Grapple with the Past - Dark Ascension

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wolfir Silverheart" href="#" target="_blank">Wolfir Silverheart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://raymondswanland.com/">Raymond Swanland</a>)</h6>
<h2><strong>I Knew At Least One Hare That Had a Friend</strong></h2>
<p>Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania Takes on Eldraine</em>. In this series we build mono-colored decks as a way to explore ramp and draw packages that are synergistic with our particular deck’s strategy, and to challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie. We’re back with more mono-colored action from <em>Throne of Eldraine</em>. Today, our commander is searching for his friend to do everything with—attack, attack, and attack.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Syr Faren, the Hengehammer"></div></div>
<p>After a bit of thought, I’m convinced Syr Faren’s ability is desirable. It is unrepentantly fair, which perhaps isn’t the sexiest quality to Commander players. There are some exciting nuances here, however, nuances that reveal Syr Faren’s true character. Faren works very well with cards that buff its power, sharing that buff with another creature each combat. While we want to include some Voltron enablers to pump our commander, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blackblade Reforged" href="#" target="_blank">Blackblade Reforged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strata Scythe" href="#" target="_blank">Strata Scythe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we also want to go wide with at least a few creatures that can attack on any given turn. Then, if we hit an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect, we can pump our whole team, then bestow Faren's buff onto another creature. This deck is interesting because it can threaten our opponents with commander damage, but it can also threaten any life total once you have enough spare creatures on the board.</p>
<p>Consider a simple example of Faren, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Martyr of Spores" href="#" target="_blank">Martyr of Spores</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elder of Laurels" href="#" target="_blank">Elder of Laurels</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We can use the Elder's ability to pump Faren by +3/+3, then sacrifice <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Martyr of Spores" href="#" target="_blank">Martyr of Spores</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Even if we reveal only three green cards, we give Faren another +3/+3. Then, when we attack we can share all of those buffs with Elder of Laurels. In total, we'll be attacking with an 8/8 Faren and an 8/9 Elder. This strategy magnifies and stacks well with more effects on board that pump our general.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Martyr of Spores"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elder of Laurels"></div></div>
<p>Taking this strategy into account, we arrive back at the seminal theme of this commander: honesty. Because Syr Faren must attack to trigger his ability, our 'combat tricks' effectively need to be cast at sorcery speed (it's not that you can't use instants, but it's an attack trigger; if you cast an instant after he's been declared as an attacker, he'll get the boost, but the other creature won't); in other words, by design, the deck plays mostly on its own turn. If this isn’t your style, Faren probably isn’t for you. However, there is some virtue in honesty: I’ve seen three different <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayula, Queen Among Bears" href="#" target="_blank">Ayula, Queen Among Bears</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks in action out in the wild since July, and all three of them won the games I was spectating. These decks flew under the radar while the table dealt with more pressing threats. Because many EDH players generally underestimate mono-green, they leave the green deck for last. Once the game is reduced to a one-on-one, after a lot of removal has been spent, honest green decks have a hefty fighting chance. The expectation and threat assessment of other players at the table can be an incredible advantage, allowing you to skirt by without notice, sandbag resources, and put up a fight near the end, so let’s see how we’re going to enable Faren and his band of friends.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Better Together</strong></h2>
<p>First, we have to discuss how this deck will maintain some amount of card advantage. In total, I’ve built this deck with 35 creatures to ensure that Faren always has a buddy to attack. Because we want to overwhelm the board with small creatures, our draw package should be centered on creatures as well.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Great Henge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul of the Harvest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guardian Project"></div></div>
<p>First, we have seven effects that gain card advantage when you cast a creature or when a creature enters the battlefield under your control. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Great Henge" href="#" target="_blank">The Great Henge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is bonkers, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian Project" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian Project</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is amazing, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul of the Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Soul of the Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic. The other seven are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Whisperer" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Whisperer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lifecrafter’s Bestiary" href="#" target="_blank">Lifecrafter’s Bestiary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path of Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Path of Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zendikar Resurgent" href="#" target="_blank">Zendikar Resurgent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>In a deck with 35 creatures that want to swarm the board, these advantage engines become very powerful; turning every creature into a cantrip is exactly what we want, because even if an opponent wipes the board, we’ll be able to fill it again. We have a relatively low curve in this deck, and if we can ever stick two of these engines on the battlefield at the same time, we’ll tack “draw two cards” onto all of our low-cost creatures.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Momentous Fall"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Greater Good"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rishkar’s Expertise"></div></div>
<p>Next, we have a suite of draw effects that are dependent on the power of our creatures; because our strategy revolves around pumping the power of low-cost creatures, we won’t feel so bad sacrificing them to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Momentous Fall" href="#" target="_blank">Momentous Fall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greater Good" href="#" target="_blank">Greater Good</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before their buffs wear off. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rishkar’s Expertise" href="#" target="_blank">Rishkar’s Expertise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will let us both draw through our deck as well as drop something directly onto the board. We’re also running the new card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return of the Wildspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Return of the Wildspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can both play like a better <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul’s Majesty" href="#" target="_blank">Soul’s Majesty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or an instant-speed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Building Relationships</strong></h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zendikar Resurgent" href="#" target="_blank">Zendikar Resurgent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Great Henge" href="#" target="_blank">The Great Henge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are two key pieces both to enable card advantage and our mana ramp package. Aside from these, to support our general strategies, most of our ramp will be creature-based. Since we can turn small creatures into big threats, any of these creatures can become menacing.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elvish Rejuvenator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Farhaven Elf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wood Elves"></div></div>
<p>These three-mana Elves that put lands directly onto the battlefield are all powerful here and don’t need to explain themselves. While they don’t put an extra land in your hand like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama’s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama’s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, they do come with a 1/1 body attached. In many creature-based green decks, these can easily outclass their sorcery brothers. Given that we’re running seven card advantage engines that will draw off of these Elves, they deserve a spot.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dawntreader Elk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sakura-Tribe Elder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhonas&#039;s Monument"></div></div>
<p>Using the same logic, creatures that can sacrifice themselves to find a land are also decent inclusions here. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diligent Farmhand" href="#" target="_blank">Diligent Farmhand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawntreader Elk" href="#" target="_blank">Dawntreader Elk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can’t really compete with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, they aren’t that far off either. They can team up with our commander early, and when he has a new best friend, we can sacrifice them for a land.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhonas’s Monument" href="#" target="_blank">Rhonas’s Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the real star of this deck: it will reduce the cost of half our deck, pumping our commander in the process. If we can chain two or more creatures in a turn, the mana discount will be extremely powerful. What’s more, if we cast three creatures in a turn, we can give Syr Faren +6/+6 and, when he attacks, we can give another creature +6/+6. This plays into everything that our deck wants to do: finding a sweet spot between going tall and going wide.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>The Deck</strong></h2>
<p>Now that we have a shell that should keep our deck chugging along, let’s put it all together and see how it looks. Let’s meet the contestants on Who Wants to Be Syr Faren’s Best Friend. As always, season to taste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wolfir Silverheart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nylea, God of the Hunt"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blackblade Reforged"></div></div>
<p>Among the other notable inclusions, we’ve packed a plethora of ways to pump Syr Faren so that we can double that buff onto our other minions. <em>Soulbond</em> minions like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wolfir Silverheart" href="#" target="_blank">Wolfir Silverheart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Druid’s Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Druid’s Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are destined to be Syr Faren’s bestie while on the board. Paired with the Silverheart, Faren becomes a 6/6, and the Silverheart an 8/8. Then, when they attack, Syr Faren can make the Silverheart a 14/14.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nylea, God of the Hunt" href="#" target="_blank">Nylea, God of the Hunt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a perfect inclusion for us because most of our minions, including our commander, lack trample. We should be flush with mana as well, so outlets with which we can repeatedly pump our commander are critical. Finally, there are a few Voltron staples that will play well with Syr Faren. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blackblade Reforged" href="#" target="_blank">Blackblade Reforged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a perfect example, providing a very significant buff, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strata Scythe" href="#" target="_blank">Strata Scythe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hammer of Nazahn" href="#" target="_blank">Hammer of Nazahn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grafted Exoskeleton" href="#" target="_blank">Grafted Exoskeleton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion’s Helm" href="#" target="_blank">Champion’s Helm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also fit in this category. In addition, I’ve included a total of eleven <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivator of Blades" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivator of Blades</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triumph of the Hordes" href="#" target="_blank">Triumph of the Hordes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <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>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Best Friend Auditions" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Syr Faren, the Hengehammer
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Diligent Farmhand
*1 Experiment One
*1 Hexdrinker
*1 Martyr of Spores
*1 Pelt Collector
*1 Permeating Mass
*1 Ulvenwald Tracker
*1 Crashing Drawbridge
*1 Dawntreader Elk
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Elder of Laurels
*1 Elvish Rejuvenator
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Managorger Hydra
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Rhonas the Indomitable
*1 Springbloom Druid
*1 Viridian Corrupter
*1 Wild Beastmaster
*1 Wood Elves
*1 Yavimaya Elder
*1 Beast Whisperer
*1 Druid&#039;s Familiar
*1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
*1 Acidic Slime
*1 Cultivator of Blades
*1 God-Eternal Rhonas
*1 Wolfir Silverheart
*1 Pathbreaker Ibex
*1 Soul of the Harvest
*1 Thunderfoot Baloth
*1 Craterhoof Behemoth
*1 End-Raze Forerunners
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Beast Within
*1 Momentous Fall
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Finale of Devastation
*1 Triumph of the Hordes
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Ezuri&#039;s Predation
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Horned Helm
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Vorrac Battlehorns
*1 Champion&#039;s Helm
*1 Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary
*1 Rhonas&#039;s Monument
*1 Strata Scythe
*1 Grafted Exoskeleton
*1 Hammer of Nazahn
*1 Caged Sun
*1 The Great Henge
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Beastmaster Ascension
*1 Greater Good
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Path of Discovery
*1 Feed the Pack
*1 Zendikar Resurgent
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Castle Garenbrig
*1 Desert of the Indomitable
*25 Forest
*1 Hashep Oasis
*1 Llanowar Reborn
*1 Mosswort Bridge
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers
*1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Slippery Karst
*1 Tranquil Thicket
*1 Turntimber Grove
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>What do you all think of Syr Faren? I fell in love with this commander but at the time of writing, he only helms eight decks on EDHREC. Does he deserve more? Am I clinging onto a lost cause? How do you feel about decks that play almost exclusively on their own turn? Let me know in the comments below! Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


dawntreader elk

Grapple with the Past - Dark Ascension

Monomania Takes on Eldraine – Best Friend Auditions