<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Derevi, Empyrial Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Derevi, Empyrial Tactician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://conceptartworld.com/artists/michael-komarck/">Michael Komarck</a>)</h6>
<h1>Plan 9 from Outer Bant</h1>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Power Sink</em>, the article series where we take the commanders with the most bite, and give them a deck that won't leave a pod in shambles. This time we have a bone to pick with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Derevi, Empyrial Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Derevi, Empyrial Tactician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Derevi, Empyrial Tactician"></div></div>
<p>Rather than bury the lede like I usually do, I'm going to let you know upfront that I'm building a Zombie deck. Before all the purists out there tear me limb from limb in the comments, let me just explain that Derevi is, in fact, a Zombie. First of all, Derevi just keeps coming back from the dead with her ability to come out of the command zone for just four mana. Second, as soon as she shows up, all of your creatures are afflicted with the ability to tap or untap permanents whenever they deal combat damage to an opponents. Seems like a Zombie plague to me. If anything, Derevi is more of a Zombie than any of the commanders that actually have the creature type!</p>
<p>Derevi's abilities are powerful if you build around them, and having access to blue green and white means you can utilize the cards and mana you need to deploy your strategy as well as the means to protect it. Derevi's been around since <em>Commander 2013, </em>so most players are familiar with how strong it can be, but let's take a look at the average deck on EDHREC and see what Derevi decks are up to these days.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Derevi: Average Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Arbor Elf
*1 Archivist of Oghma
*1 Archon of Emeria
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Aven Mindcensor
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Bloom Tender
*1 Collector Ouphe
*1 Drannith Magistrate
*1 Edric, Spymaster of Trest
*1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Empyrean Eagle
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Faeburrow Elder
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
*1 Hokori, Dust Drinker
*1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Loran of the Third Path
*1 Myrel, Shield of Argive
*1 Noble Hierarch
*1 Preston, the Vanisher
*1 Seedborn Muse
*1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets
*1 Watcher of the Spheres
*1 Willbreaker
*1 Yisan, the Wanderer Bard
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tamiyo, Field Researcher
[/Planeswalkers]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aura Shards
*1 Mystic Remora
*1 Reconnaissance Mission
*1 Rhystic Study
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Stasis
*1 Sylvan Library
*1 Verity Circle
*1 Wild Growth
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Mana Crypt
*1 Selesnya Signet
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Winter Orb
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Eldritch Evolution
*1 Farseek
*1 Finale of Devastation
*1 Green Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Chord of Calling
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Dovin&#039;s Veto
*1 Eladamri&#039;s Call
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swan Song
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Worldly Tutor
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Flooded Strand
*5 Forest
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*3 Island
*1 Misty Rainforest
*4 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Undead-locked</h2>
<p>Derevi has long had a reputation as a stax commander, and that's certainly present in the average deck. While <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/derevi-empyrial-tactician/pod">Pod</a> may be the most popular theme on Derevi's page, if you take a close look, you can see that it's also basically a stax deck. The classic move here is to get in with small creatures to untap your lands, mitigating the effects of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stasis" href="#" target="_blank">Stasis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hokori, Dust Drinker" href="#" target="_blank">Hokori, Dust Drinker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Once opponents have been locked out of mana, they can easily be beaten down by small creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archon of Emeria" href="#" target="_blank">Archon of Emeria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Collector Ouphe" href="#" target="_blank">Collector Ouphe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the controversial <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drannith Magistrate" href="#" target="_blank">Drannith Magistrate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which also restricts player options.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stasis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archon of Emeria"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myrel, Shield of Argive"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myrel, Shield of Argive" href="#" target="_blank">Myrel, Shield of Argive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> shows up in 21% of the 92 Derevi decks made since <em>The Brothers' War</em> was released, and it's easy to see why. Keeping opponents from responding during your turn is great for dropping a combo or a stax piece, and those Soldiers she makes are just more potential untaps for Derevi.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Verity Circle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tamiyo, Field Researcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Willbreaker"></div></div>
<p>With a commander that cares about dealing combat damage, it's natural for card draw like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bident of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Bident of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toski, Bearer of Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Toski, Bearer of Secrets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to show up. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tamiyo, Field Researcher" href="#" target="_blank">Tamiyo, Field Researcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can tap down permanents if you don't need more cards, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Verity Circle" href="#" target="_blank">Verity Circle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets you convert Derevi's taps into cards. While it's not a combat damage trigger on its own, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Willbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets you use Derevi to steal opposing creatures by targeting them.</p>
<p>So now, let's change things up!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Derevi &#039;s Zombie Apocalypse" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Adorned Pouncer
*1 Adrix and Nev, Twincasters
*1 Ancient Greenwarden
*1 Angel of Sanctions
*1 Anointer Priest
*1 Aven Eternal
*1 Aven Wind Guide
*1 Binding Mummy
*1 Champion of Wits
*1 Cleaver Skaab
*1 Eternal Skylord
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Geralf, Visionary Stitcher
*1 God-Eternal Oketra
*1 Havengul Runebinder
*1 Honored Hydra
*1 Hordewing Skaab
*1 Murasa Rootgrazer
*1 Poppet Stitcher // Poppet Factory
*1 Ramunap Excavator
*1 Riftsweeper
*1 Ruin Ghost
*1 Stitcher Geralf
*1 Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun
*1 Timeless Dragon
*1 Timeless Witness
*1 Tobias, Doomed Conqueror
*1 Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice
*1 Vizier of Many Faces
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Crop Rotation
*1 Druid&#039;s Deliverance
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Keep Watch
*1 Lazotep Plating
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Rootborn Defenses
*1 Sundering Growth
*1 Thirst for Discovery
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Legion Loyalty
*1 Song of the Worldsoul
*1 Verity Circle
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 God-Pharaoh&#039;s Gift
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Symmetry Matrix
*1 Throne of the God-Pharaoh
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Farseek
*1 Hour of Promise
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Pir&#039;s Whim
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Sylvan Scrying
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Brushland
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Field of the Dead
*3 Forest
*1 Gavony Township
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*3 Island
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*3 Snow-Covered Forest
*3 Snow-Covered Island
*3 Snow-Covered Plains
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*1 Thespian&#039;s Stage
*1 Treva&#039;s Ruins
*1 Vesuva
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Zombieland</h2>
<p>While Zombies exist in every color of <em>Magic</em>, it's safe to say that black is <em>the</em> Zombie color. While we're cutting ourselves off from the best Zombies and Zombie payoffs, we still have ways to make ravenous brain-eating hordes.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Field of the Dead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Greenwarden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ruin Ghost"></div></div>
<p>We're leaning heavily on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Field of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Field of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make our Zombies. While it's not our only option, it is the most effective, and a chunk of our deck is going to be dedicated to it. We can tutor it up with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hour of Promise" href="#" target="_blank">Hour of Promise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Scrying" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Scrying</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pir&#039;s Whim" href="#" target="_blank">Pir&#039;s Whim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives us the added bonus of taking away our opponents' toys. If we already have our Field in play, we can find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vesuva" href="#" target="_blank">Vesuva</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thespian&#039;s Stage" href="#" target="_blank">Thespian&#039;s Stage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead to copy it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Greenwarden" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Greenwarden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will double up our field triggers and allows us to get it back if it ends up in the graveyard.</p>
<p>We don't want to rely solely on lands to trigger the Field, so we're also running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murasa Rootgrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Murasa Rootgrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruin Ghost" href="#" target="_blank">Ruin Ghost</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to get extra <em>Landfall</em> triggers. Plus, these also give us something else to do with the untap triggers from our commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stitcher Geralf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Geralf, Visionary Stitcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Havengul Runebinder"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stitcher Geralf" href="#" target="_blank">Stitcher Geralf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Havengul Runebinder" href="#" target="_blank">Havengul Runebinder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Geralf, Visionary Stitcher" href="#" target="_blank">Geralf, Visionary Stitcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all have tap abilities that create Zombies which we can untap with Derevi. In fact, Derevi makes a good target to sacrifice for Geralf since she negates commander tax.</p>
<p>Creatures with <em>Embalm</em> and <em>Eternalize</em> are another avenue to grow our Zombie horde, and many of them have useful effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angel of Sanctions" href="#" target="_blank">Angel of Sanctions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is removal, we can draw with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion of Wits" href="#" target="_blank">Champion of Wits</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aven Wind Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Aven Wind Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> grants flying and vigilance to our token creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Timeless Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Timeless Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Honored Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Honored Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are there for when we just need a big creature. Finally we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Pharaoh&#039;s Gift" href="#" target="_blank">God-Pharaoh&#039;s Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to "<em>Eternalize</em>" any creature in our graveyard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angel of Sanctions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aven Wind Guide"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="God-Pharaoh&#039;s Gift"></div></div>
<p>These tokens are the best targets for our <em>Populate</em> effects, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of the Worldsoul" href="#" target="_blank">Song of the Worldsoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and we can copy them by sacrificing them to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cleaver Skaab" href="#" target="_blank">Cleaver Skaab</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Song of the Worldsoul"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cleaver Skaab"></div></div>
<p>Since we don't want games with this deck to end 28 days later, we're splurging a bit with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anointed Procession" href="#" target="_blank">Anointed Procession</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to facilitate making an overwhelming army of tokens. We also have a cheaper version of the effect with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adrix and Nev, Twincasters" href="#" target="_blank">Adrix and Nev, Twincasters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and we can drop <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legion Loyalty" href="#" target="_blank">Legion Loyalty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in advance of a big swing to close out the game. Of course, if combat isn't an option we're throwing in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throne of the God-Pharaoh" href="#" target="_blank">Throne of the God-Pharaoh</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to drain the table directly.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adrix and Nev, Twincasters"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Legion Loyalty"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Throne of the God-Pharaoh"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Left 4 Dead</h2>
<p>I want to give credit to my buddy Alex for inspiring this deck. I was enamored with his Selesnya Zombies deck when I'd seen him talk about in a few online communities. I've had the opportunity to play against the deck a few times, and it's a ton of fun to see in action. You can check out his current version <a href="https://www.moxfield.com/decks/ILGjbsDkh0q_dwMvHwD_EQ">here</a>, or you can listen to <a href="https://cmdrcentral.libsyn.com/">CMDR Central</a> do a breakdown of an older version when it was led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <a href="https://cmdrcentral.libsyn.com/196-decks-you-play-trostani-selesnyas-voice">here.</a> Alex's deck is way more tuned than what I put together, but I think both are unique conversation piece decks.</p>
<p>Much like how society collapsing due to a Zombie outbreak brings people together in a tenuous alliance for survival, an interesting Commander deck can build connections with people you wouldn't expect. What did you think of this deck? Was it a thriller? Or do I not have any Braaaaiiinns? Let me know in the comments.</p>


Power Sink - Derevi's Zombie Apocalypse

Too-Specific Top 10 - Undead Legends

Power Sink - Chulane: The White Album

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teyo, the Shieldmage" href="#" target="_blank">Teyo, the Shieldmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.magali-villeneuve.com/">Magali Villeneuve</a>)</h6>
<h1>Resparking the War</h1>
<p>If I've learned anything from playing too much <em>Civilization V, </em>it's this: wars can be started over anything. In <em>Magic</em>, for example, a war started a year ago over sparks. Today, we're going to review it.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello, and welcome to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/tag/the-600/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The 600</a>, </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">the article series where I predict whether new commanders will earn over or under 600 decks after a year of existence. The one-year birthday of <em>War of the Spark</em> was on May 3rd, 2020, so l</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">et's see how <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Omens">nice and/or accurate my prophecies</a> were</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I'll be quoting last year's article throughout this one, but if you'd like to read the whole thing, you can find it <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/the-600-predicting-the-popularity-of-war-of-the-spark-commanders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. Also, please note that the following deck stats are pulled from May 3rd. Onward!</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>The Easy Overs</h2>
<p>If there was a "Most Likely to Succeed" commander from <em>War of the Spark's </em>legendary creature class, it was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feather, the Redeemed" href="#" target="_blank">Feather, the Redeemed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feather, the Redeemed"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A slam-dunk Over selection for me. Feather ended the year with 2,287 decks, the most of any commander in this set. In fact, she's now the most popular Boros commander by a country mile and the 17th most popular commander on the site. She'll be delivering TED Talks soon.</span></p>
<p>Finishing a distant second is Niv-Mizzet's fourth incarnation:</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Niv-Mizzet Reborn"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s what I wrote about the Mizz-Father last year:</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Niv-Mizzet Reborn can add to a couple existing archetypes, plus creates his own. He’s versatile, powerful, and is a pretty famous character to boot. I like the over so much that I’m picking this as my Can’t Miss Pick."</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I stand by that analysis, and it proved correct. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet Reborn" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet Reborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> earned 1,197 decks. It also spared me the embarrassment of missing a Can't-Miss-Pick, so that’s a plus.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Those were our only Overs for the entire set. Both pretty easy. Now let's examine the Unders.</span></p>
<hr />
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Easy Unders</span></h2>
<p>Fair warning: There were many of these. Another fair warning: I took the Under on them all. Go me.</p>
<p>We'll start with the easiest picks of the bunch.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tomik, Distinguished Advokist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="God-Eternal Rhonas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="God-Eternal Bontu"></div></div>
<p>These were the least popular commanders of the set, earning just 24, 52, and 74 decks respectively. I'll admit, I'm a little surprised Bontu didn't fare better; I've been impressed, especially in conjunction with <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pitiless Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Pitiless Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I suppose she's better in the 99.</p>
<p>Next up, we have these three unloved commanders:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storrev, Devkarin Lich"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Neheb, Dreadhorde Champion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roalesk, Apex Hybrid"></div></div>
<p>Just 117, 211, and 212 decks, respectively. Some quick hits from last year's article:</p>
<blockquote><p>"[Storrev]'s in a guild with tons of competition, her ability is difficult to set up...and there's already a popular commander in her colors that does what she does better."</p>
<p>"Mono-color commanders very rarely make it to the 600 mark and I don’t see Neheb being good enough to get there."</p>
<p>"Roalesk stinks and I find his name weird."</p></blockquote>
<p>That last quote was made up, but I stand by it. For starters, the name: it sounds like a middle-stage Pokemon evolution. For another thing, when he was released, Roalesk's <em>Proliferate </em>wouldn't trigger if he went to the command zone. This has recently changed, but that's definitely not enough time for people to have built 388 decks.</p>
<p>Speaking of Pokemon, let's talk about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> next, since it reminds me of an Emboar.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Here's what I wrote back then:</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The closest comparison I see for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feldon of the Third Path" href="#" target="_blank">Feldon of the Third Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both are mono-red and both cheat giant creatures into play…However, check out Feldon’s commander page. For a card that came out about three years ago, 702 decks is pretty poor. If that’s any indication, I don’t think Ilharg will fare much better."</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now that’s a pig roast. As it turns out, Ilharg earned the fifth most decks of any commander in this set with 356. Not great, but better than I expected.</span></p>
<p>Finally, we have this trio of underachievers:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="God-Eternal Kefnet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fblthp, the Lost"></div></div>
<p>Kefnet earned 354 decks, Krenko 263, and Fblthp 228. Not much to comment on except Fblthp, who looks like a kid lost in a shopping mall and therefore has my pity. He does not, however, have my support—nor did he a year ago.</p>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"[Fblthp] makes you play cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorph" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Proteus Staff" href="#" target="_blank">Proteus Staff</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, he makes you dig him out of your deck, and in return, you get a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Divination" href="#" target="_blank">Divination</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I’ve got a better idea. Just play Divination."</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Funnily enough, there are almost as many Fblthps played as Divinations (2,419 to 2,777). I personally find that alarming, but what do I know?</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>The Only Under</h2>
<p>Though I was ultimately correct with my Under prediction, I'm still surprised this commander helmed as many decks as it did...</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="God-Eternal Oketra"></div></div>
<p>Finishing the year with 465 decks, Oketra fared far better than I anticipated (certainly better than her previous version, who has just 84 decks). In fact, she came the closest of any commander in this set to 600 without going over.</p>
<p>Based on <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/god-eternal-oketra" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">her commander page</a>, I think I missed some nice interactions with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whitemane Lion" href="#" target="_blank">Whitemane Lion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stonecloaker" href="#" target="_blank">Stonecloaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kor Skyfisher" href="#" target="_blank">Kor Skyfisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Since they all bounce themselves, you can generate as many 4/4s with them as you can afford. And imagine <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathars&#039; Crusade" href="#" target="_blank">Cathars&#039; Crusade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in addition! I can see why she appealed to nearly 600 deckbuilders.</p>
<h2>The Egregious Overs</h2>
<p>And now we come to it. You might've noticed that, until this point, I haven't missed a pick. That's all about to change, starting with this fellow:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mowu, Loyal Companion"></div></div>
<p>Ever since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tatyova, Benthic Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Tatyova, Benthic Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I've been trying—and failing—to pick the next uncommon commander hit. Here are my initial thoughts on Mowu:</p>
<blockquote><p>"Seriously, those delts…"</p></blockquote>
<p>More pertinently...</p>
<blockquote><p>"...+1/+1 counters have always been a popular archetype, as has Voltron. Mowu combines them both...Finally, let’s not forget that this set has <em>Proliferate</em>. Whenever you <em>Proliferate</em> on Mowu, you get two counters instead of just one."</p></blockquote>
<p>Not untrue, but evidently not compelling for EDH players. Looking at <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/mowu-loyal-companion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mowu's page</a>, it appears the deck is more linear than I thought (almost exclusively +1/+1 counters), which probably isn't exciting for deckbuilders.</p>
<p>My next incorrect pick...</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Massacre Girl"></div></div>
<p>I think I was fooled by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Girl" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Girl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s initial hype. Some Vorthoses I knew were excited to see her mentions in flavor text come to life on a card—and a unique one at that. Here's what I wrote last time:</p>
<blockquote><p>"...[Massacre Girl's] ability demands careful deckbuilding. That’s because if you want consistent board wipes, you’ll need to build a chain reaction of dying creatures (at least one X/1 must die to initiate more deaths). This, I believe, will make for an unusual deck build and therefore more builders.</p>
<p>"What’s more, there are a few ways one could build a <span class="edhrecp__link">Massacre Girl</span> EDH deck. The most obvious is some sort of aristocrats deck, but why not a tokens deck, or a <em>Morbid</em> deck, or even a mono-black control deck?"</p></blockquote>
<p>Checking <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/massacre-girl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MG's commander page</a>, it appears most decks lean toward the middle of my three proposed possibilities. Though most decks don't explicitly build around the <em>Morbid </em>keyword, high synergy cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Betrayal" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Betrayal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all capitalize on dying creatures. Cute, but that's not bringing anything new to mono-black. Plus, I might've overestimated the fun of a board wipe on a stick.</p>
<p>The last of my failed Over picks is probably the most egregious.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves"></div></div>
<p>More like Friend to Fools, because I was a fool to ever befriend this guy. Here's why I did it:</p>
<blockquote><p>"The closest analog I can find here is with Cat tribal. Same color combination, same underserved and slightly goofy tribe. The printing of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arahbo, Roar of the World" href="#" target="_blank">Arahbo, Roar of the World</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was all it took to make the archetype viable.</p>
<p>"Does the same go for Tolsimir? I’m a believer!</p></blockquote>
<p>"I'm a believer," eh? Maybe my mistake was making a Monkees reference instead of, say, one about Steppenwolf. Whatever the case, Tolsimir finished shy of the mark with 441 decks.</p>
<p>My theory: Wolves in <em>Magic</em> stink. This isn't Westeros, okay? There aren't quality direwolves aplenty for every member of the family. Instead, you're forced to run the likes of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quilled Wolf" href="#" target="_blank">Quilled Wolf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thornhide Wolves" href="#" target="_blank">Thornhide Wolves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and, most embarassing of all, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tundra Wolves" href="#" target="_blank">Tundra Wolves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I might've underestimated that fact.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Recap</h2>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Correct Picks</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feather, the Redeemed" href="#" target="_blank">Feather, the Redeemed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Over</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet Reborn" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet Reborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Over</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fblthp, the Lost" href="#" target="_blank">Fblthp, the Lost</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roalesk, Apex Hybrid" href="#" target="_blank">Roalesk, Apex Hybrid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Kefnet" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Kefnet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Rhonas" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Rhonas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tomik, Distinguished Advokist" href="#" target="_blank">Tomik, Distinguished Advokist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Bontu" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Bontu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storrev, Devkarin Lich" href="#" target="_blank">Storrev, Devkarin Lich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Oketra" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Oketra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Neheb, Dreadhorde Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Neheb, Dreadhorde Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <strong>Under</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Incorrect Picks</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves" href="#" target="_blank">Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <del>Over</del> <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mowu, Loyal Companion" href="#" target="_blank">Mowu, Loyal Companion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <del>Over</del> <strong>Under</strong></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Girl" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Girl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <del>Over</del> <strong>Under</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">My <em>War of the Spark</em> Correct Prediction Percentage: 81% (Career best!)</span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">My Overall Correct Prediction Percentage: 66%</span></p>
<hr />
<p>That 81% marks a career high, but I'll admit, this was a pretty easy set—two obvious Overs and a bunch of stinkers. But hey, I'll take it. Next up, we'll review my <em>Modern Horizons</em> picks. See you again then!</p>


god eternal oketra

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