phenax, God of Deception" href="#" target="_blank">Phenax, God of Deception</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I opted to embrace the red zone of the combat step with this deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Isochron Scepter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dramatic Reversal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phenax, God of Deception"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genji Glove" href="#" target="_blank">Genji Glove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great way to get the damage going and animate more than one artifact a turn. Copy that trigger or Doc's trigger with <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> and you've got a stew goin'.</p>
<p>A classic finisher like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Memorial" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Memorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does wonders for a beefy board. Speaking of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wonder" href="#" target="_blank">Wonder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I opted to only include its Incarnation sibling <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Filth" href="#" target="_blank">Filth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the 99, though I recommend them both for easy evasion to clamp down on life totals.</p>
<p>Need more? I did mention that the artifacts you animate become Robot Villains. If you plop down a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cover of Darkness" href="#" target="_blank">Cover of Darkness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> naming Villain, you'll probably get through anywhere you want with your cololess artifact creatures and you can save Doc Ock's commander damage swings for an opponent outside his colors.</p>
<p>Heck, choose Robot and let the Doc watch the madness unfold from the safety of your board. Choosing Robot also works great with Tezzeret's emblem. The same logic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cover of Darkness" href="#" target="_blank">Cover of Darkness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> runs on can be applied to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to keep the cards flowing.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Filth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cover of Darkness"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn, Living Legacy"></div></div>
<p>Finally, an alternate route for the win-con comes from a sneaky version of Karn: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, Living Legacy" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, Living Legacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Karn makes Powerstones which will ramp you because you're playing mostly artifacts. He can help you dig as well. But most importantly, the emblem he grants you turns all of your mana rocks and trinkets, like Blood tokens and Clues, into machine guns that can hit opponents in the face or take out any creatures that can be destroyed.</p>
<p>Pack an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unwinding Clock" href="#" target="_blank">Unwinding Clock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if this strategy is more up your alley, but be warned, you'll be Archenemy really quick. But by then...maybe nobody will be around to oppose you anyway. *wink*</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doc Ock, Evil Inventor" href="#" target="_blank">Doc Ock, Evil Inventor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Doc Ock, Evil Inventor" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Doc Ock, Evil Inventor
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Agility Bobblehead
*1 Akroma&#039;s Memorial
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bessie, the Doctor&#039;s Roadster
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Charisma Bobblehead
*1 Cloud Key
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Darksteel Ingot
*1 Darksteel Relic
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Endurance Bobblehead
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Genji Glove
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Imposter Mech
*1 Intelligence Bobblehead
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Liquimetal Torque
*1 Luck Bobblehead
*1 Machine God&#039;s Effigy
*1 Mindcrank
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Perception Bobblehead
*1 Portal to Phyrexia
*1 Skyclave Relic
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sonic Screwdriver
*1 Strength Bobblehead
*1 Strionic Resonator
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Transmutation Font
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Artificer Class
*1 Cover of Darkness
*1 Kaya&#039;s Ghostform
*1 Kindred Discovery
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Cosima, God of the Voyage // The Omenkeel
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Cyberman Patrol
*1 Cybermen Squadron
*1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Filth
*1 Forensic Gadgeteer
*1 Glasspool Mimic // Glasspool Shore
*1 Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant
*1 Karn, Legacy Reforged
*1 Master Transmuter
*1 Phyrexian Metamorph
*1 Sai, Master Thopterist
*1 Shimmer Myr
*1 Transplant Theorist
*1 Vedalken Archmage
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
*1 Go for the Throat
*1 Malakir Rebirth // Malakir Mire
*1 Spell Swindle
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication
*1 Their Name Is Death
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Karn, Living Legacy
*1 Tezzeret, Cruel Captain
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Archway of Innovation
*1 Bonders&#039; Enclave
*1 Cabal Coffers
*1 Command Tower
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Fomori Vault
*1 Gloomlake Verge
*1 Horizon of Progress
*6 Island
*1 Mistvault Bridge
*1 Morphic Pool
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*1 Sunken Hollow
*1 Sunken Ruins
*5 Swamp
*1 The Mycosynth Gardens
*1 Undercity Sewers
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Whispers
*1 Watery Grave
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>The Doctor Is In!</h2>
<p>Overall, while Doc Ock didn't appeal to my regular playstyle, I found the concentration of mana rocks and ramp to be addictive. I was often getting the Doc out early and turning my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skyclave Relic" href="#" target="_blank">Skyclave Relic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s sideways as I goldfished this on Archidekt. It's no aggro deck by any stretch, but it's lookin' to put the hurtin' on your foes.</p>
<p>I am SO excited for the <em>Spider-Man</em> set coming out later this year and I have many villains from the history of the comics to look forward to. We've already got three, but I'm stoked at the prospect of a Rakdos Carnage or an Orzhov Sandman.</p>
<p>But who knows? Maybe Aunt May's going to be the big standout from the set! What Spider-Man character or event are you most looking forward to seeing in the set? How would <em>you</em> build Doc Ock? Let us know in the comments below!</p>


Doc Ock, Evil Inventor Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm|sld|1773" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/leossart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leonardo Santanna</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>! We're heading back in time to another <em>Secret Lair</em> Drop. This time, however, is a first in our series: we're covering a reskinned commander. Moreover, it's a commander that's nostalgic to me, dating back to the original precons. It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, reskinned as Slimer, Voracious Apparation.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mimeoplasm|sld|1773"></div></div>
<p>With that said, let's get into it.</p>
<h2>A New Disturbance</h2>
<p>Lore-wise, there isn't much to Slimer. He's a gluttonous ghost that wreaks havoc in kitchens everywhere while the Ghostbusters try to capture him. He's encountered within each adventure, but typically doesn't end up being the big villain.</p>
<p>How does all this relate to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? My guess is that, since the dead it devoured advanced its form, something similar could be said about the food Slimer eats. Or, perhaps, they both have insatiable appetites.</p>
<p>Fortunately, like I said earlier, The Mimeoplasm's (henceforth known as Slimer until the end) been around for a long time. Crucially, the main strategy is to fill your graveyard (or everyone's), then exile them to create our own monstrosity.</p>
<p>I always like it when we can actually "create" our creatures because it lets our imaginations run wild. That said, this only applies to Slimer himself this time.</p>
<h2>A Ghastly Banquet</h2>
<p>There's a myriad of creatures we can use with Slimer and, for this section, we're covering cards we should exile for the +1/+1 counters.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lunar Hatchling"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shard of the Nightbringer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yargle and Multani|sld|872"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, the landcyclers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lunar Hatchling" href="#" target="_blank">Lunar Hatchling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great targets. We can discard them to get a land, and they can be exiled later on for Slimer.</p>
<p>Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lumbering Megasloth" href="#" target="_blank">Lumbering Megasloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> yields a hefty eight counters to be working with. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shard of the Nightbringer" href="#" target="_blank">Shard of the Nightbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Woodfall Primus" href="#" target="_blank">Woodfall Primus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are heavy on colored mana, but not stats. On the other hand, we can reanimate the latter to blow up a troublesome permanent.</p>
<p>But what if we wanted to go bigger? In addition to what I said above, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hierophant Bio-Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Hierophant Bio-Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> boasts big numbers, but is also a good choice with those keywords. Further, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death&#039;s Shadow|sch|40" href="#" target="_blank">Death&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic choice that's bigger than the Bio-Titan itself.</p>
<p>That said, the biggest of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yargle and Multani|sld|872" href="#" target="_blank">Yargle and Multani</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a vanilla creature with a whopping 18 power. On the right creature, you can instantly eliminate someone with commander damage (or infect, if you're a monster. A bit more on that later).</p>
<p>Another good choice is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diamond Weapon" href="#" target="_blank">Diamond Weapon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's cheaper with a well-stocked graveyard, is immune to combat damage, and hits like a truck. Too bad it doesn't have trample.</p>
<p>Push comes to shove, some of the above mentioned options make for some good reanimation targets, which is something I'll get to momentarily. While some of these cards make good choices for Slimer to copy, there's always even better choices.</p>
<h2>Quality Food</h2>
<p>This next section covers the creatures that are worth copying with Slimer.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Warring Triad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tifa Lockhart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shard of the Void Dragon"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Warring Triad" href="#" target="_blank">The Warring Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes a brutal beater under Slimer, especially when paired with a creature with colossal stats. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hexmark Destroyer" href="#" target="_blank">Hexmark Destroyer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes it so that Slimer becomes very difficult to block unless our opponents have a lot of tokens.</p>
<p>Secondly, the infamous <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jumbo Cactuar" href="#" target="_blank">Jumbo Cactuar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (which I'm going to center an article on some day) makes for a tempting choice. Just be advised that we have to give it trample or some other evasion.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shard of the Void Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Shard of the Void Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> destroys a permanent on attack with the slight chance of it getting bigger. Moreover, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polyraptor|sld|1391" href="#" target="_blank">Polyraptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes multiple copies of itself when it takes damage, making combat hard for our opponents. Just note that it doesn't become a copy of Slimer, nor does it inherit the +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p>Finally, having Slimer become a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa Lockhart" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa Lockhart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is especially deadly. Slimer gains trample and the ability to double his power for the turn. These, on top of the counters he'll get, make him lethal very quickly.</p>
<p>Another option is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vashta Nerada" href="#" target="_blank">Vashta Nerada</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, ensuring that it'd be a huge, indestructible threat. It also has shadow, which renders it unblockable to make it even more terrifying. We can't block with Slimer if we do, but it's not like we were going to block with him anyway.</p>
<h2>Recycling Waste</h2>
<p>This list has a Reanimator slant to it as well to take advantage of all the creatures we'll hit. That said, this wouldn't be our first rodeo with Reanimator builds, so we have some repeat but good options here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reanimate|fic|282"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beacon of Unrest|40k|194"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ardyn, the Usurper"></div></div>
<p>We have the ever-classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will bring back a big creature for a price. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beacon of Unrest" href="#" target="_blank">Beacon of Unrest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> reanimates from any graveyard, but is more expensive to cast. In addition, it shuffles itself back in upon resolution, so it'll not always be available to cast.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dread Return" href="#" target="_blank">Dread Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, with the right board state, can be cast for its flashback cost. While he's not on the list, <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> slowly builds us an army of copied creatures while being graveyard hate.</p>
<p>In addition, we have ways to fill everyone's graveyard to make it all happen.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Water Crystal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rejoin the Fight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Power Fist"></div></div>
<p>For one, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windfall|sld|1775" href="#" target="_blank">Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is good to cast if our hand count is low, or we have creatures to discard. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extract from Darkness|ltc|266" href="#" target="_blank">Extract from Darkness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Incarnation Technique|sld|1776" href="#" target="_blank">Incarnation Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both mill and reanimate, giving us the best of both worlds. In addition, the newly minted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rejoin the Fight" href="#" target="_blank">Rejoin the Fight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does this, too, but we get back multiple creatures.</p>
<p>From <em>Final Fantasy</em>, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Water Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">The Water Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which doesn't do much for us with reducing mana costs, but adding four cards to each instance of mill is huge. Its activated ability is also perfect if we have extra mana laying around.</p>
<p>Then there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emet-Selch, Unsundered" href="#" target="_blank">Emet-Selch, Unsundered</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who is very easy to transform, and lets us cast anything from our graveyard.</p>
<p>On the other hand, we have ways to further bolster Slimer. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Fist" href="#" target="_blank">Power Fist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives trample, and can potentially double his power. In a similar vein, the Finality half of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Find // Finality|pip|216" href="#" target="_blank">Find // Finality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives a small buff, then potentially wipes the board of everything else.</p>
<p>Also, any creature with the monstrosity ability will further buff Slimer for a cost.</p>
<h2>Exotic Foods</h2>
<p>If you've kept up with my articles at this point, you know we're no strangers to covering Reanimator strategies in this series. I first covered it with the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/celes-rune-knight-commander-deck-tech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Celes deck tech a while back</a>, even. However, this is Slimer we're working with, and we're losing two colors in exchange for the others. With that, we get new options.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord of Extinction"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mindskinner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cruel Somnophage"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of Extinction" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of Extinction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The "Boom Tube," as we elderly folk call it, is only as big as everyone's graveyards combined. This, in turn, will make Slimer colossal, a word that doesn't do it justice in this case. Pair it with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a way to win.</p>
<p>Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consuming Aberration" href="#" target="_blank">Consuming Aberration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is slightly smaller, but can also mill our opponents when we cast a spell. There's also the Lhurgoyfs (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mortivore" href="#" target="_blank">Mortivore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), which don't get quite as big, but are options anyway.</p>
<p>Other options include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titanoth Rex" href="#" target="_blank">Titanoth Rex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> which is a colossal beast that can cycle itself. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cruel Somnophage" href="#" target="_blank">Cruel Somnophage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is essentially Mortivore, but can be cast for its adventure cost to mill someone.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghalta, Primal Hunger" href="#" target="_blank">Ghalta, Primal Hunger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mindskinner" href="#" target="_blank">The Mindskinner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> boast huge buffs and, in the case of the latter, can be an outright win condition. Make Slimer a copy of it with Lord of Extinction for the counters, and watch our opponents collectively groan.</p>
<p>Also, for you naughty, naughty gremlins out there, infect creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plague Stinger" href="#" target="_blank">Plague Stinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ensure that Slimer kills in one hit, provided he's unblockable. The Agent provides this already, but there's other ways to do so.</p>
<h2>Slimer, Voracious Apparition/The Mimeoplasm Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-You Ooze, You Looze" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 The Mimeoplasm
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Alpha Deathclaw
*1 Balamb T-Rexaur
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Emet-Selch, Unsundered // Hades, Sorcerer of Eld
*1 Hexmark Destroyer
*1 Hierophant Bio-Titan
*1 Lumbering Megasloth
*1 Lunar Hatchling
*1 Polyraptor
*1 Sepulchral Primordial
*1 Shard of the Nightbringer
*1 Shard of the Void Dragon
*1 The Warring Triad
*1 Tifa Lockhart
*1 Troll of Khazad-dûm
*1 Wayward Swordtooth
*1 Woodfall Primus
*1 Yargle and Multani
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Beast Within
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Consider
*1 Contaminated Drink
*1 Deadly Rollick
*1 Dismember
*1 Entish Restoration
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Krosan Grip
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Power Fist
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Curiosity
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Resilience
*1 The Water Crystal
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Beacon of Unrest
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Careful Study
*1 Cultivate
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Dread Return
*1 Extract from Darkness
*1 Farseek
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Find // Finality
*1 Harmonize
*1 Incarnation Technique
*1 Living Death
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Reanimate
*1 Rejoin the Fight
*1 Rise of the Dark Realms
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Windfall
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Greater Good
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Out of the Tombs
*1 Pernicious Deed
*1 Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Exotic Orchard
*6 Forest
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*6 Island
*1 Opulent Palace
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*6 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Thriving Grove
*1 Thriving Isle
*1 Thriving Moor
*1 Vineglimmer Snarl
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Onto the Next Meal</h2>
<p>Going through <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> again, after all these years, was interesting. Some of the old guard stayed, while others were cut. Perhaps because they didn't pass the test of time. Going <em>Universes Beyond</em> only does stifle us a bit, but we remain undeterred. This case had a stronger reanimator sub-theme, yet the 'Plasm still remained as good as ever.</p>
<p>Join me next time as I either revert back to <em>Final Fantasy</em>, or ride along with a recent ruling that was announced.</p>
