Borderland Explorer – The Rani

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Rally the Ancestors - Legends of the Honored One

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Archetune-Up - The Cat that Hits Back

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trespasser&#039;s Curse" href="#" target="_blank">Trespasser&#039;s Curse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.dvpalumbo.com/magic-the-gathering.html">David Palumbo</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>Those who are doomed to fight are doomed to die. But if you’re prepared to die, fear quiets to acceptance, and the battlefield changes.</p>
<p>Welcome to the latest episode of <em>Dual Shot</em>, where we brew two decks at the same time… in one deck.</p>
<p>This time, we’re hiding a Forced Combat deck inside a Curse deck, driven by a heavy statistical overlap in play with cards like Curse of the Nightly Hunt, Sphere of Safety, and Gahiji, Honored One – along with many others.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curse of the Nightly Hunt"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphere of Safety"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gahiji, Honored One"></div></div>
<p>In a very real sense, these two themes are two sides of the same coin. Forcing combat disincentivizes opponents from attacking you, and Curses incentivize them to attack elsewhere. A purer approach to either of these archetypes invariably yields some overlap anyway, so why not commit to noncommittal? The style of no style could be argued to be optimal, and being able to adapt to a changing battlefield – or a political landscape – could be your way out.</p>
<p>But don’t rely on hope, or on some survival instinct. Recognize that you will die, and embrace the melee.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arena"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>And No, Not That Arena®</h2>
<p>Feel free to embrace the newest digital platform, but 1v1 is a bit too scary for this deck. What about all those martial arts metaphors I’m always so keen on? Uh, well, maybe this deck is more on the trash talk side of things, and wilts a fair bit when the violence is directed its way. As Iron Mike said, everyone has a plan till they get punched in the mouth.</p>
<p>So don’t get punched in the mouth. <em>Hey, that guy called you a jerk, are you gonna take that?</em> Ah, so maybe it’s not about trash talking in itself, but more about fomenting trash talk amongst the other players. I almost hesitate to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this list, as you’ll see later, simply because it tends to attract a lot of attention. We do need some mana fixing and ramp, though, since this is a five-color deck helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami" href="#" target="_blank">O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>But again, all that talk of battle earlier on was just a lot of pomp, and that big Kami is secretly kind of a coward. It’s unlikely that we’ll get the chance to counterpunch with our polycephalic Dragon Spirit… unless we opportunistically intercept an opponent’s strike with our face.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nettling Curse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Master Warcraft"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pramikon, Sky Rampart"></div></div>
<p>Note that I don’t recommend this strategy for an actual fight.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Sidelines</h2>
<p>While there is a lane for accepting (or manipulating) the combat that comes our way thanks to cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitterheart Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Bitterheart Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thantis, the Warweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Thantis, the Warweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs" href="#" target="_blank">Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, more often we’ll be avoiding that, hiding from the fray in our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphere of Safety" href="#" target="_blank">Sphere of Safety</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It’s cozy in there, and even has some added redundancy in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Windborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baird, Steward of Argive" href="#" target="_blank">Baird, Steward of Argive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Prison" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Prison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>And while we provide plenty of battle fodder with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hunted Phantasm" href="#" target="_blank">Hunted Phantasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Spymaster" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Spymaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor" href="#" target="_blank">Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <em>and</em> we have numerous <em>Goad</em> effects, about 60% of the deck is geared towards cursing our opponents. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Idyllic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Idyllic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heliod’s Pigrim" href="#" target="_blank">Heliod’s Pigrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitterheart Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Bitterheart Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (with a little nudge, anyway) all help us pick and choose what flavor of curse we need in the moment. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Misfortunes" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Misfortunes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes this selection to an extreme, and if left unaddressed for more than a few turn cycles, will often win you the game through attrition. That’s the sort of vengeance that should placate the old Kami.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="O-Kagachi Curses You" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Accursed Witch
*1 Bitterheart Witch
*1 Heliod&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Baird, Steward of Argive
*1 Windborn Muse
*1 Thantis, the Warweaver
*1 Pramikon, Sky Rampart
*1 Saskia the Unyielding
*1 Sower of Discord
*1 Tiana, Ship’s Caretaker
*1 Mathas, Fiend Seeker
*1 Xantcha, Sleeper Agent
*1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
*1 Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor
*1 Gahiji, Honored One
*1 Fumiko the Lowblood
*1 Warmonger Hellkite
*1 Marisi, Breaker of the Coil
*1 Goblin Spymaster
*1 Hunted Phantasm
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Exotic Curse
*1 Curse of the Nightly Hunt
*1 Nettling Curse
*1 Curse of Misfortunes
*1 Curse of Thirst
*1 Curse of Opulence
*1 Curse of Fool’s Wisdom
*1 Curse of Exhaustion
*1 Curse of the Pierced Heart
*1 Trespasser’s Curse
*1 Curse of the Shallow Graves
*1 Curse of Disturbance
*1 Curse of Stalked Prey
*1 Curse of Death’s Hold
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Vitality
*1 Curse of the Cabal
*1 Curse of Oblivion
*1 Curse of Echoes
*1 Curse of Verbosity
*1 Curse of Vengeance
*1 Curse of Bounty
*1 Curse of Chaos
*1 Cruel Reality
*1 Overwhelming Splendor
*1 Captive Audience
*1 Ghostly Prison
*1 Sphere of Safety
*1 Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Master Warcraft
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Path to Exile
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Idyllic Tutor
*1 Disrupt Decorum
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Commander’s Sphere
*1 Darksteel Ingot
*1 Prismatic Geoscope
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Command Tower
*1 City of Brass
*1 Cascading Cataracts
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Frontier Bivouac
*1 Jungle Shrine
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Mystic Monastery
*1 Savage Lands
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Rupture Spire
*1 Transguild Promenade
*1 Gateway Plaza
*4 Plains
*4 Island
*3 Swamp
*3 Mountain
*3 Forest
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exotic Curse" href="#" target="_blank">Exotic Curse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> won’t do much work for you, even though we have a number of basic lands in the deck. It was a flavor inclusion, and if you prefer the taste of winning, then consider the following: although this deck is a joy to play and pilot, it is barely scratching the surface of battlecruiser Magic. It simply does not have enough removal, and does not usually present threats at a meaningful tempo, <em>and</em> relies overmuch on politicking. Not even the Group Hug kind of politics – truly, the charisma-required “have you considered attacking someone else” type of politics. (Note: this isn't to say Group Hug doesn't require charisma; in fact, it might even require actual Machiavellianism.)</p>
<p>It is a five-color deck, however. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exotic Curse" href="#" target="_blank">Exotic Curse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> needs to go, and those basics, as well as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terramorphic Expanse" href="#" target="_blank">Terramorphic Expanse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fabled Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Fabled Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolving Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Evolving Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, should all be replaced with shocklands if able, and a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Confluence" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Confluence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gemstone Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Gemstone Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you’re feeling opulent. The basic land fetches are helpful, but as you can see, there are often better options.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terramorphic Expanse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fabled Passage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evolving Wilds"></div></div>
<p>As well, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of the Pierced Heart" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of the Pierced Heart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is… bad. And I’m quite sure I put it in the deck because it said “Curse” on it. I did ignore several curses that attack your opponents’ libraries, simply because I did not envision mill as a viable option when melding the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dual Shot" href="#" target="_blank">Dual Shot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span><sup>TM </sup>of the deck. All this to say that there are a few slots that are begging to be replaced with better interaction, board control, and emergency outs.</p>
<p>But what remains in the brew is surprisingly and enjoyably effective, should the stars align. And given our handful of enchantment tutors, sometimes we can smudge the telescopic lens and make the stars align ourselves. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Death’s Hold" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Death’s Hold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can board wipe indestructible pests, making it a meaningful pick through <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Misfortunes" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Misfortunes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. So long, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thopter Assembly" href="#" target="_blank">Thopter Assembly</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> be damned.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darksteel Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thopter Assembly"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curse of Death’s Hold"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Exhaustion" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Exhaustion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can quell a storm, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Oblivion" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Oblivion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can quiet the old lichyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of the Cabal" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of the Cabal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can put some heavy pressure on your opponents, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Thirst" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Thirst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can knock a player out of the running. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Echoes" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Echoes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Inertia" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Inertia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Chaos" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Chaos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make the game, well, uh, weird. Which makes for great fun! Sometimes you’ll make a hideously sticky web of incentives and caveats for each combatant – a web whose strings only you can pluck. And sometimes you give an opponent access to their best cards and combos. Also, the word “curse” stops sounding like a real word.</p>
<p>That’s it for this installment of <em>Dual Shot</em>. Did the battle fill you with fear? Or had you already prepared to die, allowing yourself to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clear the Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Clear the Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Tell us below about the games you’ve played where things got out of hand. And, won or lost, how you managed to calmly navigate the chaos.</p>
<p>Until next time!</p>


Dual Shot - Cursed Combat

Commander Showdown - Marisi vs Thantis

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