Gogo's Bizarre Adventure - Gogo, Master of Mimicry Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rydia, Summoner of Mist" href="#" target="_blank">Rydia, Summoner of Mist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/user-5c85a8936304b898" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yumi Yaoshida</a></em></p>
<p>Hello everyone, and welcome to my first article in the big leagues! I'm <a href="http://linktr.ee/commandzoe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Command Zoe</a>, and for anyone that doesn't know me yet, I'm a <em>Magic</em> writer and streamer that's been playing since <em>Urza's</em> block. I started playing Commander back when it was still called Elder Dragon Highlander. My chops include winning a junior GP, making a deck that got a card banned, writing an article that got an Alchemy card nerfed out of existence, and hitting #1 on the Arena ladder. I've been writing about <em>Magic</em> since 2020, and have been at <a href="https://cardgamer.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cardgamer.com</a> since the beginning of January this year. I started streaming at the beginning of this year, and was recently chosen as a Featured Creator for MagicCon Atlanta. I'm so excited to be given the chance to bring my Commander knowledge here to EDHREC for you all.</p>
<p>Today I'm doing a deck tech on one of my very favorite <em>Final Fantasy</em> characters of all time, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rydia, Summoner of Mist" href="#" target="_blank">Rydia, Summoner of Mist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She's a character from <em>Final Fantasy IV</em> who begins the game as the party's white mage. Halfway through the story there's an accident, and it appears Rydia dies being thrown overboard and eaten by Leviathan. However, she's actually taken by the beast to the land of Eidolons (the name for summons in that game) where time moves differently, and she grows up into an adult off screen. When she eventually returns to the party she's a powerful black mage capable of not only calling forth powerful Summons, but also backing up those Summons with an arsenal of powerful spells. Let's take a look at how that translated to the <em>Magic</em> card.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rydia, Summoner of Mist"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>First I play Rydia, then I get rid a' ya'.</em></p>
<h2>What Does Rydia, Summoner of Mist Do?</h2>
<p>The game plan is fairly straight-forward. We play Rydia early enough that we can ramp and use Rydia's <em>landfall</em> ability to fill the graveyard with Saga creatures by discarding them. After setup is complete, we use all that mana from ramping to bring those Saga creatures back with Rydia's <em>Summon</em> ability.</p>
<p>There's a small wrinkle in that it doesn't necessarily need to bring back a creature Saga, but the card clearly wants you to because it also gives the Saga it returns haste; there'd be no need to give it haste if it was exclusively intended to bring back noncreature Sagas. Rydia also puts a finality counter on the Saga in an attempt to keep players from repeatedly cycling the same Saga ad infinitum.</p>
<p>Finally, and quite notably, Rydia is very fragile, having only two toughness and no defensive keywords. If she's viewed as a threat, she's very easy to destroy, so she'll need some help staying alive.</p>
<p>The most exciting thing about Rydia for me is that there has never been a Gruul (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander like her. Red-green reanimation is not something that has been explored a lot in <em>Magic</em>. The closest I can think of is the mono-red card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feldon of the Third Path" href="#" target="_blank">Feldon of the Third Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who brings back creatures as artifact tokens for one turn. However, Feldon neither has an ability to set himself up, nor can he bring back cards for multiple turns. He's also unable to use green cards to help keep card advantage, remove enchantments, or diversify his selection of bombs to reanimate.</p>
<p>The one thing we need to be wary of when crafting a deck like this is that there simply aren't very many Summon cards, so we'll need to be lenient with our bombs and work around them to make the strategy work. It won't be as simple as Reanimator decks in other colors because the card quality of what we're returning is not on the same level as, say, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archon of Cruelty" href="#" target="_blank">Archon of Cruelty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Because of that there is an instant and sorcery sub-theme, as several of the summon cards available care about them.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Rydia, Summoner of Mist</h2>
<h3>Summon Sagas</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Titan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Bahamut"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Kujata"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>These are your best boys.</em></p>
<p>I started by adding all the available Summon cards that I could, but after some testing I found that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Brynhildr" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Brynhildr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was just not good for our plan. The first chapter on it is decent, but the second two are completely irrelevant when our commander already gives all our Sagas haste. Also, a 2/1 for two mana isn't very good when we'd rather be playing our commander on turn two.</p>
<p>The rest of the Summon creatures we're going to need to find a way to win with, because there are only ten of them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the obvious juggernaut card that we want to get out as many times as possible; it's definitely the deck's most efficient way of ending the game. All three of the five-mana Summons are decently powerful options for pushing damage through, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in particular you can rely on to help close games. The second chapter ability is usually going to bring a ton of lands back, so the third chapter will let something hit like a truck.</p>
<p>All of the three- and four-mana Summons are much more utility-focused than the higher mana value ones, but cutting any of them would make the deck's threat-density flimsier than it already is. This scarcity of Summons brings up the next type of card that's needed by the deck.</p>
<h3>Dredge and Self-Mill</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malevolent Rumble"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aftermath Analyst"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golgari Grave-Troll"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>My dredge cards put all the cards in the yard.</em></p>
<p>The deck needs to have a way of putting more cards into the graveyard. One per turn isn't consistent enough because it relies too much on drawing one of only ten cards, and hoping it's one that's good enough to win with. So there are several cards added for which the main goal is to get more than one or two cards into the yard per turn.</p>
<p>Dredge cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life from the Loam" href="#" target="_blank">Life from the Loam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> work great with Rydia's <em>landfall</em> effect, as they're not only a great way to fill the yard, but also will give a consistent way to return them to hand. The sequence is as follows: cast Loam to get three lands, then play one of those lands, discard another, get Loam back with dredge 3.</p>
<p>Another great self-mill card in the list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wreck and Rebuild" href="#" target="_blank">Wreck and Rebuild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Its versatility really shines in this deck. It can ramp while netting four additional cards into the graveyard, remove a troublesome artifact or enchantment, and can still be useful if it gets milled into the graveyard by another self-mill effect because of flashback.</p>
<p>There are also two self-mill cards that can double as ways to get cards back from the graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aftermath Analyst" href="#" target="_blank">Aftermath Analyst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make a ton of Rydia triggers at once and help filter down to the Sagas if they aren't coming up early, and the ramp is always good for Rydia's summon ability. The other is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shigeki, Jukai Visionary" href="#" target="_blank">Shigeki, Jukai Visionary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, whose <em>channel</em> effect can be critical for getting key cards that get milled back to hand. There's also a neat interaction between Shigeki and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peerless Recycling" href="#" target="_blank">Peerless Recycling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> where they can keep getting each other back plus another card, and at instant speed!</p>
<h3>Dealing With Finality Counters</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Power Conduit"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gemrazer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudstone Curio"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>What do these three cards have in common?</em></p>
<p>The final problem the scarcity of Summons presents is the finality counter that Rydia puts on them. The strategy gets too inconsistent if it keeps losing Summons to exile. It means Rydia would only have 10 total chances with her second ability to close out a win, and not all of those are game-winning targets. So a way is needed around these finality counters.</p>
<p>The most obvious way is to simply remove the counters from them, but the options are limited. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Power Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hexavus" href="#" target="_blank">Hexavus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are obvious inclusions, as is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nesting Grounds" href="#" target="_blank">Nesting Grounds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which has the added villainous-synergy of moving those finality counters onto our opponents' creatures.</p>
<p>Mutate cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gemrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Gemrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Migratory Greathorn" href="#" target="_blank">Migratory Greathorn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sawtusk Demolisher" href="#" target="_blank">Sawtusk Demolisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have an interesting interaction with the new Saga creatures. If you mutate on top of them, they stop being Saga-type. This means they will stop gaining lore counters, which allows them to not be sacrificed into exile when they reach their final chapter. It unfortunately means they will also stop gaining lore counters, but if they get proliferated to their final chapter they will still retain the textbox, so the final chapter would still trigger, but without the downside of getting sacrificed.</p>
<p>Lastly, using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to return a Summon to hand that has a finality counter on it is another way around the exile effect. It also lets you bounce your own lands back to your hand so you never miss a land drop, and can then discard those returned Summons to reanimate them over and over.</p>
<h2>How Does This Rydia, Summoner of Mist Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>The win conditions in this deck are straightforward: get out large Summon creatures repeatedly and attack your opponents with them. So despite Reanimator not being typically featured in Gruul, Rydia still manages to pull off the vibes of the color pairing quite well. The go-to win card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Combine its third chapter effect with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weaver of Harmony" href="#" target="_blank">Weaver of Harmony</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a decent board state, and the game can end on the spot. This can also work with the third chapter on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Kujata" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Kujata</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, depending on what's discarded. Morphing onto an unblockable <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ferropede" href="#" target="_blank">Ferropede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can also close a game out quickly, especially if you start putting +1/+1 counters on it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Weaver of Harmony"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Day of the Moon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Monument to Endurance"></div></div>
<p>Alternatively, there are two ways to win that don't involve attacking opponents directly. The first is by using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Day of the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Day of the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with the counter-removers to eventually name every creature on the board. Start with each opponents' commanders, then move on to whatever else is around. It works cumulatively, so eventually every creature in their decks will get named. Just be ready when there's only one opponent left to finish them off.</p>
<p>The other way of winning is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Monument to Endurance" href="#" target="_blank">Monument to Endurance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Each <em>landfall</em> on your turn triggers it, but so does looping the channel cards in the deck on opponents' turns so that the lose three life option of Monument can be chosen repeatedly in a turn cycle. This can add up incredibly quickly, especially if you copy the Monument with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mycosynth Gardens" href="#" target="_blank">The Mycosynth Gardens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for two triggers per discard.</p>
<h2>Rydia, Summoner of Mist Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Growing Up Fast" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Rydia, Summoner of Mist
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aftermath Analyst
*1 Arbor Elf
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Evolution Witness
*1 Ferropede
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Gemrazer
*1 Goblin Anarchomancer
*1 Golgari Grave-Troll
*1 Hexavus
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Migratory Greathorn
*1 Sanctum Weaver
*1 Sawtusk Demolisher
*1 Shigeki, Jukai Visionary
*1 Summon: Bahamut
*1 Summon: Esper Ramuh
*1 Summon: Esper Valigarmanda
*1 Summon: Fat Chocobo
*1 Summon: Fenrir
*1 Summon: G.F. Cerberus
*1 Summon: G.F. Ifrit
*1 Summon: Kujata
*1 Summon: Magus Sisters
*1 Summon: Titan
*1 Timeless Witness
*1 Weaver of Harmony
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Beast Within
*1 Cache Grab
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Guff Rewrites History
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Peerless Recycling
*1 Seed of Hope
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Safekeeping
*1 Wild Magic Surge
*1 Zoyowa&#039;s Justice
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Explore
*1 Farseek
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Life from the Loam
*1 Magmatic Insight
*1 Malevolent Rumble
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Three Visits
*1 Wreck and Rebuild
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Cloudstone Curio
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Monument to Endurance
*1 Pip-Boy 3000
*1 Power Conduit
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Day of the Moon
*1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki
*1 Utopia Sprawl
*1 Wild Growth
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Wrenn and Six
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Commercial District
*1 Copperline Gorge
*1 Cragcrown Pathway // Timbercrown Pathway
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fire-Lit Thicket
*6 Forest
*1 Grove of the Burnwillows
*1 Gruul Turf
*1 Karplusan Forest
*1 Mossfire Valley
*4 Mountain
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Plaza of Heroes
*1 Raging Ravine
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Sheltered Thicket
*1 Shifting Woodland
*1 Spire Garden
*1 Stomping Ground
*1 Sunken Citadel
*1 The Mycosynth Gardens
*1 Thornspire Verge
*1 Urza&#039;s Cave
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Final Thoughts on Finally Fantasizing about Final Fantasy</h2>
<p>This deck is an absolute blast to play. I had so much fun trying to get it to work, and finally getting it to a place where it was able to beat a couple of my friends was very rewarding. The deck can certainly do strong things, though it can struggle with consistency. It works best in a Bracket 2 environment, but if it were going up a step, the Game Changers I'd suggest focusing on are tutors and fast mana. This deck would love both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldly Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Worldly Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for instance. It's not the most spikey list, but if you love <em>Final Fantasy: IV</em> or are a Johnny/Jenny who loves lots of synergies and landfall, give Rydia a try.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, everyone, for taking the time to read my first article here at EDHREC. I have been Command Zoe. Next time I'll do a deck tech on everyone's favorite little guy, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mog, Moogle Warrior" href="#" target="_blank">Mog, Moogle Warrior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>


Growing up Fast: A Rydia, Summoner of Mist Commander Deck Tech

Build a Rebels Deck with Banon, the Returners' Leader

Building an Edgar, Master Machinist Commander Deck

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/arifwijaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arif Wijaya</a></em></p>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em> has taken over <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>, and Summons are among the most flavorful and powerful cards introduced in the set. Seeing as Summons in the actual <em>Final Fantasy</em> franchise only stick around for a few turns, having them represented as Sagas in <em>Magic</em> makes perfect sense.</p>
<p>As a “Timmy” <em>Magic </em>player, many of these Summons feel as if they were printed explicitly for me. A giant 9/9 flyer that can destroy permanents and then nukes your opponents as it dies? Yes, please! A 7/7 Giant 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 class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> with reach and trample that brings back all of your lands from the graveyard and then boosts another creature’s power and toughness equal to the number of lands you have? That works for me.</p>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em> is both a design and sales dynamo for <em>Wizards of the Coast</em>, and with cards like these amazing Summons, it’s no wonder that the set is already <em>Magic’s</em> best-selling release of all time. So today we're ranking the ten best Summon spells in the set.</p>
<p><em>Note: While I never delved too far into the Final Fantasy video games, I did play </em>FF8 <em>when it released (that opening cinematic blew my mind as a lad), and I nearly beat </em>FFX<em>, but was derailed by a crippling <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blitzball" href="#" target="_blank">Blitzball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> addiction – even without the <a href="https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-10-jecht-shot-location-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jecht shot</a>!</em></p>
<h3>10. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Ixion" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Ixion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>A 3/3 with first strike for three mana used to be a helluva deal… but those days are long gone. Now, this 3/3 first striker for three provides you with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiend Hunter" href="#" target="_blank">Fiend Hunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in its first chapter (exile another target creature while it’s on the battlefield). Already, that’s pretty sweet.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Ixion"></div></div>
<p>While it’s next two chapters – place a +1/+1 counter on two target creatures and gain two life – aren’t wildly powerful, they still provide you ample value for the low, low price of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<h3>9. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Magus Sisters" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Magus Sisters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>Sometimes the extreme power found across a wide variety of <em>Magic</em>’s most popular formats can get a bit tiresome. Sure, winning the game consistently by turn four is fun, but where’s the variety, the spice? This Summon grants something that many games of <em>Magic </em>sorely lack: randomness.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Magus Sisters"></div></div>
<p>Coming down as a hasty 5/5 for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> means you can deal some damage right away, but it’s the random options that can truly swing a game: putting three +1/+1 counters on target creature, putting a shield counter on target creature and gaining three life, or fighting another target creature a foe controls. As the sisters say: “Sorry, but your quest will be over here!”</p>
<h3>8. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Yojimbo" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Yojimbo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>A strong Summon as well as a great greeting for any of your friends named Jim, Yojimbo is a 5/5 with vigilance 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 class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> – already a good rate – from the <em>Final Fantasy Commander</em> precons.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Yojimbo"></div></div>
<p>Its first chapter provides a situational <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, its next two chapters provide a temporary <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to help thwart “go-wide” strategies, and its final chapter lets you net some Treasure tokens so long as at least one of your opponents has a creature with power four or greater.</p>
<h3>7. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Leviathan" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Leviathan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>As previously evinced, Summons seem perfectly positioned as go-to “Timmy/Tammy” cards. Any card that mentions the sea monster creature types of <em>Magic</em> – Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent – are always going to be attractive to players that love the biggest, baddest beaters around.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Leviathan"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Leviathan" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Leviathan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in particular, is extremely potent in such builds as it delivers a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whelming Wave" href="#" target="_blank">Whelming Wave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for its first chapter and then draws you a card whenever one of those creatures attacks (a trigger for each one, that is). To add to the fun, this card also works well in Merfolk strategies and has built-in protection thanks to having ward <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. What’s not to like?</p>
<h3>6. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Good King Mog XII" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Good King Mog XII</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>One of the finest additions that <em>Final Fantasy</em> has made to the world of <em>Magic </em>is the inclusion of Moogles as a playable creature type. These adorable little marshmallows are featured throughout the set, though they don’t have quite the support that Chocobos/Birds received upon release.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Good King Mog XII"></div></div>
<p>This five-mana Saga Moogle (a fun phrase to say) creates two 1/2 Moogle tokens with lifelink in its first chapter, then can duplicate any non-Saga token you control in its next two chapters. Its final chapter gives a Moogle “lord” payoff by tacking on two +1/+1 counters to all Moogles you control before it exits the battlefield. A strong Moogle payoff, and an extremely cute creature “lord.”</p>
<h3>5. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Brynhildr" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Brynhildr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>Of course, a Summon exists that looks like it will be a strong addition to the mono-red Aggro decks that have long been eminently attractive options in Standard. This 2/1 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 class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> provides an “impulse draw” that you can play for as long as the card has lore counters on it – so roughly three turns – for its first chapter. Early card advantage is eminently important for mono-red decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Brynhildr"></div></div>
<p>Then, for its final two chapters, the next creature spell you play gains haste – which can provide some stunning surprise attacks and delivers yet more ammo for mono-red strategies (or Jeskai Prowess strategies) to run roughshod over Standard for the foreseeable future.</p>
<h3>4. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Knights of Round" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Knights of Round</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>One of the rarest Summons in <em>Final Fantasy VII</em>, this eight-mana 3/3 with indestructible sticks around for four turns, producing a 2/2 white Knight creature (though not a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="White Knight" href="#" target="_blank">White Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) for each of its first four chapters.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Knights of Round"></div></div>
<p>Then, for its fifth chapter, it gives all of your other creatures a +2/+2 boost as well as the real kicker, indestructible counters – which stick around, making your entire team pretty tough to defeat. While the price point of this splashy 3/3 Saga Knight is high (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-6" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>), the payoff is well worth it.</p>
<h3>3. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>Now we’re getting to the good stuff. In the <em>Final Fantasy</em> games, Titan is found across a number of entries in the franchise as a strong, high damage-dealing bruiser. In <em>Magic</em>, that same logic applies, as this green powerhouse already comes in at an incredibly good rate: <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> for a 7/7 with both reach and trample – a strong creature in its own right.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Titan"></div></div>
<p>But when you tack on milling synergies in its first chapter, returning all lands from your graveyard to the battlefield in the second chapter and another target creature getting +X/+X equal to the number of lands you control in the final chapter, you’ve got the makings of a top-flight game-finisher and yet another example of Summons being playgrounds for the Timmys/Tammys of the world (like me).</p>
<h3>2. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Primal Odin" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Primal Odin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>Speaking of big, flashy Summons and cards that scream Timmy/Tammy, how does a creature with the text “Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game” sound?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Primal Odin"></div></div>
<p>While <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> is pretty steep for a 5/3 creature, when it enters, its first chapter destroys target creature a foe controls, its second chapter is the “your foe loses the game” one, which is obviously awesome, and the third chapter draws you two cards and forces all players to lose two life. Wouldn’t it be funny if your foe survived the second chapter and then fell to the third one?</p>
<h3>1. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>You could see where this was going. So far, most Summons have been massively high-powered, splashy, and downright fun cards that make a huge impact on the game both as soon as they’re cast as well as during each of their powerhouse chapters. No Summon card from <em>Final Fantasy</em> defines this quite like the 9/9 flyer for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-9" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Bahamut"></div></div>
<p>A tremendously powerful card with four strong chapters, this card can easily win the game for you on its own, especially in Commander if you’re running a dedicated colorless build that’s full of high-mana colorless bombs like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin, the Spirit Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin, the Spirit Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or Eldrazi Titans. Eminently flavorful and game-warping, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the ideal of what a Summon card should be in <em>Final Fantasy.</em></p>
<h2><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRXE3NNaiks&amp;pp=ygUMaSBzdW1tb24geW91" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I Summon You</a> Here to My Game</h2>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em> might end up being not just the highest-selling <em>Magic</em> set of all time, but also the most popular. Combining the <em>Final Fantasy</em> franchise with the original trading card game was always going to make this release a mega-hit. The fact that many of the cards within, such as Summons, are so well designed only adds to the set’s appeal and overall success.</p>
<p><strong>Read More:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/meld-ragnarok-with-fang-and-vanille-in-pauper-commander/">Meld Ragnarok With Fang and Vanille In Pauper Commander</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/20-best-zombie-cards-for-commander">20 Best Zombie Cards for Commander</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-through-the-ages-reprint-review/">Final Fantasy Through the Ages Reprint Review</a></li>
</ul>


The 10 Best Summon Cards in Final Fantasy

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rocco, Street Chef|mat|94" href="#" target="_blank">Rocco, Street Chef</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CJack+Hughes%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jack Hughes</a></em></p>
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<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?</p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza, aka Mark Carbonza, and I have no idea who this lil guy is, but I can't stop saying his name over and over and over again.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Papalymo Totolymo"></div></div>
<p><em>Papalymo Totolymo! Papalymo Totolymo! Papalymo Totolymo!!!</em></p>
<p>This week, why it's important to have a rule zero chat.</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
<hr />
<h2>SUBMISSION</h2>
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<p><em>Hi Mary Carbonara,</em></p>
<div><em>Got a story where I'm trying to determine whether I broke social rules or if someone spilled the salt shaker on his playmat.</em></div>
<div></div>
<div><em>I play mostly on Spelltable recently and found myself in a lobby titled "Bracket 3 Fun Decks". I pull out my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rocco, Street Chef" href="#" target="_blank">Rocco, Street Chef</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <a href="https://moxfield.com/decks/joLFwCA-8kOw_O2vQfGe5Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deck</a> before the other players take out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadpool, Trading Card" href="#" target="_blank">Deadpool, Trading Card</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar Markov" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar Markov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kambal, Consul of Allocation" href="#" target="_blank">Kambal, Consul of Allocation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There was not much of a pre-game discussion and "fun decks" is subjective, but a stax deck, a stax deck, and Eminence reads relatively powerful in my mind.</em></div>
<div><em><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadpool, Trading Card"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edgar Markov"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kambal, Consul of Allocation"></div></div></em></p>
</div>
<div></div>
<div><em>My Rocco deck has various win lines, but it does have two combo packages: one centered around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="All Will Be One" href="#" target="_blank">All Will Be One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Red Terror" href="#" target="_blank">The Red Terror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-type effects and the other around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rosie Cotton of South Lane" href="#" target="_blank">Rosie Cotton of South Lane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scurry Oak" href="#" target="_blank">Scurry Oak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. Notably, neither of these combos are two-card combos, it needs another piece to end the game, and I run a single tutor in the deck: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer" href="#" target="_blank">Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for flavor reasons (pun extremely intended). To me, this makes the combos fair game in a Bracket 3 game. But this was not discussed before mulligans.</em></div>
<div></div>
<div><em>The game starts off well enough. An early <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birds of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Birds of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives me a turn-two commander, and every player benefits from it on that turn rotation. By the next turn though, Deadpool comes out and turns off my Rocco, but gives everyone another impulse draw. A turn or so after that, I stick Rosie Cotton on the field and have my one and only tutor on an impulse draw with only a single turn to cast it. I do some quick maths, then move to my turn.</em></div>
<div></div>
<div><em>My draw for turn is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrin Took" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrin Took</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Given my mana situation, I am able to play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer" href="#" target="_blank">Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, tutor <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scurry Oak" href="#" target="_blank">Scurry Oak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the field, play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrin Took" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrin Took</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which starts the loop:</em></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scurry Oak" href="#" target="_blank">Scurry Oak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s evolve trigger puts a counter on it, making a Squirrel</em></li>
<li><em>The Squirrel triggers <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrin Took" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrin Took</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, making a Food</em></li>
<li><em>Each token triggers Rosie Cotton to put a counter on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scurry Oak" href="#" target="_blank">Scurry Oak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></em></li>
<li><em>Rinse and repeat</em></li>
</ul>
<div><em>I demonstrate the loop to the table, signaling points to interact, of which the table has none. Deadpool player asks rather assertively whether there is a "may" on any of the triggers. I begin to explain that no, but I can choose to put the counters elsewhere, but I get interrupted by him again before I can finish, asking the same question. I shorten my explanation and end the loop, ending with 69,420,000,000 Foods and Squirrels. I demonstrate drawing most of my deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrin Took" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrin Took</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a rather clear line in mind.</em></div>
<div><em> </em></div>
<div><em>Before I can make a play though, the Deadpool player again interrupts saying "Okay I scoop. I'm not about to wait here for ten minutes while you figure out what your lines are." Before I can reply, he alt+F4s, as does the Edgar player. Kambal sticks it out while I ramp out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Night of the Sweets&#039; Revenge" href="#" target="_blank">Night of the Sweets&#039; Revenge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, buff my board and swing out. </em></div>
</div>
<div><em> </em></div>
<div><em>The rage quitting here is what has me questioning my Bolas status. I can't determine whether the reaction was due to losing, or an unexpected combo, or because he really thought I would take too long to round out the game. So my question is: Am I the Bolas for playing a three-card combo in Bracket 3 without discussing it beforehand? And do the decks I'm playing against justify me playing more cutthroat than I might if I was against more "socially fun" decks? </em></div>
<div><em> </em></div>
<div><em>Thanks for your time, </em></div>
<div><em> </em></div>
<div><em>BluePaint</em></div>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scurry Oak"></div></div>
</div>
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<h2>VERDICT</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>I like this one so much I might bring it on the podcast this week.</p>
<p>For simplicity's sake, <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/commander-brackets-beta-update-april-22-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here's the most recent bracket breakdown</a> we got in April 2025 from Gavin.</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tHg5ycJPfJ.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-155774 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tHg5ycJPfJ-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="649" height="366" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tHg5ycJPfJ-300x169.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tHg5ycJPfJ-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tHg5ycJPfJ-768x432.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tHg5ycJPfJ-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tHg5ycJPfJ.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px" /></a></p>
<p>Bracket 3 states that it's the Upgraded bracket with the following expectation:</p>
<p><em>"Decks are thoughtfully designed, full of synergistic or strong cards. Games could end out of nowhere with powerful spells and late-game combos." </em>It forbids mass land denial and chaining extra turns while allowing specifically <em>late-game</em> two-card infinite combos. Notably, the stipulation of "few tutors" disappears in Bracket 3, which we assume means that tutors are good to go in the bracket as long as they aren't Game Changers that surpass the amount you're allowed to have to remain in this bracket. Up to three Game Changers are allowed, but this isn't important here.</p>
<p>Suffice it to say, there's an expectation that you'll be playing with <em>some</em> power and you can expect some games to end abruptly if a deck gets there. If you label games as Bracket 3, these are the things we've come to agree upon. If there's anything that you disagree with in the Bracket 3 breakdown, it should be mentioned in a rule zero discussion. While I don't like tutors for myself, I don't impose that rule on others, so I don't bring it up. However, two-card infinite combos are a bummer no matter when the game comes together. At least three pieces and even then, I'd rather die to a seven-piece combo I've never seen before - and that's just a takeout order! BADUM TSS!</p>
<p>I can see where the others are coming from in the sense that the tutor got the final piece to a combo that essentially wins you the game, but that doesn't take into account the fact that you had to draw <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrin Took" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrin Took</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, too. This is now a three-card combo that allows you to draw into a win pretty effectively. There are interaction points, but I'll forgive Bracket 3 for not packing the instant-speed board wipe heat.</p>
<p>There's a bit of a "technically it's Bracket 3" thing happening here where, while it's not the late-game per se, considering the story might take place at turn four or five, it's not a <em>two</em>-card combo, it's a <em>three</em>-card combo. It's still in early stages of the game, but it meets the requirement of not being a <em>two</em>-card combo.</p>
<p>It still ended the game sooner than the others expected, but technically falls within Bracket 3. I think considering the information you had, plus, let's face it, a Kambal and Edgar are at the table along with a new commander that threatens to turn your own commander off, you played within the rules. The hesitance or reluctance to have a rule zero discussion is what led to this and should be a learning moment for the Edgar and Deadpool players. Have the conversation.</p>
<p>It's also totally fair to not want to play with someone who plays combos with so few pieces that go off so early. The way they went about it was dumb and sad, really. You'd figure the Deadpool player (who must've gotten it hot off the presses considering when this submission was made) would find a way to have a laugh about it. This is something to bring up in the rule zero conversation and if that's not been discussed then leaving abruptly, while well within your right, wouldn't make me want to play with you again either. The assumption that you didn't know what you were digging for after explaining the combo clearly is also bananas to me. Why wouldn't you stick around and hear someone out or say "okay, I scoop, but for the next one, how about no infinite combos until later in the game"? It seems so petty and (I've been trying to avoid this word) childish to storm off without hearing about what you're looking for and saying you expect a ten-minute wheel-spinning turn. I see somebody comboing out like that, I'll ask if they know what they're looking for and scoop when they say it's coming.</p>
<p>I think the other thing this highlights is that there's a yearning for the "my deck is a seven" crowd to find a space that lets them build at Bracket 3, but play at Bracket 2 - longer games with no abrupt endings, but they can still use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>You're not the Bolas. I will encourage you to speak up and insist on the rule zero chat and to bring up stuff like this in the future so everybody is clear. That said, this is within the bracket rules and seems like it would have been a hurdle game at worst at most tables - a game you have where you find out that maybe you're not all on the same page but now it's time to chat and get on the same page, pull out new decks and get another going.</p>
<p>Thanks again for writing in!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rocco, Street Chef|mat|94"></div></div>


Am I the Bolas? - Bracket 3 "Fun" Decks

Building an Artifact Deck With Golbez , Crystal Collector

The Emperor of Palamecia - Self-Mill Commander Deck Tech

Final Fantasy Through the Ages Reprint Review

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/b03di" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ignatius Budi</a></em></p>
<p>Well <em>Magic</em> players, it's time to introduce you all to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the biggest villains in <em>Final Fantasy VII.</em> For those of you that don’t know: Jenova, is an ancient Alien creature that's central to the plot of the story. It infects lifeforms like a virus, turning them into monsters, which is captured perfectly with this new card. Modifying a creature and then drawing cards when it dies is a powerful ability to build around.</p>
<p>So, join me, Tyler ‘Savesya’ Bucks, as I highlight 14 cards for under $14 that can get you started on a new deck! With this list, we'll look at a few creatures that are naturally Mutants, which makes it even easier to draw cards off of when they die, as well as show off some synergistic sacrifice outlets that will give you more control over when your creatures leave the board.</p>
<h2>What Does Jenova, Ancient Calamity Do?</h2>
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<p>Let’s kick things off by taking a look at the commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a four-mana 1/5 that hands out +1/+1 counter equal to their power to one of your creatures at the start of your combat. When that happens, that creature becomes a Mutant in addition to its other types.</p>
<p>But that’s not all. Whenever a Mutant you control dies during your turn, you draw cards equal to its power.</p>
<h2>Budget Mutant Cards for Jenova, Ancient Calamity</h2>
<p>Of course, throwing something like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yargle and Multani" href="#" target="_blank">Yargle and Multani</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into this deck would be great, but I wanted to first show off some creatures that are already Mutants.</p>
<h3>Rampaging Yao Guai</h3>
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<p>The first Mutant we’re showcasing today comes with some counters of its own, as well as removal stapled to it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampaging Yao Guai" href="#" target="_blank">Rampaging Yao Guai</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be strong in the early game as well as the late game, allowing you to clear the board of pesky artifacts and enchantments while getting you a big body on the board.</p>
<p>It's also a great blocker and attacker that you won’t care about dying during combat, since you’ll be drawing all those cards with your commander.</p>
<h3>Lily Bowen, Raging Grandma</h3>
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<p>Another card that comes with its own counters is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lily Bowen, Raging Grandma" href="#" target="_blank">Lily Bowen, Raging Grandma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Even though she already has a way to grow her counters, throwing an additional one on with Jenova could be beneficial, since it'll only grow your Granny faster.</p>
<p>Now all but one of those counters will go away once Lily gets more than sixteen of them, which just means you should be attacking as much as possible or looking for one of the sacrifice outlets we'll talk about later to cash her in when she's at her most powerful.</p>
<h3>Watchful Radstag</h3>
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<p>We'll be talking about a lot of big creatures on this list, but let’s take a look at a way to go a bit wider with our board. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Watchful Radstag" href="#" target="_blank">Watchful Radstag</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates a token of itself whenever it evolves, which means that as you simply play out your game plan, you could be getting a bigger board of Elk.</p>
<p>Since Jenova doesn’t care about how your Mutants die, you can recklessly use those tokens for attacking, all while drawing cards in the process.</p>
<h3>Lumbering Megasloth</h3>
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<p>If you already have plenty of counters building up on your board, well then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lumbering Megasloth" href="#" target="_blank">Lumbering Megasloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is here to come down for as little as two mana. It's naturally an 8/8, which is great for getting into the red zone, or just straight up sacrificing to draw an obscene number of cards.</p>
<p>Do yourself a favor and hold off on casting this Sloth until you’re ready to get full value out of it, because let’s be honest, 12 mana is just too high. Also, don’t overlook the fact that the mana reduction takes into account all counters on the board, not just yours.</p>
<h3>Ursine Monstrosity</h3>
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<p>Let's step away from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/pip" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Fall Out</em></a> Mutants for a second with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ursine Monstrosity" href="#" target="_blank">Ursine Monstrosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This creature has trample as well as a way to grow when you move to combat, milling you a card and then getting +1/+1 for each card type in your graveyard. Since it also gains indestructible, this will be a great target for the counters Jenova passes along, making it a constant threat on each of your turns for one random unlucky opponent.</p>
<p>As another bonus, since the Monstrosity only costs three mana, you can get it down the turn before your commander, and start the pain train as early as possible.</p>
<h3>Feral Ghoul</h3>
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<p>In this deck a lot of cards will be going to your graveyard, whether it's from milling or sacrificing; the latter of the two is something that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feral Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Feral Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves to see. Gaining +1/+1 counters whenever another creature you control dies means that you could get this down early, then continue your game plan of sacrificing bigger creatures to draw cards, all while the Ghoul gets bigger and bigger, setting you up to cash it in for value later in the game. Then you draw a bunch of cards and throw a whole lot of rad counters onto your opponents in the process.</p>
<h3>Evolution Witness</h3>
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<p>As I just mentioned, a lot of these value pieces we look at today will most likely end up in your bin - but that’s where <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes in. Whenever you add a counter to it, you’ll return a permanent from your graveyard to your hand, which makes for a great combo with your commander, since you can have a repeatable way to regrow something each turn if you need to build your board back.</p>
<h2>Budget Sacrifice Outlets for Jenova</h2>
<p>In this next section, we'll highlight some great sacrifice outlets, which always feel even better to run when you have more ways to bring your cards back, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>Wight of the Reliquary</h3>
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<p>Let's kick off this section on sacrifice outlets with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wight of the Reliquary" href="#" target="_blank">Wight of the Reliquary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not only is this a creature that grows in size, which Jenova would love to turn into a Mutant, but it also gives you the ability to grab any land from your deck.</p>
<p>If you’re drawing huge chunks of cards in this deck, the main thing that will hold you back is not having enough mana to cast those spells. Ramp like this that synergizes on multiple levels of your game plan makes it a slam dunk inclusion for this list.</p>
<h3>Illuminor Szeras</h3>
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<p>Up next we have the most expensive card on the list, but its worth it since it helps us with that mana problem I was just referring to. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illuminor Szeras" href="#" target="_blank">Illuminor Szeras</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can tap to sacrifice a creature, and gives you black mana equal to the creature’s mana value. Imagine using that ability with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lumbering Megasloth" href="#" target="_blank">Lumbering Megasloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we talked about earlier: drawing eight cards, and making twelve mana could just push you towards closing the game out faster than anyone is ready for.</p>
<h3>Flare of Cultivation</h3>
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<p>Keeping with the ramp theme, our next spell, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flare of Cultivation" href="#" target="_blank">Flare of Cultivation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can feed into everything you need and cost you zero mana in the process. As you cast it, you can sacrifice a nontoken green creature, which makes it free. This card is flexible since at its base, it’s just a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But when your game plan is humming, it can also refill your hand. Ramp and card draw for free sounds pretty nice to me!</p>
<h3>Cultist of the Absolute</h3>
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<p>Not many cards on this list help grow Jenova’s stats, which you do want since you put counters on something equal to its power, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultist of the Absolute" href="#" target="_blank">Cultist of the Absolute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was too good to pass up. Giving +3/+3, great keywords, and ward is amazing, but it's also a sacrifice outlet on your upkeep.</p>
<p>There's a chance that this card might put you in an awkward position where you don’t want to get rid of a member of your team, but if your commander gave four counters to a creature on your last turn, and then you cash it for cards, you'll likely be able to add a lot more fodder to the board from there.</p>
<h3>Deadly Brew</h3>
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<p>If you want your opponents to join in the fun of sacrificing their creatures, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Brew" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Brew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is here for you. Two mana to have each player get rid of a creature is a solid rate. When you add the fact that you want to be doing that with your creatures anyway, you’ll be sure to come out on top of this exchange. Plus, this sorcery allows you to then return something from your graveyard to your hand, which can help you get back a key piece you sacrificed earlier in the game for value.</p>
<h3>Daemogoth Titan</h3>
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<p>Alright, let’s not mess around anymore… <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daemogoth Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Daemogoth Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a four mana 11/10. When you move to combat, Jenova can give it a counter, turning the Titan into a Mutant. Then you either sacrifice it to one of the effects we’ve mentioned before, or just attack with it on your turn. It’s a lose-lose situation for your opponents, since its sacrifice ability allows you to target itself.</p>
<h3>The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride</h3>
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<p>Closing things out this week, we have a little bit of redundancy for your commander with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride" href="#" target="_blank">The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When I first saw Jenova, my mind immediately went to <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/otj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Thunder Junction’s</em></a> take on this Frog Horror, and they work perfectly together.</p>
<p>Here’s a little example: before combat, have that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daemogoth Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Daemogoth Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> saddle The Gitrog. Then move to combat and place a counter on the Titan turning it into a Mutant. Then, when The Gitrog deals damage to someone, you’ll sacrifice the Titan, which will draw you 12 cards with Gitrog, and then you can put up to twelve lands into play. Jenova will also trigger, drawing you another 12 cards… At that point, you’ll be so far ahead that the best hope your foes will have to take you out is that you draw yourself to death.</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>There you have it: 14 cards for under $14 to jump-start a new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. This list was a lot of fun to put together and allows you to have a lot of big splashy moments during a game, while still getting a little tricky with it at some points. Let me know in the comments below what cards you would add to this list so we can help our fellow players find more great cards!</p>
