<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giott, King of the Dwarves" href="#" target="_blank">Giott, King of the Dwarves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/johnthacker">John Thacker</a></h6>
<p>One of the more intriguing elements of Role-Playing Games such as <em>Final Fantasy</em> is the weapons, which offer endless amounts of customization of characters.</p>
<p>Some, such as the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buster Sword" href="#" target="_blank">Buster Sword</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are iconic and representative of not just the Zanbatou (horse-cleaver blades) of Edo Japan but also the characters who wield them.</p>
<p>Each set seems to bring new ways for creatures to do battle based on the setting of the plane, from the fantastic to the mundane.</p>
<p>Someone has to make these items, and the creature type most commonly associated with making and wielding is Dwarves, where Giott reigns King.</p>
<p>Dwarves go way back to the early days of <em>Magic</em>, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> uniting the type and bringing it not only into the public but all the way into cEDH!</p>
<p>While Magda is a decent Dwarf lord, she's more notable for using them to make Treasures and then using those Treasures to tutor for artifacts and Dragons. She can use Dwarves to create some powerful lines, but she’s not a “true” Dwarf commander. Giott, however, has earned the title of King of the Dwarves for a reason. And yes, “King of the Dwarves” includes Magda.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giott, King of the Dwarves"></div></div>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giott, King of the Dwarves" href="#" target="_blank">Giott, King of the Dwarves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p>Giott is a 1/1 with double strike for Boros mana. He comes out quickly and can either lead from the front or sit back and accrue card advantage passively by looting when he, another Dwarf, or an Equipment enter, notably not limited to once a turn despite being an uncommon.</p>
<p>The ability to perform attacking, blocking, and reconnaissance ably lend credence to his claim as king. The aggressive cost allows Giott to make effective use of the rummaging, sculpting the hand early and often while remaining reasonable to cast throughout the game, even as commander tax accrues.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Koll, the Forgemaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bruenor Battlehammer"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Koll, the Forgemaster" href="#" target="_blank">Koll, the Forgemaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bruenor Battlehammer" href="#" target="_blank">Bruenor Battlehammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both Dwarf commanders that care about Equipment and could lay a claim to being better Dwarf Equipment commanders than Giott. They, however, lean further into the Equipment part and just happen to be Dwarves.</p>
<p>Koll, in particular, is better with Equipment that enter equipped to tokens, such as those with living weapon. Bruenor, on the other hand, pumps equipped creatures and reduces the cost of equipping. Neither carry the Equipment well, however, so both are unable to lead from the front like Giott.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Depala, Pilot Exemplar" href="#" target="_blank">Depala, Pilot Exemplar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is able to lead from the front, and she even acts as a lord for Dwarves, but she focuses on Vehicles instead of Equipment. While there is space for a Dwarf Vehicle deck, especially one that uses Vehicles to tap creatures for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it would go against the traditional lore of Dwarves as mountainfolk and forgemasters, which is cool but less established.</p>
<p>Giott reigns king because of his aggressive cost and ability to play offense, defense, and card velocity engine. It’s rare to find all of these in an aggressively costed package, and even rarer in a kindred package, making Giott a hidden gem of the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set.</p>
<p>Dwarves occupy an odd space in the kindred world, as they want Equipment, but heavy Equipment decks tend to lean towards singularly powerful threats, such as the ones created in Voltron decks. Giott needs help to become that big, but the double strike accentuates every Equipment he racks up.</p>
<p>Since he’s not that big, however, Giott is just as happy to build up a weapons storehouse and suit up his brethren, taking up their arms only after they’ve fallen.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giott, King of the Dwarves" href="#" target="_blank">Giott, King of the Dwarves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Priest of Ancient Lore"></div></div>
<p>Giott is the rare case where he needs two different categories of cards to work together and form a cohesive offensive strategy.</p>
<p>Thankfully, his rummaging gives him the card velocity and selection needed to bridge the two. Dwarves and Equipment are also flexible enough that they can serve multiple roles.</p>
<p>For example, the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bruenor Battlehammer" href="#" target="_blank">Bruenor Battlehammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s cost reduction of equip abilities behaves as additional ramp and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Priest of Ancient Lore" href="#" target="_blank">Priest of Ancient Lore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Dwarf that gains life and draws a card when it enters, which helps increase the options for future rummaging.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bearded Axe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trailblazer&#039;s Boots"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maul of the Skyclaves"></div></div>
<p>Dwarves tend to have middling stats, with some being aggressively costed small creatures with relevant abilities, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reyav, Master Smith" href="#" target="_blank">Reyav, Master Smith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s 2/2 for two that gives double strike to attacking equipped creatures, and some being higher-costed and power-heavy, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bruenor Battlehammer" href="#" target="_blank">Bruenor Battlehammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s 5/3 for four mana.</p>
<p>As a result, our secondary synergy category consists of Equipment that increase power, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bearded Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Bearded Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, provide evasion, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trailblazer&#039;s Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Trailblazer&#039;s Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or combine the two, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maul of the Skyclaves" href="#" target="_blank">Maul of the Skyclaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can even auto-equip itself!</p>
<p>These pieces provide the punch needed to break through the inevitable board stalls that occur when small Boros creatures meet big green beasties.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prying Blade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beamtown Beatstick"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Diamond Pick-Axe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goldvein Pick"></div></div>
<p>One of the benefits of Equipment is that they have been featured so many times in so many sets and at so many rarities that they're flexible enough to perform a variety of tasks.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prying Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Prying Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beamtown Beatstick" href="#" target="_blank">Beamtown Beatstick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diamond Pick-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Diamond Pick-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goldvein Pick" href="#" target="_blank">Goldvein Pick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all functional reprints, each of which makes Treasure tokens when the creature connects, which doubles when the creature has double strike, such as Giott’s natural combat ability and Reyav’s universal ability.</p>
<p>These double triggers help to power out the deck’s more explosive turns: as any combo player can attest, a steady stream of mana and cards are the bread and butter, with payoff cards as the meat!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infiltration Lens"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glimmer Lens"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mask of Memory"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of functional reprints that trigger on combat, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Infiltration Lens" href="#" target="_blank">Infiltration Lens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glimmer Lens" href="#" target="_blank">Glimmer Lens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mask of Memory" href="#" target="_blank">Mask of Memory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all draw or loot with similar timing.</p>
<p>That may seem a bit excessive, given our commander’s ability to rummage, and this is where the deck’s customization can come in. In an unknown playgroup (which is what I build these decks for), I tend to lean towards less interaction, a lower power level, and a more linear strategy.</p>
<p>I also like to plan for the commander to be unavailable, due to excessive commander tax, oppressive static abilities, or other adverse situations.</p>
<p>As a result, a small draw dedicated draw package helps the deck draw through land pockets, fix mana, and find action, although these ten cards could be cut in favor of removal, interaction, or even a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunforger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Citizen&#039;s Crowbar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dispatch"></div></div>
<p>Removal, interaction, or a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package would make the deck more skill-intensive and more custom to a given playgroup, which is why the current incarnation eschews them.</p>
<p>There are some Equipment that can double as removal, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Citizen&#039;s Crowbar" href="#" target="_blank">Citizen&#039;s Crowbar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which would maintain the deck’s ratio while sneaking in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naturalize" href="#" target="_blank">Naturalize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Interaction such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dispatch" href="#" target="_blank">Dispatch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can deal with the large creatures that can brick wall our smaller Dwarves, and can even slot into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package.</p>
<p>The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package would consist of the titular card plus nine instants to tutor up. The ability to tutor up those nine cards is a powerful one, but it makes decisions difficult, including our rummaging, as we don’t want to draw the tutorable cards and we risk reducing the amount of live targets it can find.</p>
<h2>How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giott, King of the Dwarves" href="#" target="_blank">Giott, King of the Dwarves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>This Giott deck looks to flood the board with Equipment and Dwarves and then punch through damage. It's very much an aggro-combo deck looking to attack early and often while opponents are setting up.</p>
<p>Our curve is relatively low, and we can easily cast multiple spells in the same turn. Equip costs, multi-spelling, and commander tax all provide reasons to run extra lands.</p>
<h2>Giott, King of the Dwarves Commander Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Giott, King of the Dwarves Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Giott, King of the Dwarves
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aerial Responder
*1 Axgard Cavalry
*1 Bruenor Battlehammer
*1 Digsite Engineer
*1 Duergar Hedge-Mage
*1 Dwarven Bloodboiler
*1 Dwarven Castle Guard
*1 Dwarven Recruiter
*1 Fairgrounds Warden
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Glóin, Dwarf Emissary
*1 Hammers of Moradin
*1 Hofri Ghostforge
*1 Insufferable Balladeer
*1 Koll, the Forgemaster
*1 Magda, Brazen Outlaw
*1 Plundering Barbarian
*1 Priest of Ancient Lore
*1 Restoration Specialist
*1 Reyav, Master Smith
*1 Sram, Senior Edificer
*1 Tataru Taru
*1 Toolcraft Exemplar
*1 Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
*1 Warchanter Skald
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Basilisk Collar
*1 Beamtown Beatstick
*1 Bearded Axe
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Buster Sword
*1 Celestial Armor
*1 Colossus Hammer
*1 Conjurer&#039;s Mantle
*1 Diamond Pick-Axe
*1 Dwarven Hammer
*1 Gimli&#039;s Axe
*1 Glimmer Lens
*1 Goldvein Pick
*1 Hammer of Nazahn
*1 Heirloom Blade
*1 Hoard Hauler
*1 Infiltration Lens
*1 Leyline Axe
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Maul of the Skyclaves
*1 Paradise Mantle
*1 Prying Blade
*1 Rogue&#039;s Gloves
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 The Reaver Cleaver
*1 Trailblazer&#039;s Boots
*1 Two-Handed Axe // Sweeping Cleave
*1 Zephyr Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Open the Armory
*1 Steelshaper&#039;s Gift
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*20 Mountain
*20 Plains
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This is an aggressive kindred deck, aiming to attack early and often. We don’t need much setup; we want to attack opponents while they are setting up.</p>
<p>We have some ways to punch through damage and break board stalls, as well as to rummage through our library using our commander’s passive ability.</p>
<p>How would you use those final slots? Would you want extra velocity, removal, interaction, or a Sunforger package?</p>


Giott, King of the Dwarves Deck Tech

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barret, Avalanche Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Barret, Avalanche Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/janaschirmer">Jana Shirmer</a> and <a href="https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-mathias-verhasselt/">Matthias Verhasselt</a></h6>
<p>Hi there, and welcome to part three of building around interesting new commanders from <em>Final Fantasy</em>! Just like last time, we're here to...</p>
<ul>
<li>Highlight interesting gameplan(s) for a <em>Final Fantasy</em> commander</li>
<li>Build a budget-friendly (~$40) "Core" power level deck following these plans</li>
<li>Work through important card categories and discuss notable inclusions</li>
<li>Include a decklist and a deck checklist</li>
<li>Go through mid-budget upgrades (&lt;=$20 per card) as options to invest more into this strategy.</li>
</ul>
<p>For this week, let's take a look chosen <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barret, Avalanche Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Barret, Avalanche Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He's quite a character, described as an <a href="https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Barret_Wallace">eco-terrorist with a grudge, equipped with a gun-arm for long range attacks</a> (I guess that's why he has reach!).</p>
<p>Barret offers a classic "Equipment matters" strategy usually reserved for Boros commanders, but in Gruul colors instead.</p>
<h2>What does Barret, Avalanche Leader Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barret, Avalanche Leader"></div></div>
<p>Beyond the reach made possible by his modified arm-that's-now-a-gun, Barret has two main abilities.</p>
<p>First, whenever an Equipment we control enters, it comes with a 2/2 red Rebel friend. Second, we get a free equip to a Rebel each turn when moving to combat.</p>
<h2>The Gameplan(s)</h2>
<p>With these abilities in mind, let's think about what kind of Equipment to build around. Barret's first ability incentivizes us to prioritize low-mana value Equipment, while his second ability works best when making high equip costs free instead.</p>
<p><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=id%3C%3Drg+legal%3Acommander+usd%3C2+t%3Aequipment+cmc%3C3+%28fo%3A%22equip+%7B4%7D%22+or+fo%3A%22equip+%7B5%7D%22+or+fo%3A%22equip+%7B6%7D%22+or+fo%3A%22equip+%7B7%7D%22+or+fo%3A%22equip+%7B8%7D%22+or+fo%3A%22equip+%7B9%7D%22+or+fo%3A%22equip+%7B10%7D%22%29&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=cmc&amp;dir=asc">Here's</a> what I searched to find budget-friendly Equipment around 2 mana value and 4 equip cost. As you may have already guessed, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossus Hammer" href="#" target="_blank">Colossus Hammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the poster child for this kind of Equipment.</p>
<p>We'll combine this low-cost, high-equip core with other Equipment-matters cards, artifact/token-centric mana production, and thematic disruption and card advantage.</p>
<p>Put it all together and we'll overrun opponents with a Rebel army wielding all sorts of exciting weaponry!</p>
<h2>The Equipment</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Greataxe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ogre&#039;s Cleaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrecking Ball Arm"></div></div>
<p>As mentioned above, low-mana value, high-equip cost Equipment are exactly what this deck is all about, whether it's cheap/free ways to create more Rebels like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Accorder&#039;s Shield" href="#" target="_blank">Accorder&#039;s Shield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodforged Battle-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodforged Battle-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, disruptive Equipment like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chainsaw" href="#" target="_blank">Chainsaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rock" href="#" target="_blank">Rock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> tokens, ramp from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diamond Pick-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Diamond Pick-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goldvein Pick" href="#" target="_blank">Goldvein Pick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or having a keyword bonanza with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loxodon Warhammer" href="#" target="_blank">Loxodon Warhammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Vengeance" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Vengeance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>A deck focused on Equipment often struggles with two issues:</p>
<ol>
<li>What happens if we have all Equipment and nothing to attach it to?</li>
<li>When the game state changes, how can we both spend mana moving Equipment around and still be able to cast new cards?</li>
</ol>
<p>Fortunately, Barret solves both of these problems for us at once!</p>
<div>
<h2>Equipment Matter</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firion, Wild Rose Warrior"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oxidda Finisher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rebel Salvo"></div></div>
<p>Having a high Equipment density opens us up to these possibilities:</p>
<ul>
<li>Doubling up on our commander's token-making ability with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chishiro, the Shattered Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Chishiro, the Shattered Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>Reattaching Equipment for free or cheap with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blacksmith&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Blacksmith&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhuk, Hexgold Nabber" href="#" target="_blank">Rhuk, Hexgold Nabber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goldwardens&#039; Gambit" href="#" target="_blank">Goldwardens&#039; Gambit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (note the built-in Rebel synergies!)</li>
<li>Dealing tons of direct damage to our opponents with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Judgment Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Judgment Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or another version of our commander's character – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barret Wallace" href="#" target="_blank">Barret Wallace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Quick aside... you know when you are teaching a new player <em>Magic </em>and they inevitably tap their Equipment when they attack and you kind of let it slide because it doesn't really matter... but you let them know it <em>technically </em>could matter at some point?</p>
<p>Well, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meria, Scholar of Antiquity" href="#" target="_blank">Meria, Scholar of Antiquity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghirapur Aether Grid" href="#" target="_blank">Ghirapur Aether Grid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bottle-Cap Blast" href="#" target="_blank">Bottle-Cap Blast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> showcase this intricacy very well, allowing us to get extra value out of our Equipment beyond powering up our creatures.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Equipment Token Shenanigans</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bludgeon Brawl"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golem-Skin Gauntlets|MRD|181"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stangg, Echo Warrior"></div></div>
<p>This is where things get a little wild. Importantly, Barret (and Chishiro!) care about Equipment <em>entering</em>, not being cast. This mean that cards like <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gemcutter Buccaneer" href="#" target="_blank">Gemcutter Buccaneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <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> combine with our commander to supplement each <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure|TFIN|23" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and often other noncreature artifacts) we create with a 2/2 Rebel.</p>
<p><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> in particular is also amazing at turning artifact tokens into a bunch of "Equipment" with Equip <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-0" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, leading to fun interactions with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion of the Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Champion of the Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valduk, Keeper of the Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Valduk, Keeper of the Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golem-Skin Gauntlets" href="#" target="_blank">Golem-Skin Gauntlets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Throw <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prosperous Bandit" href="#" target="_blank">Prosperous Bandit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stangg, Echo Warrior" href="#" target="_blank">Stangg, Echo Warrior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into the mix, and things start to get really out of hand!</p>
<h2>Mass Disruption</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Keen-Eyed Curator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm the Citadel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Decimate"></div></div>
<p>This color combo isn't exactly <span class="mana-container-container"><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-u" 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> control when it comes to the ability for mass removal and disruption (quite the opposite, in fact!).</p>
<p>With that being said, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Confluence" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Confluence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burn Down the House" href="#" target="_blank">Burn Down the House</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are flexible removal, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keen-Eyed Curator" href="#" target="_blank">Keen-Eyed Curator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> represents graveyard disruption that is great at wearing Equipment, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Decimate" href="#" target="_blank">Decimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an old-school classic, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm the Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Storm the Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ties in great with our "go-wide" subtheme.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Barret, Avalanche Leader" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Barret, Avalanche Leader
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Accorder&#039;s Shield
*1 Adaptive Omnitool
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Chainsaw
*1 Colossus Hammer
*1 Diamond Pick-Axe
*1 Dragonwing Glider
*1 Goldvein Pick
*1 Golem-Skin Gauntlets
*1 Greataxe
*1 Hexgold Halberd
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Loxodon Warhammer
*1 Masterwork of Ingenuity
*1 Stoneforge Masterwork
*1 Ogre&#039;s Cleaver
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of Vengeance
*1 Talisman of Impulse
*1 The Irencrag
*1 Wrecking Ball Arm
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Ace, Fearless Rebel
*1 Barret Wallace
*1 Chameleon Colossus
*1 Champion of the Flame
*1 Chishiro, the Shattered Blade
*1 Dan Lewis
*1 Firion, Wild Rose Warrior
*1 Gemcutter Buccaneer
*1 Glóin, Dwarf Emissary
*1 Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
*1 Keen-Eyed Curator
*1 Meria, Scholar of Antiquity
*1 Mister Gutsy
*1 Owlbear Shepherd
*1 Oxidda Finisher
*1 Professor Hojo
*1 Prosperous Bandit
*1 Quicksmith Genius
*1 Reckless Fireweaver
*1 Red XIII, Proud Warrior
*1 Rhuk, Hexgold Nabber
*1 Rose Room Treasurer
*1 Stangg, Echo Warrior
*1 Taurean Mauler
*1 Toggo, Goblin Weaponsmith
*1 Valduk, Keeper of the Flame
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Blacksmith&#039;s Talent
*1 Bludgeon Brawl
*1 Ghirapur Aether Grid
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Bottle-Cap Blast
*1 Judgment Bolt
*1 Rebel Salvo
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Burn Down the House
*1 Decimate
*1 Fiery Confluence
*1 Goldwardens&#039; Gambit
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Storm the Citadel
*1 Stump Stomp // Burnwillow Clearing
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*7 Forest
*1 Karplusan Forest
*1 Kessig Wolf Run
*1 Lindblum, Industrial Regency // Mage Siege
*1 Mines of Moria
*1 Mosswort Bridge
*13 Mountain
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Raging Ravine
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Slagwoods Bridge
*1 Spinerock Knoll
*1 Treasure Vault
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Deck Checklist</h2>
<ul>
<li>49 mana sources (36 lands, 6 Treasure-based ramp, 4 mana rocks, 2 misc., 1 MDFC)</li>
<li>36 cards that are, create, or care about Equipment</li>
<li>11 card draw/selection/recursion</li>
<li>8 targeted disruption</li>
<li>7 mass disruption</li>
</ul>
<h2>Mid-Budget Upgrades</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Reaver Cleaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Belt of Giant Strength"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silkguard"></div></div>
<p>There are a <em>lot </em>of on-theme Equipment and related cards that can improve this deck, while still staying below a $20 price tag for each.</p>
<p>If you're interesting in improving your ramp that synergizes with Barret, try:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama of the West Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama of the West Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradise Mantle" href="#" target="_blank">Paradise Mantle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dowsing Dagger" href="#" target="_blank">Dowsing Dagger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Reaver Cleaver" href="#" target="_blank">The Reaver Cleaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (another card to supplement the "Equipment token" strategy mentioned above!)</li>
</ul>
<p>If you want to focus on Equipment that improves your card advantage/token creation, try:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blade of Selves" href="#" target="_blank">Blade of Selves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><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></li>
</ul>
<p>If you are interested in raw power, try:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Belt of Giant Strength" href="#" target="_blank">Belt of Giant Strength</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (note: Barret's attach ability means you can put this on any Rebel!)</li>
</ul>
<p>To improve your disruption and protection suite, try:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vandalblast" href="#" target="_blank">Vandalblast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Untimely Malfunction" href="#" target="_blank">Untimely Malfunction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silkguard" href="#" target="_blank">Silkguard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conqueror&#039;s Flail" href="#" target="_blank">Conqueror&#039;s Flail</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenge the Stats</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Konda&#039;s Banner"></div></div>
<p>I don't see this card on Barret's page yet (disclaimer: there are only about 140 decks logged so far, so a very small sample size).</p>
<p>With that being said, this is my early "Challenge the Stats" pick, pumping all Rebel tokens by +2/+2 when attached to Barret.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>So there you have it, a low-budget Core deck inspired by one of the many new commanders from <em>Final Fantasy</em>.</p>
<p>Can you see any other cards that fit well into this strategy? Sound off in the comments below! Thanks for reading, and see you next time when <em>Edge of Eternities </em>previews begin.</p>
</div>


Building a Barret, Avalanche Leader Commander Deck

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Amy Rose" href="#" target="_blank">Amy Rose</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Ary by <a href="https://evanstanleyportfolio.com/">Evan Stanley</a></h6>
<h1>We're All Excited About the New Sonic the Hedgehog Secret Lair, But...</h1>
<p>How playable are these new cards? Do they stand out? One that I'm particularly interested in is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Amy Rose" href="#" target="_blank">Amy Rose</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Is she going to stack up to the Boros Voltron decks of the past few years?</p>
<h2>The Stats</h2>
<p>Before we can assess anything, we have to check out Amy's stats. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Amy Rose" href="#" target="_blank">Amy Rose</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" 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> Hedgehog Warrior. She's a 3/3 with haste and reads "Whenever Amy Rose attacks, attach up to one target Equipment to her. Then up to one other attacking creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is Amy Rose's power."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Amy Rose"></div></div>
<p>Initially, I read her and wondered why they focused heavily on Equipments. Most Voltron commanders usually have the option to dabble with Auras and Equipments, and for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain" href="#" target="_blank">Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, +1/+1 counters. Voltron strategies are usually glass cannons.</p>
<p>Typically, Voltron encourages an all-in mentality about damage. What I like here is that it encourages multiple creatures on the board, trying trigger her attacks more than once, to make a more divisible attack. I don't know if stacks up, though. We'll see...</p>
<h2>The Equipment</h2>
<p>I think Amy wants us to <strong>cheat</strong>. We want low-cost Equipment with outrageous equip costs that we can circumvent with her ability. We <em>definitely</em> want a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossus Hammer" href="#" target="_blank">Colossus Hammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Play the Hammer on turn one and try to swing with Amy Rose on turn four for 13 damage, and maybe 13 on a small creature body like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Seems good, high damage is always the goal!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Colossus Hammer"></div></div>
<p>Equipment like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blackblade Reforged" href="#" target="_blank">Blackblade Reforged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrecking Ball Arm" href="#" target="_blank">Wrecking Ball Arm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are perfect because they put out a ton of damage for low casting cost, which becomes a free equip on Amy. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nettlecyst" href="#" target="_blank">Nettlecyst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will compound with value as you push out more low cost artifacts for more damage.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be possible as well, later on, with the reduction of all the small Equipment, but maybe not. It's worth thinking about because it grants vigilance which Amy will need to adequately defend herself with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blackblade Reforged"></div></div>
<h2>High-Value Creatures for a Low Cost</h2>
<p>It's going to be pivotal to get a lot of low-cost, value-engine creatures. We want creatures that'll survive after your opponents try to remove Amy. Resilience is the key that's often lost in Voltron strategies. The commander isn't everything.</p>
<p>I'm thinking card draw and interaction are going to be a big problem. They usually are a problem in Boros, Voltron, and combat-heavy decks. For card draw, we'll need to run something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sram, Senior Edificer" href="#" target="_blank">Sram, Senior Edificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Cast a low-cost Equipment and refill your hand with another card.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sram, Senior Edificer"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Puresteel Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Puresteel Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another option for card draw. Every Equipment entering will trigger a draw. Additionally, it's low cost and could be a target for buffing from Amy. Be careful though, because Amy only provides power. Opportune blocks could kill your value engine.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Danitha Capashen, Paragon" href="#" target="_blank">Danitha Capashen, Paragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is keyword soup which is perfect for Voltron. She also discounts the cost for Equipment, saving some mana for protection spells.</p>
<p>She's also low cost, so you can anticipate getting her out earlier than Amy and then choosing her as a target for buffing. First strike makes her power more relevant because she likely can be buffed and survive the lack of toughness added by Amy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Danitha Capashen, Paragon"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist" href="#" target="_blank">Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another good target because he can attach multiple Equipment onto Amy or himself. It allows for a two-pronged attack.</p>
<p>Ardenn could buff himself with some Equipment, then Amy could take the last biggest artifact, forcing out two great attacks. He's low cost, too, so he's right on curve for a turn-four Amy with haste.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stoneforge Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Stoneforge Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is so important for searching for the value Equipment you might need early game for the strongest lead. This gets the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossus Hammer" href="#" target="_blank">Colossus Hammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> next turn. It's also low cost like all the creatures mentioned before which are great for early game damage output.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is pretty great here too because of the passive card draw. It's a low cost, turn-one play that provides a decent amount of card advantage. That can get in for damage if coupled with Amy effectively.</p>
<h2>Protection</h2>
<p>One the biggest struggles here is going to be removal. Your opponents will probably wait until you attempt to enter combat to nuke Amy. I think the best way to survive this would be running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swiftfoot Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Swiftfoot Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They synergize with the deck's Equipment theme and can easily protect.</p>
<p>Boots and Greaves are consistent and telegraphed. However, I find protection is better when it comes out of nowhere. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s un-equip ability allows you to tutor for a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boros Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Boros Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flawless Maneuver" href="#" target="_blank">Flawless Maneuver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also an Equipment.</p>
<p>Another really sneaky protection spell is <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> because you can convoke to pay for it and phase out your board from destruction or exile effects like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Galadriel&#039;s Dismissal" href="#" target="_blank">Galadriel&#039;s Dismissal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is similar. It also works offensively to phase out your opponent's board for free swings.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunforger"></div></div>
<p>The standard <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn&#039;s Truce" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn&#039;s Truce</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loran&#039;s Escape" href="#" target="_blank">Loran&#039;s Escape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surge of Salvation" href="#" target="_blank">Surge of Salvation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are good here too because they're low cost protection spells you can cast out of nowhere. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mithril Coat" href="#" target="_blank">Mithril Coat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a similar.</p>
<p>Most removal will come in the form of destruction rather than exile so <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mithril Coat" href="#" target="_blank">Mithril Coat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be an Equipment you can use like an instant-speed protection spell.</p>
<p>Lastly, I think just forcing people not to be able to interact on your turn might be best. Something like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Abolisher" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Abolisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voice of Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Voice of Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great ways to ensure your combat shenanigans go unhindered.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dawn&#039;s Truce"></div></div>
<h2>Increased Damage</h2>
<p>This deck strikes me as the kind that will like to win as fast as possible. We'll likely not be able to fight against slow, consistent engines. We'll have to burst in with damage and eliminate players before they can find the removal or interaction to stop us. How will we manage that?</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good way. If we can stack Amy with a ton of damage we can deal that to other players if she connects. In the early game this can be very relevant.</p>
<p>Additional ways to make Amy hit harder, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Duelist&#039;s Heritage" href="#" target="_blank">Duelist&#039;s Heritage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, might get us there early as well. Alongside Kediss, this could be a huge lead early.</p>
<p>Anything that gives double strike will likely need to be included, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold" href="#" target="_blank">Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Halvar, God of Battle // Sword of the Realms" href="#" target="_blank">Halvar, God of Battle // Sword of the Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar"></div></div>
<p>Later on in the game, things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="City on Fire" href="#" target="_blank">City on Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Emancipation" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Emancipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be viable to triple the damage Amy and friends can deal; it could be game-ending. Speaking of game-ending, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Full Throttle" href="#" target="_blank">Full Throttle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could be a very viable win con.</p>
<p>Three combats, three Amy triggers, three damage steps. Anything that gives multiple combats could work. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Full Throttle" href="#" target="_blank">Full Throttle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very pricey, mana-wise, but it could end the game for someone. <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> is another win con. It's just a crazy card. No notes.</p>
<h2>Ramp and Draw</h2>
<p>Some of the biggest struggles Boros has is land ramp. We have to push artifact ramp and hit our land drops every turn. We'll need tons of mana eventually.</p>
<p>I'd run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thran Dynamo" href="#" target="_blank">Thran Dynamo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talisman of Conviction" href="#" target="_blank">Talisman of Conviction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We need to increase the number of artifacts we have on board while increasing our mana.</p>
<p>Another potential hot take: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspiring Statuary" href="#" target="_blank">Inspiring Statuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Big spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Emancipation" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Emancipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Full Throttle" href="#" target="_blank">Full Throttle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, could be paid for with the artifacts in play. It wouldn't help cast any of our Equipment, but it's a good way to ramp. A <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Land Tax" href="#" target="_blank">Land Tax</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> wouldn't hurt either to hit your land drops.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Full Throttle"></div></div>
<p>Obviously, if we can run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for additional ramp on lands on damage, we should. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armored Skyhunter" href="#" target="_blank">Armored Skyhunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also provides saved mana on Equipment and is kind of card advantage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mask of Memory" href="#" target="_blank">Mask of Memory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also draws cards.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>I've always had chip on my shoulder when I think about Voltron decks. It's usually an all-in strategy, low creature, high protection deck. I worry that it loses to too many other archetypes.</p>
<p>Wide strategies and combo seems to find a way to win against it. Without a way to give your creature vigilance, it's hard to protect yourself when you attack. It's a glass canon, shields-down strategy. I was hoping that Amy would be different.</p>
<p>In some ways she is. Spreading out the damage at least solves the problem of going all-in on one player at a time. She also free equips and can attack the turn she comes in, but it encourages attacking and zero blocking.</p>
<p>I worry about the crack back. Dealing high amounts of damage to one player simply rallies players against you when you often can't protect yourself against multiple different attacks. But maybe I'm playing Voltron wrong.</p>
<p>I like that in this deck it encourages you to have a board state with other creatures. It still is shields down but at least it gives your choices. I'm not sure it's much different from most Boros Voltron decks.</p>
<p>I would even suggest that it might detract from the central strategy that makes Voltron viable? I'm not sure. I'm conflicted as usual. Let me hear your thoughts. Is this viable? I'm @strixhavendropout on BlueSky.</p>


How is Amy Different From Every Other Boros Voltron Deck?

Cloud, Midgar Mercenary Deck Tech

Ranking the Job Select Equipment Cards From Final Fantasy

<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

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Battle-Ready" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Battle-Ready</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/fajareka">Fajareka Setiawan</a></h6>
<h1>Entering the Smithy</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to another edition of <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>, where we take those <em>Universes Beyond </em>cards, and make decks with them (and them alone, mind!).</p>
<p>Today, we take a look at an infamous color pair with an infamous theme. If you guessed Equipment, you're correct. If you also guessed Bore-os...I mean Boros, that's right, too. We're looking into Boros Equipment this week.</p>
<p>Now, last week, I mentioned I had a surprise for you: We have two decks this time around, and there's a story behind that. I'll explain that later but, for now, let's get acquainted with the first of the two commanders, shall we?</p>
<h1>Armed for Battle</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eivor, Battle-Ready"></div></div>
<p>Eivor hails from the <em>Assassin's Creed</em> franchise, where the Assassins fight the Templars to keep them from acquiring powerful artifacts known as the Pieces of Eden to rule the world.</p>
<p>As for our commander herself, she's a Viking Shieldsmaiden (and a reincarnation of Odin) from Norway who partook in the Viking raids in what is now the UK during the 10th century C.E. Meanwhile, she also worked to take down the Templars's predecessors, the Order of the Ancients.</p>
<p>As for her card, you want to drop as much Equipment as you can, so she can deal some big damage with her attack trigger. In addition, it's also convenient that she has both vigilance and haste, so she can attack right away without leaving you open for a crackback.</p>
<p>However, like I said in the beginning, we have two decks to show off today. Consequently, I'm going to do things a little differently. So, we begin with list #1.</p>
<h1>The First Weapon</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Battle-Hardened" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Eivor, Battle-Ready
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*10 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*10 Plains
*1 Rustvale Bridge
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Wind-Scarred Crag
[/Lands]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Champion&#039;s Helm
*1 Commander&#039;s Plate
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Explorer&#039;s Scope
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Haystack
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Hidden Footblade
*1 Hookblade
*1 Junk Jet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Pip-Boy 3000
*1 Raven Clan War-Axe
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Silver Shroud Costume
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Armory Paladin
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Brotherhood Outcast
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Chaos Terminator Lord
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Humble Defector
*1 Jenny, Generated Anomaly
*1 Mister Gutsy
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Farewell
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Taunt from the Rampart
*1 Wake the Past
*1 What Must Be Done
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Battlefield Improvisation
*1 Bottle-Cap Blast
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Dispatch
*1 Flawless Maneuver
*1 Inventory Management
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Valorous Stance
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Forge Anew
*1 Wild Wasteland
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h1>Claiming the Treasure</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brotherhood Regalia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodforged Battle-Axe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inventory Management"></div></div>
<p>One thing before I go over the list. The second commander's in there somewhere, can you guess it without scrolling to the end?</p>
<p>This list comes with a number of cheap Equipment that'll help make Eivor a threat in more ways than one. At its heart (and it's also true with the second list), this is a Voltron list, where you bludgeon your opponents with commander damage to eliminate them. We have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodforged Battle-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodforged Battle-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (56,587 decks) that will only amass a lot of copies of itself with time. In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Regalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (76,160 decks) gives Eivor protection and evasion, so she can get through. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commander&#039;s Plate" href="#" target="_blank">Commander&#039;s Plate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion&#039;s Helm" href="#" target="_blank">Champion&#039;s Helm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (133,180 and 62,128 decks respectively) both give her protection (as she's going to be a removal magnet), and a buff to make her more lethal.</p>
<p>Moreover, we have Eivor's signature weapon(s) in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raven Clan War-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Raven Clan War-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (2,959 decks), which gives her a coveted keyword in trample. Further, if you cast it while Eivor's in your graveyard, you can get her back to your hand and save on the commander tax. We also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Totec's Spear; 191,168 decks) that provides even better utility, and give trample at the same time.</p>
<p>Likewise, we have non-Equipment that also help Eivor with her mission. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (75,754 decks) renders her indestructible alongside giving her a small buff. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Terminator Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Terminator Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6,582 decks) gives Eivor double strike when she's attacking. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bureau Headmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Bureau Headmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14,425 decks) makes Equipment cheaper to cast, and has you pay less to equip them to your creatures.</p>
<h1>A Voyage Through Time</h1>
<p>In summary, Eivor has much going for her, given that you can protect her while she's out. However, I do want to point out one card that was already spoiled, but is not in the list (nor the second one): <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a decidedly good option for the 99, or as the commander (I find a lot of these Boros Equipment legends to fit at the helm, so why not randomize which one before each game?).</p>
<p>I will be doing a write-up for him in the future, so this article will not be the last time we'll tackle Boros Equipment. If you wish to know why, it's because I'll be tackling <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well. I'll have a restriction for both, so at least Cloud's deck won't look like a repaint of this article.</p>
<p>Most importantly, we need to focus on the now, and work with what we have. That being said, let's go further back in time to our second decklist.</p>
<p>The story behind this list is that it was the list I was originally trying to build months ago, but I couldn't quite get there. However, it's been at the back of my brain for a while, and I want to try again. Without further adeu, behold (not the Tarkir mechanic):</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer"></div></div>
<h1>The Second Weapon</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Ancient Arsenal II" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kassandra, Eagle Bearer
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ace&#039;s Baseball Bat
*1 Andúril, Flame of the West
*1 Andúril, Narsil Reforged
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bilbo&#039;s Ring
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
*1 Crown of Gondor
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Glamdring
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sting, the Glinting Dagger
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Furycalm Snarl
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*9 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*9 Plains
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Thriving Bluff
*1 Thriving Heath
*1 War Room
[/Lands]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Monastery Raid
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Taunt from the Rampart
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Wake the Past
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Inventory Management
*1 Olórin&#039;s Searing Light
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Return to Dust
*1 Reverberate
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Valorous Stance
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Armory Paladin
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Bloodthirster
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Rohirrim Chargers
*1 Scourge of the Throne
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Stonehewer Giant
*1 Éowyn, Lady of Rohan
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Forge Anew
*1 Sigarda&#039;s Aid
*1 Vault 101: Birthday Party
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h1>The Odyssey</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Spear of Leonidas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes"></div></div>
<p>To begin, Kassandra, a descendant of King Leonidas I of Sparta is from the same franchise as Eivor, and was a mercenary during the Peleponnesian War.</p>
<p>She also worked to thwart the Cult of Kosmos (another predecessor to the Templars), and the Order of the Ancients. After she received the Staff of Hermes, she would go on to live for over 2, 400 years before relinquishing the Piece of Eden and passing away.</p>
<p>Her card puts greater emphasis on legendary Equipment. As a result, I tuned this list to center around that as best as I could. There are 16 legendary Equipment within the <em>Universes Beyond</em> card pool.</p>
<p>Two of them are black, thus outside out color identity. On the other hand, we're forced to run the rest to take full advantage of her second ability, which draws us cards when creatures connect.</p>
<p>Granted, they must be carrying legendary Equipment to count for her trigger. I could see <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glamdring" href="#" target="_blank">Glamdring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (19,555 decks) being the worst of these, since our instant/sorcery focus is minimal. On the bright side, we're likely to get more options down the road.</p>
<p>However, one of the best card in this list is undoubtedly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Spear of Leonidas" href="#" target="_blank">The Spear of Leonidas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (19,154 decks), which Kassandra conveniently tutors for when she comes in.</p>
<p>It's a great utility pieces that either gets us a blocker, lets us loot, or gives the equipped creature double strike. That last one is doubly important with our commander out, since two hits to your opponents means two cards drawn.</p>
<p>Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes" href="#" target="_blank">Caduceus, Staff of Hermes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (35, 380 decks) makes Kassandra bigger, and offers some good protection.</p>
<h1>The Other Pieces</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Excalibur, Sword of Eden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rohirrim Chargers"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Codsworth, Handy Helper"></div></div>
<p>Alongside the Spear, we have some good legendary Equipment lying around. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (53,820 decks) makes Kassandra a game-ending threat, especially if you give her double strike and evasion as well.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Andúril, Narsil Reforged" href="#" target="_blank">Andúril, Narsil Reforged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (36,589 decks) gives counters to all of our creatures, including our commander.</p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bilbo&#039;s Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Bilbo&#039;s Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,883 decks), like Brotherhood Regalia, protects and grants evasion to our commander (and whatever creature that's equipped it. More on that in a moment), but also gives us a card when we attack.</p>
<p>It's worth noting that we want to be going wide with our strategy to some degree. Consequently, that'll give us dig into our deck a little more.</p>
<p>That said, I included a few tutors to help ensure that you do that with Kassandra's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stonehewer Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Stonehewer Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (30,062 decks) is a bit on the slow side, but it does have vigilance, and thus can be used as a combat trick.</p>
<p>In a similar vein, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rohirrim Chargers" href="#" target="_blank">Rohirrim Chargers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (3,151 decks) guarantees us an Equipment that we can freely attach to it. Just note that it won't untap during your next turn when you do this.</p>
<p>Moreover, a few other noteworthy cards include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Codsworth, Handy Helper" href="#" target="_blank">Codsworth, Handy Helper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (38,639 decks), who, well, comes in handy. Protecting your commander, auto-equipping, and being a mana dork for Equipment? Don't mind if I do. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Éowyn, Lady of Rohan" href="#" target="_blank">Éowyn, Lady of Rohan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,821 decks) cheapens equip costs, like Bureau Headmaster before it.</p>
<p>Further, she also temporarily grants first strike and vigilance to an equipped creatures of your choice. Choose wisely, unless it's the aforementioned Rohirrim Chargers.</p>
<p>They're the perfect target for her ability. Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Taunt from the Rampart" href="#" target="_blank">Taunt from the Rampart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (40,744 decks) is a great finisher that also weathers your opponents down for a killing blow.</p>
<h1>Returning to the Present</h1>
<p>In conclusion, these two lists are different takes on a tried but true archetype in Commander. One wants you to dump Equipment on the board to deal damage, while the other needs you to use legendary Equipment.</p>
<p>However, Voltron is the ideal way to play with both decks. You could always add blue to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain America, First Avenger" href="#" target="_blank">Captain America, First Avenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you wished. I hear equipping him with Excalibur is very bonkers.</p>
<p>The <em>Assassin's Creed</em> release was maligned because of the notorious <em>Aftermath</em>-style release, where each pack came with half as many cards as ones from the average set.</p>
<p>On the other hand, there's a lot of cool designs and cards in there. I did it as an advent calendar last year, and assembled <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with the contents (and some extras). That particular Ezio is on the shortlist, so we can expect him in the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>Tune in next time when we delve into my most hated archetype, something beyond my wheelhouse. Until then, may your board be flooded with Equipment (if so, you'll seriously need some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inventory Management" href="#" target="_blank">Inventory Management</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Sheesh), and may they help you win.</p>


Beyond the Multiverse- Boros Equipment

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mannichi, the Fevered Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Mannichi, the Fevered Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://x.com/pilcerova?lang=en">Martina Pilcerova</a>)</h6>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Technically Playable - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mannichi, the Fevered Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Mannichi, the Fevered Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h1>
<p>Welcome to <em>Technically Playable</em>, where our mission statement is "Every commander is Technically playable" (the best kind of playable).</p>
<p>The way this works is every article will have a commander generated using EDHREC's random button, I'll talk through the card and then write about how we can build around it!</p>
<p>This week's random commander is</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mannichi, the Fevered Dream"></div></div>
<p>When I started playing Magic (what must have been about 10 years ago now) I was very much a mono-white player. Not entirely because I got an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from one of my early drafts, but it certainly helped.</p>
<p>As I pivoted to playing Standard a little more competitively I was introduced to the glory of mono-red through <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Rabblemaster" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Rabblemaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stoke the Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Stoke the Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>My all time best event I went 5-0 at a GP main event that I didn't even want to play in before losing three rounds and dropping because I was no longer in the running for day two of the event.</p>
<p>Since those early Rabblemaster-filled days I've been a huge fan of red decks. Mono-Red, Jund, Rakdos Reanimator, I love them all.</p>
<p>It was also around this time that I was introduced to my one true love <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> and I decided that I was absolutely going to build a deck for every single mono-red commander.</p>
<p>Fast forward to today and sadly between playing the game less often and not being able to keep up with releases, I no longer have that dream, but the endless hours looking at the mono-red EDHREC page have stuck with me. So when I saw <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mannichi, the Fevered Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Mannichi, the Fevered Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was the commander for this article I was overcome with nostalgia.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Rabblemaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stoke the Flames"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daretti, Scrap Savant"></div></div>
<h2>Can't Block This!</h2>
<p>Mannichi's main goal is to make a bunch of creatures have huge toughness, get them through unblocked and then switch their power and toughness for some solid damage.</p>
<p>This would be really easy to do if you were in blue and had access to skulk-enablers and cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive" href="#" target="_blank">Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to ensure you could get your low powered creatures through.</p>
<p>Unfortunately these types of effects are not as common in red, but they do definitely exist.</p>
<p>The best of these is probably <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Break Through the Line" href="#" target="_blank">Break Through the Line</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as it is repeatable and unlike cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Tunneler" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Tunneler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pathmaker Initiate" href="#" target="_blank">Pathmaker Initiate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> it doesn't need haste to be usable.</p>
<p>In the same vein <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner" href="#" target="_blank">Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is also a great fit here and while it is susceptible to a wider range of removal, it also has the upside of an ability that can potentially fill up your hand if you decide not to switch any of your creatures power and toughness after the blocking step has passed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Break Through the Line"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner"></div></div>
<h2>The Best Defense is a Good Offense</h2>
<p>But just getting your creatures through isn't enough. Swapping a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wildfire Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Wildfire Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s power to four is good but it's not enough to win in a game of Commander, so we need to beef up those numbers.</p>
<p>The goal here is to beef the creature's toughness up without getting their power too high so that we can still use our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Break Through the Line" href="#" target="_blank">Break Through the Line</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects to ensure our creatures connect.</p>
<p>Luckily, there's an Equipment (or loads of Equipment) for that. Probably the best option is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slagwurm Armor" href="#" target="_blank">Slagwurm Armor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this card effectively gives your creature six extra power while not making it untargetable by the unblockable effects that we are running.</p>
<p>Similarly but with smaller numbers are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Accorder&#039;s Shield" href="#" target="_blank">Accorder&#039;s Shield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathar&#039;s Shield" href="#" target="_blank">Cathar&#039;s Shield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which are free to cast and give +0/+3 with the downside of being expensive to equip, so you may want to consider something like an <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> or a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brass Squire" href="#" target="_blank">Brass Squire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to help.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slagwurm Armor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathar&#039;s Shield"></div></div>
<p>We also have access to some creatures that are great at this by default. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dancing Scimitar" href="#" target="_blank">Dancing Scimitar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes an unblockable 5/1 flier that can easily remove planeswalkers, or with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slagwurm Armor" href="#" target="_blank">Slagwurm Armor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can deal 11 damage to a player each time it attacks.</p>
<p>Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ensouled Scimitar" href="#" target="_blank">Ensouled Scimitar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can become a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dancing Scimitar" href="#" target="_blank">Dancing Scimitar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or give another creature the +1/+5 buff.</p>
<p>Equipping an Ensouled Scimitar to a Dancing Scimitar gives you an unblockable 2/10 that ends up dealing 10 damage while still remaining a legal target for any of your unblockable buffs.</p>
<p>We can also go a little larger on the scale with creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earth Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Earth Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> who can deal huge amounts of damage thanks to being in a mono-red deck but trade off the ability to be unblockable for that raw power.</p>
<p>The <em>Modern Horizons 3 </em>Commander decks have also given us <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inversion Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Inversion Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a back up to Mannichi's ability and a solid beater that can still be made unblockable with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Break Through the Line" href="#" target="_blank">Break Through the Line</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>One small benefit of this is that because it says "any number", you can pick and choose the creatures whose power and toughness you want to change at the beginning of combat. This means you'll never accidently punish yourself by forcing all of your own creatures to change before you make them unblockable.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ensouled Scimitar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earth Servant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inversion Behemoth"></div></div>
<h2>I Just Think They're Neat</h2>
<p>As well as our hard hitters and our unblockable-enablers there are a lot of small interactions with Mannichi's ability that make a lot of cards you might never think of playing in Commander into real powerhouses.</p>
<p>One of the best ways to play Mannichi is with the wide array of weak power, higher toughness double striking creatures in the game. The way to balance double strike in Draft is to make the creature quite weak but with a reasonable toughness to survive combat. This makes Mannichi great by allowing you to swap the power and toughness around to make them deal a ton of damage.</p>
<p>Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Two-Headed Cerberus" href="#" target="_blank">Two-Headed Cerberus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raging Redcap" href="#" target="_blank">Raging Redcap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are suddenly viable but the best of the bunch is definitely <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Efreet Flamepainter" href="#" target="_blank">Efreet Flamepainter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a 4/1 after Mannichi's ability that also allows you to play instants and sorceries for free, an absolutely amazing card that probably doesn't get the love it deserves in a format for of 10 mana spells.</p>
<p>This strategy also makes one of my all-time favorite underrated cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prophetic Flamespeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Prophetic Flamespeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> playable as well. The big benefit of the Flamespeaker is access to trample, this means that if you are blocked you can still swap its power and toughness to try to get damage through to be able to trigger its effect.</p>
<p>This in conjunction with the first strike part of double strike means you can potentially kill an opponent's creature and trample over on both of the strikes giving you a swing on the board and in card advantage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raging Redcap"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Efreet Flamepainter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prophetic Flamespeaker"></div></div>
<p>There are also some really powerful cards that can quickly win you the game, as long as you're willing to put some effort in. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ogre Menial" href="#" target="_blank">Ogre Menial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an incredibly powerful creature that with some of the Equipment I talked about above, can easily one-shot an opponent. The issue is ensuring you get its power above zero to ensure it doesn't die when you activate Mannichi.</p>
<p>I've already mentioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Efreet Flamepainter" href="#" target="_blank">Efreet Flamepainter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> above but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wildfire Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Wildfire Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dreadhorde Arcanist" href="#" target="_blank">Dreadhorde Arcanist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also work extremely well at getting instants and sorceries out of your hand for free.</p>
<p>Being able to make <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wildfire Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Wildfire Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> unblockable and then playing something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soulfire Eruption" href="#" target="_blank">Soulfire Eruption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or even something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra&#039;s Ignition" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra&#039;s Ignition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can quickly close out a game that's stalled.</p>
<p>Lastly is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer" href="#" target="_blank">Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for two mana Baeloth lets you goad everything that isn't a huge beater, giving you some instant speed protection from those pesky tempo decks that may be able to kill you before you can get set up.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ogre Menial"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wildfire Eternal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer"></div></div>
<p>I've really enjoyed this nostalgic walk down memory lane, looking at some of the sweet new cards that are great with Mannichi as well as reminders of the old but gold ones from when I've brewed this deck in the past. I have loved writing this article so I hope you enjoy it just as much.</p>
<p>As with all <em>Technically Playable</em> articles, this was a very quick look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mannichi, the Fevered Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Mannichi, the Fevered Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a commander, and a few of the cards that can really make a deck with Mannichi as the commander tick.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments below if you play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mannichi, the Fevered Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Mannichi, the Fevered Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, if you want to build a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mannichi, the Fevered Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Mannichi, the Fevered Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, or even if you just enjoyed this article!</p>


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