Precon Primer - Masters of Evil

Hosts of Mordor - Precon Primer

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra, Eminent One" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra, Eminent One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/vargasni">Randy Vargas</a>)</h6>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Epic Preparations</h1>
<p style="text-align: left;">Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo, and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mishra, Eminent One"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It's easy to see how powerful Mishra is. He combines a crazy amount of value with a decent clock, and he's also in the right color combination to instigate some real shenanigans. There are a few layers to Mishra's power, so let's dive a bit deeper.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">On the first layer, we have an artifact creature token entering the battlefield. This opens a lot of powerful 'creatures and artifacts entering the battlefield' support, such as <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="Disciple of the Vault" href="#" target="_blank">Disciple of the Vault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the extra body can be used to fuel sacrifice effects, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Welder" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Welder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The second layer is about the type of targets that we use this ability on. I'll list just a few types that came to my mind when writing this article:</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Artifacts with ETBs and/ or LTBs</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">These artifacts are easy inclusions for most Mishra lists because they work great on their own and Mishra allows us to play our game like a blink deck. There are a few of those that act both when entering and when leaving, which gives us an impressive amount of value for such low-cost investments.</p>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ichor Wellspring" href="#" target="_blank">Ichor Wellspring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prized Statue" href="#" target="_blank">Prized Statue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Artifacts with Self-Tap Abilities</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">Artifacts with tapping abilities tend to be more powerful, given their limited use. Mishra's ability allows us to get another copy of those on the field which very can effectively turn into "double activations".</p>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smelting Vat" href="#" target="_blank">Smelting Vat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wishclaw Talisman" href="#" target="_blank">Wishclaw Talisman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Artifacts with Self-Sacrificing Abilities</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">Like the previous category, these artifacts were balanced around being single-use. Having our commander clone them allows us to have access to that effect without having to spend the actual card.</p>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mindslaver" href="#" target="_blank">Mindslaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Stasis Coffin" href="#" target="_blank">The Stasis Coffin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Mana Rocks</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">Mana rocks that add more than one mana are surprisingly effective targets for cloning, as they give us a huge bump in mana that can be used to strengthen our board position.</p>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilded Lotus" href="#" target="_blank">Gilded Lotus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hedron Archive" href="#" target="_blank">Hedron Archive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">Mishra's ability to produce value is so good that I feel we must trigger it more times. The Sakashima duo (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces" href="#" target="_blank">Sakashima of a Thousand Faces</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakashima the Impostor" href="#" target="_blank">Sakashima the Impostor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Double" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Double</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great ways to clone without worrying about the silly legend rule.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Polymorph"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spark Double"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">However, that's a very small set of creatures, so we need more consistency to make sure we get them into play. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorph" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects are the key to getting our clones. With them, we get access to five extra cards' worth of redundancy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Proteus Staff" href="#" target="_blank">Proteus Staff</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a reusable polymorph effect that's also an artifact, so we could theoretically use it multiple times a turn if we animate it with our commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Divergent Transformations" href="#" target="_blank">Divergent Transformations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very mana-efficient, being an instant, and gives us two extra creatures out of nowhere. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Transmogrify" href="#" target="_blank">Transmogrify</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Mutation" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Mutation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are fairly straightforward. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a bit delicate. On the one hand, it's another reusable <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorph" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but on the other, he's a bit limited, and the targeted creature needs to have a mana value lower than four, otherwise he won't get anything in our deck.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">To get our special clones into play, we have two main types of targets to morph with all these effects: the incidental tokens created by our cards, and the Mishra's Warform token from our commander. The first type is usually better to target because they allow us to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorph" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before the combat step, which gives us another trigger and even more immediate value. The second, while not as explosive as the first, is considerably more reliable and can be counted on 100% of the games, since the Warforms come with our commander.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ichor Wellspring"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oni-Cult Anvil"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wishclaw Talisman"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Getting multiple Mishras is just one piece of the puzzle, and the others are our value artifacts. Even if our gameplan is stopped, we still have strong effects at our disposal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ichor Wellspring" href="#" target="_blank">Ichor Wellspring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mycosynth Wellspring" href="#" target="_blank">Mycosynth Wellspring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide some amazing value when targeted by our commander, providing two triggers per clone. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wishclaw Talisman" href="#" target="_blank">Wishclaw Talisman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun target to clone because we can tutor for whatever card we want without giving an opponent a chance to do the same. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thunderhawk Gunship" href="#" target="_blank">Thunderhawk Gunship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Night Scythe" href="#" target="_blank">Night Scythe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are efficient ways to get extra bodies that can either be used to fuel future <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorph" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s or just plain old combat.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Mixture</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Many-Mishras Workshop" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Mishra, Eminent One
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
*Sakashima the Impostor
*Spark Double
[/Creature]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Soul-Guide Lantern
*Arcane Signet
*Elsewhere Flask
*Fellwar Stone
*Ichor Wellspring
*Metalspinner&#039;s Puzzleknot
*Mirror of the Forebears
*Mycosynth Lattice
*Nimblewright Schematic
*Oni-Cult Anvil
*Prized Statue
*Prophetic Prism
*Servo Schematic
*Talisman of Creativity
*Talisman of Dominance
*Talisman of Indulgence
*Wishclaw Talisman
*Mirage Mirror
*Night Scythe
*Proteus Staff
*Sculpting Steel
*Skyclave Relic
*Machine God&#039;s Effigy
*Panharmonicon
*Smelting Vat
*Forsaken Monument
*Gilded Lotus
*Knight Paladin
*Mindslaver
*Thunderhawk Gunship
*Spine of Ish Sah
*Portal to Phyrexia
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Phyrexian Reclamation
*Determined Iteration
*Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
*Mirrormade
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Arcane Denial
*Cyclonic Rift
*Terminate
*Cackling Counterpart
*Chaos Warp
*Thirst For Knowledge
*Big Score
*Chaos Mutation
*Divergent Transformation
[/Instant]
[Planeswalker]
*Daretti, Scrap Savant
*Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast
*Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalker]
[Sorcery]
*Vandalblast
*Dreadbore
*Feed the Swarm
*Fortuitous Find
*Seize the Spoils
*Toxic Deluge
*Damnation
*Polymorph
*Terisiare&#039;s Devastation
*Transmogrify
*Thoughtcast
[/Sorcery]
[Land]
*Blood Crypt
*Bloodstained Mire
*Bojuka Bog
*City of Brass
*Command Tower
*Crumbling Necropolis
*Exotic Orchard
*Ghost Quarter
*Haunted Ridge
*Inventors&#039; Fair
*Luxury Suite
*Mana Confluence
*Morphic Pool
*Phyrexian Tower
*Polluted Delta
*Scalding Tarn
*Shipwreck Marsh
*Shivan Reef
*Steam Vents
*Stormcarved Coast
*Sulfurous Springs
*Tectonic Edge
*Training Center
*Underground River
*Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*Watery Grave
*Xander&#039;s Lounge
*3 Island
*4 Mountain
*2 Swamp
[/Land]"></span></div></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: left;">Clones tend to be a bit on the win-more side if we're not careful, but if we play our cards right, we won't just have <em>one </em>extra copy of Mishra. We need to clone our commander with either <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces" href="#" target="_blank">Sakashima of a Thousand Faces</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Double" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Double</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and then we can make even <em>more </em>copies with things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Machine God&#039;s Effigy" href="#" target="_blank">Machine God&#039;s Effigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cackling Counterpart" href="#" target="_blank">Cackling Counterpart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirrormade" href="#" target="_blank">Mirrormade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirage Mirror" href="#" target="_blank">Mirage Mirror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we can copy other important artifacts we have in play already, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Over time, an army of copies will bury our opposition.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forsaken Monument"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderhawk Gunship"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Portal to Phyrexia"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We're pretty varied as far as win conditions go. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mindslaver" href="#" target="_blank">Mindslaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might get a few ugly looks on some tables, but it's not hard to keep controlling more than one opponent's turn per cycle. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knight Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Knight Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ETB can very easily put us over the edge when we're constantly making a bunch of copies of it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forsaken Monument" href="#" target="_blank">Forsaken Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun target, given that Mishra's cloning ability gives it a new name, so that gives our team +4/+4 for the turn. Oh, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Portal to Phyrexia" href="#" target="_blank">Portal to Phyrexia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a nasty control tool that can maintain an empty board while also providing us threats and resurrecting any of our Clones that happened to fall in battle!</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Methodology</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">For our opening hand, we're looking for one or two mana rocks to help us accelerate to our commander and, if possible, any value artifact so that we start getting value once Mishra enters the battlefield. Note that mana rocks can be effective Mishra targets if we want to accelerate.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The mid-game starts right about the time when we manage to land Mishra. This is where we get to shine because we can get immediate value out of all the cheap artifacts in our deck that will already be in play before Mishra arrives. It helps a lot to have a random creature token to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorph" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before the combat step. Otherwise, we have to wait for our commander's ability to copy an artifact to give us a token to target, but regardless, once we start chaining powerful ETB abilities, it's hard to beat it.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Our late game is pretty good. Really, it's a snowball. Even if we don't get to stick our main synergy and make copies upon copies, our artifacts provide a lot of inherent value all on their own! If our Clone strategy doesn't work, we just get to do regular awesome Mishra things! This gives us inevitability in addition to the potential to kick things into overdrive.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Santa's Workshop is Open</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think of this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which did you not? Was this experiment a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Mishra

Archetune-Up - As Thirsty as a Rose

Deep Analysis - Superfriends

Commander Legends Set Review - Wedge and Shard Legends

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cruel Entertainment" href="#" target="_blank">Cruel Entertainment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.dvpalumbo.com/">David Palumbo</a>)</h6>
<h1>All It Takes Is A Little Push</h1>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Diabolic Intent</em>, where we build decks around iconic villains and their diabolical schemes!</p>
<p>While we've had some very big players featured in this series, this week's villain is arguably one of the <em>most</em> iconic in all of American pop culture, which means that while the assertion that he "needs no introduction" is true on a practical level, it would completely betray the spirit of the character not to be as maddeningly ostentatious as possible, so here we go.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Showstopper"></div></div>
<p>He's been portrayed by four different Academy Award winners, securing two of those awards, himself. He's become a symbol for thousands of Angry Internet Men. He's killed Robin and paralyzed Batgirl. He's the Harlequin of Hate, the Ace of Knaves, the Jester of Genocide, the Clown Prince of Crime—<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX_wprkggoE">he's the Joker, baby!</a></p>
<p>The specific "diabolical schemes" being emulated here today come primarily from Christopher Nolan's version of the Joker in <em>The Dark Knight</em> (with a couple <em>Killing Joke</em> references to justify my article title). Given the character's 80-year history, it may seem like an odd choice to focus so narrowly on the Heath Ledger incarnation, but I've got three very good reasons to do so:</p>
<ol>
<li>He's the highly quotable version that <em>everyone </em>knows,</li>
<li>The ethos he lays out captures a lot of the reasons we as a society (heh) find the Joker so compelling, and</li>
<li>That ethos translates super well into <em>Magic</em>, specifically into Commander. In a format whose premise is four people trying to kill each other, it's not hard to make the case that, deep down, we're all just as nasty and crazy as the Joker.</li>
</ol>
<p>Let's get started!</p>
<hr />
<h2>They'll Eat Each Other</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curse of Verbosity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curse of Shallow Graves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curse of Stalked Prey"></div></div>
<p>If we want our opponents doing nasty, stupid things to each other, we've got to give them the proper motivation. While there are plenty of ways to force our opponents to go crazy and attack each other, we're taking a more insidious approach. We want to get in their heads. Sure, they don't <em>have </em>to swing, but aren't they just leaving resources on the table if they don't? A lot of people hold fast to those funky little unspoken rules about not swinging with utility dorks in the early game, which makes these kinds of Curses great for building up all kinds of weird animosity and resentment!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Xantcha, Sleeper Agent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scandalmonger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Land&#039;s Edge"></div></div>
<p>Once we've got some tensions riled, we can throw these into the mix. Give <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xantcha, Sleeper Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Xantcha, Sleeper Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to someone who's been needling your Cursed player and watch them get served hot comeuppance with a side of value. And people are remarkably willing to use their extra mana on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scandalmonger" href="#" target="_blank">Scandalmonger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, especially if they're nursing a grudge, Curse-inspired or otherwise.</p>
<p>I'd also like to call attention to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Land&#039;s Edge" href="#" target="_blank">Land&#039;s Edge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scandalmonger" href="#" target="_blank">Scandalmonger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s capacity to make our opponents discard cards, since discarding is a tried and true stand-in for insanity, and deep in the clutches of insanity is right where we want our opponents. And if you're worried that they may not have reasonable motivation to use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Land&#039;s Edge" href="#" target="_blank">Land&#039;s Edge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>...don't be. It's coming.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Entertainment Section</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cruel Entertainment"></div></div>
<p>The very <em>existence</em> of this card is a hilariously compelling argument that EDH players are monsters. Just put two people at each other's mercy, and watch them go! It's somewhat evocative of the boat scene in <em>The Dark Knight, </em>or that very quick <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCXbib9MahE">"we're gonna have tryouts" bit with the pool cue.</a> Oh wait...can we give them pool cues?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Donate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Viscera Seer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necropotence"></div></div>
<p>For the cruelest possible entertainment, give the <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> to the first player, then use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmless Offering" href="#" target="_blank">Harmless Offering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to give <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necropotence" href="#" target="_blank">Necropotence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Whisperer" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Whisperer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if they're at an even life total) to the player that goes second. How's that for "a social experiment"?</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">You'll Have to Choose</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Do or Die"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captive Audience"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magus of the Abyss"></div></div>
<p>This Joker guy does love putting people in unthinkable dilemmas like "save Rachel or Harvey" or "kill Coleman Reese or I blow up a hospital". We've got all kinds of horrible dilemmas for our opponents, among which <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captive Audience" href="#" target="_blank">Captive Audience</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stands out on a flavor level for essentially being the plot of <em>The Killing Joke.</em></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Hot Potato</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning Storm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Witchbane Orb"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of horrible dilemmas, check this one out! With any luck, we can bounce our opponents' lands <em>and then get them to discard them of their own free will.</em> We'll probably have to discard some, too, but hopefully it'll be less than our opponents. Here's a step-by-step:</p>
<p>1) On the board: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Witchbane Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Witchbane Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<p>1a) Optional: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Furnace of Rath" href="#" target="_blank">Furnace of Rath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and/or another damage doubler (the more, the better).</p>
<p>1b) Optional: Play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damnation" href="#" target="_blank">Damnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or any other creature wipe.</p>
<p>2) Tap all your lands for mana.</p>
<p>3) Play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunder" href="#" target="_blank">Sunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to numerous groans.</p>
<p>4) Play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> targeting the player with the lowest life.</p>
<p>5) Activate <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability enough times to make it lethal on whoever you're targeting. This amount will vary, but if you wait until fairly late in the game to do this or have multiple damage doublers out, you might only need to lose 3 or 4 lands.</p>
<p>6) Sit back and watch as your opponents pitch all of their lands to play Death Ping-Pong. If you board wiped, they won't be able to call a truce and fizzle it out on a creature! They'll "drive themselves mad" discarding cards, and then one of them dies! What a show!</p>
<p>Side note: The safe way to do this is with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Witchbane Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Witchbane Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or its sibling <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Orbs of Warding" href="#" target="_blank">Orbs of Warding</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which are unfortunately our only options because I'll be damned if I'm gonna splash white in a Joker deck. The authentic way to do this is to deliver a rousing "agent of chaos" speech to our opponents and convince them to respect our craft and not target us.</p>
<hr />
<h2>You're Just a Freak, Like Me</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hive Mind"></div></div>
<p>If your response to seeing the above card is mostly fear, you sound sane and well-adjusted, and you should not be piloting this deck. But really, if our goal is "make our opponents do nasty things", how can we do better than a card that essentially reads "make our opponents copy our nasty things"?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakdos&#039;s Return"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Remorseless Punishment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bonfire of the Damned"></div></div>
<p>And what nasty things they are! I'll note that we're also running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eye of the Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Eye of the Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a backup for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hive Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Hive Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which means we're mostly steering clear of X spells, but c'mon, how awesome is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos&#039;s Return" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos&#039;s Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? If we're looking for some more Entertainment, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worst Fears" href="#" target="_blank">Worst Fears</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also a fantastic option. We'll want our Orbs from the previous section, but if we get in a pinch, we might not have to lose too much even if we end up being targeted and needing to discard.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><em>Madness</em> is the Emergency Exit</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Withering"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avacyn&#039;s Judgment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nagging Thoughts"></div></div>
<p>Aside from giving us incidental value if our discard sorceries come back to bite us, <em>Madness</em> is kind of the quintessential Joker mechanic. Embracing insanity and using it our advantage? Yes, please.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Land's Edge Incentive</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gaze of Adamaro"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sudden Impact"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toil // Trouble"></div></div>
<p>I did say there would be reasonable motivation for our opponents to use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Land&#039;s Edge" href="#" target="_blank">Land&#039;s Edge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, didn't I? What happens if we follow our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo from before, (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunder" href="#" target="_blank">Sunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, damage doublers, etc.) but replace <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with one of the above cards played into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hive Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Hive Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Land&#039;s Edge" href="#" target="_blank">Land&#039;s Edge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out, our opponents get to decide if they want to take damage for all those lands in their hand, or discard them for 4 damage apiece! And if they don't want to take any damage, they're free to discard their entire hand! Wow, madness really <em>is </em>the emergency exit.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Wheels on the Bus</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Windfall"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reforge the Soul"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Echo of Eons"></div></div>
<p>Wheels can enable <em>Madness</em>, and digging for cards is always good, but with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hive Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Hive Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, these cards will frikkin' <em>excavate. </em>And if we dig far and deep enough, maybe we'll dig this up:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Laboratory Maniac"></div></div>
<p>I'm usually very against this card because I think it's a lazy backup win condition, but if his flavor text isn't just the epitome of the "I'm like a dog chasing cars" monologue, I don't know what is.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Commander - Multiple Choice</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nekusar the Mindrazer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nicol Bolas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gwendlyn di Corci"></div></div>
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<p>"You wanna know how I got these cards?"</p>
<p>In keeping with the Joker's multiple choice past, I'm presenting you with a multiple choice poll for a preferred commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the practical choice, seeing as we're running so many wheels, but he's also super overdone and boring. OG <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nicol Bolas" href="#" target="_blank">Nicol Bolas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does force discard, and in an extremely dramatic and theatrical Joker fashion, but he's also kind of a terrible card. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwendlyn di Corci" href="#" target="_blank">Gwendlyn di Corci</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a little more subtle about it, and she does have some serious Harley Quinn vibes, but she is also One Hundred Dollars. Feel free to comment if you've got any other ideas!</p>
<p>Here's the final decklist! Don't let my commander choice influence your vote.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Bottom Text" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gwendlyn Di Corci
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Asylum Visitor
*1 Big Game Hunter
*1 Doom Whisperer
*1 Fiendish Duo
*1 Jace&#039;s Archivist
*1 Laboratory Maniac
*1 Magus of the Abyss
*1 Magus of the Wheel
*1 Scandalmonger
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Xantcha, Sleeper Agent
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bitter Feud
*1 Captive Audience
*1 Collective Restraint
*1 Curse of Disturbance
*1 Curse of Opulence
*1 Curse of Shallow Graves
*1 Curse of Stalked Prey
*1 Curse of Verbosity
*1 Dictate of the Twin Gods
*1 Eye of the Storm
*1 Furnace of Rath
*1 Gibbering Descent
*1 Hive Mind
*1 Land&#039;s Edge
*1 Necropotence
*1 Propaganda
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Judgment
*1 Blightning
*1 Blood Tribute
*1 Bonfire of the Damned
*1 Carnival // Carnage
*1 Choice of Damnations
*1 Cruel Entertainment
*1 Damnation
*1 Do or Die
*1 Donate
*1 Echo of Eons
*1 Flame Wave
*1 From Under the Floorboards
*1 Harmless Offering
*1 Insult // Injury
*1 Mindstab
*1 Murderous Compulsion
*1 Nagging Thoughts
*1 Rakdos&#039;s Return
*1 Reforge the Soul
*1 Remorseless Punishment
*1 Thieves&#039; Auction
*1 Toil // Trouble
*1 Welcome to the Fold
*1 Wheel of Fortune
*1 Windfall
*1 Worst Fears
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Orbs of Warding
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Witchbane Orb
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Dark Withering
*1 Gaze of Adamaro
*1 Lightning Storm
*1 Sudden Impact
*1 Sunder
*1 Violent Eruption
*1 Volcanic Offering
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Graven Cairns
*6 Island
*1 Luxury Suite
*8 Mountain
*1 Sulfur Falls
*7 Swamp
*1 Watery Grave
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>What do you think? Do these cards put a smile on that face, or does this town deserve a better class of criminal? Do I look like a guy with a plan, or is the plan horrifying? Let me know!</p>
<p>In regards to our next villain, I started writing a little bonus section at the end here with deck ideas for other Batman villains, and realized I had enough material to do a whole article of them! They won't be full decks, just little deck archetypes with some card ideas, but I'm going to cram in every dang Batman villain I can come up with a build for! See you next time!</p>


Diabolic Intent - One Bad Day

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sedris, the Traitor King" href="#" target="_blank">Sedris, the Traitor King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paulbonnerart/">Paul Bonner</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>Today we're going to talk about one of the most interesting commanders in Grixis. He has a powerful ability that allows us to temporarily reanimate any creature in our graveyard. Yes, we're going to build a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sedris, the Traitor King" href="#" target="_blank">Sedris, the Traitor King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sedris, the Traitor King"></div></div>
<p><strong>Each creature in your graveyard has unearth {2}{B}. <em>({2}{B}: Return the card to the battlefield. The creature gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)</em><br />
</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>Sedris tends to lose out on popularity when compared to similar commanders. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marchesa, the Black Rose" href="#" target="_blank">Marchesa, the Black Rose</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is generally more favored as a creature-based Grixis commander, and in terms of direct reanimation, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chainer, Nightmare Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Chainer, Nightmare Adept</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karador, Ghost Chieftain" href="#" target="_blank">Karador, Ghost Chieftain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have a more abusable version of the same effect. However, we do have the advantage of cheating on mana costs.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>Being a six-mana nongreen commander is pretty rough, especially when we then have to pay another three mana to actually start getting value from him.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>Given the previous factor, one should carefully consider before building around Sedris, since he paints a big red target on himself when he's out on the battlefield. On the other hand, he can be a great support for creature-based strategies because he offers a <em>Flashback</em> type of strategy.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>Sedris offers many great lines when played as a creature-based combo commander, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + the <em>Unearth</em> ability becoming a very efficient way to put any creature in our deck into play.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Sedris-Sig.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-43079" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Sedris-Sig.png" alt="" width="1159" height="534" /></a></p>
<p>As we can see, the average Sedris list try to play the grindy game, with lots of great ETB triggers. This is a bit confusing since we lose the body at end of turn, which means that we can't really abuse them. That being said, I love <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Veil" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Veil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a way to get around <em>Unearth</em>'s downside.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>When building my last article (<a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/epic-experiment-lich-mastery-sidisi/">Lich's Mastery Sidisi</a>), I considered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Charbelcher" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Charbelcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but quickly threw down the idea. Ever since then, though, I've been in a Belcher mood, so here we are.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Charbelcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Recruiter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Severance"></div></div>
<p>If we play a deck with a critical number of Goblins and we trigger <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ETB, we can stack the top of our deck with Goblins and then activate the Charbelcher, guaranteeing a whole lot of damage to a single target. If we'd like to go whole-hog, we can also use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Severance" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Severance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to remove all the lands from our own deck, guaranteeing we get a lethal hit from the Belcher! This combo is a fun way to reconcile flavor and functionality, since we're shooting Goblins at our enemies! It isn't a guaranteed one-hit K.O., but for an aggro deck like Goblins, chances are good that this chunk of damage will finish someone off.</p>
<p>By this point you might be wondering about Sedris's role in this plan. It's simple: he provides support by reanimating key Goblins. There are plenty of great Goblins that fuel this deck other than just <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, can help us find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Charbelcher" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Charbelcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which our other cards can more easily scoop out of the graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great way to chain key ETB effects. Even cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skirk Prospector" href="#" target="_blank">Skirk Prospector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help us get to the very important seven-mana mark (the amount of mana we need to cast and activate Charbelcher in the same turn).</p>
<p>I may have buried the lead here a bit, but the best thing about this deck is that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Charbelcher" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Charbelcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just the Plan B. You read that right, the Belcher is our backup plan. Our main plan is to beat face with our Goblins. Playing Belcher dictates a certain structure for the deck to help support it, but that doesn't mean this structure gets to have no life of its own. In our case, it has plenty of great tribal support.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dockside Extortionist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Munitions Expert"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Matron"></div></div>
<p>Goblins, as a whole, are a great tribe for this type of build because they get plenty of utility on relevant bodies. For removal, we have many great options like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gempalm Incinerator" href="#" target="_blank">Gempalm Incinerator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Cratermaker" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Cratermaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Trashmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Trashmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Munitions Expert" href="#" target="_blank">Munitions Expert</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. For mana advantage we have a few choices: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dockside Extortionist" href="#" target="_blank">Dockside Extortionist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure Nabber" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure Nabber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wily Goblin" href="#" target="_blank">Wily Goblin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, are some cheap ways to not get behind on mana.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Sedris, Goblins, and Belchers" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Sedris, the Traitor King
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Goblin Lackey
*Goblin Welder
*Legion Loyalist
*Skirk Prospector
*Dimir Infiltrator
*Dockside Extortionist
*Frogtosser Banneret
*Goblin Cratermaker
*Goblin Engineer
*Goblin Lookout
*Goblin Piledriver
*Goblin Recruiter
*Munitions Expert
*Stingscourger
*Warren Instigator
*Wily Goblin
*Boggart Harbinger
*Gempalm Incinerator
*Goblin Chieftain
*Goblin King
*Goblin Matron
*Goblin Sharpshooter
*Goblin Warchief
*Mad Auntie
*Pashalik Mons
*Treasure Nabber
*Boggart Mob
*Caterwauling Boggart
*Goblin Trashmaster
*Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician
*Krenko, Mob Boss
*Moggcatcher
*Sling-Gang Lieutenant
*Volley Veteran
*Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
*Siege-Gang Commander
*Skirk Fire Marshal
[/Creature]
[Artifact]
*Skullclamp
*Sol Ring
*Arcane Signet
*Fellwar Stone
*Izzet Signet
*Rakdos Signet
*Talisman of Creativity
*Talisman of Indulgence
*Commander&#039;s Sphere
*Goblin Charbelcher
*Hedron Archive
*Bolas&#039;s Citadel
[/Artifact]
[Sorcery]
*Diabolic Intent
*Dreadbore
*Mana Severance
*Fabricate
*Trash for Treasure
*Diabolic Tutor
*Distant Melody
*Beacon of Unrest
[/Sorcery]
[Instant]
*Entomb
*Swan Song
*Cyclonic Rift
*Shred Memory
*Whir of Invention
[/Instant]
[Planeswalker]
*Daretti, Scrap Savant
[/Planeswalker]
[Enchantment]
*Kindred Discovery
[/Enchantment]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*City of Brass
*Mana Confluence
*Exotic Orchard
*Path of Ancestry
*Crumbling Necropolis
*Blood Crypt
*Steam Vents
*Luxury Suite
*Dragonskull Summit
*Sulfur Falls
*Shivan Reef
*Sulfurous Springs
*Spirebluff Canal
*Smoldering Marsh
*Temple of Epiphany
*Temple of Malice
*Arid Mesa
*Bloodstained Mire
*Scalding Tarn
*Wooded Foothills
*Prismatic Vista
*Fabled Passage
*Academy Ruins
*Buried Ruin
*Inventors&#039; Fair
*Snow-Covered Island
*Snow-Covered Swamp
*7 Snow-Covered Mountain
[/Land]"></span></div></div>
<div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>
<hr />
</div>
<p>As you can see, we're an aggressive deck at heart, with a very live combo gameplan. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Severance" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Severance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an almost free support in this build, since it has the same CMC as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (which means we get some extra value from <em>Transmute</em> cards) and it also makes it easier to "reload" the Belcher once we fire.</p>
<p>We're also rocking a pretty good artifact reanimation suite, with many efficient one-shot effects, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beacon of Unrest" href="#" target="_blank">Beacon of Unrest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trash for Treasure" href="#" target="_blank">Trash for Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daretti, Scrap Savant" href="#" target="_blank">Daretti, Scrap Savant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These effects and the artifact tutors are great at finding Belcher, however we need a backup target, otherwise they can go to waste pretty quickly. Enter <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolas&#039;s Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Bolas&#039;s Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> one of the best ways to accelerate our aggro plan.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>Goblins are good on their own, which releases us from the typical burden of combo decks that feel the pressure to assemble the combo as quickly as possible. This makes outright aggro an acceptable strategy for us while also prolonging the life expectancy of the deck, since multiple games can have very different outcomes.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frogtosser Banneret"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Distant Melody"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div></div>
<p>Early game, we hit the ground running, filling the board with all the Goblins we want; any that die to nasty <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects can be brought back with Sedris later. This doesn't mean that we should be completely careless with the lives of our Goblins; when to play which Goblins is still an important element for our threat assessment and longevity.</p>
<p>In the mid-game, if our aggro plan is working - say, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has made so many Goblins our opponents can't keep up, or our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Distant Melody" href="#" target="_blank">Distant Melody</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has kept our coffers stocked - we can, of course, continue to just smash. However, we can also start looking for a piece or two of the Belcher combo, especially if there's one opponent whose <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Prison" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Prison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has prevented us from attacking them. This is the out-of-nowhere way our aggressive deck can take out an unwary opponent who thought themselves safe from our army. Keep in mind, though, that the proper Charbelcher combo is a one-time deal.</p>
<p>Sedris himself is the late-game play. If our Gobbos have perished, he can bring them back in spectacular fashion for one final hurrah. Don't rush to play this commander; save him for later, when your opponents think the coast is clear.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tezzeret, the Seeker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wort, Boggart Auntie"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buried Alive"></div></div>
<p>Balancing out the high number of Goblins together with some of the Belcher support was pretty difficult. I can't really tell if we have the correct ratio, so tinkering with this list may prove useful if you would like to take up this strategy. Lowering the mana curve by cutting out some of our bigger Goblins and go all-out in the aggro plan, for instance, may allow us to cut a land or two, which helps the Belcher's odds ever so slightly.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with our commander can provide a very useful toolbox. I don't personally think that this is a reliable synergy, but it's a staple in Sedris for a reason. Additionally, more artifact tutors to lean into the combo elements of the deck could help improve its performance. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tezzeret, the Seeker" href="#" target="_blank">Tezzeret, the Seeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can tutor for Charbelcher right away, for instance.</p>
<p>Finally, if Sedris isn't your cup of tea, but you still want to Belcher people to death, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wort, Boggart Auntie" href="#" target="_blank">Wort, Boggart Auntie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do a pretty good impression. We'll lose <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Severance" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Severance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and some of the artifact tutors, but it's nothing that a few other black tutors can't handle!</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Did you have a blast ? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Sedris, Goblins, and Belchers

Mind Bend - Grixis Cursechantress

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mairsil, the Pretender" href="#" target="_blank">Mairsil, the Pretender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://izzymedrano.com/main/">Izzy</a>)</h6>
<h2>What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?</h2>
<p>Once again, it's time for another <em>Forgotten Harvest,</em> the article series where I highlight the most underplayed cards on EDHREC, clocking in at 300 decks or less. And, as has become common practice for me in this series, I'll be taking a commander that isn't supposed to "Voltron" and suiting it up for battle. <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-mono-red-voltron/">We did it</a> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-muldrotha-voltron/">and then again</a> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muldrotha, the Gravetide" href="#" target="_blank">Muldrotha, the Gravetide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This time, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mairsil, the Pretender" href="#" target="_blank">Mairsil, the Pretender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets a chance to supersize!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mairsil, the Pretender"></div></div>
<p>Now, before I get into some of the interesting and hyper-underplayed cards that can help Mairsil get swole, it's important to mention those that have covered the Pretender before me: fellow EDHREC writers <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/commander-showdown-mairsil-vs-experiment-kraj/">Joseph Schultz</a> and <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/ultra-budget-brews-mairsil-the-pretender/">Andrew Cummings</a> both did a great job covering many options for Mairsil. I'm going to be covering a few of the cards that they've mentioned before, but I highly recommend checking those articles out to get the full picture of this commander. I've limited my deck to specifically pumping up Mairsil with +1/+1 counters via his cage counter trick. To do this, we'll be leaning on looting and self-mill effects to ensure a plethora of targets, as well as effects that allow Mairsil to hit the battlefield multiple times, plus a healthy amount of evasion.</p>
<p>There are also a fair number of cards which can function as stand-ins for Mairsil should he find himself <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imprisoned in the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Imprisoned in the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or listening to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of the Dryads" href="#" target="_blank">Song of the Dryads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrotic Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Necrotic Ooze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fantastic alternative, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quicksilver Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Quicksilver Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Havengul Lich" href="#" target="_blank">Havengul Lich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do more than just copy activated abilities: if Mairsil is on the field, they can borrow his activated abilities.</p>
<p>Alright, let's find those underplayed gems that help make Mairsil a Voltron!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Counter Argument</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Souldrinker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Markov Dreadknight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Syndicate Trafficker"></div></div>
<p>First on our list of hyper-underplayed cards is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Souldrinker" href="#" target="_blank">Souldrinker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It sees play in just 58 decks on EDHREC, but putting +1/+1 counters on a creature doesn't get any easier: trading three life for a +1/+1 counter is an easy, systematic way to buff our Voltron. And don't forget that, while Mairsil only allows each activated ability to be used once a turn, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Souldrinker" href="#" target="_blank">Souldrinker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s "free" ability is something you can do each turn: by the time it gets to be your turn again, Mairsil could already be an 8/8.</p>
<p>But, then, if you happen to have the mana, and maybe some extra cards in your hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Markov Dreadknight" href="#" target="_blank">Markov Dreadknight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can certainly pump up Mairsil faster and with less life lost. Plus, the Dreadknight (263 decks) also has the potential to do some damage on its own, as it has evasion baked right in. The cost of discarding a card is actually a benefit here since it will allow Mairsil to pluck creatures and artifacts with tasty activated abilities right out of the graveyard.</p>
<p>Looking at the decklist below reveals the large number of artifacts in this Grixis build, so it makes sense to include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syndicate Trafficker" href="#" target="_blank">Syndicate Trafficker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, both for the easy +1/+1 counter, but also the protection of indestructibility it can grant to Mairsil when caged. It sees play in 248 decks, but offers some much needed protection in this deck to our critically important commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anthroplasm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Solarion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Consumptive Goo"></div></div>
<p>Adding one or two counters at a time is nice, but what about really cranking Mairsil's stats up to 11? For that we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anthroplasm" href="#" target="_blank">Anthroplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the first cards I ever brewed with way back in <em>Urza's Legacy</em>. Only 245 decks have this card right now, but it seems tailor-made for our purposes here. Throw a cage counter on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anthroplasm" href="#" target="_blank">Anthroplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> when our commander hits the field, and the next turn pump as much mana as possible into growing Mairsil into a beast. Sadly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anthroplasm" href="#" target="_blank">Anthroplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability doesn't stack well, as it removes all counters on the card before adding the new ones.</p>
<p>But maybe Mairsil could use Anthroplasm's ability as a start, and then follow it up with the activated ability on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solarion" href="#" target="_blank">Solarion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the next turn. This card, and a couple other <em>Sunburst</em> cards I'll talk about later, seem right at home in this deck, even if they can't be cast for their full potential. But if that option is appealing, I have included cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exotic Orchard" href="#" target="_blank">Exotic Orchard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to help turn make this Grixis deck capable of all five colors. As an aside, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solarion" href="#" target="_blank">Solarion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> sees play in only 101 decks on the site.</p>
<p>While slightly on the expensive side, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consumptive Goo" href="#" target="_blank">Consumptive Goo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides another route for +1/+1 counter amplification, while also removing a weenie in the process. Ideally used as a quick combat trick, the Goo is only found in 101 decks. Honestly, if I were looking at cards to cut, this would probably be high on the list due to the cost of the ability, but for now it helps keep the mana curve in check, and it functions well on its own without our commander.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Counters as a Cost</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spinal Parasite"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Suncrusher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Molten Hydra"></div></div>
<p>Since we're putting all these counters on Mairsil, it might be good to put those counters to use. Maybe we can use them to knock down planeswalkers with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spinal Parasite" href="#" target="_blank">Spinal Parasite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In only 14 measly decks on EDHREC, this <em>Sunburst</em> artifact creature is the only creature ever printed to have a negative toughness. And while that's not a very good reason to play it, the versatility in removing generic counters from permanents does come in handy.</p>
<p>Another <em>Sunburst</em> creature, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Suncrusher" href="#" target="_blank">Suncrusher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (95 decks), pulls double duty for us: not only can it turn extra +1/+1 counters into creature removal, but it can also give Mairsil the ability to bounce himself, allowing for a recast and another card exiled with a cage counter on it. While nine mana is high, I think there's great versatility here, and the chances that it'll wind up on the battlefield as opposed to just feeding Mairsil are low.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s abilities allow for both the addition of counters to Mairsil and a mass damage move. After a few turns of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solarion" href="#" target="_blank">Solarion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, there may be enough +1/+1 counters on Mairsil for him to go lethal using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s second ability. The Hydra sees play in 102 decks, and while I'm sure there are better iterations of both of its abilities, getting them both on a single card is very valuable.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Through the Line</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marchesa&#039;s Smuggler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Avenger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merrow Wavebreakers"></div></div>
<p>Now that we've talked about ways to make Mairsil huge, we should spend some time on just how he's going to connect with opponents. First up, we have an excellent option in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marchesa&#039;s Smuggler" href="#" target="_blank">Marchesa&#039;s Smuggler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Only seeing play in 282 decks, this has to be one of my favorite Izzet cards! The creature is well-costed, as is its activated ability, and it doesn't need any other card to work thanks to <em>Dethrone</em>. In this deck, it provides the best evasion, as well as some very relevant haste, all thanks to an activated ability that could end up on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrotic Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Necrotic Ooze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Havengul Lich" href="#" target="_blank">Havengul Lich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. A perfect fit!</p>
<p>I looked very hard at the series of "Avenger" cards printed throughout Magic. The two I settled on for this deck were <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Avenger" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Avenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah&#039;s Avenger" href="#" target="_blank">Jodah&#039;s Avenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Played in 27 and 263 decks, respectively, these cards have some great evasion-granting activated abilities, and they're just begging to get "caged" by Mairsil. While it does hurt that you can only use the effect once a turn, having multiple Avengers can help that. Maybe having even a third or fourth version of the card would be beneficial.</p>
<p>While the typical <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mairsil, the Pretender" href="#" target="_blank">Mairsil, the Pretender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck runs untapping cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leech Bonder" href="#" target="_blank">Leech Bonder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hateflayer" href="#" target="_blank">Hateflayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I like my untap effects to come with some evasion. Hence, I've included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merrow Wavebreakers" href="#" target="_blank">Merrow Wavebreakers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the deck. Providing a cheap way to untap Mairsil while also granting evasion fits right in line with this deck's gameplan. Anymore, this kind of effect seems to be found more in white, so I'm glad to see it in blue here. The Wavebreakers are in only 30 decks on the site, which seems low to me for a good Merfork card with a unique ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bane Alley Broker"></div></div>
<p>Lastly, I've included a card to help add some chaos to your Mairsil games: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bane Alley Broker" href="#" target="_blank">Bane Alley Broker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (99 decks). While it may not seem like a very good card, getting the Broker's ability on Mairsil while you also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Welder" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Welder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a cage can lead to some very interesting interactions, not to mention what happens if you exile it using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Impostor" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Impostor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability. Let me know in the comments if you pick up on any of the other fun interactions this card can create in the deck.</p>
<p>And speaking of the deck, here it is.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Pretending to be Voltron" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Mairsil, the Pretender<br />
[/Commander]</p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Walking Ballista<br />
*1 Carrion Feeder<br />
*1 Consumptive Goo<br />
*1 Grenzo, Dungeon Warden<br />
*1 Marchesa's Smuggler<br />
*1 Merfolk Looter<br />
*1 Molten Hydra<br />
*1 Pili-Pala<br />
*1 Runaway Steam-Kin<br />
*1 Sage of Hours<br />
*1 Syndicate Trafficker<br />
*1 Bane Alley Broker<br />
*1 Dark Imposter<br />
*1 Myr Welder<br />
*1 Simic Manipulator<br />
*1 Yahenni, Undying Partisan<br />
*1 Anthroplasm<br />
*1 Argent Sphinx<br />
*1 Crystalline Crawler<br />
*1 Herald of Secret Streams<br />
*1 Identity Thief<br />
*1 Mer-Ek Nightblade<br />
*1 Necrotic Ooze<br />
*1 Souldrinker<br />
*1 Gilded Lotus<br />
*1 Cinderhaze Wretch<br />
*1 Havengul Lich<br />
*1 Markov Dreadknight<br />
*1 Merrow Wavebreakers<br />
*1 Spinal Parasite<br />
*1 Torchling<br />
*1 Aetherling<br />
*1 Etherium-Horn Sorcerer<br />
*1 Jodah's Avenger<br />
*1 Quicksilver Elemental<br />
*1 Sphinx of Magosi<br />
*1 Urza's Avenger<br />
*1 Hateflayer<br />
*1 Shauku, Endbringer<br />
*1 Solarion<br />
*1 Suncrusher<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[Instants]<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Rakdos Charm<br />
*1 Reality Shift<br />
*1 Bedevil<br />
*1 Chaos Warp<br />
*1 Fact or Fiction<br />
[/Instants]</p>
<p>[Sorceries]<br />
*1 Vandalblast<br />
*1 Demonic Tutor<br />
*1 Grave Strength<br />
[/Sorceries]</p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Manifold Key<br />
*1 Retrofitter Foundry<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Dimir Signet<br />
*1 Izzet Signet<br />
*1 Rakdos Signet<br />
*1 Chromatic Lantern<br />
*1 Commander's Sphere<br />
*1 Crystal Shard<br />
*1 Mirage Mirror<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Phyrexian Scriptures<br />
[/Enchantments]</p>
<p>[Lands]<br />
*1 Blood Crypt<br />
*1 Command Tower<br />
*1 Crumbling Necropolis<br />
*1 Dragonskull Summit<br />
*1 Drowned Catacomb<br />
*1 Exotic Orchard<br />
*9 Island<br />
*6 Mountain<br />
*1 Opal Palace<br />
*1 Sanctum of Eternity<br />
*1 Shivan Reef<br />
*1 Steam Vents<br />
*1 Sulfur Falls<br />
*1 Sulfurous Springs<br />
*8 Swamp<br />
*1 Underground River<br />
*1 Watery Grave<br />
[/Lands]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>I Could've Been a Pretender!</h2>
<p>That's about all there is for this <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>. Questions? Suggestions? Snide remarks? Leave them for me below in the comments. I'll be around to talk about how I left <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Horseshoe Crab" href="#" target="_blank">Horseshoe Crab</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soliton" href="#" target="_blank">Soliton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> off of my list, and why I can't seem to stop making Voltron decks in this article series. What are some of the more interesting activated abilities that Mairsil could gain, especially from hyper-underplayed cards? Are there any activated ability interactions in Grixis that need more attention? Let me know, and I'll see you next time!</p>


grixis