Commander Starter Kits for Marvel Universe Reskins

Doctor Octopus, Master Planner 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

Commander Starter Kits for Marvel Universe Reskins

Doctor Octopus, Master Planner Deck Tech

Doc Ock, Evil Inventor Deck Tech