Archetune-Up - A Hunt Most Dire

Archetune-Up - The Cat that Hits Back

Archetune-Up - Glissa, the Friendly

Ikoria Set Review - Green

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/lukacs/">Chuck Lukacs</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each aspect that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background attention. This time around I’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polukranos, Unchained" href="#" target="_blank">Polukranos, Unchained</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Polukranos, Unchained"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Polukranos, known as the World Eater, fell to Theros from its celestial lair during the battle between Purphoros and Heliod, where he was quickly sealed under the Nessian Forest. Elspeth was tasked by Heliod to defeat the Hydra, who had recently escaped its stasis and was ravaging the land. Polukranos was defeated and, in death, was locked away in the Underworld. As we see in his recent depiction, however, Polukranos is back, freed from his chains and angrier than ever.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heliod, God of the Sun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosName.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45677 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosName.jpg" alt="" width="289" height="65" /></a></p>
<p>Polukranos loosely translates from Greek to "many heads." More accurately, it means "many helmets," but I think we know what <em>Wizards</em> was going for. An apt name for a Hydra, and a good direction to go for the deck, but more on that later.</p>
<p>Chains seem to be a large trope in <em>Theros Beyond Death</em>. Looking through the creatures, specifically those with <em>Escape</em>, the majority have some element of chains hanging from them. The imagery of chains, especially in conjunction with their attachment to manacles, gives the underworld a much stronger prison feel than it previously had in my mind.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosCost.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45676 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosCost.jpg" alt="" width="87" height="58" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Black:</strong> Amorality and pragmatism; no waste, no qualms, and no feelings.</p>
<p><strong>Green:</strong> Survival of the fittest, pure and simple. What lives will die.</p>
<p><strong>Golgari (green/black): </strong>The colors of the graveyard, rot, and necromancy. As we explored in <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/lore-seeker-creepy-kraul-y/">my last article</a>, the Golgari are interested in recycling. Specifically, the Golgari necromancers make use of the dead, bringing back others to do their bidding for them. In the case of Polukranos, he is his own necromantic master.</p>
<p>I initially wanted to avoid doing creatures of the same color identity back-to-back in this series, but I made an exception because this black-green deck is going to use the graveyard in a very different way than the previous installment. In order to fuel our commander, this is a self-mill deck, so we're going to see a lot of cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stitcher&#039;s Supplier" href="#" target="_blank">Stitcher&#039;s Supplier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that actively put cards in the graveyard, not to revive them like Meren, but to exile them and keep Polukranos around.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hermit Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Satyr Wayfinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nyx Weaver"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosArt.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45675 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosArt.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="325" /></a></p>
<p>As we can see, the head that was destroyed in the battle with Elspeth has regenerated in the underworld into two new heads, zombified, discolored, and horrible. It's interesting to me that Polukranos still has faces. <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/lore-seeker-murder-king-fury-road/">When we explored Theros last</a> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tymaret, the Murder King" href="#" target="_blank">Tymaret, the Murder King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we discovered that the Zombies in the underworld lose their faces, adopting clay masks created in the underworld to hide their disfigurement and then replaced with the gold ones forged when they escape and become Returned. We also see Elspeth exempt from this mutation; likely her spark protected her (we also see her with a gold mask presumably still in the underworld, but I'll leave that rant for another day.)</p>
<p>Does this mean Polukranos has the power of a planeswalker, or are the rules just different for beasts of his nature? We will likely never know, but it does seem like a missed opportunity to put some rad gold Hydra masks on him.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosType.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45679 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosType.jpg" alt="" width="455" height="67" /></a></p>
<p>The Hydra originated from Greek mythology in the tale of Heracles (most commonly known as Hercules, the Roman adaptation). Heracles was tasked with a set of labors to redeem himself for prior actions. The Hydra was destroyed with the help of an ally and, more importantly, a golden sword that the goddess Athena bestowed upon him.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Godsend"></div></div>
<p>As a Greek-themed set, we can see a lot of the tropes of this story adapted in to <em>Magic</em>. Elspeth acts as Heracles, having been given a weapon from a God (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Godsend" href="#" target="_blank">Godsend</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) and tasked with defeating the Hydra. The biggest difference between <em>MTG</em> Hydras and those in Greek myths is their amphibious nature; the Lernaean Hydra of myth lived in a lake. We see a lot of large beasts in the water, like Leviathans, so I'm guessing they didn't want to add another big creature to blue's roster.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosRules.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45678 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosRules.jpg" alt="" width="461" height="255" /></a></p>
<p>Removing all six heads from the beast kills it, sending it to the underworld once more. We are going to imagine each head as a +1/+1 counter for the remainder our discussion here. Since the Hydra will create a new head for each removed, the fact that Polukranos comes back with twelve heads (counters) is extremely flavorful. This rationale falls apart when we get to his ability when being dealt damage removes counters, but does not regenerate heads on its own.</p>
<p>Let's introduce Polukranos to his new best friend: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The way replacement effects work is beneficial to us in this case, so instead of losing the counters, Polukranos will gain that many heads. Problem solved!</p>
<p>I want Polukranos to recreate that scene in the Disney version of Hercules. I want so many heads on this beast that they take up the entire sky.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/hydraHeads.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45904 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/hydraHeads.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="325" /></a></p>
<p>How do we accomplish this? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</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 the key pieces. With one in play, Polukranos enters with 12 from a normal casting or 24 with <em>Escape</em>. With both on the field, the fun really begins, giving us 24 heads from a normal cast or 48 with <em>Escape</em>. That's more like it!</p>
<p>Now, there are a few other options to add additional counters to creatures, but because these are really only interacting with the commander and not any other cards in the deck, two will be plenty.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doubling Season"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Corpsejack Menace"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><em>Theros Beyond Death</em> introduced a new style of basic land: the Nyx basics (or the Pokelands.) I am not a fan of these, whether for this deck or any other. The only place I think I would consider them is in a deck helmed by one of the Therosian Gods or in an enchantress deck. For this particular deck, I was having a hard time nailing down exactly what type of basic fits, but I decided to take this as an opportunity to talk about some of my favorite basics. These two were both done by my favorite <em>Magic</em> artist, <a href="http://www.johnavonart.com/">John Avon</a>. I love the saturation and depth of these two pieces, and the old border looks more like dirt, perfect to fill our graveyard with.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosBasics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-46170 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosBasics.jpg" alt="" width="520" height="311" /></a></p>
<p>This deck is running a shockingly low number of lands, but we have a work around that I learned from the <a href="https://www.commandersbrew.com/">Commanders Brew</a> podcast. The idea in question is to lower the land count and instead run a bunch of those single-mana spells that tutor for a land, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lay of the Land" href="#" target="_blank">Lay of the Land</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Traverse the Ulvenwald" href="#" target="_blank">Traverse the Ulvenwald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The reason we want these here is to fill our graveyard with the instants/sorceries that only exist to find the land we need. Because Polukranos doesn't care what type of card is in the graveyard and simply wants a larger number of cards in there, we can use these to both fix our mana and fill the graveyard. It's a neat trick that I have wanted to incorporate in a meaningful way for some time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Second Labor" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Polukranos, Unchained
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Walking Ballista
*1 Deathrite Shaman
*1 Stitcher&#039;s Supplier
*1 Bloodghast
*1 Glowspore Shaman
*1 Hermit Druid
*1 Lotleth Troll
*1 Millikin
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Satyr Wayfinder
*1 Nyx Weaver
*1 Prowling Serpopard
*1 Splinterfright
*1 Springbloom Druid
*1 Stinkweed Imp
*1 Acolyte of Affliction
*1 Brawn
*1 Corpsejack Menace
*1 Erebos, God of the Dead
*1 Polukranos, World Eater
*1 World Shaper
*1 Cavalier of Thorns
*1 Doom Whisperer
*1 Underrealm Lich
*1 Nemesis of Mortals
*1 Vigor
*1 Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
*1 Ghoultree
*1 Molderhulk
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Horizon Spellbomb
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Altar of Dementia
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Perpetual Timepiece
*1 Talisman of Resilience
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Ancient Stirrings
*1 Attune with Aether
*1 Caravan Vigil
*1 Lay of the Land
*1 Traverse the Ulvenwald
*1 Dread Summons
*1 Mulch
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Ransack the Lab
*1 Regrowth
*1 Sylvan Scrying
*1 Winding Way
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Damnation
*1 Increasing Ambition
*1 Traverse the Outlands
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Decree of Pain
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Veil of Summer
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Corpse Churn
*1 Evolution Charm
*1 Grapple with the Past
*1 Grisly Salvage
*1 Beast Within
*1 Harrow
*1 Moonlight Bargain
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Crop Sigil
*1 Vessel of Nascency
*1 Greater Good
*1 Doubling Season
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Blooming Marsh
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*9 Forest
*1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Mana Confluence
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*6 Swamp
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>If you're a fan of big creatures and a deck full of two-for-ones, this is the build for you. I'm very intrigued by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polukranos Unchained" href="#" target="_blank">Polukranos Unchained</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That which at first looks like just a big creature leads to some interesting deckbuilding decisions. A big thanks to Tom, EDHREC's resident Greek expert, for giving me some insight into the name of Polukranos and some other general tidbits for this article.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - The Hydra

Forgotten Harvest - Ragnar Regenerates

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cover of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Cover of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.waynereynolds.com/">Wayne Reynolds</a>)</h6>
<h1>Do You Want To Brew a Snowman?</h1>
<p>Happy holidays, everyone! Welcome to a very festive edition of <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>. Like all the previous articles, we'll be focusing on the Isle of Misfit <em>Magic</em> Cards (those in 300 decks or less on EDHREC) and the ways we can bring those cards together into an unconventional brew. In keeping with the season, we'll be looking at a snow-themed deck this time around.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/giphy.gif"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42335 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/giphy.gif" alt="" width="480" height="270" /></a></p>
<p>My first step before slinging some snow is looking at the limited pool of cards that care about snow. Surveying the frosty landscape of cards, a few facts became apparent:</p>
<ol>
<li>There's a group of cards that care about having snow permanents on the battlefield.</li>
<li>There's a group of cards that trigger when snow permanents enter the battlefield.</li>
<li>There are snowy cards that bounce themselves or other creatures.</li>
<li>There isn't enough support for the theme unless we go at least 4-color.</li>
</ol>
<p>From this, I began work on a bounce-themed snow deck. For a commander, I was looking for one that could help me play my snow-covered lands. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golos, Tireless Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Golos, Tireless Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> looked appealing, but aside from the one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dead of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Dead of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, black offers very little in the way of snow support, so instead, I settled on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis" href="#" target="_blank">Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Iceberg Cancrix"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber"></div></div>
<p>K&amp;T give us extra land drops, which is great for new snowy cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iceberg Cancrix" href="#" target="_blank">Iceberg Cancrix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber" href="#" target="_blank">Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both are underplayed cards from <em>Modern Horizons</em>, included in just 62 and 259 decks, respectively. These cards love all the extra snow-covered lands K&amp;T will give us, not to mention the plethora of other snow permanents and bounce effects in the deck. I don't necessarily see the mill from the Cancrix being a game-ender, but it's certainly a good resource-limiting card to make our opponents uncomfortable while we work on something more devastating, like a Marit Lage token.</p>
<hr />
<h2>A Flurry of Fury</h2>
<p>The extra snowy land drops from K&amp;T will also, over time, help bolster those creatures that like having a bunch of snow permanents in play. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rimefeather Owl" href="#" target="_blank">Rimefeather Owl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (96 decks) is the best of the bunch; this bird allows us to ice up the entire field with its activated ability, then grows larger as the inches of snow pile up. Plus, the ice counters it distributes have the added bonus of synergizing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rimescale Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Rimescale Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (136 decks). Facing these two on the battlefield together can be brutal for opposing armies (so long as you avoid putting ice counters on your own creatures).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rimefeather Owl"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abominable Treefolk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skred"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abominable Treefolk" href="#" target="_blank">Abominable Treefolk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, another creature that scales with the frosted board state, is a welcome addition from <em>Modern Horizons</em>. It's only in 55 decks right now, but in this deck, it can be a real all-star. Its triggered ability upon entering the battlefield will work with some of the bounce effects we'll talk about later. However, this ill-tempered Treefolk's trample is the real key here, allowing us to break through armies while our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rimefeather Owl" href="#" target="_blank">Rimefeather Owl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> soars over them. As a second option for plowing through drifts of blockers, I've also included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conifer Wurm" href="#" target="_blank">Conifer Wurm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (46 decks).</p>
<p>Lastly, I couldn't include red in this snow deck without playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skred" href="#" target="_blank">Skred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's such an efficient damage-dealer in any deck running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snow-Covered Mountain" href="#" target="_blank">Snow-Covered Mountain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, but especially in this one. I'm kind of shocked that it's only run in 167 decks right now. If you're going with a snow-covered manabase, give this sorcery a look.</p>
<hr />
<h2>An Avalanche of Activated Abilities</h2>
<p>Whether requiring frosty mana or a number of snow permanents, there are some powerful activated abilities out there to be utilized by snow-themed decks. One of them happens to be my favorite snow-themed card. As I've said <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-block-party-with-virtus-and-gorm/">previously</a>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rimehorn Aurochs" href="#" target="_blank">Rimehorn Aurochs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> needs to see so much more play than the 10 decks it's in right now. It's an absolute travesty! Anyway, it's in this deck, as is my second-favorite snowy card: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heidar, Rimewind Master" href="#" target="_blank">Heidar, Rimewind Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (115 decks). I don't understand why such a powerful bouncer sees so little play when all it takes is a small stack of snow-covered lands to make it great. If you like the idea of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boomerang" href="#" target="_blank">Boomerang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <em>Imprinted</em> on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, then please give Heidar some love!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heidar, Rimewind Master"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Diamond Faerie"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adarkar Windform"></div></div>
<p>Next up we have the sparkly team-buffer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diamond Faerie" href="#" target="_blank">Diamond Faerie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (31 decks). If we're looking to win with combat damage from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conifer Wurm" href="#" target="_blank">Conifer Wurm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abominable Treefolk" href="#" target="_blank">Abominable Treefolk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this card will help us push even more damage through. Combine this crystalline sprite with snow cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall Drifter" href="#" target="_blank">Squall Drifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (43 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Rimerunner" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Rimerunner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (13 decks) to remove blockers, and that win from combat is even more assured.</p>
<p>Speaking of removing cards from combat, if you decide to attack by air, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adarkar Windform" href="#" target="_blank">Adarkar Windform</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help keep any blockers earthbound. Similarly, on defense, it can keep the battle out of the skies and in a range where K&amp;T can do some blocking. It's only in 30 decks on EDHREC, which I can understand. Its use is a little niche, but that's the niche this deck lives in!</p>
<hr />
<h1>A Blizzard of Bounce</h1>
<p>Even moving to four colors, there still isn't enough snow to truly fill out the deck's 99. Based on the wintry selection, bounce becomes the clear choice to complement the excellent enters-the-battlefield abilities of cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blizzard Strix" href="#" target="_blank">Blizzard Strix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (67 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ice-Fang Coatl" href="#" target="_blank">Ice-Fang Coatl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It seems thematically appropriate to include the creature <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snow Hound" href="#" target="_blank">Snow Hound</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, despite it not technically being related to the snow card type. Showing up in only 16 decks on the site, I very much like this card when <em>casting</em> a creature is important, and blink spells can't help. Please consider it the next time you brew with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karametra, God of Harvests" href="#" target="_blank">Karametra, God of Harvests</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the like.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snow Hound"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barbarian Guides"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stalking Yeti"></div></div>
<p>Back on theme, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barbarian Guides" href="#" target="_blank">Barbarian Guides</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives us some repeatable bounce. With the help of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rimefeather Owl" href="#" target="_blank">Rimefeather Owl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it can also make an attacker unblockable for a turn before bouncing it. Imagine blasting through a maxed-out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abominable Treefolk" href="#" target="_blank">Abominable Treefolk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with snow-landwalk, only to get to use its ETB ability the next turn. I can understand the low deck count of 15, as snow-covered lands aren't all that prevalent, but if you have the means to icify the other side of the field, it's a gem!</p>
<p>In a deck without black, repeatable creature removal is a great thing. I've thus chosen to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stalking Yeti" href="#" target="_blank">Stalking Yeti</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Coldsnap</em>. I do wish its activated ability were faster, but it'll do for removing opposing utility creatures. It's only in 12 decks, which seems fair. What doesn't seem fair, though, is pairing it with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diamond Faerie" href="#" target="_blank">Diamond Faerie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Finally, and I know I'm <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-dromars-bounce-house/">repeating myself</a>, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azorius Aethermage" href="#" target="_blank">Azorius Aethermage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could really use some attention. It's only seeing play in 54 decks on EDHREC, but it's the #1 card for any bounce strategy. And, the best part, it doesn't care about the type of permanent you're bouncing! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azorius Chancery" href="#" target="_blank">Azorius Chancery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud Cover" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud Cover</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overburden" href="#" target="_blank">Overburden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all love the Aethermage. I'm confident I could write 2,000 words on this card by itself, but for now I'll just say it's worth a second look.</p>
<p>How about a decklist, hmm?</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Wintering in Meletis" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis<br />
[/Commander]</p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Boreal Druid<br />
*1 Iceberg Cancrix<br />
*1 Ice-Fang Coatl<br />
*1 Rime Tender<br />
*1 Rimewind Taskmage<br />
*1 Squall Drifter<br />
*1 Azorius Aethermage<br />
*1 Barbarian Guides<br />
*1 Eternal Witness<br />
*1 Goblin Rimerunner<br />
*1 Reclamation Sage<br />
*1 Snow Hound<br />
*1 Abominable Treefolk<br />
*1 Centaur Omenreader<br />
*1 Mystic Snake<br />
*1 Ohran Yeti<br />
*1 Purphoros, God of the Forge<br />
*1 Solemn Simulacrum<br />
*1 Stalking Yeti<br />
*1 Adarkar Windform<br />
*1 Blizzard Strix<br />
*1 Chulane, Teller of Tales<br />
*1 Conifer Wurm<br />
*1 Diamond Faerie<br />
*1 Heidar, Rimewind Master<br />
*1 Ohran Frostfang<br />
*1 Rimehorn Aurochs<br />
*1 Adarkar Valkyrie<br />
*1 Rimefeather Owl<br />
*1 Rimescale Dragon<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[Instants]<br />
*1 Path to Exile<br />
*1 Skred<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Beast Within<br />
*1 Chaos Warp<br />
*1 Generous Gift<br />
*1 Fractured Identity<br />
[/Instants]</p>
<p>[Sorcries]<br />
*1 Into the North<br />
*1 Cultivate<br />
*1 Explosive Vegetation<br />
*1 Time Wipe<br />
[/Sorceries]</p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Arcum's Astrolabe<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Azorius Signet<br />
*1 Coldsteel Heart<br />
*1 Selesnya Signet<br />
*1 Simic Signet<br />
*1 Commander's Sphere<br />
*1 Crystal Shard<br />
*1 Sunstone<br />
*1 Thran Dynamo<br />
*1 Vedalken Orrery<br />
*1 Venser's Journal<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Burgeoning<br />
*1 On Thin Ice<br />
*1 Marit Lage's Slumber<br />
*1 Winter's Rest<br />
*1 Cover of Winter<br />
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon<br />
[/Enchantments]</p>
<p>[Planeswalkers]<br />
*1 Tamiyo, Field Researcher<br />
*1 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria<br />
[/Planeswalkers]</p>
<p>[Lands]<br />
*1 Arctic Flats<br />
*1 Arid Mesa<br />
*1 Boreal Shelf<br />
*1 Fabled Passage<br />
*1 Flooded Strand<br />
*1 Highland Weald<br />
*1 Misty Rainforest<br />
*1 Reliquary Tower<br />
*1 Rogue's Passage<br />
*1 Scalding Tarn<br />
*1 Scrying Sheets<br />
*8 Snow-Covered Forest<br />
*8 Snow-Covered Island<br />
*4 Snow-Covered Mountain<br />
*5 Snow-Covered Plains<br />
*1 Windswept Heath<br />
*1 Wooded Foothills<br />
[/Lands]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>It Doesn't Have To Be a Snowman</h2>
<p>That about wraps up this wintry mix of cards on <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>. I know there have got to be some questions, comments, and snide remarks after all that snowfall. Please leave them below in the comments! I'll be around down there talking about just how many other hyper-underplayed cards made the deck that I didn't have time to talk about above. I know I also included quite a few powerful cards in this build to help compensate for the weaker cards that were on theme. If there's something not in your collection and out of your price range, hit me up for an alternate suggestion.</p>
<p>As always, if you've got a card that sees play in 300 decks or less on the site that you'd like me to write about, let me know. I'm always up for reader suggestions! Until next time, stay frosty!</p>


Forgotten Harvest - Wintering in Meletis

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trail of Mystery" href="#" target="_blank">Trail of Mystery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://raymondswanland.com/">Raymond Swanland</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each fragment that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background love. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roon of the Hidden Realm"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Roon of the Hidden Realm is a Rhox Soldier from an undisclosed plane who is believed to guard the gate to an ethereal world. He was brought up by a devout family, but was drawn towards warlike pursuits, against their wishes. Roon joined the Herald's Army, where he gained prowess in combat. Some time later, after years of battle, his company mistakenly slaughtered a number of innocents. As a result, he deserted the battalion and took to wandering in the wilderness, where he received a vision of the Hidden Realm, during which he was told he was the keeper of its secrets.</p>
<p>Roon then embarked on a pilgrimage to rally people to his cause. His compelling personality attracted many, and he became a prophet with legions of followers. Roon doesn't actively seek out conflict, but when he perceives a threat, he will eliminate it quickly and efficiently. For those who believe in him, he is a great guardian who will one day open the gate to eternal glory.</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonName.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41035 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonName.jpg" alt="" width="429" height="103" /></a></p>
<p>The Hidden Realm is an ethereal world, a plane between planes: the Blind Eternities. Planeswalkers traverse the space between planes in an instant and only get a glimpse of the great beyond. The Blind Eternities is represented by the use of the exile zone: it lies outside of the game, yet lies within the game.</p>
<p>This is the non-realm of the Eldrazi titans: Ulamog, Kozilek, and Emrakul. Since time immemorial they've ravaged and wasted entire planes to satiate their unlimited hunger. Trapped for a time, their release from their stone prison spelled horrific disaster for the denizens of Zendikar.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kozilek, Butcher of Truth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emrakul, the Aeons Torn"></div></div>
<p>The Eldrazi exist half as an idea and half as beings of great power, and their occupancy of the Blind Eternities all but seals their inclusion in our flavor-fueled Hidden Realm deck.</p>
<p>While we're definitely going to include the legal titans, the dynamic of this ethereal form provides the greater foundation of the deck. What other cards exist partially in spirit and partially in body? <em>Morph</em> and <em>Manifest</em> creatures. We'll delve into this more later.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/tokens.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41047 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/tokens.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="319" /></a></p>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonCost.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41033 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonCost.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="81" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Green: </strong>Tapping into the awesome power of nature, green relies on instinct and natural symbiosis while embracing the duality of nature as both orderly and chaotic.</p>
<p><strong>White: </strong>Order and law are to be obeyed before all else. White cares for the good of the many before the good of the few.</p>
<p><strong>Blue: </strong>Slow, methodical, and highly intelligent. Seeking opportunity, blue is a collection of resources and it advocates tinkering and creating the things needed for survival.</p>
<p><strong>Bant (green, white and blue): </strong>Colors of the honorable warrior. Soldiers in the shard of Bant worship order and think of the group before the individual. Individuals aligned with Bant on the plane of Alara are primarily aligned with white.</p>
<p>The philosophy of the honorable warrior fits most directly with white's ideals, so what do green and blue provide? Green supplies an appreciation for nature and the way in which disputes are handled in the wild. Blue provides a tactical mind and a plotting intelligence that guides the Soldiers of Bant toward success. Blue and green are an enemy color pairing, often struggling to blend their ideals together. With white in the mix, there is a definitive set of rules and laws to follow which makes Bant an incredibly dangerous adversary.</p>
<p>Roon came from a devout family that did not want war to be his life, and ultimately they had their way. He is still considered a warlord, but the tragedy in his past pushed him away from violence towards leadership. He has been tempered by the experience and follows a more strict ethos than he did as a frontline grunt.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonArt.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41032 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonArt.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="411" /></a></p>
<h6 style="text-align: center;">(Art by <a href="https://steveprescott.com/">Steve Prescott</a>)</h6>
<p>This heavily armored rhino-man is prepared for battle, as if he is calling for a charge, yet none of his followers are anywhere to be seen. The only thing around him is this dark ominous fog; is he conjuring some beast from the Hidden Realm? Perhaps he himself coalesced from the fog. The ethereal nature of his power is intriguing and lends itself to the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obscuring Aether" href="#" target="_blank">Obscuring Aether</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of<em> Morph</em> and <em>Manifest</em> creatures quite nicely.</p>
<p>The subtle nod to his color identity can be found in the gems inlaid in his pole-arm. This is my favorite piece of his artwork, something I did not notice until I had the enlarged image right in front of me. Roon is from a Commander set, the format we all love that pays more attention to color identity than any other format. It is one of the defining characteristics and fundamental restrictions that helps our format stand apart, and I wanted to give some extra credit to Mr. Steve Prescott for finding such a unique way to convey that aspect of the game in this legend's artwork.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonType.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41037 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonType.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="48" /></a></p>
<p>Though the story blurb states that the plane Roon calls home is unknown, Alara is the only plane we know of that contains Rhox, so it's logical to conclude that that's where he's from. Furthermore, the Rhox on Alara were only found in the Bant shard of the plane, before the Conflux, when everything got all jumbled up. As Roon is aligned to the colors of Bant, the signs that he is from Alara are too obvious to ignore.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonRules.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41036 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonRules.jpg" alt="" width="547" height="230" /></a></p>
<p>In this deck, we're going to try to take advantage of the face-down mechanics to cheat out large creatures. The primary enabler is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When exiled with Roon's ability, the <em>Manifest</em> or <em>Morph</em> creature will re-enter the battlefield face-up. This can be a great way to cheat mana costs of expensive creatures.</p>
<p>There are now a number of cards that have a repeatable <em>Manifest</em> ability in Roon's colors: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whisperwood Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Whisperwood Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides board protection as well as <em>Manifest </em>creatures, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temur War Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Temur War Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> interacts very well with Roon's ability, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mastery of the Unseen" href="#" target="_blank">Mastery of the Unseen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides a mana sink and a touch of lifegain, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primordial Mist" href="#" target="_blank">Primordial Mist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enables utilization of stranded <em>Manifest</em> cards. The connecting thread of these cards is that they access the top card of the library. To choose the card that is <em>Manifested, </em>we can include a selection of top-deck manipulation cards, the highlights being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pondering Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Pondering Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll Rack" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll Rack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, the Mind Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll of Fate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primordial Mist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll Rack"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Flavor Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonFlavor.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41034 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonFlavor.jpg" alt="" width="545" height="67" /></a></p>
<p>We've already explored space manipulation, so it's time to explore time. What sort of time mage would Roon be if he didn't win with an infinite turn loop?</p>
<p>The three pieces we need are Roon, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Time Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a simple loop that needs a number of pieces to work, but it'll eventually win the game. That's boring, though! Let's bring some spice to the idea of time manipulation. <em>Suspend</em> is a mechanic that modifies the timing of spells, sending them to exile and ticking down towards their casting. It will not make a large appearance in the deck, but when given a choice between <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Search for Tomorrow" href="#" target="_blank">Search for Tomorrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we're going with the <em>Suspend</em> card.</p>
<p>Finally, I can't talk about time without touching on one of <em>Magic's</em> premiere time mages: Teferi. Though he himself will make no appearance in planeswalker form, I thought it fitting to include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as <em>Phasing</em> is yet another way to depict the ethereal nature of Roon's power.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Time Warp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Search for Tomorrow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi&#039;s Protection"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonBasics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41082 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonBasics.jpg" alt="" width="676" height="311" /></a></p>
<p>For this deck I've selected the full art basic lands from the original <em>Zendikar </em>set. The massive amount of raw mana on the plane of Zendikar drew the Eldrazi titans to it, and it has drawn me to it as well. The lands are vibrant and the art depicts unusual and alien formations, a perfect fit for this deck.</p>
<p>There's no way to sugar-coat this one - the deck is expensive. The initial idea revolves around the Eldrazi titans, which cost around $30 each, and with those as our starting place I threw any idea of having a budget-friendly deck out the window. There are two cards over $100 (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, the Mind Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusionary Mask" href="#" target="_blank">Illusionary Mask</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll Rack" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll Rack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes our third most expensive card slot, coming in around $60 and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Dreadnought" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Dreadnought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> falls just after it at $50. Filling it out with some fetch lands and tutors, the deck costs roughly $850 to assemble yourself, and that's being generous.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Illusionary Mask"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Dreadnought"></div></div>
<p>Why include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusionary Mask" href="#" target="_blank">Illusionary Mask</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Dreadnought" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Dreadnought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the first place? I'm glad you asked. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusionary Mask" href="#" target="_blank">Illusionary Mask</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a strange card with a lot of words, but basically it allows us the flexibility to play non-<em>Morph</em> creatures face-down. With the Mask, we're allowed to pay more for the card we play face-down, but we must pay at least the entire cost of the card, including colored mana. A lot of the time, this will actually provide a reduced cost to a <em>Morph</em> and still allows us to flip it over normally, or let the trigger of the Mask flip it.</p>
<p>The second trick involves the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Dreadnought" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Dreadnought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If we play the Dreadnought face-down with the Mask, we can flip it up on another turn to avoid the negative enters-the-battlefield ability. This works with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as well, by putting the Dreadnought face-down and flipping it up after it has entered. This particular synergy does not play nicely with Roon's ability to flip face-down creatures, though, so be careful.</p>
<p>Is this combo worth $200? Probably not, but we're doing it anyway!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Hidden Realm" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Roon of the Hidden Realm
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Phyrexian Dreadnought
*1 Ainok Survivalist
*1 Den Protector
*1 Icefeather Aven
*1 Kadena&#039;s Silencer
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Stratus Dancer
*1 Voidmage Apprentice
*1 Willbender
*1 Echo Tracer
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Flickerwisp
*1 Jeskai Infiltrator
*1 Nantuko Vigilante
*1 Chromeshell Crab
*1 Ixidor, Reality Sculptor
*1 Pondering Mage
*1 Riftwing Cloudskate
*1 Vesuvan Shapeshifter
*1 Whisperwood Elemental
*1 Brine Elemental
*1 Deadeye Navigator
*1 Quicksilver Dragon
*1 Root Elemental
*1 Temur War Shaman
*1 Thousand Winds
*1 Apex Altisaur
*1 Deep-Sea Kraken
*1 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
*1 Kozilek, the Great Distortion
*1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
*1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
*1 Emrakul, the Promised End
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Illusionary Mask
*1 Scroll Rack
*1 Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary
*1 Scroll of Fate
*1 Thousand-Year Elixir
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Ponder
*1 Search for Tomorrow
*1 Supreme Verdict
*1 Time Warp
*1 Time Wipe
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Eladamri&#039;s Call
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Eerie Interlude
*1 Release to the Wind
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Land Tax
*1 Mastery of the Unseen
*1 Secret Plans
*1 Trail of Mystery
*1 Cloudform
*1 Lightform
*1 Primordial Mist
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Flooded Strand
*9 Forest
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*9 Island
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Nimbus Maze
*5 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>My closing thought to you, dear reader, is to please not assemble this deck. I make these things so you don't have to! But, if any of you do, please show me, because I would love to see it in action.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - The Hidden Realm

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Willbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/izzymedrano">Dan Scott</a>)</h6>
<h1>"Stay on Target..."</h1>
<p>Welcome back to another <em>Forgotten Harvest,</em> where we dig deep into the bulk boxes of <em>Magic</em> to forage for hyper-underplayed cards that see play in 300 decks or less on EDHREC. Today, for the first time in this series, we're going to be tackling a Simic deck.</p>
<p>Given the stigma, for lack of a better word, that can come with playing Simic, I feel compelled to set expectations before I unveil this week's strategy. This series focuses on cards that see the least amount of play. These won't be the most powerful cards, and may not make for the most powerful deck. In the right strategy, though, a card which sees barely any play may become usable. If you do want to try out the cards we cover in this article, be aware of the perceptions players have when playing against a color combination like Simic, which is often expected to make crazy things happen with, for instance, +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p>This time, I'm scraping a strategy together based completely on the act of targeting. It's going to feel a lot like a Simic Spellslinger deck, heavily relying on instants and sorceries to target creatures on all sides of the battlefield. We're going to have to make sure that the deck stays creature-focused while also providing enough spells to still make it feel like a Spellslinger deck.</p>
<hr />
<h2>"Stay on Target..."</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="One Dozen Eyes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triton Fortune Hunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild Defiance"></div></div>
<p>A token strategy will be key to our success. We'll depend on cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverfur Partisan" href="#" target="_blank">Silverfur Partisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Docent of Perfection" href="#" target="_blank">Docent of Perfection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talrand, Sky Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Talrand, Sky Summoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to play simultaneously into the token and Spellslinger archetypes. However, there's always room for more traditional token production, too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="One Dozen Eyes" href="#" target="_blank">One Dozen Eyes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my favorites, and the swarm it provides is just what we're looking for. This collection of menacing eyes only sees play in 211 decks.</p>
<p>In addition to token strategies, we're also looking for other cards that care about being the target of a spell. The <em>Heroic</em> creatures from <em>Theros</em> block fit the bill quite well, and a number of them are hyper-underplayed. In that vein, we're running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triton Fortune Hunter" href="#" target="_blank">Triton Fortune Hunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wavecrash Triton" href="#" target="_blank">Wavecrash Triton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who see play in 80 and 35 decks, respectively; the associated card draw and spot removal, in the form of tapping down opposing creatures, will both be quite helpful.</p>
<p>Now that we have a mess of creatures, how can we capitalize on them becoming targeted by our spells? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gargos, Vicious Watcher" href="#" target="_blank">Gargos, Vicious Watcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help us out with that, fighting opposing creatures when one of our creatures becomes a target, and so can <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which only appears in 247 decks. Truly the heart of the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> buffs our targets by an extra +3/+3, which can be huge when paired with an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Open into Wonder" href="#" target="_blank">Open into Wonder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a field full of critters.</p>
<hr />
<h2>"Stay on Target..."</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sway of Illusion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sea Kings&#039; Blessing"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sylvan Paradise"></div></div>
<p>We've covered the targets, so let's talk about the spells that'll be doing the targeting. After some research, I've been able to find only three spells that can target an infinite number of creatures for a set cost: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sway of Illusion" href="#" target="_blank">Sway of Illusion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sea Kings&#039; Blessing" href="#" target="_blank">Sea Kings&#039; Blessing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. All three qualify as hyper-underplayed, appearing in only 160, 34, and 11 decklists, respectively. You can tell this is <em>Forgotten Harvest</em> when I'm bringing up obscure cards from <em>Legends!</em></p>
<p>While it's clear to see that none of the cards are terribly powerful (changing colors is sooooo <em>Invasion</em> block), when they're paired with the cards we've already discussed, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, they quickly become <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s. Even better, when we cast a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sea Kings&#039; Blessing" href="#" target="_blank">Sea Kings&#039; Blessing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dismiss into Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Dismiss into Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Willbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, it will completely decimate the opposing battlefields. I opted not to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Concordant Crossroads" href="#" target="_blank">Concordant Crossroads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this deck, but if you find great success with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Willbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you should consider adding it.</p>
<p>Some final notes on these three instants: I added in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> specifically to abuse these three cards. Scepter is particularly useful here because it <em>casts</em> a copy of the exiled instant. This is very relevant for the <em>Heroic</em> creatures, as they require a <em>cast</em> spell to target them, and won't trigger off a <em>copy </em>of a spell.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Battlefield Thaumaturge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Crowd Goes Wild"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Polymorphous Rush"></div></div>
<p>If you thought those color-change instants were the only trick I included in this deck, think again! This deck definitely makes the most of a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battlefield Thaumaturge" href="#" target="_blank">Battlefield Thaumaturge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, lowering the cost of our pump spells down to almost nothing, and it's only in 168 decks, to boot! When paired with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Crowd Goes Wild" href="#" target="_blank">The Crowd Goes Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (221 decks) or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrive" href="#" target="_blank">Thrive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (253 decks), you can perma-pump the entire team for only one green mana.</p>
<p>Adding in a third card, perhaps you could use a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorphous Rush" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorphous Rush</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, found in 255 decks, and some blue mana to make a few extra copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silverfur Partisan" href="#" target="_blank">Silverfur Partisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrive" href="#" target="_blank">Thrive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With all those Wolf target triggers stacking, your army is going to be gigantic! (Again, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Concordant Crossroads" href="#" target="_blank">Concordant Crossroads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Memorial" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Memorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be worth an add if you're having trouble keeping the tokens around until you can take them to the red zone.)</p>
<hr />
<h2>"Stay on Target..."</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Band Together"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phantasmal Form"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rethink"></div></div>
<p>This is all well and good, but we still haven't addressed two key pieces of a Commander deck: removal spells, and an actual commander!</p>
<p>For creature removal, I've tried to keep on-theme, and that means looking at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Band Together" href="#" target="_blank">Band Together</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combo Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Combo Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both of these cards allow us to target two of our creatures while eliminating an opposing one. Combined with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it should be easy to build up enough power to take out the biggest beefcake on the other side of the field. These cards are currently in 242 and 55 decks, respectively.</p>
<p>While not typically considered removal, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantasmal Form" href="#" target="_blank">Phantasmal Form</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an excellent way to instantaneously shrink a huge attacker, making it easily blockable. As many of you have read in previous articles, I'm a big fan of these kinds of shenanigans, especially given the political role they can play. Add that a cantrip is baked into the instant, as well as its flexibility in potentially letting you target two of your own creatures for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> triggers, and this card seems like a great fit.</p>
<p>This deck gave me the chance to slot in one of my favorite soft counterspells, hailing from all the way back in <em>Prophecy.</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rethink" href="#" target="_blank">Rethink</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is currently in 154 decks, and while it's not the best option when countering an opponent's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it's perfect for countering mass creature removal, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Rebirth" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Rebirth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I've found it to be an effective counter that no one sees coming.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edric, Spymaster of Trest"></div></div>
<p>Normally, I'd lead with the commander in one of these articles, but if you've looked at the field of Simic commander candidates, you'd see that there are no options that directly play into what this deck is trying to do. Simic just doesn't sling spells that much, and usually waits until Temur adds red to the mix to focus on instants and sorceries.</p>
<p>However, this deck is still missing a key element, and it's a big one: card draw. So much of this deck is going to rely on getting the key cards in hand together at the right moment. Given this, and the heavy token theme, I think <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best pick. Yes, there's something to be said for using <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>, as she's capable of more reliable draw, but her high CMC is concerning to me, so I opted for Edric in my build.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at the list!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Target Run" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Edric, Spymaster of Trest<br />
[/Commander]</p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Birds of Paradise<br />
*1 Llanowar Elves<br />
*1 Battlefield Thaumaturge<br />
*1 Maraleaf Pixie<br />
*1 Eternal Witness<br />
*1 Gyre Engineer<br />
*1 Silverfur Partisan<br />
*1 Spellseeker<br />
*1 Triton Fortune Hunter<br />
*1 Wavecrash Triton<br />
*1 Archaeomancer<br />
*1 Master of the Wild Hunt<br />
*1 Murmuring Mystic<br />
*1 Niblis of Frost<br />
*1 Talrand, Sky Summoner<br />
*1 Docent of Perfection<br />
*1 Willbreaker<br />
*1 Gargos, Vicious Watcher<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[Instants]<br />
*1 Giant Growth<br />
*1 Sea Kings' Blessing<br />
*1 Sylvan Paradise<br />
*1 Warriors' Lesson<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Muddle the Mixture<br />
*1 Sway of Illusion<br />
*1 Symbiosis<br />
*1 Band Together<br />
*1 Beast Within<br />
*1 Combo Attack<br />
*1 Krosan Grip<br />
*1 Phantasmal Form<br />
*1 Polymorphous Rush<br />
*1 Rethink<br />
*1 Synchronized Strike<br />
*1 Unwind<br />
*1 Mystic Genesis<br />
[/Instants]</p>
<p>[Sorceries]<br />
*1 The Crowd Goes Wild<br />
*1 Thrive<br />
*1 Ghostform<br />
*1 Nature's Lore<br />
*1 Open into Wonder<br />
*1 Rampant Growth<br />
*1 Call to Mind<br />
*1 Calming Verse<br />
*1 Pull from the Deep<br />
*1 Blessings of Nature<br />
*1 One Dozen Eyes<br />
*1 Rise from the Tides<br />
*1 Ezuri's Predation<br />
[/Sorceries]</p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Brain in a Jar<br />
*1 Isochron Scepter<br />
*1 Runechanter's Pike<br />
*1 Simic Signet<br />
*1 Commander's Sphere<br />
*1 Crystal Shard<br />
*1 Erratic Portal<br />
*1 Primal Amulet<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Season of Growth<br />
*1 Wild Defiance<br />
*1 Metallurgic Summonings<br />
*1 The Mirari Conjecture<br />
*1 Dismiss into Dream<br />
[/Enchantments]</p>
<p>[Lands]<br />
*1 Alchemist's Refuge<br />
*1 Arcane Lighthouse<br />
*1 Botanical Sanctum<br />
*1 Breeding Pool<br />
*1 Command Tower<br />
*1 Detection Tower<br />
*1 Flooded Grove<br />
*12 Forest<br />
*1 Hinterland Harbor<br />
*13 Island<br />
*1 Misty Rainforest<br />
*1 Novijen, Heart of Progress<br />
*1 Yavimaya Coast<br />
[/Lands]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>"You're All Clear Kid, Now Let's Blow This Thing and Go Home!"</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/tenor.gif"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-40816 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/tenor.gif" alt="" width="498" height="249" /></a></p>
<p>Thanks so much for staying on target during this action-packed <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>! To show my appreciation, I've provided a place for your questions, comments, and snide remarks in the comments below. I'd love to talk more about not-so-obvious Simic strategies, soft-counterspells you think should be played more often, and how I could better turn this deck into Wolf tribal (I tried so hard to make it happen, folks!).</p>
<p>If you have an idea for a future <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>, be it a hyper-underplayed card, a strategy in need of some love, or a commander that doesn't have a home in an archetype yet, let me know. I've done several articles from reader suggestions, and I'm always looking for more. Also, be sure to tune in next time when I tell the tale of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seven Dwarves" href="#" target="_blank">Seven Dwarves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>


green