<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Henzie &quot;Toolbox&quot; Torre" href="#" target="_blank">Henzie &quot;Toolbox&quot; Torre</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/algenpfleger">Johannes Voss</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Blitzkrieg Bop</h1>
<p>Welcome to <em>Challenge the Stats</em>! This series is based on the awesome <a href="https://edhrecast.libsyn.com/">EDHRECast</a> segment where we pick out cards that we think are overplayed, underplayed, or sleepers to challenge EDHREC’s data. But remember, these are merely comments on the data, and card choices made by <em>you,</em> the deckbrewer, for any reason such as flavor, budget, art, or fun are always most important and are what keep our format unique and awesome.</p>
<p>This week, we're challenging the new Jund precon face commander, Henzie "Toolbox" Torre.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Henzie &quot;Toolbox&quot; Torre"></div></div>
<p>We're challenging the data from a staggering 2,574 Commander decks at the time of writing, and you can see how often those cards are played in parentheses (%). Here we go.</p>
<p>I chatted with quite a few folks to brainstorm challenges for this article, so I'd like to especially thank Mike Carrozza, MotherEffingMage, Looter-Scooter, AwesomeMcCoolName, and OboeSapien for their great insights!</p>
<hr />
<h1>Challenges</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Overplayed</h2>
<hr />
<h3>1. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ziatora&#039;s Envoy" href="#" target="_blank">Ziatora&#039;s Envoy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (35%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ziatora&#039;s Envoy"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ziatora&#039;s Envoy" href="#" target="_blank">Ziatora&#039;s Envoy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is making it in the deck just probably just because it's lying around when people are opening their <em>Streets of New Capenna</em> packs and building Henzie decks. Honestly, it doesn't do enough. Even if it doesn't get blocked (and that's a big if), we could still hit a 6-and-up drop and whiff.</p>
<h3>2. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Indrik Stomphowler" href="#" target="_blank">Indrik Stomphowler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (23%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Indrik Stomphowler"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Indrik Stomphowler" href="#" target="_blank">Indrik Stomphowler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic precon effect example in the EDHREC data. It was released in the preconstructed deck, yet there are much better options. I'd much prefer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foundation Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Foundation Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in its place. It hits Henzie's four-mana-value criteria, but can also cost two to <em>Evoke</em>, which can be fantastic in a pinch or if we want to put it right into the graveyard to reanimate it on the same turn.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Underplayed and Sleepers</h2>
<hr />
<h3>3. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedguide Ash" href="#" target="_blank">Seedguide Ash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (38%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seedguide Ash"></div></div>
<p>We can <em>Blitz</em> out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedguide Ash" href="#" target="_blank">Seedguide Ash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for four mana and ramp three Forests (nonbasic!)! That rate is pretty awesome compared to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Circuitous Route" href="#" target="_blank">Circuitous Route</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Migration Path" href="#" target="_blank">Migration Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>4. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Body Snatcher" href="#" target="_blank">Body Snatcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9%) + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Underworld Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Underworld Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Body Snatcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Underworld Sentinel"></div></div>
<p>These two are cute ways to cheat something into play permanently when we <em>Blitz</em> them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Body Snatcher" href="#" target="_blank">Body Snatcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cheats something into play from our hand, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Underworld Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Underworld Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effectively reanimates a creature from our graveyard. Sure, there are more effective ways to reanimate creatures, but in a creature-based deck and with Henzie's discount, the Sentinel is a solid synergy choice.</p>
<h3>5. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Homura, Human Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Homura, Human Ascendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (2%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Homura, Human Ascendant"></div></div>
<p>The downside of Homura is that it's a bit overcosted and hard to flip, but Henzie eliminates both of those! This will equate to five mana (or less) to give our whole team +2/+2, flying, and <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Firebreathing">firebreathing</a>! That's a huge buff that can help us close a game.</p>
<h3>6. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakshasa Debaser" href="#" target="_blank">Rakshasa Debaser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakshasa Debaser"></div></div>
<p><em>Encore</em> cards are fantastic in Henzie since we want them in the graveyard anyway. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakshasa Debaser" href="#" target="_blank">Rakshasa Debaser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a favorite of mine, snagging a creature on its first <em>Blitz</em> and then up to three on the <em>Encore</em>. Other <em>Encore</em> creatures are neat, too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Triniform" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Triniform</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also a powerhouse and a great one to discount. Finally, given the number of Treasures running around, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fathom Fleet Swordjack" href="#" target="_blank">Fathom Fleet Swordjack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might just be a finisher if we have enough artifacts (but check your deck before including it).</p>
<h3>7. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doom Weaver"></div></div>
<p><em>Soulbond</em> cards can pair to whatever we <em>Blitz</em> in, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s death trigger will easily happen when we sacrifice the creature. Let's imagine this: <em>Blitz</em> in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedguide Ash" href="#" target="_blank">Seedguide Ash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <em>Soulbond</em> with Doom Weaver, and, on our end step, sacrifice it to draw a total of five cards! That's a pretty reasonable floor when Henzie loves to play creatures with a high power stat.</p>
<h3>8. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morbid Opportunist" href="#" target="_blank">Morbid Opportunist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Morbid Opportunist"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathreap Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Deathreap Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is played in 35% of Henzie decks, and the creature version, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morbid Opportunist" href="#" target="_blank">Morbid Opportunist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, has much better synergy with our deck. I would also be very interested in playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fecundity" href="#" target="_blank">Fecundity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because we're going to probably profit from it more than other players. Just be careful if there's another sacrifice deck at the table!</p>
<h3>9. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama of the East Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama of the East Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kodama of the East Tree"></div></div>
<p>Kodama works beautifully with <em>Blitz</em>. We'll get a discount on the <em>Blitz</em> cost, but we'll still get to put in a permanent for free based on the <em>Blitz</em>ed creature's undiscounted mana value.</p>
<h3>10. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gleancrawler" href="#" target="_blank">Gleancrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (2%)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gleancrawler"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gleancrawler" href="#" target="_blank">Gleancrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful engine with Henzie. We get all the creatures we <em>Blitz</em>ed back every turn so we can do it all again next turn! If we need to, we can also <em>Blitz</em> the Gleancrawler, stacking the triggers so we sac other <em>Blitz</em> creatures first and get them back before the Gleancrawler dies.</p>
<h3>11. Bonus Pick: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obosh, the Preypiercer" href="#" target="_blank">Obosh, the Preypiercer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (2 decks)</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obosh, the Preypiercer"></div></div>
<p>AwesomeMcCoolName pointed out that Obosh would be a really cool <em>Companion</em> for Henzie since Henzie lets us essentially play our five-drops as four-drops and mitigate Obosh's downside! Whet your whistle with these odd-MV spells that the folks in our <a href="https://discord.gg/2m5Bw6twgE">discord</a> shouted out:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fecundity" href="#" target="_blank">Fecundity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gratuitous Violence" href="#" target="_blank">Gratuitous Violence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dictate of the Twin Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Dictate of the Twin Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angrath&#039;s Marauders" href="#" target="_blank">Angrath&#039;s Marauders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedguide Ash" href="#" target="_blank">Seedguide Ash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpse Dance" href="#" target="_blank">Corpse Dance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Death" href="#" target="_blank">Living Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Succumb to Temptation" href="#" target="_blank">Succumb to Temptation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drakuseth, Maw of Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Drakuseth, Maw of Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p>There are so many cool death triggers we could reach for that don't make it on Henzie's page. I combed through every creature with a death trigger on Scryfall, and here's a list of some I think could be neat:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bhaal, Lord of Murder" href="#" target="_blank">Bhaal, Lord of Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caldaia Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Caldaia Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavalier of Night" href="#" target="_blank">Cavalier of Night</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavalier of Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Cavalier of Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavalier of Thorns" href="#" target="_blank">Cavalier of Thorns</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cemetery Desecrator" href="#" target="_blank">Cemetery Desecrator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demon of Dark Schemes" href="#" target="_blank">Demon of Dark Schemes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Rhonas" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Rhonas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gorex, the Tombshell" href="#" target="_blank">Gorex, the Tombshell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moldgraf Monstrosity" href="#" target="_blank">Moldgraf Monstrosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nightmare Shepherd" href="#" target="_blank">Nightmare Shepherd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootless Yew" href="#" target="_blank">Rootless Yew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruin Grinder" href="#" target="_blank">Ruin Grinder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seed Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Seed Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedguide Ash" href="#" target="_blank">Seedguide Ash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sek&#039;Kuar, Deathkeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Sek&#039;Kuar, Deathkeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Konrad, the Grim" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Konrad, the Grim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sultai Flayer" href="#" target="_blank">Sultai Flayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p>For more info about Henzie and decklist to start from, check out this video by the EDHRECast's Joey Schultz!</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Henzie &quot;Toolbox&quot; Torre | Upping the Average" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SBLewUqyzNI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<hr />
<h2>Rudolph and Blitzen</h2>
<p>What do you think about these challenges? Are there any other cards you would challenge? Let me know in the comments below! As always, you can find me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jevinmtg">@jevinmtg</a>.</p>


doom weaver

Challenge the Stats – Henzie "Toolbox" Torre