<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aatchik, Emerald Radian" href="#" target="_blank">Aatchik, Emerald Radian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by Loïc Canavaggia</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Insects are the most common animals on Earth, so it makes sense that they would populate other planes of existence as well. For a while, they seemed to pop up seemingly randomly, making a big splash when they did. In fact, it seems like whenever they come, they bring a huge wave of friends with them!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether it’s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scute Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Scute Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s landfalling multiplication or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springheart Nantuko" href="#" target="_blank">Springheart Nantuko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s Pro-Tour-winning synergy with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadu, Winged Wisdom" href="#" target="_blank">Nadu, Winged Wisdom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Insects have the ability to overwhelm the battlefield with a single card. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what would an Insect-themed deck look like? And how can we incorporate the smaller grubs, like Modern staple <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haywire Mite" href="#" target="_blank">Haywire Mite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Commander has become more popular and the universes within and beyond of <em>Magic</em> have expanded, the entomology has created a beautiful array of arthropods. The one thing that’s remained common from Nantuko to Golgari to the far reaches of space is an obsession with the grave, which is where today’s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aatchik, Emerald Radian" href="#" target="_blank">Aatchik, Emerald Radian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck tech comes in.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aatchik, Emerald Radian"></div></div>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aatchik, Emerald Radian" href="#" target="_blank">Aatchik, Emerald Radian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aatchik is a six-mana Insect Druid from what is, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNyVOFbWPWJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apparently</a>, one of <em>Magic</em>’s least-popular sets, <em>Aetherdrift</em>. Its set, high mana cost, and pedestrian power and toughness allow it to pass under the radar. But its power is real, and it's a curve-topper extraordinaire, ready and willing to capitalize off of the discarded (or milled) carapaces of its fallen brethren.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Aatchik enters, it makes a 1/1 Insect token for each artifact and/or creature card in the grave. That means that, when possible, we want to do our jobs with artifacts and creatures, especially Insects. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why especially Insects? Well, whenever an Insect dies, Aatchik gets a +1/+1 counter and each opponent loses a life. The words “for each” and “each opponent” do a lot of heavy lifting here, as the former means that Aatchik wants to come down late and make a big impact, while the latter means that we can easily drain the board with a sacrifice effect.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zask, Skittering Swarmlord"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Aatchik is a solid combo commander, there are some other cool options, especially when it comes to grindy games. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zask, Skittering Swarmlord" href="#" target="_blank">Zask, Skittering Swarmlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to cast Insects from the grave and puts Insects that die on the bottom of the library, then mills. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s a solid engine, but the high cost means it needs to be a bit higher-impact if we’re going to have it in the command zone. In the 99, however, it’s perfectly playable! </span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Amzu, Swarm&#039;s Hunger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Swarmweaver"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Amzu, Swarm&#039;s Hunger" href="#" target="_blank">Amzu, Swarm&#039;s Hunger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another solid curve-topper, but grafting menace onto Insects leans a bit too hard on the 99, as there aren’t a lot of cheap Insects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Swarmweaver" href="#" target="_blank">The Swarmweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also an aggressive option, but it requires a lot to go right the first few turns to meet its <em>delirium</em> requirement. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While there are other options that can add or subtract colors, they're more commanders that are Insects than Insect commanders.</span></p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aatchik, Emerald Radian" href="#" target="_blank">Aatchik, Emerald Radian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a commander, Aatchik represents the culmination of several turns of setup. When it comes out, it needs six mana, a grave full of creatures and artifacts, and a sacrifice outlet. If we can put those pieces together before it comes out, however, winning becomes trivial. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s the power of evolution, baby!</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nyx Weaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Village Rites"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vampiric Rites"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before Aatchik comes out, we need to have the graveyard full of offerings to our Insect overlord. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nyx Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Nyx Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an excellent source of mill, while also being able to pop itself once we have something we need to return. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Village Rites" href="#" target="_blank">Village Rites</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and related effects combine sacrificing with drawing, as does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Rites" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Rites</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These help us dig deep while meeting the grave requirement, setting up a huge turn.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Viscera Seer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashnod&#039;s Altar"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Altar of Dementia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Altar"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once Aatchik comes out, we need to have a way to win the game. “Free” sacrifice effects, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viscera Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Viscera Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altar of Dementia" href="#" target="_blank">Dementia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s all allow us to use the life loss from Aatchik to win outside of combat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altar of Dementia" href="#" target="_blank">Altar of Dementia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can even mill out opponents, if their decks are low enough!</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swarmyard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eumidian Hatchery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arch of Orazca"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="War Room"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Tower"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our nonbasic lands provide some grindiness, protecting our commander or key pieces with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swarmyard" href="#" target="_blank">Swarmyard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, making Insects with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eumidian Hatchery" href="#" target="_blank">Eumidian Hatchery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and drawing cards with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arch of Orazca" href="#" target="_blank">Arch of Orazca</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="War Room" href="#" target="_blank">War Room</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We can even make bursts of mana and secretly sacrifice things with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<h2>How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aatchik, Emerald Radian" href="#" target="_blank">Aatchik, Emerald Radian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We aim to drop quick Insects and fill the grave with mill and sacrifices before dropping our commander, making a huge board of small creatures, and sacrificing that board to drain our opponents out. It’s a brutally simple and efficient plan, one that’s been honed through years of evolution.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aatchik, Emerald Radian" href="#" target="_blank">Aatchik, Emerald Radian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander Deck List</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Aatchik, Emerald Radian Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Aatchik, Emerald Radian
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Aftermath Analyst
*1 Amzu, Swarm&#039;s Hunger
*1 Bilious Skulldweller
*1 Blex, Vexing Pest // Search for Blex
*1 Blightbeetle
*1 Broodguard Elite
*1 Broodhatch Nantuko
*1 Canoptek Scarab Swarm
*1 Caustic Caterpillar
*1 Chitin Gravestalker
*1 Circuit Mender
*1 Fumulus, the Infestation
*1 Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm
*1 Haywire Mite
*1 Huskburster Swarm
*1 Icetill Explorer
*1 Insatiable Skittermaw
*1 Iridescent Hornbeetle
*1 Izoni, Thousand-Eyed
*1 Kraul Whipcracker
*1 Meltstrider Eulogist
*1 Moldgraf Millipede
*1 Molt Tender
*1 Mortician Beetle
*1 Nantuko Husk
*1 Nyx Weaver
*1 Old Rutstein
*1 Scute Mob
*1 Scute Swarm
*1 Seedship Broodtender
*1 Six
*1 Skull Prophet
*1 The Swarmweaver
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Warren Soultrader
*1 Webstrike Elite
*1 Zask, Skittering Swarmlord
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Grist, the Hunger Tide
[/Planeswalkers]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Contamination
*1 Crawling Infestation
*1 Crawling Sensation
*1 Moldervine Reclamation
*1 The Hunger Tide Rises
*1 Vampiric Rites
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Beacon of Creation
*1 Harmonize
*1 Season of Loss
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Witherbloom Command
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Altar of Dementia
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Hedge Shredder
*1 Phyrexian Altar
*1 Skullclamp
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Corrupted Conviction
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Arch of Orazca
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Command Tower
*1 Eumidian Hatchery
*15 Forest
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*15 Swamp
*1 Swarmyard
*1 Three Tree City
*1 War Room
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Insects are all over the world, representing many people’s greatest fear. And, judging by the power of Aatchik…they should be scared. I, for one, welcome our Insect overlords, and hope they’re appeased by this deck tech.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how would you build Insects? And do you think we captured the creepiness of the creepy crawlies?</span></p>
<h3>More Typal Builds:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="8mk8hVbGAa"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-spirit-typal-with-millicent-restless-revenant/">Building Spirit Typal With Millicent, Restless Revenant</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Building Spirit Typal With Millicent, Restless Revenant&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-spirit-typal-with-millicent-restless-revenant/embed/#?secret=yK8vNFnTow#?secret=8mk8hVbGAa" data-secret="8mk8hVbGAa" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="d09d7ts74Z"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-an-assassin-deck-with-lydia-frye/">Building an Assassin Deck with Lydia Frye</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Building an Assassin Deck with Lydia Frye&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-an-assassin-deck-with-lydia-frye/embed/#?secret=sJHprNDZBn#?secret=d09d7ts74Z" data-secret="d09d7ts74Z" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="UkoEbItuQS"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-an-ally-deck-with-katara-the-fearless/">Building an Ally Deck with Katara, the Fearless</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Building an Ally Deck with Katara, the Fearless&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-an-ally-deck-with-katara-the-fearless/embed/#?secret=iN7MWsKCh3#?secret=UkoEbItuQS" data-secret="UkoEbItuQS" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


Building an Insect Commander Deck with Aatchik, Emerald Radian

How to Build Golgari Without Being Golboring

<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Spider-Man Saves the City | Art by <a href="https://www.dandossantos.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dan Dos Santos</a></em></p>
<p>Spider-Man isn't a franchise I ever would've expected <em>Magic: the Gathering</em> to do a crossover with. And, while I'm trying to maintain my typical skepticism of these Universes Beyond sets, this one is definitely cracking my resolve. I'm champing at the bit to find out how the <em>Magic</em> design team has chosen to tackle the Spider-Man cannon and to see how deep into the lore they're going to take us.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Venom, Deadly Devourer"></div></div>
<p>The first wave of previews left me feeling a little underwhelmed, but there is one standout card from the bunch I'm excited to take a look at in this deck tech: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venom, Deadly Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Venom, Deadly Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>What Does Venom, Deadly Devourer Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venom, Deadly Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Venom, Deadly Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is, put simply, a really buff <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scavenging Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Scavenging Ooze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Venom is a four mana 4/4 with vigilance, menace, and a very versatile activated ability: For three mana, Venom can exile a creature from any graveyard and put a number +1/+1 counters equal to the exiled creature's toughness on himself.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scavenging Ooze"></div></div>
<p>Most importantly, this ability can be activated at instant speed, meaning opponents often won't know how much damage they're on the hook for when deciding whether or not they want to block Venom.</p>
<p>This deck will fall somewhere under the Voltron umbrella, using +1/+1 counters rather than Auras or Equipment to deal lethal commander damage. My goal for this deck is to use Venom as the ambush predator that he is.</p>
<p>The primary play pattern will be swinging with Venom while holding up a bunch of open mana, letting opponents make their blocking decisions, then tossing a creature into exile at instant speed, eating it with Venom and either tearing through the creatures that blocked him or dealing lethal commander damage if an opponent ever makes the mistake of leaving Venom unblocked.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Venom, Deadly Devourer</h2>
<p>In order for Venom to really do anything, he needs creatures in the graveyard to eat! Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to do that while keeping opponents in the dark until it's too late.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Entomb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Survival of the Fittest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bitter Triumph"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the signature card of graveyard strategies like this. For only one mana, it sends any card straight from the library to the graveyard at instant speed. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Survival of the Fittest" href="#" target="_blank">Survival of the Fittest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> serves the same function, alongside its cousin <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fauna Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Fauna Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while also serving as a discard outlet to dispose of large creatures that get stuck in the hand.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitter Triumph" href="#" target="_blank">Bitter Triumph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is often a two-for-one deal, destroying an opposing creature and discarding one from the hand, giving Venom two creatures to exile for just two mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Branching Evolution"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ouroboroid"></div></div>
<p>Unfortunately, Venom won't get enough +1/+1 counters to one-shot an unsuspecting opponent in just one activation without a little help. Even exiling a creature as large as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impervious Greatwurm" href="#" target="_blank">Impervious Greatwurm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just shy of allowing Venom to deal the necessary 21 points of commander damage.</p>
<p>To get the rest of the way there, Venom will need a little help from cards that can double the counters on him. I love <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower" href="#" target="_blank">Bristly Bill, Spine Sower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as yet another instant speed activated ability that can be held over the defending player's head during combat.</p>
<p>Alongside the instant speed methods of sending creatures to the graveyard, I've included some self-mill and recursion engines to provide the deck with some much needed card velocity.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Six"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Life from the Loam"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Six" href="#" target="_blank">Six</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life from the Loam" href="#" target="_blank">Life from the Loam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> work together to create an engine that I severely underestimated until I got to play with it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life from the Loam" href="#" target="_blank">Life from the Loam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> picks up lands to discard as part of the retrace cost to cast permanents from the graveyard with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Six" href="#" target="_blank">Six</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability and fills the graveyard as it gets dredged back each draw step.</p>
<p>I've included some permanents to bolster this synergy, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seal of Primordium" href="#" target="_blank">Seal of Primordium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haywire Mite" href="#" target="_blank">Haywire Mite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead of more conventional artifact and enchantment removal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life from the Loam" href="#" target="_blank">Life from the Loam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also fantastic on its own as a way to recur lands, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strip Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Strip Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boseiju, Who Endures" href="#" target="_blank">Boseiju, Who Endures</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <a href="https://edhrec.com/lands/golgari#fetchlands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fetchlands</a>.</p>
<h2>How Does this Venom, Deadly Devourer Deck Win?</h2>
<p>This deck wins like any other Voltron deck: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venom, Deadly Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Venom, Deadly Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will get into the red zone and kill all three opponents all by himself.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tainted Strike"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tainted Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Tainted Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can speed up this process, drastically reducing the amount of +1/+1 counters Venom will need to one-shot at least one opponent. Often, this card comes in handy in the longer games where Venom dies a couple of times and the deck's resources are being stretched thin to string together one last combat step to end the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord of Extinction"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Victimize"></div></div>
<p>I've included one alternative to the normal combat damage plan. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can sacrifice a large <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venom, Deadly Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Venom, Deadly Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and burn the whole table out. Venom isn't even the only reasonable creature that can be used to burn out the table in this way. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of Extinction" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of Extinction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will often be more than large enough in the later stages of the game. Even better, Jarad recurs himself and provides a very enticing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> target.</p>
<p>Executing this plan is more high-investment than simply attacking with Venom, but the resources that go into it are very much worth the reward.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rest in Peace"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bojuka Bog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wheel of Sun and Moon"></div></div>
<p>The biggest barrier to winning the game with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venom, Deadly Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Venom, Deadly Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is opposing graveyard hate. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rest in Peace" href="#" target="_blank">Rest in Peace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> render the game entirely unplayable for this otherwise unstoppable Symbiote.</p>
<p>I've tried to protect against this with a lot of generic non-land permanent removal. However, a well timed piece of graveyard hate can still render this deck inert despite Venom's best efforts to subvert it. I think it can be fun for decks to have fatal flaws like this, and I find it very funny that <em>Magic</em>'s version of Venom is more vulnerable to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> than he is church bells or fire.</p>
<h2>Venom, Deadly Devourer Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Venom, Deadly Devourer Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Venom, Deadly Devourer
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Abrupt Decay
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Bitter Triumph
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Entomb
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Noxious Revival
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
*1 Revitalizing Repast
*1 Snakeskin Veil
*1 Snuff Out
*1 Tainted Strike
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Safekeeping
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Agonasaur Rex
*1 Altanak, the Thrice-Called
*1 Amzu, Swarm&#039;s Hunger
*1 Barrowgoyf
*1 Brawn
*1 Bristly Bill, Spine Sower
*1 Corpsejack Menace
*1 Daemogoth Titan
*1 Death&#039;s Shadow
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Fanatic of Rhonas
*1 Fauna Shaman
*1 Generous Ent
*1 Haywire Mite
*1 Impervious Greatwurm
*1 Incubation Druid
*1 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
*1 Krosan Tusker
*1 Lord of Extinction
*1 Ouroboroid
*1 Six
*1 Skull Prophet
*1 Street Wraith
*1 Titanoth Rex
*1 Tree of Perdition
*1 Tree of Redemption
*1 Troll of Khazad-dûm
*1 Warped Tusker
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Culling Ritual
*1 Damnation
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Into the North
*1 Life from the Loam
*1 Malevolent Rumble
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Reanimate
*1 Three Visits
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Branching Evolution
*1 Innkeeper&#039;s Talent
*1 Insidious Roots
*1 Seal of Primordium
*1 Sphere Grid
*1 Survival of the Fittest
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Lavaspur Boots
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
[/Artifacts]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Grist, the Hunger Tide
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Blooming Marsh
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Darkbore Pathway
*1 Deathcap Glade
*1 Golgari Rot Farm
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Necroblossom Snarl
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Prismatic Vista
*4 Snow-Covered Forest
*4 Snow-Covered Swamp
*1 Strip Mine
*1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
*1 Twilight Mire
*1 Underground Mortuary
*1 Undergrowth Stadium
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Wastewood Verge
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This build of Venom should easily fit into Bracket 3 (Upgraded) tables. The slightly high count of tutors, particularly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Survival of the Fittest" href="#" target="_blank">Survival of the Fittest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the "ambush predator" strategy are definitely worth bringing up in pre-game discussions to prevent opponents from feeling completely blindsided by a 36/36 Venom killing them on turn five, however.</p>
<p>I'd recommend this deck to players that enjoy commander damage strategies, graveyard decks, or fellow Spider-Man fans that just appreciate the flavor of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venom, Deadly Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Venom, Deadly Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the strategies he lends himself to. I definitely fall into all three categories.</p>
<p>The only con of this deck I anticipate is that the strategy is very streamlined. The games this deck wins will all look very similar to one another and the games the deck loses likely will as well. This might limit replayability a good bit. But for all I know there will be cards in <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em> that have yet to be revealed that could add some more mechanical depth to Venom's strategy.</p>
<p>I'm a little sad that there won't be Commander precon decks for <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em>, as when the set was originally announced I was really hoping for a precon with either Eddie Brock and Venom or Cletus Kasady and Carnage as partner commanders. I'm holding onto some hope that those characters might get printed on dual faced cards that transform like the <em>Innistrad</em> werewolves.</p>
<p>But in the unlikely event that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venom, Deadly Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Venom, Deadly Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the only Symbiote that gets printed, it's cool enough on its own that I could live with that.</p>


Venom, Deadly Devourer Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.mtgpics.com/illus?art=1759" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ignatius Budi</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>! This week, I'm doing something a bit different from the routine. It won't be the last time, because I do intend to branch out into different ideas, so you can expect that in the near future. However, for today's article, we're going into something called Box-mander.</p>
<p>What is it, exactly? It's sort of like the name implies: You take a <em>Magic</em> booster box, and build a deck from its contents, and the regular Commander rules apply. According to <a href="https://articles.starcitygames.com/magic-the-gathering/premium/an-introduction-to-commander-booster-box-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this article</a> by the late Sheldon Menery (May he <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rest in Peace" href="#" target="_blank">Rest in Peace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), it was an idea created by Brian-David Marshall. Will the deck be good enough for your average pod? Absolutely not, but it's something to try with other players doing the same thing.</p>
<p>That said, I do want to note <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/edge-of-eternities-two-new-commander-formats-announced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about this format becoming official</a>. I was unaware of this, and the unboxing happened before <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> announced it. I'll be playing by the old rules, but if you want me to do an article like this again, I'll play (mostly; color identity stays) by the new rules.</p>
<p>For this article, rather than focus on card choices, I'll take you through my journey and see how the final list was produced.</p>
<p>So, who did I end up choosing?</p>
<h2>Aliens</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jenova, Ancient Calamity|fin|346"></div></div>
<p>I will note that I didn't do a lore write up for Cloud and Sephiroth back in <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/beyond-the-multiverse-cloud-and-sephiroth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their article</a> because they're very iconic to the IP, and everyone knows of their feud. Almost legendary, if you will. Jenova, though, was in the same game. She (it?) was a threat from 2,000 years before the events of <em>Final Fantasy VII</em>, and was stopped. That is, until Shinra unearthed and used her properties for experiments.</p>
<p>Said experiments would go on to affect the lives of multiple characters, including Cloud and Sephiroth. She's also a boss you fight multiple times throughout the game.</p>
<p>Jenova's card wants you to grow her stats, but not necessarily to attack. Instead, she wants you to play other creatures and buff them instead. This feeds into her second ability, potentially drawing you piles of cards at a time.</p>
<p>Now, Golgari (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>)is a rare color combination for me to build, and I have no idea why. In fact, my journey began with another color pair.</p>
<h2>In the Beginning</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Y&#039;shtola Rhul|fin|577"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hope Estheim"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning, Army of One"></div></div>
<p>Before I begin, I mentioned in the previous article that I had three boxes. Jenova's was the only one I was able to record because, when I opened the other two, I was coming off the heels of almost evacuating from a fire. I forgot about the box-mander business in the chaos, and in an aftermath where I was mentally taxed. However, I still had plenty to work with.</p>
<p>My path begins in the second pack, where I pulled a foil <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola Rhul|fin|577" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola Rhul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. From that point, I was looking into blue as one of my colors. Later, I pulled a number of options, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emet-Selch, Unsundered" href="#" target="_blank">Emet-Selch, Unsundered</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omega, Heartless Evolution" href="#" target="_blank">Omega, Heartless Evolution</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That said, the former didn't work with Y'shtola, but Omega would've been outright oppressive, and not much fun. Even going the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hope Estheim" href="#" target="_blank">Hope Estheim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> route would've put me on the naughty list.</p>
<p>Consequently, along the way, I pulled <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning, Army of One" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning, Army of One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, along with a number of cards centered on Equipment. Having <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Danitha Capashen, Paragon|fca|22" href="#" target="_blank">Danitha Capashen, Paragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, among others was too good to pass up. This, in turn, had me set the Y'shtola idea aside.</p>
<h2>Lost in the Woods</h2>
<p>By the time I got to the end of the box, I was content with going the Lightning route. I dug in, and began assembling the deck. However, I ran into a big problem: I didn't pull enough unique Equipment to make the deck work.</p>
<p>For additional context, Boros's draft archetype was Equipment, and Lightning needed the Equipment to get the most out of her (and keep her around on the field). With my initial plan thwarted, I kept going through what I pulled.</p>
<p>I acquired most of the commons, and some of the uncommons, but outside of what I mentioned, nothing really grabbed my attention.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Wandering Minstrel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gladiolus Amicitia"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gladiolus Amicitia" href="#" target="_blank">Gladiolus Amicitia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was there, together with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa Lockhart" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa Lockhart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the push wasn't there. All 10 of the Town duals, plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balamb Garden, SeeD Academy" href="#" target="_blank">Balamb Garden, SeeD Academy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were present along with the other Town-related stuff, but someone else was writing him, and I didn't want to step on their toes.</p>
<p>On the other hand, five-color decks are too easy here; I needed a challenge.</p>
<p>Further, I was caught in a bind, and I wasn't sure what to pick. I eventually reached out to get some extra pairs of eyes to get me out of my rut. Jenova was the first option that was mentioned (I ended up pulling the regular and the showcase versions. I went with the latter eventually). Seeing no other recourse, I attempted to build Jenova, and the resulting deck list is below.</p>
<h2>The Final List for Jenova, Ancient Calamity</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-JENOVA (Box-mander)" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Jenova, Ancient Calamity
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bard&#039;s Bow
*1 Black Mage&#039;s Rod
*1 Blitzball
*1 Chocobo Racetrack
*1 Dark Knight&#039;s Greatsword
*1 Lion Heart
*1 Lunatic Pandora
*1 Monk&#039;s Fist
*1 Phantom Train
*1 Ring of the Lucii
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*1 Strixhaven Stadium
*1 The Earth Crystal
*1 World Map
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Chocobo Kick
*1 Clash of the Eikons
*1 Commune with Beavers
*1 Cornered by Black Mages
*1 Esper Origins // Summon: Esper Maduin
*1 Evil Reawakened
*1 Gysahl Greens
*1 Resentful Revelation
*1 Rydia&#039;s Return
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Ahriman
*1 Al Bhed Salvagers
*1 Ardyn, the Usurper
*1 Balamb T-Rexaur
*1 Cactuar
*1 Cloud of Darkness
*1 Coliseum Behemoth
*1 Demon Wall
*1 Exdeath, Void Warlock // Neo Exdeath, Dimension&#039;s End
*1 Fang, Fearless l&#039;Cie
*1 Gaius van Baelsar
*1 Goobbue Gardener
*1 Gran Pulse Ochu
*1 Hecteyes
*1 Jecht, Reluctant Guardian // Braska&#039;s Final Aeon
*1 Magic Pot
*1 Malboro
*1 Namazu Trader
*1 Shambling Cie&#039;th
*1 Shinra Reinforcements
*1 Summon: Anima
*1 Summon: Fat Chocobo
*1 Summon: Fenrir
*1 Tifa Lockhart
*1 Tonberry
*1 Town Greeter
*1 Undercity Dire Rat
*1 Vanille, Cheerful l&#039;Cie
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Airship Crash
*1 Blitzball Shot
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Fight On!
*1 Galuf&#039;s Final Act
*1 Overkill
*1 Prishe&#039;s Wanderings
*1 Sephiroth&#039;s Intervention
*1 Tifa&#039;s Limit Break
*1 Vayne&#039;s Treachery
*1 Vincent&#039;s Limit Break
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Adventurer&#039;s Inn
*1 Capital City
*1 Crossroads Village
*1 Eden, Seat of the Sanctum
*15 Forest
*1 Gohn, Town of Ruin
*1 Midgar, City of Mako // Reactor Raid
*15 Swamp
*1 The Gold Saucer
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Analyzing the List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Earth Crystal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tifa Lockhart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ardyn, the Usurper"></div></div>
<p>Note that I'm not using the exact versions I pulled from the packs, but these were all from the box. The exceptions are the basics, which you can just use what you have, really.</p>
<p>Firstly, we need ways to buff Jenova. The greater her power, the more +1/+1 counters she distributes. We begin with the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/ranking-the-job-select-equipment-cards-from-final-fantasy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">job select cards</a> (a few from this list are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bard&#039;s Bow" href="#" target="_blank">Bard&#039;s Bow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Monk&#039;s Fist" href="#" target="_blank">Monk&#039;s Fist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Mage&#039;s Rod" href="#" target="_blank">Black Mage&#039;s Rod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), which all come in with a Hero token.</p>
<p>That said, we need to move them onto Jenova to provide the Heroes with an even bigger boost. On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rydia&#039;s Return" href="#" target="_blank">Rydia&#039;s Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides a way to cross the finish line while making Jenova bigger.</p>
<p>Crucially, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Earth Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">The Earth Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perhaps the best here: It'll double the counters that Jenova dishes out, and you can activate the ability to give essentially 2 counters to Jenova, and two to another creature. The cost reduction is just icing on the cake.</p>
<p>Secondly, we'll need some good targets for those counters. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa Lockhart" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa Lockhart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can get dangerous very quickly if timed right. Meanwhile, the creatures you exile from <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> become tokens you could put counters on. You can layer the triggers so Ardyn resolves first, then proceed to put Jenova's counters on that Demon you just created.</p>
<p>Another good target is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demon Wall" href="#" target="_blank">Demon Wall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which normally has defender as is. However, you put the counter(s) from Jenova onto the Wall, and it can suddenly attack without needing to pay for its activated ability.</p>
<h2>Where to Go From Here</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphere Grid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Watchful Radstag"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Branching Evolution"></div></div>
<p>Here, for the purposes of articles like this one, I'll cover cards from both <em>Universes Beyond</em>, and in-universe cards you could add.</p>
<p>Firstly, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphere Grid" href="#" target="_blank">Sphere Grid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maester Seymour" href="#" target="_blank">Maester Seymour</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> distribute counters as well as having other benefits. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kami of Whispered Hopes" href="#" target="_blank">Kami of Whispered Hopes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both recur cards and gain mana, respectively. The latter also acts like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hardened Scales" href="#" target="_blank">Hardened Scales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect (another good card to add, by the way), which is a valuable effect. The more you can find, the better.</p>
<p>Secondly, thanks largely to the <em>Fallout</em> decks from last year, we have a plethora of new Mutant creatures that work with Jenova. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Watchful Radstag" href="#" target="_blank">Watchful Radstag</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good one, copying itself whenever a counter gets put on it. This'll mean lots of cards in the long run. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloatfly Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Bloatfly Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will accrue counters, then gives everyone rad counters if it should take damage.</p>
<p>Playing further into the rad counters sub-theme, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feral Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Feral Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets bigger each time a creature dies, then does a similar thing to Bloatfly swarm if the Ghoul dies.</p>
<p>Finally, there's a few other cards I wish to mention. Counter doublers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Branching Evolution" href="#" target="_blank">Branching Evolution</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpsejack Menace" href="#" target="_blank">Corpsejack Menace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both very good here. If doubling alongside a Hardened Scales effect, you can choose the order in which the effects apply. You'd resolve the Scales effect first, then the doubler, so the latter takes the Scales effect into account.</p>
<p>Feel free to let me know in the comments if I got this wrong.</p>
<h2>Final Mutation</h2>
<p>Doing a Box-mander deck is a fun way to explore a set, and everything it has to offer. Perhaps you'll find some new synergies while you do so. Opening packs -though I do advocate for buying singles - is also some good ASMR if you need it.</p>
<p>I'd would like to hear from you whether a Box-mander deck is something I should do again. I'm open to feedback, and I'm currently looking for ways to branch out into some new content. On that note, I'll be away for a couple of weeks, but I do have content to cover for both (I've already written them, as of writing this article).</p>
<p>With that said, tune in next time as we retread old ground, and give <em>Final Fantasy</em> a small break.</p>


Building a Box-mander Deck With Jenova, Ancient Calamity

Final Fantasy Deck Tech: Jenova, Ancient Calamity

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


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