<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tibalt&#039;s Trickery" href="#" target="_blank">Tibalt&#039;s Trickery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/akreon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anna Podedworna</a></em></p>
<p>Each color in <em>Magic</em> has its own strengths and weaknesses. This is one of the first things you learn about the game when you start and is what keeps most people playing for years.</p>
<p>When playing against a white deck, you can expect that they’ll focus on protecting their permanents. The color lends itself to gaining life, exiling threats from your board, and creating far too many tokens for their own good.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heliod, Sun-Crowned"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giada, Font of Hope"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swords to Plowshares"></div></div>
<p>Except, of course, if you’re following this series and are looking to do something a little different. Then you might encounter a white deck who is more inclined to sacrifice their own life and permanents than damage yours!</p>
<h2>What Is Playing “Out Of Type?”</h2>
<p>Despite the fact each color has certain playstyles it doesn’t support, it’s not common for a mechanic to be absent entirely. Green decks aren’t known for their creature removal spells, but there are options available to you. Not to mention alternate methods of accomplishing the same thing.</p>
<p>Playing Out Of Type or “Off-Color” is an exercise finding those technicalities and exceptions in the color pie and making a deck out of them. It isn’t always easy and oftentimes involves cobbling together mismatched mana curves with an odd distribution of cards.</p>
<p>But no one expects it.</p>
<h2>A Quick Disclaimer</h2>
<p>This (probably) won’t win you any games.</p>
<p>As a part of the <em>Commander Unoptimized</em> series, this is explicitly intended for lower-bracket games where the table is willing to explore flexible deckbuilding. The goal isn’t to make the best engine or unlock the potential of super rare sleeper hits.</p>
<p>That being said, the goal doesn’t preclude you from winning. Just because you’re taking the scenic route to victory doesn’t mean you won’t arrive. It just won’t involve staple cards of the color and your mechanics will feel unorthodox even to the most adventurous of players.</p>
<p>When you see a red deck burning through your life through a string of mana-cheating and impulse-drawing, you might want to change things. Or maybe you want to play the long game, patiently building a web of interconnected pieces that finally come down like an avalanche.</p>
<p>That’s where off-red shines.</p>
<h2>What Red Does Well</h2>
<h3>Gotta Go Fast</h3>
<p>Mono-red aggro is a dominant playstyle for a reason. Whether Goblins, Dinosaurs, or Werewolves, there are many different ways for red players to have significant board presence early. Red’s creatures are strong but cheap and often have haste, allowing them to achieve immediate value.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Muxus, Goblin Grandee"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin"></div></div>
<p>This doesn’t simply involve creating a ridiculous amount of creature tokens, though it certainly can. It also means high-value, low-costed juggernauts. Mana producers. And lots of haste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Runaway Steam-Kin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faithless Looting"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Viashino Pyromancer"></div></div>
<h3>No, Seriously, It Goes <em>Fast</em></h3>
<p>Red specializes in generating floating mana, where you have to capitalize on it immediately or lose it. And often, red mana-cheating trails into other spells that continue to mana-cheat, meaning you effectively are playing that turn at a discount.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urabrask"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Neheb, the Eternal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Geyser"></div></div>
<p>Combine this with the fact that red is known for impulse draw, exiling the top card of your deck and being able to play it that turn. And not always your own, sometimes you can even impulse draw from other players’ decks!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrenn&#039;s Resolve"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Act on Impulse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckless Impulse"></div></div>
<h3>Direct Damage</h3>
<p>When it comes to direct damage, red is second to none. It has a range of effects that damage one, all, or multiple targets. This can affect players to deal enough burn damage it’s reasonable to win by dealing direct damage alone. Alternatively, it can involve discount boardwipes for anything that isn’t indestructible or unreasonably tough.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Red Sun&#039;s Zenith"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Solphim, Mayhem Dominus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blasphemous Act"></div></div>
<p>Sometimes, it even manages to combine damage with other, non-damaging effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Carah, the Bold" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Carah, the Bold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes to mind.</p>
<p>But red doesn’t stop there. It also has quite the streak of punishing its opponents for removing its permanents. And sometimes, it doesn’t even matter if your opponent is the one removing them! Primarily for Devils, so long as the blood flows they are happy to deal damage for you.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vengeful Devil"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Havoc Jester"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forge Devil"></div></div>
<h3>Artifacts</h3>
<p>Red has some of the highest artifact synergy in the game. Aside from strong artifacts that are red-colored, it has abilities to make artifacts cheaper, equip them for free, or otherwise get them onto the board faster and easier than any other color.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bladegraft Aspirant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhuk, Hexgold Nabber"></div></div>
<p>This even extends to trashing your artifacts to gain additional value out of them. Generally this manifests by gaining mana, which is always nice. And cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trash for Treasure" href="#" target="_blank">Trash for Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> give you multiple uses for them! But there's always more than one use for a tool if you're thinking creatively.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrap Welder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slobad, Iron Goblin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bosh, Iron Golem"></div></div>
<p>Then there’s the many different artifacts you can properly utilize in order to gain value from the above mentioned cards. Some scale off of themselves while others rely on an expanding network of artifacts to bolster themselves.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonspark Reactor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urabrask’s Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reinforced Ronin"></div></div>
<p>On top of that, there are mechanics such as For Mirrodin! Bringing an Equipment onto the battlefield immediately equipped is certainly useful, but then you can start playing with them. Alter the stats of your Rebels and suddenly you have a flash-mob armed to the teeth.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barbed Batterfist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hexgold Halberd"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hexplate Wallbreaker"></div></div>
<h3>Pumping Creatures</h3>
<p>Red quite enjoys mid-combat instants that juice its creatures power. Though while white grants indestructibility and green hexproof or reach, red focuses on first strike and raw power.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Titan&#039;s Strength"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blazing Crescendo"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm Strike"></div></div>
<h2>But What If…<br />
… You Play a Red Deck Where You’re a Scheming Mastermind?</h2>
<p>It isn’t sustainable to fuel your deck off of rage and passion, see? You need sustainable mana production. Creatures that stick around. Forget that “direct damage” nonsense, that’s what your creatures are for!</p>
<h3>Scaling</h3>
<p>The one thing red struggles most with is sustainability. Planning. Setting something up on one turn and capitalizing off of it on another.</p>
<p>You know, core parts of the game integral to formats like Commander?</p>
<p>Whether oil or power counters, red actually doesn’t struggle to find scaling cards. Particularly on artifacts! However, the greatest support red finds is for disposable, flash-value permanents.</p>
<p>Red has enough artifacts and support for them that it’s too close to trad-red for my taste. Enchantments, however, are rare by comparison and therefore fair game. And it actually has a few powerful ones.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="All Will Be One"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roiling Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raid Bombardment"></div></div>
<p>Even if most of these revolve around dealing damage, it isn’t as if they’re staples for red. And if you want an alternate means of scaling, try your creatures with cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="First Day of Class" href="#" target="_blank">First Day of Class</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>Removal</h3>
<p>By this, of course, I’m excluding “removal via damage.” Red’s strength is its ability to beat things into submission and burn its opponents down. But sometimes you just need to remove a threat without all the song and dance of damage.</p>
<p>Luckily, red can do this fantastically against artifacts. While that might veer a bit too close to trad-red for the taste of some, given how tied into red’s identity artifacts are, I see destroying them as well-enough out of type to be worth including. Plus, green loves its artifact removal just as well, meaning it’s not only red’s domain.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vandalblast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abrade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="By Force"></div></div>
<h3>Copying</h3>
<p>This is a feature I honestly wasn’t sure how off-red it truly is. Red has a large amount of cards and mechanics that copy other spells, primarily instants and sorceries. But at the same time, that’s almost never the domain of mono-red, it quite often finds itself the backbone of Izzet decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dualcaster Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zada, Hedron Grinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rionya, Fire Dancer"></div></div>
<p>In fact, I would go so far as to say the copying of spells is more Izzet than red, though your mileage may vary. I feel it’s off-red “enough” to include in such a deck. Not to mention, it gives you more flexibility and responsiveness than "slap together some enchantments and buff your creatures."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reverberate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reiterate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Twinferno"></div></div>
<h3>Chaos</h3>
<p>Now, you might be wondering why chaos would ever be in off-red. After all, red is the color of chaos and spontaneity!</p>
<p>But have you ever built a red deck entirely around chaos?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gamble"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tibalt’s Trickery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chaos Warp"></div></div>
<p>Not only does this delve into a playstyle that isn't seen very commonly, at least not focused on, it also gives your opponents pause. You can't control what's going to happen. Do they negotiate with you? Take you out early? Or do they ignore you?</p>
<p>How big of a risk are you, really, if you're <em>random?</em></p>
<p>As integral as it is to red from a thematic sense, mechanically it doesn’t show up very often. Which makes sense, as adding randomness decreases the skill required to pilot a deck. But what’s life without chaos?</p>
<p>What’s a game without chance?</p>
<h3>Work Smart, Not Hard</h3>
<p>On the tails of chaos, red also has quite a few more options to directly interface with your opponents' plans than I expected. This is most obvious in the blue-red dichotomy through cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyroblast" href="#" target="_blank">Pyroblast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, with them having cards to specifically target one another.</p>
<p>But there are other ways to alter your opponents’ plans. If you use them at key moments during the game, you can turn your opponents' plans against them. Instead of overcoming them with strength, subtly orchestrate their defeat and then capitalize on it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Red Elemental Blast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flare of Duplication"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Untimely Malfunction"></div></div>
<h2>Red Is Great</h2>
<p>It was actually surprisingly difficult to find things that aren't solidly covered by red. Which, for the color of passion and spontaneity, is actually quite thematic! I always think mono-red aggro or a splash of direct damage in a multicolor deck, but it has hidden depths I wasn’t expecting.</p>
<p>Certainly, it struggles with counterspells and permanent exiling is rare, if at all present in red. But it can handle early game with cheap spells it can draw consistently. Mid-game it has enough heft to continue its momentum assuming it pruned threats.</p>
<p>Even late in the game, a patient red player will be able to light the powder keg they set up earlier in the game. Whether this manifests as a massive scaled Dinosaur or a board of near-infinite artifacts, timing is the key to off-red’s success.</p>
<p>Though I suppose it’s much more fun to rush down the first person to deal damage to you, so the choice is yours.</p>
<h3>Other Colors:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="yHl5aYPpVq"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-play-black-differently-in-edh/">How to Play Black Differently in EDH</a></p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="6ByKvWDm2Y"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-play-white-differently-in-edh/">How To Play White Differently In EDH</a></p></blockquote>
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How To Play Red Differently In EDH

Storming Off With an Emet-Selch, Unsundered Commander Deck

Brewing Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER on a Budget

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firion, Wild Rose Warrior" href="#" target="_blank">Firion, Wild Rose Warrior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.elizabethpeiro.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elizabeth Peiró</a></em></p>
<p>As someone who knows next to nothing about <em>Final Fantasy</em>, I was a little hesitant about tackling a brew around a legendary creature (especially considering the sheer amount of legends in the new set). This was the case until I saw <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firion, Wild Rose Warrior" href="#" target="_blank">Firion, Wild Rose Warrior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firion, Wild Rose Warrior"></div></div>
<p>The Equipment game plan has always felt incredibly linear and somewhat simple, so it hasn’t really stood out to me as a player. Don’t get me wrong, I love cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akiri, Fearless Voyager" href="#" target="_blank">Akiri, Fearless Voyager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but there haven’t been many other Equipment legends that have interested me before Firion.</p>
<p>Firion is amazing for two reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li>Giving equipped creatures haste is incredibly strong when equipped creatures are usually magnets for removal.</li>
<li>Making copies of Equipment, albeit temporary copies, can lead to someone ridiculous shenanigans.</li>
</ol>
<p>First, I thought to go the experimental route. Firion + a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bludgeon Brawl" href="#" target="_blank">Bludgeon Brawl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dan Lewis" href="#" target="_blank">Dan Lewis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> means we get token copies of any nontoken artifact that enters the battlefield under our control. Add a little card called <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mycosynth Lattice" href="#" target="_blank">Mycosynth Lattice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and we get a token copy of <em>every single nontoken permanent that we play</em>. Sounds crazy, right? The biggest issue with this strategy is that red lacks the ability to tutor consistently enough to get these cards reliably. Also, let’s be honest, tutors aren’t very fun. So, I pivoted away from this idea and started thinking about ways we can get the maximum benefit from our commander.</p>
<p>While brainstorming, it hit me. Living Weapon, for Mirrodin!, anything that enters with a creature - copying these gives us more creatures that stick around. So, while this is an Equipment deck, it’s also a token deck with ways to benefit from extra creature tokens, as well as our temporary Equipment tokens.</p>
<h2>Category #1: Living Weapon/Living Weapon Adjacent</h2>
<p>As I mentioned previously, the living weapon Equipment are very strong with Firion, so I added as many as I could. We have the usual suspects in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scytheclaw" href="#" target="_blank">Scytheclaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Batterskull" href="#" target="_blank">Batterskull</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nettlecyst" href="#" target="_blank">Nettlecyst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as well as the "new hotness" in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hexplate Wallbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Hexplate Wallbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hexgold Halberd" href="#" target="_blank">Hexgold Halberd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and Standard powerhouse <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cori-Steel Cutter" href="#" target="_blank">Cori-Steel Cutter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scytheclaw"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Batterskull"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nettlecyst"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hexplate Wallbreaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hexgold Halberd"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cori-Steel Cutter"></div></div>
<p>While getting extra 0/0 Germ tokens doesn't necessarily help, they do gain haste right away with our commander, and that's nothing to scoff at.</p>
<h2>Category #2: Benefitting From Artifact Tokens</h2>
<p>Our token Equipment copies are artifact tokens, and we can do a lot with that in mono-red. First, we can benefit from the artifacts entering with something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quicksmith Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Quicksmith Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and keep our tokens around with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundial of the Infinite" href="#" target="_blank">Sundial of the Infinite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quicksmith Genius"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sundial of the Infinite"></div></div>
<p>Since our Equipment tokens need to be sacrificed at the end of turn, there are multiple ways we can sacrifice them for value <em>before</em> the end step. Here are a few of my favorites:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legion Extruder" href="#" target="_blank">Legion Extruder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can turn a token into a 3/3 Golem.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Baron of Tin Street" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Baron of Tin Street</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give us Goblins <em>and </em>pump them.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gleeful Demolition" href="#" target="_blank">Gleeful Demolition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a sneaky piece of removal that we can use <em>on our own tokens</em> for extra creatures.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gut, True Soul Zealot" href="#" target="_blank">Gut, True Soul Zealot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns our temporary Equipment into 4/1 Skeleton creatures.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Broadside Bombardiers" href="#" target="_blank">Broadside Bombardiers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns our tokens into removal.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breya&#039;s Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Breya&#039;s Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can grant us impulse draw or a temporary buff in a pinch.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Legion Extruder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Baron of Tin Street"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gleeful Demolition"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gut, True Soul Zealot"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Broadside Bombardiers"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breya&#039;s Apprentice"></div></div>
<p>To top it all off, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tarrian&#039;s Soulcleaver" href="#" target="_blank">Tarrian&#039;s Soulcleaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> goes absolutely bonkers in a deck like this.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tarrian&#039;s Soulcleaver"></div></div>
<h2>Category #3: Finishers</h2>
<p>Yes, the whole "copy our Equipment" thing is fun, but we need a way to win the game. Luckily for us, there are three great ways we can end the game with our commander in play. The first involves a simple creature called <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crackdown Construct" href="#" target="_blank">Crackdown Construct</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crackdown Construct"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crackdown Construct" href="#" target="_blank">Crackdown Construct</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is famous for going infinite with something that has an equip cost of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-0" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and our commander gives our Equipment tokens a reduced equip cost. What this means is we can make the Crackdown Construct infinitely huge if our commander is onboard. Just equip one of our tokens to the Construct, then move it to our commander, then move it back. Each time the Construct is targeted by the equip ability, it will get +1/+1. Do all of this with an Equipment that grants trample? It's game over for at least one of our opponents.</p>
<div id="4944-6576--113" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="4944-6576--113" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Firion%2C%20Wild%20Rose%20Warrior%22%2C%22Crackdown%20Construct%22%5D&requires=%5B%22Equipment%20with%20Equip%20Cost%20%3D%20%7B1%7D%2C%20%7B2%7D%22%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinitely%20large%20creature%20until%20end%20of%20turn%22%5D&id=4944-6576--113&color=R&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe><br />
Our second finisher comes in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armory Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Armory Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Armory Automaton"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armory Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Armory Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very simple; when it attacks we equip all Equipment to it. If we have a critical mass of Equipment in play, it can easily be game over for a player.</p>
<p>Our third and final finisher isn't guaranteed, but it grants extra combat steps, which can lead to a lethal attack.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akki Battle Squad"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akki Battle Squad" href="#" target="_blank">Akki Battle Squad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a terrific card in any deck with "modified creatures." Creatures are modified if they have any kind of Auras, Equipment, or counters on them. Luckily for us, our creatures will most likely have Equipment attached to them, so we can easily trigger the extra combat ability. Like I said, it isn't immediately a win, but it can get us closer to one.</p>
<h2>Closing Thoughts and Deck List for Firion, Wild Rose Warrior</h2>
<p>Until this point, I have never brewed around a mono-red commander, but I'm happy to change that today. This was a fun process, and I'm curious about who this character is in <em>Final Fantasy</em> lore. Thank you for joining me on this journey! Check out my decklist below.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Firion, Wild Rose Warrior" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Firion, Wild Rose Warrior
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Akki Battle Squad
*1 Armory Automaton
*1 Bonehoard Dracosaur
*1 Breya&#039;s Apprentice
*1 Broadside Bombardiers
*1 Champion of the Flame
*1 Crackdown Construct
*1 Crime Novelist
*1 Emberheart Challenger
*1 Fervent Champion
*1 Freya Crescent
*1 Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Gut, True Soul Zealot
*1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
*1 Komainu Battle Armor
*1 Krenko, Baron of Tin Street
*1 Loyal Apprentice
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Quicksmith Genius
*1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
*1 Valduk, Keeper of the Flame
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Untimely Malfunction
*1 Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge
*1 Wild Magic Surge
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Adaptive Omnitool
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Barbed Batterfist
*1 Basilisk Collar
*1 Batterskull
*1 Beamtown Beatstick
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Chainsaw
*1 Cori-Steel Cutter
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Diamond Pick-Axe
*1 Dissection Tools
*1 Dragonspark Reactor
*1 Headsplitter
*1 Hexgold Halberd
*1 Hexplate Wallbreaker
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Infantry Shield
*1 Inquisitorial Rosette
*1 Junk Jet
*1 Legion Extruder
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirage Mirror
*1 Nettlecyst
*1 O-Naginata
*1 Pip-Boy 3000
*1 Samurai&#039;s Katana
*1 Scytheclaw
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sundial of the Infinite
*1 Sword of Forge and Frontier
*1 Tarrian&#039;s Soulcleaver
*1 Urabrask&#039;s Forge
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Gleeful Demolition
*1 Goldwardens&#039; Gambit
*1 Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Demolition Field
*1 Great Furnace
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*24 Mountain
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scene of the Crime
*1 Treasure Vault
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>


Making an Equipment Token Deck With Firion, Wild Rose Warrior

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant" href="#" target="_blank">Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/lasahido" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lius Lasahido</a></em></p>
<p><em>Magic: The Gathering</em> is a game that truly contains multitudes. For every color, there's some means to gain card advantage, to summon enormous creatures, to exert control over the battlefield, and so on. Such is also the case with card recursion. It may be obvious, but black is the best color to resurrect creatures on the whole. However, that won't stop <em>Magic</em>'s most iconic reviving creature, the Phoenix, from doing it the most self-sufficiently. Interestingly, <em>Final Fantasy</em>, the upcoming <em>Universes Beyond</em> set, has given us a fantastic commander to lead a bunch of Phoenixes. As such, today's deck tech features <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant" href="#" target="_blank">Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of <a href="https://na.finalfantasyxvi.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Final Fantasy XVI</em></a> fame, with a Bracket 2 Phoenix kindred theme!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Joshua, Phoenix's Dominant Do?</h2>
<p>On its front face, this commander from <em>Final Fantasy XVI</em> is a card advantage generator. Joshua is a white-red legendary Human Noble Wizard for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. On entry, the Phoenix's Dominant allows you to discard up to two cards and draw that many back. He also has an activated ability for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and tapping Joshua at sorcery-speed to transform him (via exile) into Phoenix, Warden of Fire.</p>
<p>Phoenix, Warden of Fire is where this commander gets <em>really</em> interesting. It's a Saga enchantment in addition to being a Phoenix creature. When each of the first two lore counters are put onto the Warden of Fire, it deals two damage to each opponent. Then, at its final lore addition, it reverts back into Joshua, but not before recurring up to six mana worth of creatures from your graveyard. When Joshua returns, his on-entry triggered ability will trigger once more. And so the cycle begins anew.</p>
<h3>Similar Commanders to Joshua</h3>
<p>As far as I can tell, only a handful of other commanders do anything remotely similar to Joshua. For one, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daretti, Scrap Savant" href="#" target="_blank">Daretti, Scrap Savant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a neat imitation, albeit stymied by being a planeswalker card rather than a creature. Most other Boros commanders are even further from doing what Joshua can do. However, some, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hofri Ghostforge" href="#" target="_blank">Hofri Ghostforge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for instance, can play the recursion game relatively well.</p>
<p>The closest we're going to get with a Boros commander to this build is Otharri, Suns' Glory, which we'll cover later on, as it <em>is</em> in this deck list. It makes for a decent Phoenix kindred commander, but Joshua very possibly has Otharri beat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daretti, Scrap Savant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Otharri, Suns&#039; Glory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hofri Ghostforge"></div></div>
<h3>Joshua's Strategy</h3>
<p>Design-wise, Boros is a very conflicted color identity right now. The color pair wants either to innovate with recursive measures, which many players seem potentially wary of on a power-level basis, or it wants to be pure combat, which many players seem fairly tired of overall. Therefore, this deck will take hints from both ends of the Boros spectrum and add in a little extra flair.</p>
<p>This deck is a Phoenix kindred build, where we want to be attacking as often as possible with creatures that can recur themselves easily. We have the necessary means to make them cost much less than they normally would, as well as ways to buff them on the battlefield. Those who've played either with or against any kindred build know the typical gist of this.</p>
<p>Additionally, this deck boasts a sizeable <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package, which we'll get into when discussing specific card choices. Overall, we want this deck to play well at a Bracket 2, or "Core," table.</p>
<h2>Card Choices For This Joshua Deck</h2>
<p>This is a Phoenix kindred-themed build. As such, Phoenixes are core to our gameplay strategy. There is one other major concept we need to discuss as well, but let's start with the firebirds in question:</p>
<h3>Phoenixes - <em>Magic</em>'s "Kenny McCormick"</h3>
<p>Some Phoenixes I want to bring into this discussion are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skyfire Phoenix" href="#" target="_blank">Skyfire Phoenix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Everquill Phoenix" href="#" target="_blank">Everquill Phoenix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otharri, Suns&#039; Glory" href="#" target="_blank">Otharri, Suns&#039; Glory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They all have certain nuances about them and make for excellent cards to add to the deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skyfire Phoenix"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Otharri, Suns&#039; Glory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Everquill Phoenix"></div></div>
<p>Skyfire Phoenix is a great card to simply discard as soon as Joshua hits the battlefield. Unfortunately, it won't trigger off of Joshua's entry trigger. But whenever you cast Joshua during later plays, you can recur this Phoenix, giving you an additional flying, hasty body to smash into things.</p>
<p>Everquill Phoenix, like Joshua, is an excellent support card. When you get a chance to mutate it onto another creature, you'll be able to create a Feather token. You can sacrifice a Feather token to recur a Phoenix for just one mana. This recursion doesn't just apply to Everquill Phoenix! You can bring back <em>any</em> Phoenix from your graveyard with a Feather. In this way, Everquill is a fantastic choice to bring something back with a minimal amount of effort.</p>
<p>Otharri, Suns' Glory probably boasts the superlative for "most likely to be converted into a Joshua, Phoenix's Dominant deck." At the time of writing, Otharri and Joshua are probably the only real Boros Phoenix kindred commanders to hold any weight in the conversation. However, Otharri can only bring itself back, whereas Joshua can bring back any creature you want.</p>
<p>The commonality between these cards is their durability, tenacity, and ability to just resurrect for little effort. They are the "Kenny McCormick" (of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc2jdgA3f9Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>South Park</em></a> fame) of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>, and I mean that in the most endearing way possible.</p>
<h3>Sunforger Package</h3>
<p>Now, let's look at some cards that form a strong <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package. Sunforger often needs a ton of build-around to make it work optimally. You can only cast instants with a mana value of four or less with the card, so we've added in a whopping <em>sixteen</em> cards that fit the bill in here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunforger"></div></div>
<p>Sunforger counts towards our Bracket 2 limit of three tutors. The other two, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steelshaper&#039;s Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Steelshaper&#039;s Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Open the Armory" href="#" target="_blank">Open the Armory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are in this deck almost exclusively to tutor up Sunforger itself. Efficiency is key, especially in a lower bracket.</p>
<p>Some of the stronger instants to cast with Sunforger are:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This is an extremely versatile combat trick. You can safely use it to protect your creatures in all manner of ways. Alternatively, it can provide your creatures with additional offensive capabilities.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Master Warcraft" href="#" target="_blank">Master Warcraft</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Another combat trick in Boros, Master Warcraft is one of my favorite combat manipulation spells. Being able to force players to attack and/or block how you wish them to can turn the tides of entire games very quickly. Sadly, on another player's turn, you can't choose how creatures attack. However, you can manipulate the flow of battle with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Island Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Island Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for an easier time on an opposing player's turn.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clever Concealment" href="#" target="_blank">Clever Concealment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Sometimes your Phoenixes can't withstand a board wipe without a ton of necessary rebuilding afterwards. A strictly defensive option, Clever Concealment allows you to protect your creatures from so much removal in this game. Being able to skirt around mass-exile effects, or even board wipes that remove defenses like indestructible, can be massive. To that end, it's a fantastic card to cast via Sunforger.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma&#039;s Will"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Master Warcraft"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clever Concealment"></div></div>
<p>Now that we've discussed the cards that should further our game plan, let's talk about how Joshua plans to win!</p>
<h2>Winning With Joshua</h2>
<p>The plan is remarkably simple for any Bracket over 2. This is a Bracket 2 deck, though, so let's keep this in mind as we discuss our plan for victory. Put plainly, we want to use this deck to overrun our opponents with an army of giant, flying, flaming birds. We want to protect them whenever we need to, but we also want to swing for the fences with reckless abandon. If one Phoenix falls, there is a means to bring it back safely. If many Phoenixes could fall, you have the methods to prevent that occurrence. Eventually, you'll be remarkably ahead on damage output, while your opponents will have exhausted their many resources trying to quell the firestorm.</p>
<h2>Joshua, Phoenix's Dominant Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant // Phoenix, Warden of Fire
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Adaptive Automaton
*1 Arclight Phoenix
*1 Brass Herald
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Detective&#039;s Phoenix
*1 Everquill Phoenix
*1 Flame-Wreathed Phoenix
*1 Flamewake Phoenix
*1 Glory
*1 Kuldotha Phoenix
*1 Lightning Phoenix
*1 Magma Phoenix
*1 Magus of the Moat
*1 Metallic Mimic
*1 Nemesis Phoenix
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Otharri, Suns&#039; Glory
*1 Phoenix of Ash
*1 Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak
*1 Rekindling Phoenix
*1 Roaming Throne
*1 Skyfire Phoenix
*1 Summon: Esper Valigarmanda
*1 Weathered Wayfarer
*1 Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 And They Shall Know No Fear
*1 Angel&#039;s Grace
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Clever Concealment
*1 Cloud&#039;s Limit Break
*1 Comeuppance
*1 Deflecting Palm
*1 Final Showdown
*1 Flawless Maneuver
*1 Master Warcraft
*1 Olórin&#039;s Searing Light
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Silence
*1 Stroke of Midnight
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Banner of Kinship
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Isochron Scepter
*1 Lavaspur Boots
*1 Patchwork Banner
*1 Phoenix Down
*1 Power Conduit
*1 Progenitor&#039;s Icon
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sunforger
*1 Sunglasses of Urza
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Urza&#039;s Incubator
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Island Sanctuary
*1 Molten Echoes
*1 Reconnaissance
*1 Shared Animosity
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Open the Armory
*1 Steelshaper&#039;s Gift
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Elegant Parlor
*1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
*1 Evolving Wilds
*8 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Needleverge Pathway // Pillarverge Pathway
*10 Plains
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Three Tree City
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>When this commander got previewed, I was floored. I knew nothing about <em>Final Fantasy XVI</em>, but I knew there was a Joshua somewhere in the series canon. Joshua, being a Phoenix summoner, was kind of a big deal to me for very personal reasons. So, I decided that, for this deck tech of a character who shared my name, I'd lean into it in just as big a way.</p>
<p>If you're a fan of atypical kindred decks that you'd seldom see on a battlefield, this is a deck for you. Likewise, if you like the idea of a recursion strategy but can't fathom playing black, this deck is also a great potential fit. It's not the most powerful deck at your local game store's Commander night, to be frank, but it may be the most fun Bracket 2 deck you'll see there.</p>


Forging Rebirth With Joshua, Phoenix's Dominant

Building Sin, Spira's Punishment With No Nonland Permanents

<p>When I was a child watching my brothers play <em>Final Fantasy IX</em>, I was obsessed with the character of Zidane. Not only did I have long blonde hair, I also had a tail… Okay, one of those things was a lie (which one? You decide!). So when I first saw his card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zidane, Tantalus Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Zidane, Tantalus Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I loved how it captured his generous yet rambunctious nature.</p>
<p>Today we'll be looking at a fun direction to take this commander in: borrowing cards from other players, as well as gifting them some pieces that benefit you at the same time. My name is Tyler ‘Savesya’ Bucks, and with all that in mind, let’s take a look at fourteen cards for under $14 that will get you started on a brand new <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Final Fantasy</a></em> deck!</p>
<h2>Zidane, Tantalus Thief</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zidane, Tantalus Thief"></div></div>
<p>The first thought that came to mind when I saw <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zidane, Tantalus Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Zidane, Tantalus Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was his synergy with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Threaten" href="#" target="_blank">Threaten</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. Sure, I could fill this list with every version of that type of card, but that would be a little one-note. If you have a lot of those cards, throw them in this deck!</p>
<p>This list will showcase some interesting ways to steal your opponents' cards, whether it's one at a time or multiple all at once. We'll also look at a few spells that will “gift” cards to other players, so that you can get a Treasure in return. Finally, at the end of the list, I'll showcase two cards that represent a few tricky directions you can take this commander.</p>
<h3>Kari Zev's Expertise</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kari Zev&#039;s Expertise"></div></div>
<p>Kicking things off with one of my favorite versions of a Threaten effect, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kari Zev&#039;s Expertise" href="#" target="_blank">Kari Zev&#039;s Expertise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Three mana is the going rate for stealing a creature for a turn, but adding the ability to cast a spell with mana value two or less for free is what sets this apart. Sure, you might only hit something like a Signet or cheap removal off of this, but that’s better than nothing when you consider you'll also get a Treasure once you return the creature you borrowed.</p>
<h3>Claim the Firstborn</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Claim the Firstborn"></div></div>
<p>Like I said at that start of this article, I won’t fill this list with too many Threaten effects, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Claim the Firstborn" href="#" target="_blank">Claim the Firstborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is too good not to include. One mana to take a creature with mana value three or less is incredibly powerful, especially in this deck, since you’ll get that mana back when you make that Treasure. You don’t always need to get the biggest thing from your opponents; as long as you’re stealing cards, Zidane will be happy!</p>
<h3>Captivating Crew</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captivating Crew"></div></div>
<p>Say you have a lot of Treasure tokens sitting around, and nothing to dump them all into. That’s where a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captivating Crew" href="#" target="_blank">Captivating Crew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can truly shine. Four mana to steal one creature for a turn isn’t the greatest rate, but if you have the resources to swipe several creatures at a time, it could turn the game in your favor. Plus, at the end of your turn, you’ll make a Treasure for each creature you give back.</p>
<h3>Frenzied Fugue</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frenzied Fugue"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of four-mana theft spells, next up we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frenzied Fugue" href="#" target="_blank">Frenzied Fugue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When this enters, and at the beginning of your upkeep, you’re going to steal the enchanted permanent until end of turn. Since this is a repeatable way to take something and then give it back on each of your turns, it’ll be a nice little Treasure making engine. Also, don’t overlook the fact that you can steal any permanent with this card like lands or even planeswalkers.</p>
<h3>Call for Aid</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Call for Aid"></div></div>
<p>These next two cards will show off the power of stealing your opponents' things en masse. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call for Aid" href="#" target="_blank">Call for Aid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets you gain control of all the creatures target opponent controls, which is a major shift in your favor even though you can’t attack them that turn. Plus, once you give all those creatures back, you’ll be making a huge number of Treasure tokens, which can set you up for your endgame from there.</p>
<h3>Insurrection</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Insurrection"></div></div>
<p>Taking all the creatures from one player is great, but taking all the creatures on the battlefield is even better! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insurrection" href="#" target="_blank">Insurrection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the most expensive card on this list, and for good reason. Back in the early days of Commander, this card used to be a favorite win-con for many red decks. When paired with Zidane, this spell will make you a whole lot of Treasures when you give those creatures back to anyone who survived the onslaught. (Also see <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mob Rule" href="#" target="_blank">Mob Rule</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for another budget option.)</p>
<h3>Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos"></div></div>
<p>Moving on to the cards I’m titling “Gifts,” we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos" href="#" target="_blank">Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is a creature you can give away to each opponent on their turn, which has to attack, can’t attack you, and grows with counters. With this creature and your commander alone, you’ll be making three Treasures and forcing your opponents to whittle each others' life totals down in the process.</p>
<h3>Yes Man, Personal Securitron</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yes Man, Personal Securitron"></div></div>
<p>Up next is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yes Man, Personal Securitron" href="#" target="_blank">Yes Man, Personal Securitron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This deck can benefit from a little bit of politics, since you'll be handing out some value pieces during the game. Yes Man is a prime example of this, where you can make a deal with another player to give it back and forth to each other throughout the game. Drawing two cards and making a Treasure token is a nice combo. Plus, you could make a large amount of Soldier tokens when this creature leaves the battlefield.</p>
<h3>Coveted Jewel</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coveted Jewel"></div></div>
<p>Possibly the wackiest card on this list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coveted Jewel" href="#" target="_blank">Coveted Jewel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. For six mana you'll draw three cards and get a rock that taps for three mana; sounds like a good rate to me! However, if someone attacks you and you don't block all the attackers, they gain control of the Jewel. Luckily, your commander will make you a Treasure when that happens. Plus, since this deck’s main goal is to take creatures and attack with them, there’s a good chance you'd be able to swing right over and take the Jewel back on your next turn.</p>
<h3>Humble Defector</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Humble Defector"></div></div>
<p>I recently built a deck around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Jolly Balloon Man" href="#" target="_blank">The Jolly Balloon Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and got extremely excited to find a new home for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Humble Defector" href="#" target="_blank">Humble Defector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Drawing two cards just for tapping this creature is a great rate. However, you have to give it away once you do that. This is where incorporating some politics into your games will be the most beneficial, since you could just trade the Defector back and forth with the same player. Drawing two and creating a Treasure on each of your turns is the type of value that can help you close out games.</p>
<h3>Hithlain Rope</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hithlain Rope"></div></div>
<p>Our next card on the list offers some more possible card draw as well as land ramp, just for the small price of handing it over to the player to your right. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hithlain Rope" href="#" target="_blank">Hithlain Rope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives players two different options they can activate, which could help incentivize them to pass this card around the table, depending on what they need in that moment. The main drawback is that you have to pass it to your right, which means it'll take a little longer to get back to you. However, in this deck, giving it away once might be enough value for one game.</p>
<h3>Discerning Financier</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Discerning Financier"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Discerning Financier" href="#" target="_blank">Discerning Financier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> raised my eyebrows when I first saw it in one of my <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/woe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wilds of Eldraine</a></em> boosters. Making you a Treasure if your opponents have more lands than you is nice to have around. The main star in this card’s text box comes from the fact that you can pass an opponent a Treasure to draw a card for three mana. If you have your commander out when you do that, you’ll be at parity with your Treasures, since you’ll make a new one just for handing it out. This is great for making deals with other players, since you're not going down in resources.</p>
<h3>Kazuul's Fury</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kazuul&#039;s Fury"></div></div>
<p>Our final two cards will highlight some of the ways you can take this deck, while still fitting in any build for this commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kazuul&#039;s Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Kazuul&#039;s Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> style effect that’s attached to a land on the backside, making it feel free to run. Sure, giving the cards you steal back to your opponents makes you lose those Treasures, but sometimes you want to just get a threat off the board entirely. This spell, and other cards like it, are definitely a direction to go if you’re looking to make this a meaner build.</p>
<h3>Cloudshift</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudshift"></div></div>
<p>Finally, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudshift" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can save one of your important creatures when you need it; but there’s something more sinister lurking behind this card. With the wording it has, when you exile a creature you've stolen, it comes back to play under your control, not its owner. Recent blink cards aren’t usually worded this way, so finding a few cards that let you steal something for the rest of the game could be extra tricky for your opponents to deal with.</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>So, there you have it, fourteen cards for under $14 to get you started on your very own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zidane, Tantalus Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Zidane, Tantalus Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. Let me know in the comments what cards you would include in the rest of the 99, and bonus points for telling me your favorite Threaten effect. You can check out the full list, as well as some cards that didn't make the cut, <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/13127458/zidane_cheerful_thief_pillow_fortteen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on my Archidekt!</a></p>
<h3>A Fancy Fifteenth - Slicer, Hired Muscle</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slicer, Hired Muscle"></div></div>
<p>If you liked the playstyle of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos" href="#" target="_blank">Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, then you might also enjoy his more expensive cousin <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slicer, Hired Muscle" href="#" target="_blank">Slicer, Hired Muscle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While it’s not the most essential inclusion for this deck, if you have some more funds set aside while you're building, then give this <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/bot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transformer</a> a chance!</p>


Zidane, Tantalus Thief | Stealing Your Friends' Cards on a Budget

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kheru Goldkeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kheru Goldkeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://vargasni.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Randy Vargas</a></em></p>
<p>Today I'm tackling a commander that I've wanted to do for a while, ever since <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> came out. When I was reviewing this set I immediately singled out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kheru Goldkeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kheru Goldkeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a unique Pauper commander that does a few things I've never seen before.</p>
<h2>What Does Kheru Goldkeeper Do?</h2>
<p>First, it mixes graveyard and artifact strategies. Technically, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kheru Goldkeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kheru Goldkeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't say anything about artifacts, but it makes Treasure tokens, and that really incentives us to lean into some cards that trigger off of artifacts being created or sacrificed. Second, it asks us to remove cards from our graveyard. That's pretty unusual, as most cards you see care about cards entering your graveyard, or dying in some way. Thanks to these oddities, building around this commander is going to be quite the interesting challenge. So let's see what's up.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kheru Goldkeeper"></div></div>
<p>Let's get our priorities in order. We need cards in our graveyard. Then we need cards that remove either themselves or other cards from the graveyard. After that, we want some stuff that takes advantage of the artifacts we're making. We could just use the Treasures for more mana, but that'd be boring, and I'm certain there's some advantage to be gained from treating this like an artifact deck, so I'm gonna insist on it. Finally, we need a way to win with all this stuff. That's the part I'm most concerned about, but we'll figure it out when we get there.</p>
<h2>Self Mill</h2>
<p>Milling ourselves is pretty simple. I'm fond of cards that sit around and do their thing, like:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scion of Halaster" href="#" target="_blank">Scion of Halaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crawling Infestation" href="#" target="_blank">Crawling Infestation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chronic Flooding" href="#" target="_blank">Chronic Flooding</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of the Bloody Tome" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of the Bloody Tome</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>Yes, there's the risk of that Curse just killing us, but I'm sure it's a risk we can take. Yeah, I totally won't regret casting that on myself. But anyways, we've also got <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deranged Assistant" href="#" target="_blank">Deranged Assistant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghoulcaller&#039;s Bell" href="#" target="_blank">Ghoulcaller&#039;s Bell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a bit more, and if we really need some cards in the graveyard ASAP, we can cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tome Scour" href="#" target="_blank">Tome Scour</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Twist" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Twist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curse of the Bloody Tome"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deranged Assistant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tome Scour"></div></div>
<h2>Triggering Kheru Goldkeeper</h2>
<p>Next up, cards leaving the graveyard. Ok, I can think of several ways to do that. The first is exiling cards from graveyards. Basically, we're just gonna play a bunch of graveyard hate cards, and then use them on our own graveyard.</p>
<p>But because <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kheru Goldkeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kheru Goldkeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> says "One or more cards," <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormod&#039;s Crypt" href="#" target="_blank">Tormod&#039;s Crypt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is no good here. We don't want to sacrifice our entire graveyard for just one Treasure token, now do we? Instead, we'll happily take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relic of Progenitus" href="#" target="_blank">Relic of Progenitus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which we can tap every turn to produce a Treasure. Does that mean it's basically just a one-mana <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that's fueled by our graveyard? Yes, but when we get some cards that trigger off of artifacts entering, it'll prove to be quite strong. We'll also run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merrow Bonegnawer" href="#" target="_blank">Merrow Bonegnawer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for the same purpose.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Relic of Progenitus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merrow Bonegnawer"></div></div>
<p>We can also trigger our commander by returning cards from our graveyard to our hand, and that's certainly more efficient than exiling cards. So I quickly started adding cards that would return targets. But what I noticed was that there were a lot of instants and sorceries that returned creatures, and a lot of creatures that returned instants and sorceries. Huh. Well, the solution here is pretty obvious. We can't run either group exclusively, so we'll just run both sets of cards, and then they can return each other. It means the cards are less likely to have targets than if we were able to run creatures that returned creatures, but we can't do that, so this'll work just fine.</p>
<p>We'll even throw in some sacrifice outlets so that we can get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> style cards into the graveyards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mnemonic Wall" href="#" target="_blank">Mnemonic Wall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can return <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revive the Shire" href="#" target="_blank">Revive the Shire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can return <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shipwreck Dowser" href="#" target="_blank">Shipwreck Dowser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can return <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pulse of Murasa" href="#" target="_blank">Pulse of Murasa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can return <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Salvager of Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Salvager of Secrets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can return <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Manipulation" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Manipulation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can return <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mnemonic Wall" href="#" target="_blank">Mnemonic Wall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Perfect!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mnemonic Wall"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul Manipulation"></div></div>
<p>Finally, the best way to trigger our commander is with flashback and unearth. Both of these are great mechanics that can actually have more of an effect than just making a treasure. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Twist" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Twist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otherworldly Gaze" href="#" target="_blank">Otherworldly Gaze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can mill us a bit, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eviscerator&#039;s Insight" href="#" target="_blank">Eviscerator&#039;s Insight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Think Twice" href="#" target="_blank">Think Twice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deep Analysis" href="#" target="_blank">Deep Analysis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can draw us some cards. One of my personal favorites is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moment&#039;s Peace" href="#" target="_blank">Moment&#039;s Peace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that will catch our opponents unaware one time, then ward them away for a long while afterwards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dream Twist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eviscerator&#039;s Insight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moment&#039;s Peace"></div></div>
<h2>How to Win With Kheru Goldkeeper</h2>
<p>Now that we've got a solid engine triggering our commander over and over again, let's try and take advantage of those artifacts, and maybe turn all that cycling into a win.</p>
<p>Now what can we do with Treasures? We can sacrifice them to cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Dispute" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Dispute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckoner&#039;s Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Reckoner&#039;s Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Card advantage is always fantastic, and this is a pretty good way to do it. But usually artifact decks will use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckless Fireweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Reckless Fireweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to turn Treasures into raw damage. We can do something similar with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disciple of the Vault" href="#" target="_blank">Disciple of the Vault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; it's a bit slower, but it still gets the job done.</p>
<p>And because Treasures are tokens, we can also use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirkwood Bats" href="#" target="_blank">Mirkwood Bats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadier&#039;s Nightblade" href="#" target="_blank">Nadier&#039;s Nightblade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to thrash our opponents life totals.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadly Dispute"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckoner&#039;s Bargain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirkwood Bats"></div></div>
<p>And with all of that ready, we can just toss in some ramp and removal, and call it good!</p>
<h2>Is This Kheru Goldkeeper pEDH Deck Good?</h2>
<p>Ok, so as you were reading this article, I'm sure you noticed a bit of a flaw with this deck. The whole thing is built around spending two mana to cast something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise the Draugr" href="#" target="_blank">Raise the Draugr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and return a creature to hand, making a Treasure that sacrifices itself for one mana. Do you see the problem? Yeah, half the time, we're spending upwards of three mana to make one. The term "spinning your wheels" applies to this deck. I've crafted a library around triggering our commander purely to trigger our commander. A few good cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relic of Progenitus" href="#" target="_blank">Relic of Progenitus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make us free mana, but most of the cards in this deck do nothing but make mana disappear.</p>
<p>That being said, I don't think this deck is a complete wreck. While it does a lot of nothing, eventually, that nothing can be converted into card advantage and damage. And that's what wins games. I'm not certain that there's enough density of damage dealing cards in here to really be consistent, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirkwood Bats" href="#" target="_blank">Mirkwood Bats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> absolutely can take us to victory. And because we're running so much recursion, our few important pieces are really difficult for our opponents to deal with.</p>
<p>In a long game, this deck really has a good shot.</p>


edh