<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Kuja, Genome Sorcerer | Art by <a href="https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-joshua-raphael/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joshua Raphael</a></em></p>
<p>The long-awaited <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin"><em>Final Fantasy</em></a> set is on the horizon, and the hype train has already left the station. Even if you aren't the most excited to see cards from this video game series enter <em>Magic</em>, you do have to admit that some of these new designs are incredible. One of the legendary creatures that has taken the internet by storm already is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>When I was young, my brothers played through <em>Final Fantasy IX</em> and I'll be honest with everyone here: Kuja was terrifying to me... So, it seems only fitting that I would overcome my fear for this villain and bring you fourteen cards for under $14 to help you get started on brewing around this commander on a budget. Strap in, throw <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4AQ7kRcn_A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuja's awesome theme</a> on, and get ready to bring the house down with your accursed flames!</p>
<h2>What Does Kuja, Genome Sorcerer Do?</h2>
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<p>Coming in straight from my childhood nightmares to terrorize your playgroup, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. On its front side, you'll be making an 0/1 Wizard on your endstep that pings your opponents when you cast noncreature spells. Then, after you control four or more Wizards, Kuja will flip to his other side, Trance Kuja, Fate Defied, which then doubles the damage any of your Wizards deal from there on out.</p>
<p>Since this commander costs four mana, there's a good chance you'll have a Wizard or two out already by the time you cast him. That means you'll be flipping over to the damage doubling side sooner than most people think. So, with this list I'll be highlighting some great Wizards that pair nicely with that second side of Kuja, as well as some big noncreature spells that can help set you far ahead the rest of the table, especially when paired with those little Wizard tokens.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at the list now.</p>
<h3>Coruscation Mage</h3>
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<p>Our first card this week is a perfect Wizard for this list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coruscation Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Coruscation Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deals a damage to each opponent when you cast a noncreature spell, which is the main goal of this deck already. It also can come with an offspring token, to add even more fuel to its fire. Once your Kuja flips, you could possibly be dealing four damage to your foes over and over again. Pair this Otter with your small Wizard tokens, and it's time to really deal some pain.</p>
<h3>Gleeful Arsonist</h3>
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<p>This next card fills a similar role to our last entry, and it comes with an added layer of protection. If <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gleeful Arsonist" href="#" target="_blank">Gleeful Arsonist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> happens to get killed as your game goes on, that undying effect is here to bring it right back with a +1/+1 counter on it. Since the Arsonist deals damage to your opponents equal to its power, you'll almost prefer it to get destroyed just so it can come back better than ever! Plus, this card looks like it fits right in with Kuja and his antics...</p>
<h3>Irencrag Pyromancer</h3>
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<p>Decks built around this new commander will most likely be filled with cantrips (spells that have an effect and also draws you a card), to help trigger your Wizard's pinging abilities as often as you can. If your build of the deck goes in that direction, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irencrag Pyromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Irencrag Pyromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perfect for you. Of course, the ability to double its damage could just end games for you, but even dealing three damage as its base level can clear up your opponents' threats. Dropping this on turn three could just halt a lot of other players' game plans if they're concerned you could just wipe their value pieces off the board.</p>
<h3>Blood Cultist</h3>
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<p>Another great way to keep the board clear of small threats is with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Cultist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Cultist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Tapping to deal one damage isn't too bad, especially when you can ping things down to grow your creature. However, once Kuja has flipped over to his other side, you can then deal two damage to enemy creatures or just swing in with a big beefy Cultist. One way or another, adding this card to your deck will be a thorn in everyone else's sides.</p>
<h3>Basalt Ravager</h3>
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<p>Next up is a card you might want to hold on to until your board is just right. Sure, you can slam <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basalt Ravager" href="#" target="_blank">Basalt Ravager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> down before you have double damage and it would probably make a big impact. However, if you wait until the right time and Kuja has been flipped over, you could possibly just take a player out of the game. On top of that burn damage the Ravager offers, it can also swing in to deal eight damage if you put it in the red zone.</p>
<h3>Anathemancer</h3>
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<p>Speaking of game enders, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can truly take some of the more lavish players at your table out of the game. When it enters, it hits one of your opponents with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Price of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Price of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-esque effect, which, when paired with a damage doubler, could be backbreaking. This type of spell is great for picking off a player who might be more ahead than the rest of the table, after they fill their board with stacks of specialty lands. Also, even though <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s unearth is expensive, you could take someone by surprise late in the game to close things out.</p>
<h3>Harmonic Prodigy</h3>
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<p>Alright, since we're midway through the list, it's time to double everything our Wizards are doing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonic Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonic Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! So far, every creature we've talked about has had a triggered ability, which means that when the Prodigy is out, your game plan is going to go up a level. With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> flipped, doubling your Wizard's damage, that 0/1 token is dealing four damage whenever you cast a noncreature spell. Which is already crazy, but then you drop something like that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we just talked about... That could be game over.</p>
<h3>Harnesser of Storms</h3>
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<p>This deck is already looking to cast as many noncreature spells as possible, so adding a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harnesser of Storms" href="#" target="_blank">Harnesser of Storms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the list will ensure you're constantly churning through your library. This deck will most likely be an <em>all-in</em> type of strategy, so having an effect to dig deeper into your library while you're progressing through a risky turn will be a big help. Even if this creature only assists you with hitting your land drops each turn, you'll be happy to have it on your team.</p>
<h3>Party Thrasher</h3>
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<p>If you happen to have a lot of those 0/1 tokens sitting around, why not throw a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Party Thrasher" href="#" target="_blank">Party Thrasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> down and have them help you cast your spells? Giving convoke to all your noncreature spells is a great way to push through that last little bit of damage to the rest of the table, by chaining several powerful spells together on the same turn. Plus, even if you run out of threats to cast, the Thrasher has a way to exile two cards from your library and ensure you can keep this pain train rolling.</p>
<h3>Electrostatic Infantry</h3>
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<p>A majority of the noncreature spells you'll be casting in a deck like this will be instants and sorceries, which is exactly what <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electrostatic Infantry" href="#" target="_blank">Electrostatic Infantry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves to see. Gaining a counter whenever you sling one of those spells is great, especially when you make it to the late game and can double the trampling damage this creature can offer. Given enough time, this could be a way to slam through your opponent's defenses and turn their chump blockers into chump change (I don't even know if that made sense).</p>
<h3>Taurean Mauler</h3>
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<p>Listen, I know this bull thing doesn’t look like a Wizard, but technically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Taurean Mauler" href="#" target="_blank">Taurean Mauler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a part of that team. Throwing this onto the field in the early game and letting it grow to a massive size just means that you can consistently pressure the boards of the other players at the table. On top of that, the next few spells I'll be talking about on this list work perfectly when you have a big creature like the Mauler, which is just champing at the bit for its damage to be doubled!</p>
<h3>Soul's Fire</h3>
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<p>Next up, we have a spell that's similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but lets you keep your creature around. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows one of your Wizards to deal damage equal to its power to any target. When played in conjunction with the flip side of <span class="edhrecp__link only-back"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can deal a big chunk of damage to anything! Think of that with either of our last two cards on the list, and that's a way to wipe one of your foes out of the game completely, at instant speed.</p>
<h3>Chandra's Ignition</h3>
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<p>One of the most impactful spells on the entire list is <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>. Not only is this spell a board wipe, but when paired with a large Wizard, it could take your opponents' life totals down to single digits; all while clearing the way for your last remaining threat to swing through freely and deal another major blow. This card is a staple in our format, so be sure to snatch one up just in case that price starts to climb higher and higher.</p>
<h3>Surge to Victory</h3>
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<p>We're closing things out this week with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surge to Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Surge to Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, basically an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in this deck. Giving your board a buff to their power based on the mana value of the spell you exile is great for a big swing, especially since those 0/1 Wizard tokens can finally enter into combat. Then, you get to cast a copy of that spell when your creatures hit a player, which just adds insult to injury! Imagine casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> over and over again after a big combat? That's brutal.</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>Well, there you have it: fourteen cards for under $14 to help get you started on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. I know the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set is still almost a month away, but grabbing these cards for a low price now will help you in the long run.</p>
<p>Let me know what you thought of this list in the comments below. Also, if Kuja scared you as a kid as well, let me know and we can support each other during this scary time. Thank you everyone for reading this far, and I'll see you next week!</p>


Building Kuja, Genome Sorcerer on A Budget - Fourteen Cards Under $14

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ultimecia, Time Sorceress" href="#" target="_blank">Ultimecia, Time Sorceress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMikio+Masuda%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mikio Masuda</a></em></p>
<p>Five-mana Dimir legend, surveils two when it enters and attacks, yeah yeah, whatever. It has a transform cost for eight mana that you can activate if you exile eight cards from your graveyard. Is there anything interesting that this card does? What's the backside? 7/7, menace, ok cool. TAKE AN EXTRA TURN?! What the heck is this? Never before has it been possible to take an extra turn in pEDH (or Pauper Commander), as there's never been a common or uncommon card with that effect. But with the arrival of <em>Final Fantasy</em>, we've got a commander that can stretch time out for us.</p>
<p>Is thirteen mana and eight cards from our graveyard a good price to pay for an extra turn? Absolutely not. But come on, it's an extra turn. We've got the opportunity to do something never done before. So let's not waste any time!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ultimecia, Time Sorceress" href="#" target="_blank">Ultimecia, Time Sorceress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
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<p>Ok, so what exactly are we gonna do with Ultimecia? Well, we're gonna take as many extra turns as possible. What else would we do with her? Our goal here is just to trigger her ability over and over again. Once we do that, we'll just win with the insane advantage that extra turns give.</p>
<p>Conveniently, I instantly spotted an easy way to retrigger Ultimecia. Even though the card is designed to only do it's thing once, if we blink it while it's transformed, it'll go back to the front face, and then all we have to do to get that extra turn is retransform it. Simple enough, and there's no shortage of cards that'll do that for us. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Displace" href="#" target="_blank">Displace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Time Twist" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Time Twist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Siren&#039;s Ruse" href="#" target="_blank">Siren&#039;s Ruse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and a few others will do nicely. In total, we have eight cards that can be used to blink our commander, that range from the efficiency of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Essence Flux" href="#" target="_blank">Essence Flux</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skyskipper Duo" href="#" target="_blank">Skyskipper Duo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghostly Flicker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Essence Flux"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skyskipper Duo"></div></div>
<p>Now eight isn't a whole lot, and I did consider adding cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Not Dead After All" href="#" target="_blank">Not Dead After All</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>to the mix. This is part of a trick I've used many times, and it involves casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Not Dead After All" href="#" target="_blank">Not Dead After All</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, then sacrificing the targeted creature, essentially replicating a blink effect. It basically doubles the amount of blink spells you can have in a blue-black deck, and the only cost is having to play some sacrifice outlets. But here we have enough card advantage to find our blink spells. And if not, we're running a few transmute tutors like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muddle the Mixture" href="#" target="_blank">Muddle the Mixture</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
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<p>Still, the only thing we're doing is taking extra turns for an absurd cost, so it's not like we're losing a lot if we can't do that ten times.</p>
<h2>Fueling the Ultimecia Extra Turns Engine</h2>
<p>The next thing to figure out is how we're gonna get eight cards into our graveyard every time we want to activate Ultimecia. I thought it wouldn't be a difficult task, but consistent mill is surprisingly difficult to find in pEDH. Our commander surveils two cards every time it enters, so all we really need to do is find six more cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sage&#039;s Row Denizen" href="#" target="_blank">Sage&#039;s Row Denizen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would add two every time we blink our commander, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sinister Starfish" href="#" target="_blank">Sinister Starfish</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deranged Assistant" href="#" target="_blank">Deranged Assistant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could also do some work. But the only other thing we could really rely on would be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tome Scour" href="#" target="_blank">Tome Scour</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Twist" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Twist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and that's pretty inefficient.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sage&#039;s Row Denizen"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deranged Assistant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tome Scour"></div></div>
<p>So after coming to the conclusion that I didn't really want to run a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pelargir Survivor" href="#" target="_blank">Pelargir Survivor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I jumped to a solution I knew would work, even if it came with some downsides. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persistent Petitioners" href="#" target="_blank">Persistent Petitioners</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are absolutely incredible at milling. Get four of them on the board, and you can mill twelve cards every single turn. That's nuts! And as a little bonus, the numbers line up so that you'd only have to activate them twice to fuel our commander for three turns. Perfect!</p>
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<p>But about that downside I mentioned. Because <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persistent Petitioners" href="#" target="_blank">Persistent Petitioners</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are so reliant on each other, you need to absolutely guarantee that you're gonna find four of them every single game. Twenty-eight copies is my personal minimum. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem at all, because milling would be your primary game plan, but here, we're only using it to supplement our primary strategy of blinking our commander for extra turns. That means we're taking up a lot of space with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persistent Petitioners" href="#" target="_blank">Persistent Petitioners</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that we'd rather use on blink spells, or ramp.</p>
<p>The upsides of the Petitioners definitely outweigh the downsides, but it means we're gonna have to really make the most out of our other 43 cards, if we're running 31 lands. Sorry, 30 cards. We're using 13 slots for blink cards and tutors for blink. I think I want to use ten of those slots for ramp, and maybe five of them for card draw like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Night&#039;s Whisper" href="#" target="_blank">Night&#039;s Whisper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Oh and another five for removal and stuff. Can't forget the important things in a deck! But that only leaves us ten cards for figuring out how to win.</p>
<h2>How Does Ultimecia, Time Sorceress Win?</h2>
<p>Yeah, we still have to do that. Believe it or not, taking extra turns over and over again doesn't actually win, it just annoys the heck out of our opponents. Luckily, I have a plan.</p>
<p>After it's transformed, our commander has seven power, a number that spells doom for our opponents in just three hits. And keep in mind that because we're taking an extra turn, our commander will be able to attack without summoning sickness. Then, we can blink it again, reactivate it, and attack on our next extra turn as well. The only thing we need to make this work is evasion, and Pauper has no shortage of spells that make a creature unblockable. These will all do the trick:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slip Through Space" href="#" target="_blank">Slip Through Space</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Distortion Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Distortion Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Artful Dodge" href="#" target="_blank">Artful Dodge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="You Come to a River" href="#" target="_blank">You Come to a River</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slip Through Space"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Artful Dodge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="You Come to a River"></div></div>
<h2>Ultimecia, Time Sorceress Pauper Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Ultimecia, Time Sorceress - Pauper Commander" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ultimecia, Time Sorceress // Ultimecia, Omnipotent
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Blur
*1 Counterspell
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Displace
*1 Dizzy Spell
*1 Essence Flux
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Ghostly Flicker
*1 Go for the Throat
*1 Muddle the Mixture
*1 Perplex
*1 Planar Incision
*1 Siren&#039;s Ruse
*1 Teferi&#039;s Time Twist
*1 You Come to a River
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Archaeomancer
*1 Deranged Assistant
*1 Dreamscape Artist
*1 Mulldrifter
*28 Persistent Petitioners
*1 Sinister Starfish
*1 Skyskipper Duo
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Charcoal Diamond
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Decanter of Endless Water
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Mind Stone
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Artful Dodge
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Distortion Strike
*1 Enter the Enigma
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Slip Through Space
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*15 Island
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*15 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>And with that, I think we've got a great deck. Ok, maybe great is too strong of a word. We've got a wild deck, that's for sure. It's more than capable of taking multiple extra turns in a row, cause once you have around ten mana on board, you can really get rolling. But is ten mana, four <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persistent Petitioners" href="#" target="_blank">Persistent Petitioners</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on board, a few blink spells, and a few unblockable spells in hand too much to ask? Yeah, totally. But who really cares? We're taking extra turns in Pauper. It's something that's never been done! We're really pioneering here.</p>
<p>We may be making our way to an Artic wasteland, but progress is progress.</p>


Ultimecia, Time Sorceress - Taking Extra Turns In Pauper Commander

Seeking (Birds of) Paradise: Building Choco, Seeker of Paradise in EDH

<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</em></p>
<p>This past week was full of previews from <em>Final Fantasy</em>, the newest <em>Universes Beyond</em> set for <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>. Because of the longevity of the beloved <em>Square Enix</em> video game series, the set is extremely expansive. In fact, this set is so comprehensive that its spoiler season will last about three weeks altogether! With that, here are some of the most interesting and impactful cards to grace the set, released this past week.</p>
<h2>May 12th <em>Final Fantasy</em> Previews</h2>
<p>The scarcity of new content on May 11th made the following day's previews feel extremely refreshing. Plus, we got a handful of cool cards, both new and reprinted alike. However, let's choose just one really good one from the set proper as well as the <em>Through the Ages</em> bonus sheet.</p>
<h3>Matoya, Archon Elder</h3>
<p>Our nomination for the coolest new preview from the main set goes to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Matoya, Archon Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Matoya, Archon Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While not an Archon <em>nor</em> an Elder in creature type, Matoya is still a very strong Human Warlock. It exceeds the power of cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eligeth, Crossroads Augur" href="#" target="_blank">Eligeth, Crossroads Augur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> not by sheer force or effectiveness of ability, but by costing far less mana for an ability that is above rate in comparison. It's quite good in decks that want to scry or surveil to your heart's delight.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Matoya, Archon Elder"></div></div>
<p>Beyond this, there weren't a <em>ton</em> of extremely impactful new cards revealed this past Monday. However, we <em>did</em> get a cool card from <em>Through the</em> Ages.</p>
<h3>Syr Konrad, the Grim as "Golbez, Clad in Darkness"</h3>
<p>According to Scryfall, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Konrad, the Grim" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Konrad, the Grim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is getting a reskin in <em>Through the Ages</em> as Golbez, the big bad from <em>Final Fantasy IV</em>. While the card's render isn't available in English so far, the stunning art by legendary concept artist <strong>Yoshitaka Amano</strong> is worth mentioning here.</p>
<div id="attachment_153055" style="width: 411px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Golbez-Clad-in-Darkness.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-153055" class="wp-image-153055" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Golbez-Clad-in-Darkness.jpg" alt="Syr Konrad, the Grim as FFIV antagonist Golbez, with a classic piece of art by famed Final Fantasy illustrator Yoshitaka Amano. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Golbez-Clad-in-Darkness.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Golbez-Clad-in-Darkness-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-153055" class="wp-caption-text">Syr Konrad, the Grim as <em>FFIV</em> antagonist Golbez, with a classic piece of art by famed <em>Final Fantasy</em> illustrator <strong>Yoshitaka Amano</strong>. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>With that, let's go forth to Tuesday, May 13th!</p>
<h2>May 13th <em>Final Fantasy </em>Previews</h2>
<p>The previews from May 12th were fun, but Tuesday, May 13th, is where the previews for the week really started to pick up. The <a href="http://twitch.tv/magic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WeeklyMTG live stream on Twitch</a> showcased quite a few cool things in an "Ultima" theme. This included the 2-player Starter Set for the expansion as well as many, many promo cards. However, one card from that stream stood out above the rest:</p>
<h3>Ultima, Origin of Oblivion</h3>
<p>To round out the awesome theme that the stream showed off, <strong>Blake Rasmussen</strong> and <strong>Gavin Verhey</strong> showed the public <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ultima, Origin of Oblivion" href="#" target="_blank">Ultima, Origin of Oblivion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ultima, Origin of Oblivion"></div></div>
<p>Ultima is a fantastic colorless creature that likely qualifies as "mass land denial" for those keeping track of the Brackets for their Commander decks. It'll find a home in many decks run by Eldrazi or other colorless commanders. It might even be good enough to take over as the commander of those decks. Time will tell if players will be responsible about using Ultima respectfully at their tables!</p>
<p>Moving on, there was only one <em>Through the Ages</em> reprint for May 13th (not counting promo cards), but it was pretty cool:</p>
<h3>Brainstorm as "Endwalker"</h3>
<p>Endwalker, a reskin of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, shows a scene of the party from <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>. Having Brainstorm as a reprint in the bonus sheet of this expansion is honestly really fun. Many players haven't gotten to experience the sheer power of Brainstorm in a Limited environment; now, provided they can afford it, many will!</p>
<div id="attachment_153057" style="width: 411px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Endwalker.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-153057" class="wp-image-153057" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Endwalker.jpg" alt="Endwalker, a reskin of Brainstorm from the Through the Ages bonus sheet from Final Fantasy. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Endwalker.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Endwalker-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-153057" class="wp-caption-text">Endwalker, a reskin of Brainstorm from the <em>Through the Ages</em> bonus sheet from <em>Final Fantasy</em>. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<h2>May 14th <em>Final Fantasy </em>Previews</h2>
<p>Wednesday, May 14th had even <em>more</em> previews than the previous day. When we say that spoiler season really started ramping up, we aren't kidding. Therefore, it started getting difficult to choose just one great new card and reprint from the day. However, we (probably) nailed it.</p>
<h3>Choco, Seeker of Paradise</h3>
<p>When they revealed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bartz and Boko" href="#" target="_blank">Bartz and Boko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> during the debut of preview season, players speculated as to the best possible commander for the duo. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Choco, Seeker of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Choco, Seeker of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it seems, is that commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Choco, Seeker of Paradise"></div></div>
<p>This bird synergizes with many of the other Chocobo-themed cards shown so far. It facilitates <em>landfall</em> triggers in an influential way to the game. Plus, it even has a minor payoff for achieving <em>landfall</em>. Not to mention, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Traveling Chocobo" href="#" target="_blank">Traveling Chocobo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> elevates Choco to an absurd degree. Hands down, Choco is the Bird commander that people wanted in <em>Final Fantasy</em>.</p>
<h3>Yawgmoth, Thran Physician as "The Emperor, Hell Tyrant"</h3>
<p>The Emperor is one of the scariest antagonists in <em>Final Fantasy</em>, originally from <em>FFII</em>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician" href="#" target="_blank">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the scariest (if not <em>the</em> scariest) big-bads of <em>Magic</em>. Therefore, this merging of properties makes a ton of sense for the <em>Through the Ages</em> sheet. Behold!</p>
<div id="attachment_153058" style="width: 411px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-14-25-TTA-The-Emperor-Hell-Tyrant-Yawgmoth-Thran-Physician.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-153058" class="wp-image-153058" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-14-25-TTA-The-Emperor-Hell-Tyrant-Yawgmoth-Thran-Physician.jpg" alt="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician, as The Emperor, Hell Tyrant. Originally illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano for FFII. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-14-25-TTA-The-Emperor-Hell-Tyrant-Yawgmoth-Thran-Physician.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-14-25-TTA-The-Emperor-Hell-Tyrant-Yawgmoth-Thran-Physician-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-153058" class="wp-caption-text">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician, as The Emperor, Hell Tyrant. Originally illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano for <em>FFII</em>. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<h2>May 15th <em>Final Fantasy </em>Previews</h2>
<p>On Thursday, May 15th, we got fewer big-deal previews from within the set proper, but we got a bunch of cool <em>Through the Ages</em> reveals. While there's much potential for debate over the coolest <em>TTA</em> card from May 15th, there is no contest about that within the new cards from the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set at large:</p>
<h3>Triple Triad</h3>
<p>According to <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/morgan-sanchez" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Morgan Sanchez</strong></a>, our Content Operations Manager here at EDHREC, "[They] put a card game into your card game so you can card game while you card game." Truer words could not have been spoken, Chief. Here's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triple Triad" href="#" target="_blank">Triple Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, revealed by <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/amazonian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazonian</a>:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triple Triad"></div></div>
<p>Thinking more about this riff on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunbird&#039;s Invocation" href="#" target="_blank">Sunbird&#039;s Invocation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it feels somehow sacred to have the layers that Triple Triad does, in a flavor sense. In the <em>Final Fantasy</em> video game series, Triple Triad is a collectible card game minigame. This card is now in a set based on that video game. And to make matters even more funny, it causes a really cool minigame-style scenario! The layers are <em>deep</em>, dear reader!</p>
<h3>Rhystic Study as "Stay with Me"</h3>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that basically <em>always</em> needs a reprint from a standpoint of card accessibility. However, for reasons of Constructed destabilization, it's remarkably difficult to insert into a set. Fortunately, <em>Final Fantasy</em> has a great bonus sheet opportunity with <em>Through the Ages</em>.</p>
<div id="attachment_153059" style="width: 411px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-15-25-TTA-Stay-with-Me-Rhystic-Study.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-153059" class="wp-image-153059" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-15-25-TTA-Stay-with-Me-Rhystic-Study.jpg" alt="Stay with Me, a reskin of Rhystic Study with art from FFX. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-15-25-TTA-Stay-with-Me-Rhystic-Study.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-15-25-TTA-Stay-with-Me-Rhystic-Study-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-153059" class="wp-caption-text">Stay with Me, a reskin of Rhystic Study with art from <em>FFX</em>. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>Rhystic Study is as oppressive as ever, but its inclusion on the <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer</a> list may cause it to see a bit less play. However, with more players opening the card than they have been previously, some players might want to use their shiny new card. Time will tell!</p>
<h2>May 16th <em>Final Fantasy </em>Previews</h2>
<p>That brings us to Friday, May 16th. While the day isn't quite over yet, the cards previewed so far are plentiful. We have seen a fair few cards from the set proper and even more <em>Through the Ages</em> cards. These are the two cards that might be the coolest spoilers for the day.</p>
<h3>Summon: Knights of Round</h3>
<p>Many players across social media had highly anticipated Summon: Knights of Round. While it's slow for a creature card, as a Saga card, it's quite competent. This is especially true in formats like Commander where Sagas have more value to them due to increased synergies.</p>
<div id="attachment_153069" style="width: 411px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-16-25-FIN-Summon-Knights-of-Round.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-153069" class="wp-image-153069" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-16-25-FIN-Summon-Knights-of-Round.jpg" alt="Summon: Knights of Round, a new card from Final Fantasy. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-16-25-FIN-Summon-Knights-of-Round.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-16-25-FIN-Summon-Knights-of-Round-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-153069" class="wp-caption-text">Summon: Knights of Round, a new card from <em>Final Fantasy</em>. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>Also, that last ability is <em>extremely</em> powerful. It could even lead to the end of games with a big enough board state!</p>
<h3>Tymna the Weaver as "Cecil Harvey"</h3>
<p>The last <em>Through the Ages</em> card we will go over in this recap is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tymna the Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Tymna the Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, here reskinned in <em>Final Fantasy IV</em> regalia as Cecil Harvey. Tymna is a fantastic and potent cEDH commander due to its colors, its Partner ability, and the way it accrues card advantage.</p>
<div id="attachment_153063" style="width: 411px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-16-25-TTA-Cecil-Harvey-Tymna-the-Weaver.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-153063" class="wp-image-153063" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-16-25-TTA-Cecil-Harvey-Tymna-the-Weaver.jpg" alt="Tymna the Weaver, here reskinned as Cecil Harvey from FFIV. Illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-16-25-TTA-Cecil-Harvey-Tymna-the-Weaver.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-16-25-TTA-Cecil-Harvey-Tymna-the-Weaver-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-153063" class="wp-caption-text">Tymna the Weaver, here reskinned as Cecil Harvey from <em>FFIV</em>. Illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>Speaking of cEDH and partners, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrasios, Triton Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Thrasios, Triton Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Tymna's most notorious partner in the competitive scene, is also in this bonus sheet, as Tidus, Zanarkand Fayth. <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> has pulled no punches with this bonus sheet, so far!</p>
<h2>What Will Next Week Bring?</h2>
<p>The previews were so cool this week that it's hard to believe that the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set's spoiler season has two more weeks to go! Still, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> probably has a bunch of cool things left in store for us.</p>
<p>While we wait for the next week of previews, let's open the floor to you, dear readers. Are you excited for more previews in the coming weeks? Is there anything that hasn't been represented in the set or bonus sheet yet that you'd like to see? Sound off below!</p>


Best Final Fantasy Spoilers From May 12th-15th

Celes, Rune Knight Commander Deck Tech

Limit Break Precon Guide - Final Fantasy

Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER - Final Fantasy Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By: <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMagali+Villeneuve%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Magali Villeneuve</a></em></p>
<p>I have never played any <em>Final Fantasy</em> game. Yes, you read that right, I have <em>never</em> played any <em>Final Fantasy</em> game, unless you count the <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> franchise. Nevertheless, the upcoming <em>Final Fantasy</em> <em>Magic</em> set has some incredibly unique and fabulous cards. One card that I vibed with upon first seeing it was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Welcome to the latest instalment of <em>Tech The Deck</em>, featuring a deck reminiscent of playing a video game on hard mode.</p>
<h2>New Game +</h2>
<p>For some reason, I like three-mana value (MV) cards way too much; my draft decks look like upside-down castles. So when I saw an Esper colored (white, blue, and black) commander that gets value off of casting a three MV spell, I was immediately interested. But when I started putting this deck together, something changed within me. Something deep inside, a primordial urge screamed out. It yelled at me, saying, "ONLY THREE TYPES!" I answered the call. This deck, outside of the lands and the commander, only runs three card types: sorceries, instants, and enchantments.</p>
<p>Why would I do this? Why would I not run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? What prevented me from putting a planeswalker or a battle on my list? The deck just started me in this direction. I moved from hard control, to playing around with cloning the commander as much as possible, to playing a deck based around enchantments and cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Donate" href="#" target="_blank">Donate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusions of Grandeur" href="#" target="_blank">Illusions of Grandeur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But in the end, I decided that three card types were the way to go. So, enough pontificating, let's get to the cards.</p>
<h2>End Credits</h2>
<p>We'll start at the end of the game's first run with our plans to beat the final boss. The first way we play to win the game is to live long enough to cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The life gain and card draw from our commander should help us both stave off death and dig to get the all-important second cast of Approach. This might not be the most exciting way to win the game, but when playing with this restriction, sometimes we use the busted items that the game gives us to balance the scales.</p>
<p>My preferred way to win is a bit more interesting.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nine Lives"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lich&#039;s Mastery"></div></div>
<p>Both of these enchantments serve double duty in the deck. First, they keep us alive, possibly the most significant challenge with a deck that does nothing until turn three. The second is that they have a built-in condition that can cause us to lose the game. This comes in very handy when you combine it with two other cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fractured Identity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Patrician&#039;s Scorn"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fractured Identity" href="#" target="_blank">Fractured Identity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to give a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nine Lives" href="#" target="_blank">Nine Lives</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lich&#039;s Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Lich&#039;s Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the rest of the table. The Patrician's Scorn allows us to, at instant speed, blow them up, forcing the rest of the table to lose the game with our lose-the-game trigger on the stack. This is a combo I've been looking to cram into a deck, and I was glad that Y'shtola might be the commander to allow me to do it.</p>
<h2>Sorcerthrees</h2>
<p>Outside of our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fractured Identity" href="#" target="_blank">Fractured Identity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, three other sorceries highlight the deck quite nicely.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Risky Shortcut"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Battle of Bywater"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toxic Deluge"></div></div>
<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Risky Shortcut" href="#" target="_blank">Risky Shortcut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my favorite cards from <em>Aetherdrift,</em> and it allows us to trigger both of Y'shtola's abilities with one single card. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Battle of Bywater" href="#" target="_blank">The Battle of Bywater</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a cheap Wrath effect that might not clear everything off the board. It will eliminate the most threatening things from our opponents, while allowing our two-power commander to stick around. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the best black mass removal spells ever made and fits perfectly with this deck - especially if we pay four or more life, we can draw a card from our commander's effect.</span></p>
<h2>Three Scoops of Instant Speed</h2>
<h3>Counter Magic</h3>
<p>This deck might feature some of the least played seen instants in the format. But believe me when I say they're some of my favorite cards ever. They're full of pips and full of potential.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Perplex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Render Silent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undermine"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Perplex" href="#" target="_blank">Perplex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be the secret best card in the entire deck. While I'm not just playing cards that cost three MV, I am playing 31, so there's 30 other cards that I can tutor with the transmute ability.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Render Silent" href="#" target="_blank">Render Silent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't the most efficient counterspell out there, but it shuts down an entire player's turn, no matter what spell they decide to start with. This will often make at least one player at the table your enemy, so don't use this spell unless you're sure it's worth it.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undermine" href="#" target="_blank">Undermine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the darker side of another card in the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Absorb" href="#" target="_blank">Absorb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Countering a spell and giving us another card that can fulfill both aspects of our commander's triggered abilities is music to my ears.</p>
<h3>You Are Not Hitting Me</h3>
<p>Sometimes permanents can't be countered. Most often, it's because they are already on the board. Our opponents may swing their permanents in our direction when they find their way onto the board. When this happens, we need to make them pay. Most players are well aware of the card <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>, and while it is in the deck, it's the least exciting of the anti-combat instants we have.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hellish Rebuke"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inkshield"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Settle the Wreckage"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellish Rebuke" href="#" target="_blank">Hellish Rebuke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not only one of the most fun spells from <em>Dungeons and Dragons</em>, it can be a total blowout to the player that attacks you. We'll take some damage, but forcing the player who did that damage to lose all those creatures and two life for each creature will often be worth it.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inkshield" href="#" target="_blank">Inkshield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is possibly the best <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fog" href="#" target="_blank">Fog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ever made, as it solves the biggest issue with that card: winning the game after you cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fog" href="#" target="_blank">Fog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The best part about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inkshield" href="#" target="_blank">Inkshield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is when an opponent gets too confident and goes for overkill, allowing you to get even more inklings to win the game.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Settle the Wreckage" href="#" target="_blank">Settle the Wreckage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> looks like it's all downside because it ramps your opponent, but that's hardly ever the case. Players are greedy and will never run enough basics, and if it means you get to live another turn, the trade-off of giving them basics will always be worth it.</p>
<h2>They Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore</h2>
<p>I don't have 31 enchantments in this deck, but the ones I do have are possibly more relevant than anything else. Outside of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nine Lives" href="#" target="_blank">Nine Lives</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lich&#039;s Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Lich&#039;s Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being win conditions, we have some interesting "not lose" conditions at our disposal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breathstealer&#039;s Crypt"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dream Tides"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mist of Stagnation"></div></div>
<p>A card I just learned existed is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breathstealer&#039;s Crypt" href="#" target="_blank">Breathstealer&#039;s Crypt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. One of the most lopsided effects we could ask for is a card at our fingertips. Sure, our opponents will know all the cards we draw, but the trade-off is that we'll learn all the cards they draw and never take damage or discard. It might not hit every time, but against some opponents, this card will be backbreaking.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Tides" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Tides</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an old favorite of mine from when I moonlighted as a Stax player. Both punishing to creature decks of all colors, but especially to those big green baddies that love to find themselves across the table.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mist of Stagnation" href="#" target="_blank">Mist of Stagnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can hurt us just as much or possibly worse than anyone else at the table, but this deck operates with a slight vibe of "high risk, high reward."</p>
<h2>One, Two, Free Spells</h2>
<p>When your deck doesn't start playing the game until turn three, you need some cards that can break serve against the rest of the table. That's where free spells come in. Our deck runs the classic free counter magic suite of cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Will"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Negation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fierce Guardianship"></div></div>
<p>Black also gives us access to a triple threat of free removal spells.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadly Rollick"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snuff Out"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Despair"></div></div>
<p>Finally, some cards allow us to refund their mana cost when they resolve, making them essentially free.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rewind"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frantic Search"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unwind"></div></div>
<p>People say cheaters never win, but those people have never cast a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frantic Search" href="#" target="_blank">Frantic Search</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with lands like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dimir Aqueduct" href="#" target="_blank">Dimir Aqueduct</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play.</p>
<h2>Y'shtola, Night's Blessed Deck List</h2>
<p>Here's the final deck list:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Three of a Kind - Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Absorb
*1 Aetherize
*1 Baleful Mastery
*1 Bane&#039;s Contingency
*1 Commit // Memory
*1 Deadly Rollick
*1 Dig Through Time
*1 Fact or Fiction
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Force of Despair
*1 Force of Negation
*1 Force of Will
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Hellish Rebuke
*1 Inkshield
*1 Memory Plunder
*1 Patrician&#039;s Scorn
*1 Perch Protection
*1 Perplex
*1 Quick Study
*1 Render Silent
*1 Rewind
*1 Settle the Wreckage
*1 Silundi Vision // Silundi Isle
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Snuff Out
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Revelation
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
*1 Undermine
*1 Unwind
*1 Void Rend
*1 Waterlogged Teachings // Inundated Archive
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Approach of the Second Sun
*1 Austere Command
*1 Blasphemous Edict
*1 Fractured Identity
*1 Idyllic Tutor
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Risky Shortcut
*1 Supreme Verdict
*1 The Battle of Bywater
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 As Foretold
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Breathstealer&#039;s Crypt
*1 Dream Tides
*1 Estrid&#039;s Invocation
*1 Ghostly Prison
*1 Grasp of Fate
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon
*1 Lich&#039;s Mastery
*1 Mist of Stagnation
*1 Nine Lives
*1 Painful Quandary
*1 Pendrell Mists
*1 Propaganda
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Soul Barrier
*1 Sphere of Safety
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Bleachbone Verge
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Dimir Aqueduct
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Gloomlake Verge
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*4 Island
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Meticulous Archive
*1 Mistrise Village
*1 Morphic Pool
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*1 Orzhov Basilica
*1 Otawara, Soaring City
*2 Plains
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Raffine&#039;s Tower
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Shadowy Backstreet
*1 Shattered Sanctum
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*2 Swamp
*1 Undercity Sewers
*1 Vault of Champions
*1 Watery Grave
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Wrap Up on Y'shtola</h2>
<p>The more that I think about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the more I like it. While it's not as flashy as some of the cards released recently, there are a lot of ways you could build the deck. Many of them involve being much less thematic than I am, but all of them are interesting. Hopefully everyone is pumped about the collaboration with <em>Final Fantasy</em>, and if Y'shtola is your favorite character, I hope this card did them justice.</p>
<p>If you liked this deck or want to see more content related to <em>Final Fantasy</em>, keep a lookout here on EDHREC for all the great content from the fantastic team of writers, or bookmark our <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-commander-deck-techs"><em>Final Fantasy </em>deck tech collection</a>. As always, I'm Nick, and you can find me at all the internet places where I've laid claim to nicnax96 as a username. I hope to see your version of this very cool Cat Warlock at a table one day.</p>


Y'shtola, Night's Blessed Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/ludongjun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russel Lu</a></em></p>
<p>I might not have the best history with the <em>Final Fantasy</em> games, but I <em>do</em> have a long history with the Demon creature type, which is why <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stood out to me as the previews for the newest set came in. My first-ever booster pack was a <em>Champions of Kamigawa</em> pack, which had some real beauties in it, including one of my prized Magic possessions: a foil <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuro, Pitlord" href="#" target="_blank">Kuro, Pitlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While time and power creep haven’t been kind to poor Kuro, the creature type has remained iconic. Like they have been since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of the Pit" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of the Pit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in <em>Alpha</em>, Demons are huge flying creatures based in black. Over the years, however, they’ve been released from the shackles of drawbacks to become truly terrifying!</p>
<h2>Notable Demons for Ardyn, the Usurper</h2>
<p>Ardyn is not a Demon, nor does he meet many of the requirements of a Demon, outside of a high mana value and a whole lot of black color pips. What Ardyn <em>does</em> do, however, is give Demons a host of keywords: menace, lifelink, and haste. He also reanimates creatures of any type from our graveyard as 5/5 black Demons (which, of course, get all the keywords he provides).</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ardyn, the Usurper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ob Nixilis, Unshackled"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valgavoth, Terror Eater"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vilis, Broker of Blood"></div></div></p>
<p>We want our Demons to be big creatures that dominate the board and provide large chunks of flying damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rune-Scarred Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Rune-Scarred Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a big, beefy brawler that battles above the clouds, but the best aspect of this bruiser is that he brings along a buddy. With all the different jobs Demons can do, he’s a veritable swiss army knife!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonlord Belzenlok"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rot-Curse Rakshasa"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rune-Scarred Demon"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harvester of Souls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Great Unclean One"></div></div></p>
<p>One of my favorite Demons is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodgift Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodgift Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a medium-sized flying threat that gives a mini-<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sign in Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Sign in Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to any player each upkeep. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Arena" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Arena</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is still potent, and one attached to a large flyer is fairly good. Even better, though, is the political aspect. If someone else needs cards to catch up we can give them some, and it can also deal the final point of damage in a pinch!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plague Drone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodgift Demon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodletter of Aclazotz"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sower of Discord"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archfiend of Despair"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desecration Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Desecration Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> used to dominate <em>Return to Ravnica</em> Standard, and it’s still a cheap political threat that gets better as the game goes on. While it appears to be an above-rate flyer, it gets better in the context of a Demon deck. By itself, it forces opponents to choose between letting him grow and sacrificing a creature to tap him down and grow him. Some decks will have spare bodies, but most will have to make a tough call; even those who can regularly pay the sac tax will eventually have to pay the piper once our other removal goes online.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burning-Rune Demon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord of the Void"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Razaketh, the Foulblooded"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Venomcrawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Desecration Demon"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abhorrent Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Abhorrent Overlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our equivalent to Gary (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gray Merchant of Asphodel" href="#" target="_blank">Gray Merchant of Asphodel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). Maybe we should call her Abby. Would that catch on? Let me know in the comments below! Regardless, the Overlord gives us a host of Harpies equal to our devotion to black, which should be quite high. While not quite the game-ending big bang shot of Gary, Abby gives us enough power to close games out in one or two big, evasive swings.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demon of Wailing Agonies"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reiver Demon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abhorrent Overlord"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demon of Loathing"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kothophed, Soul Hoarder"></div></div></p>
<p>One of the more instantly impactful Demons on a game of Commander is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Whisperer" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Whisperer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Believe it or not, the most dangerous aspect of this card isn’t a word or a number: it’s a punctuation mark. The colon between the phrase “Pay 2 life” and “Surveil 2” means that we can pay any amount of life in increments of two to stack our topdeck and load up the graveyard. We can even set up the reanimation of powerful creatures.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doom Whisperer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demon of Dark Schemes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nightmare Shepherd"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakshasa Debaser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infernal Sovereign"></div></div></p>
<h2>Cards for Demon Typal Strategies</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana&#039;s Contract" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana&#039;s Contract</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the more powerful pieces of typal technology any creature type has access to. Even in a deck without Demons, four Changelings can facilitate the alternate win condition. Since the deck is packed with them, fulfilling the condition is nice and easy.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana&#039;s Contract"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Speaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Counsel"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Living Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whip of Erebos"></div></div></p>
<p>One of the aspects of Demons in popular culture is that they're closely tied to death, making them incredibly difficult to put down once and for all. Reanimation spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animate Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Animate Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> epitomize this, although perhaps the scariest and deadliest reanimation spell in <em>Magic</em> is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dread Return" href="#" target="_blank">Dread Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, castable from the graveyard without paying any mana, combining perfectly with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Whisperer" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Whisperer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s graveyard loading to bin the threat and the reanimation spell without paying a single mana.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dread Return"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Covenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Animate Dead"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haunting Voyage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bringer of the Last Gift"></div></div></p>
<h2>Demon Ramp</h2>
<p>One of the major downsides of Demons is their high casting cost. Rituals can help pay costs beyond the amount of mana we have, but we start to feel the aftereffects later when removal starts to catch up. Foretelling Demons with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helps us to control how wide and how quickly our board develops, letting us play around removal and pressure just enough to provoke responses.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Ritual"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Ritual"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dream Devourer"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Cellarspawn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abyssal Harvester"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bontu&#039;s Monument" href="#" target="_blank">Bontu&#039;s Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another cost reducer, this time coming with a repeated source of card advantage. Each creature we create comes with a mini-<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sign in Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Sign in Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, just like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodgift Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodgift Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, helping us find more creatures and dig deeper and deeper for the pieces we need to close out the game.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herald&#039;s Horn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Incubator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sol Ring"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bontu&#039;s Monument"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jet Medallion"></div></div></p>
<h2>Removal Spells for Ardyn</h2>
<p>Demons are warped and twisted minds, thriving on asserting their power over the living. This is shown in their propensity for forcing opponents to sacrifice creatures rather than using targeted destruction. After all, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is more likely to answer the specific threat, making the opponent choose between their favorite creatures with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Depravity" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Depravity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is so much more delicious!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archfiend of Depravity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reaper from the Abyss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Indulgent Tormentor"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overseer of the Damned"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Withering Torment"></div></div></p>
<p>While spot removal might not be the Demon's way, sometimes it is necessary. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Infernal Grasp" href="#" target="_blank">Infernal Grasp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feed the Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Feed the Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are some of the rare bits of enchantment removal in mono-black, although some say that they're color pie breaks. Here, however, they're necessary bits of removal for permanents we can’t easily answer.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infernal Grasp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feed the Swarm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Dominance"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shadowgrange Archfiend"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pestilence Demon"></div></div></p>
<h2>Ardyn, the Usurper Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>Here's our list:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Ardyn, the Usurper Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ardyn, the Usurper
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Abhorrent Overlord
*1 Abyssal Harvester
*1 Ancient Cellarspawn
*1 Archfiend of Depravity
*1 Archfiend of Despair
*1 Blood Speaker
*1 Bloodgift Demon
*1 Bloodletter of Aclazotz
*1 Bringer of the Last Gift
*1 Burning-Rune Demon
*1 Demon of Dark Schemes
*1 Demon of Loathing
*1 Demon of Wailing Agonies
*1 Demonlord Belzenlok
*1 Desecration Demon
*1 Doom Whisperer
*1 Dream Devourer
*1 Great Unclean One
*1 Harvester of Souls
*1 Indulgent Tormentor
*1 Infernal Sovereign
*1 Kothophed, Soul Hoarder
*1 Lord of the Void
*1 Nightmare Shepherd
*1 Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
*1 Overseer of the Damned
*1 Pestilence Demon
*1 Plague Drone
*1 Rakshasa Debaser
*1 Razaketh, the Foulblooded
*1 Reaper from the Abyss
*1 Reiver Demon
*1 Rot-Curse Rakshasa
*1 Rune-Scarred Demon
*1 Shadowgrange Archfiend
*1 Sower of Discord
*1 Valgavoth, Terror Eater
*1 Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire
*1 Venomcrawler
*1 Vilis, Broker of Blood
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Animate Dead
*1 Demonic Covenant
*1 Liliana&#039;s Contract
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Demonic Counsel
*1 Dread Return
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Haunting Voyage
*1 Kindred Dominance
*1 Living Death
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bontu&#039;s Monument
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Jet Medallion
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Urza&#039;s Incubator
*1 Whip of Erebos
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Cabal Ritual
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Infernal Grasp
*1 Withering Torment
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*40 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Final Thoughts on Ardyn, the Usurper Demon Typal</h2>
<p>Demons are large black flyers, and Ardyn helps make them ever more dangerous and threatening. They do a variety of jobs, from drawing cards to forcing opponents to sacrifice their own creatures. Sometimes they're a little slow at contributing to the board, but there are cost reducers to help with that, and they've been power crept in a definitive way!</p>


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