<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass" href="#" target="_blank">The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.deviantart.com/douzen/gallery">Douzen</a></em></p>
<p>Hello there! My name's Ezra, and I'm here to introduce a Commander deck built around a new card from <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender Eternal</em>.</p>
<p>Looking at spoilers from this upcoming set, I was pleasantly surprised by how simple many of the cards are. Between text reminding new players what keyword abilities like flying and vigilance do, straightforward spells, and creatures with no abilities at all ("vanilla"), it has a very "Core Set" feel.</p>
<p>I'm excited to use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass" href="#" target="_blank">The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to show beginning players how the game works, whether it's <em>Magic </em>in general or the Commander format.</p>
<h2>Slow and Steady</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass"></div></div>
<p>The Terror of Serpent's Pass is a great way to introduce a new player to the slow and steady pace of a more casual Commander game. It's also a good way to introduce one of the big differences between this format and other formats: commander damage.</p>
<p>Commander has an alternative way to win called commander damage, where dealing 21 damage in combat to an opponent with your commander causes that player to lose. The 21 number is because the format originally called Elder Dragon Highlander/EDH only allowed <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=t%3A%22elder+dragon%22+set%3Alegends">these 7/7 Elder Dragons</a> as commanders, and 21 damage represented exactly three attacks.</p>
<p>21 commander damage is also possible in just three attacks with The Terror; even fewer if it has the right buffs on it!</p>
<h3>Hexproof</h3>
<p>Because commanders cost <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> more to cast every time they are put into the command zone, and there are a lot of opponents packing removal spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the Equipment <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swiftfoot Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Swiftfoot Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are very popular in this format.</p>
<p>Luckily for us, our commander has hexproof built right in. This means we don't have to worry about popular removal, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Rollick" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Rollick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> going after The Terror.</p>
<h2>The Gameplan</h2>
<p>So we have an expensive but powerful commander and are focusing on cards with a blue color identity, where should we go from here?</p>
<h2>Mana That Makes Sense</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worn Powerstone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thran Dynamo"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rogue&#039;s Passage"></div></div>
<h3>Mana Rocks</h3>
<p>Blue is pretty much all-in on artifacts as a way to accelerate our mana. Especially with a commander as expensive as The Terror of Serpent's Pass, we're going to want to have both a high land count and a high "mana rock" count. It's usually a good idea to customize mana rocks to a deck's commander's mana value (for example, including a lot of two-mana ramp spells to get a four-mana commander out ahead of schedule), but with our commander costing so much mana, we're just going to mix and match rocks with a bunch of different mana values from 1-4 and even throw in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dreamstone Hedron" href="#" target="_blank">Dreamstone Hedron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for good measure.</p>
<p>Some of these mana rocks also have fun built-in utility, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sonic Screwdriver" href="#" target="_blank">Sonic Screwdriver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ring of the Lucii" href="#" target="_blank">Ring of the Lucii</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> hampering blocking prospects and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stonespeaker Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">Stonespeaker Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> keeping opponents with graveyard-based decks on their toes.</p>
<h3>Utility Lands</h3>
<p>EDHREC data for other mono-blue decks with seven-mana commanders show 34-35 lands for three of them and a higher 38 lands for the super land-focused <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Patron of the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Patron of the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>As a reminder from the last beginner deck we made, <a href="https://www.tcgplayer.com/content/article/What-s-an-Optimal-Mana-Curve-and-Land-Ramp-Count-for-Commander/e22caad1-b04b-4f8a-951b-a41e9f08da14/?srsltid=AfmBOoqpjErRSBU8dbRzekkUbkDnVkMr0zzP8lQta0DcIw3A9_bu9pPF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">articles like this one</a> argue 34-35 lands is far too low, pointing out even 36 lands "would translate to 14.5 lands in 40-card decks or 21.8 lands in 60-card decks."</p>
<p>With a seven-mana commander, we're <em>really</em> going to want to make our land drops every turn. Even though The Terror has some built-in protection through hexproof, mass removal, like <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> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, will make it start costing <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-7" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> or even more mana as the game progresses.</p>
<p>As a starting player, missing land drops and being unable to cast your spells feels really bad, especially in a slow format like casual Commander. For these reasons, let's get the mana count higher in this deck and take advantage of utility lands, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Cataract" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Cataract</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Castle Vantress" href="#" target="_blank">Castle Vantress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memorial to Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Memorial to Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for more card draw and selection alongside <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rogue&#039;s Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Rogue&#039;s Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Secluded Starforge" href="#" target="_blank">Secluded Starforge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make our already fearsome commander even more scary.</p>
<p>If you're interested in a more in-depth discussion about how many lands to run in Commander depending on your deck, check out this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBtYR4XcOlg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDHRECast video</a>!</p>
<h2>Card Draw</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sea Gate Oracle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Memory Deluge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flow of Knowledge"></div></div>
<p>One of blue's big advantage is in its card draw. It can come in many forms, whether it's a classic creature like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a cheap way to filter through the deck like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thirst for Knowledge" href="#" target="_blank">Thirst for Knowledge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or a simple but powerful sorcery like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overflowing Insight" href="#" target="_blank">Overflowing Insight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Over 20% of this deck is devoted to spells that at draw at least two extra cards.</p>
<p>Drawing a lot of cards is great at any portion of the game: early on, it allows us to make all our land drops on time and build out our mana; later on, when other players may have run of of stuff to do, we are able to cast spells like Flow of Ideas and Opportunity to refill our hand and access the kinds of cards we need for any given situation.</p>
<h2>Buffing The Terror</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Take Flight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="O-Naginata"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hedron Matrix"></div></div>
<p>It's not just all about playing lands and drawing cards: we have to eventually be prepared to win the game, too. That's where Equipment to enhance our commander come in.</p>
<p>Between evasion from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kitesail" href="#" target="_blank">Kitesail</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prowler&#039;s Helm" href="#" target="_blank">Prowler&#039;s Helm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, trample from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="O-Naginata" href="#" target="_blank">O-Naginata</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haunted Cloak" href="#" target="_blank">Haunted Cloak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and massive damage increases from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fireshrieker" href="#" target="_blank">Fireshrieker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hedron Matrix" href="#" target="_blank">Hedron Matrix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we'll be able to close out the game in short order.</p>
<p>And don't forget, our commander's built-in hexproof takes a number of answers out of the equation for our opponents, so we'll be able to focus our disruption on the spells that really matter.</p>
<p>Speaking of disruption...</p>
<h2>Disrupting Opponents</h2>
<p>Commander isn't always just about advancing your own gameplan, but about stopping your opponents from doing what they want to do.</p>
<p>There are two main types of disruption: targeted (which can stop a single thing) and mass (which can stop lots of stuff at once).</p>
<h3>Targeted Disruption</h3>
<p>Another of blue's strengths as a color is the abundance of efficient counterspells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (the actual card), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disdainful Stroke" href="#" target="_blank">Disdainful Stroke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (great in a casual Commander where everyone is slamming big spells), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Negate" href="#" target="_blank">Negate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (flexible answer to most of the stuff that can actually deal with our commander).</p>
<p>Blue also gives us access to interesting and unique ways to blank opposing commanders without putting them into the command zone, like the older <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> and the brand new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Observed Stasis" href="#" target="_blank">Observed Stasis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>Mass Disruption</h3>
<p>One of blue's most played cards in Commander is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While it's not included here (high salt score + more than doubles the price tag of the deck), the concept of returning a bunch of stuff to multiple opponents' hands is prevalent in a lot of other blue cards.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Engulf the Shore" href="#" target="_blank">Engulf the Shore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scourge of Fleets" href="#" target="_blank">Scourge of Fleets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are variations on a theme and can buy us time to keep doing what we do best: assembling more mana, more cards in hand, and more ways to make our commander pack an extra punch. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whelming Wave" href="#" target="_blank">Whelming Wave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a perfect fit for our strategy, because it will reset a lot of the board without affecting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass" href="#" target="_blank">The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a lot of our own big sea monster threats.</p>
<p>If an opponent gets a little too aggressive at us and does an all-out attack, thinking we don't have a lot of blockers available, we can punish them big time with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherize" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherspouts" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherspouts</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>One advantage of having a lot of mana sources combined with many instant speed spells is our ability to draw more cards, counter spells that harm us, and/or deal with stuff already in play, depending on what the game requires at any given moment. This is a great introduction to what it feels like to be a blue mage.</p>
<h2>The Terror of Serpent's Pass Commander Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 The Terror of Serpent&#039;s Pass
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Charix, the Raging Isle
*1 Lorthos, the Tidemaker
*1 Monstrosity of the Lake
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Scholar of the Ages
*1 Scourge of Fleets
*1 Sea Gate Oracle
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Tempest Djinn
*1 Triskaidekaphile
*1 Whirler Rogue
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Aetherspouts
*1 Counterspell
*1 Disdainful Stroke
*1 Engulf the Shore
*1 Flow of Knowledge
*1 Insidious Will
*1 Memory Deluge
*1 Mystic Confluence
*1 Negate
*1 Neutralize
*1 Opportunity
*1 Pull from Tomorrow
*1 Quick Study
*1 Repulse
*1 Rewind
*1 Run Away Together
*1 Scour for Scrap
*1 Thirst for Discovery
*1 Thirst for Knowledge
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Curse of the Swine
*1 Displacement Wave
*1 Flow of Ideas
*1 Overflowing Insight
*1 River&#039;s Rebuke
*1 Whelming Wave
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Dreamstone Hedron
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Haunted Cloak
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Hedron Matrix
*1 Kitesail
*1 Mind Stone
*1 O-Naginata
*1 Prowler&#039;s Helm
*1 Ring of the Lucii
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sonic Screwdriver
*1 Stonespeaker Crystal
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Thran Dynamo
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon
*1 Observed Stasis
*1 Take Flight
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Blighted Cataract
*1 Castle Vantress
*33 Island
*1 Memorial to Genius
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Secluded Starforge
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<div>
<h2>Deck Checklist</h2>
<ul>
<li>55 mana sources (40 lands, 14 artifact ramp, one card with islandcycling)</li>
<li>20 ways to draw multiple cards</li>
<li>10 targeted disruption</li>
<li>14 mass disruption</li>
<li>8 cards to buff our commander</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>If you or someone in your life is just getting into Commander or <em>Magic </em>in general, this deck would be a great place to start. It's just one color, less than $25, and has a straightforward and fun gameplan.</p>
</div>


A Beginner-Friendly Commander Deck With The Terror of Serpent's Pass

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Grand Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/ By <a href="https://martanael.com/">Marta Nael)</a></h6>
<h1>Blink, and You'll Miss It</h1>
<p>Commander players can be greedy.</p>
<p>Case in point, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Grand Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atraxa, Grand Unifier"></div></div>
<p>Whenever she enters the battlefield, she lets you look at the top 10 cards of your library and up to 8 of those cards go to hand. Digging that deep and picking specific cards is tremendously powerful. This is a game-ending amount of value.</p>
<p>However, players want to do this every turn. Multiple times a turn; filling your hand with more cards than you can possibly cast. Atraxa, Grand Unifier, in my mind, is the premier “winmore.deck”</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/blink">Blink</a> strategies are the most popular build path for this <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=blink">Blink</a> is shorthand for any effect that exiles a permanent and then returns it to the battlefield. This lets players get ETB, enter the battlefield, triggers multiple times instead of once.</p>
<p>These decks have no problem controlling a board or accruing an incredible amount of resources. The problem these decks face is turning that into victory.</p>
<p>The strategy I'm about to outline is just as "win more" as any other Atraxa brew. Like her <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">original iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, even less optimized decks will still be powerful. This strategy creates an unstoppable, impenetrable board state. Atraxa won't be in and out gathering supplies. She's going to lead the invasion firsthand.</p>
<h2>The Other Abilities</h2>
<p>Atraxa's unique combination of <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/keywords">keywords</a> make combat a nightmare for our opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raffine, Scheming Seer"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Flying</strong></h3>
<p>Atraxa has no issue finding someone to fly over. Players often don't have an answer to flyers barring an incidental instance of flying or reach. The rest only hope to draw removal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderous Orator"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Vigilance</strong></h3>
<p>Atraxa is online at all times. Without vigilance, an offensive creature is effectively gone after the attack. After swinging a big creature, that player is left open on their opponent's turns. Atraxa gets to swing and stays open to block each other turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Lifelink</strong></h3>
<p>Atraxa always collects. The biggest downside to big attacking creatures without trample is chump blocks. Your opponents will gladly sacrifice a Bird token to prevent losing seven. Lifelink ensures that we get value out of every single swing and block. Each swing and block grants you a substantial chunk of health back.</p>
<p>This pairs well with vigilance. Opponents will have to be careful not to increase your life from swinging into your blockers.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baleful Strix"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Deathtouch</strong></h3>
<p>Atraxa is taking her threats down with her. If you wanted to power past Atraxa you have one more thing to consider. Is swinging at the Atraxa player worth losing whatever I'm swinging with? It doesn’t matter if you're swinging with some gigantic monstrosity. Any instance of damage will be lethal.</p>
<h2>Secret Weapon</h2>
<p>Atraxa's keywords make it difficult for our opponents to approach.</p>
<p>But what if every single creature you control had those game-warping abilities?</p>
<p>Our secret commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Odric, Lunarch Marshal" href="#" target="_blank">Odric, Lunarch Marshal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does just that.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Odric, Lunarch Marshal"></div></div>
<p>This is my first secret commander deck of the series.</p>
<p>Secret commander decks are where the “Build around card” is a card in the deck not the command zone.</p>
<p>I am a fan of this strategy as it allows for deck building outside of a commander's colors, and allows for building around cards that aren’t legendary creatures.</p>
<p>Black and green have several <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> spells to pull Odric from the deck. With some luck, Atraxa's ETB trigger is pretty good at finding him herself.</p>
<p>Odric is the premier "Keywords" commander. This wall of text effectively reads:</p>
<p><strong><em>At the beginning of each combat, creatures you control gain each keyword for each keyword on a creature you control.</em></strong></p>
<p>In our case, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the field, Odric would gain flying, vigilance, deathtouch, and lifelink at the beginning of combat. Each other creature you control gains those abilities too!</p>
<p>Some nuances:</p>
<ul>
<li>This is includes your opponent's combat steps</li>
<li>The abilities remain on each creature until end of turn</li>
<li>It covers 13 specific keywords, not all of them</li>
</ul>
<h2>Key to Victory</h2>
<p>Now for the fun part, the keywords that push <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from powerful to unstoppable.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oketra the True"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avenging Huntbonder"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Double Strike</strong></h3>
<p>What's better than a 7/7 body? One that hits twice! Double strike lets you deal damage on the first strike step and the regular damage step of combat. Alongside deathtouch, anything blocking Atraxa will die before it deals damage. Anything that gets blocked will face the same fate.</p>
<p>First strike will interact the same way with deathtouch except there won't be an additional instance of damage at the regular damage step.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crashing Drawbridge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hall of the Bandit Lord"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Haste</strong></h3>
<p>What's better than a 7/7 blocker entering the battlefield? One that can attack that same turn.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crashing Drawbridge" href="#" target="_blank">Crashing Drawbridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is boots on a stick. What I mean by that ridiculous sentence is that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> grants haste to one creature at a time, where Crashing Drawbridge grants haste to each creature, every turn.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hall of the Bandit Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Hall of the Bandit Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes a chunk of life to use, but after your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> swings immediately, you actually come ahead due to lifelink. Also, that haste doesn't go away from end of turn. So if you have Odric out (which is the point of the deck) your whole board has haste. I'd pay three life for that.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stonehoof Chieftain"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Trample</strong></h3>
<p>I didn't forget about trample. Only, with a whole board of flyers, trample becomes a little redundant. There's an incidental smattering of trample in the deck. It plays well with deathtouch. As we only need to assign one point of deathtouch damage to a blocker for it to be lethal. Meaning our 7/7 can assign the other six other damage to our opponent regardless of the blocker's toughness.</p>
<h2>Attacking From a Different Angle</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma, Angel of Wrath"></div></div>
<p>Arkoma has been long beloved for having a staggering amount of keywords. She has so many keywords she had keywords before they <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma, Angel of Wrath|lgn|1" href="#" target="_blank">existed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She's a fast, resilient threat that makes opponents think twice when engaging in any form of combat. She brings four unique keywords to our board that Atraxa doesn't provide: Haste, first strike, protection from black and red, and trample. Because this deck aims to grant every creature the same swath of keywords, this makes Akroma one of the best cards in the deck. You can discard her and get those juicy keywords in play with one of our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cairn Wanderer" href="#" target="_blank">graveyard centric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Keyword cards.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zetalpa, Primal Dawn" href="#" target="_blank">Zetalpa, Primal Dawn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be used similarly. While not having haste, Zetalpa brings indestructible, trample, and double strike to the field. Every keyword you could want more on Atraxa, Zetalpa brings.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma, Vision of Ixidor"></div></div>
<p>The original <em>Commander Legends</em> product brought a phenomenal update to Akroma. She brings first strike and trample to the table, but more importantly a +1/+1 buff to each other creature for every keyword they have. This payoff is game-ending. Atraxa alone becomes an 11/11, letting her kill anyone after two swings from commander damage. If Odric is out, it's a +6/+6 to every creature you control. While unlikely, this brew is capable at maxing out at +10/+10 to each creature alongside ten bonkers keywords.</p>
<h2>Preparing For Invasion</h2>
<p>Atrxa is a magnet for removal. And for good reason. An Atraxa player left unchecked will have little issue taking over a game. That's why a chunk of our strategy is dedicated to make removing her as difficult as possible.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thryx, the Sudden Storm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elvish Piper"></div></div>
<p>Prevention beats a cure. A key weakness to any big spell strategy is counterspells. If a player answers our seven mana commander for two, that is a huge loss of value for us. If a player can counter Atraxa before she hits the field, they will. That's why we don't give our opponents that option.</p>
<p>I wanted to highlight <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thryx, the Sudden Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thryx, the Sudden Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> specifically. In a deck packed with huge spells, Thryx takes away the guess work. We cast these Angels easier, unafraid of counterspells.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Piper" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Piper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other similar cards are fantastic for this deck. It lets us play or huge creatures much faster and stops opponents from using conventional counter magic to stop us.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daring Fiendbonder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bastion Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avacyn, Angel of Hope"></div></div>
<p>If you've managed to resolve Atraxa, the next step is keeping her on the battlefield. Indestructible is pretty good at that. Swinging and blocking become even easier. Most board wipes and removal spells become a fleeting gesture.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigarda, Font of Blessings"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slippery Bogbonder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swiftfoot Boots"></div></div>
<p>Hexproof, like indestructible, is an ability we want on Atraxa at all times. Your opponents will remove her if given the opportunity. So don't give them that opportunity. If you're lucky, they'll send it somewhere else too.</p>
<p>The only way around Atraxa from this point, are specific board wipes, that exile, bounce, or reduce toughness. That's what our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swan Song" href="#" target="_blank">counter magic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is for.</p>
<p>Nothing is stopping <strong>compleat</strong> invasion.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Atraxa Keywords" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Atraxa, Grand Unifier
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
*1 Akroma, Vision of Ixidor
*1 Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice
*1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
*1 Avenging Huntbonder
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Bloom Tender
*1 Cairn Wanderer
*1 Crashing Drawbridge
*1 Daring Fiendbonder
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Elvish Piper
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Faeburrow Elder
*1 Kathril, Aspect Warper
*1 Likeness Looter
*1 Majestic Myriarch
*1 Obsessive Stitcher
*1 Odric, Lunarch Marshal
*1 Oketra the True
*1 Raffine, Scheming Seer
*1 Rayami, First of the Fallen
*1 Scavenged Brawler
*1 Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade
*1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
*1 Sigarda, Font of Blessings
*1 Slippery Bogbonder
*1 Stonehoof Chieftain
*1 Thryx, the Sudden Storm
*1 Thunderous Orator
*1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets
*1 Urborg Scavengers
*1 Zetalpa, Primal Dawn
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Fact or Fiction
*1 Faithful Mending
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Stroke of Midnight
*1 Swan Song
*1 Vampiric Tutor
*1 Worldly Tutor
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Concerted Effort
*1 Defense of the Heart
*1 Mystic Remora
*1 Rhystic Study
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mana Crypt
*1 Monster Manual // Zoological Study
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Farseek
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Profane Tutor
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Sublime Exhalation
*1 Tooth and Nail
*1 Vanquish the Horde
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Field of Ruin
*6 Forest
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
*1 Indatha Triome
*4 Island
*1 Mana Confluence
*1 Otawara, Soaring City
*6 Plains
*1 Raffine&#039;s Tower
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*4 Swamp
*1 Zagoth Triome
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<h2>Final Words of Advice</h2>
<p>While she remains unique for her color combination, I would argue that those four keywords are what make her as iconic as a commander.</p>
<p>I feel keywords are underrated in general. Their power is demonstrated with standout cards like <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> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, the strategy itself is not particularly popular.</p>
<p>There are already blink decks, there are already proliferate decks. There are decks that love putting cards in hand. While Atraxa can pull off each of these strategies with great success, I am more interested in pulling off a strategy that no other commander has; blessing a board of creatures with a unique combination of keywords.</p>
<p>Each Atraxa represents the format itself in a way. Her combined <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">popularity</a> is a testament to that. They are powerful, but allow for countless directions to brew in. This brew itself could be modified in a few different directions. In my mind, that's where much of the fun of Commander is. Pulling off ridiculous, absurdly powerful board states and interactions. Each Atraxa represents this desire perfectly.</p>
<p>I am not the first to brew Atraxa as a "Keywords" commander, and I am certain new ways to build will continue to evolve with time.</p>
<p>Thanks for exploring keywords with me! I'd love to hear how your brews are going.</p>
<p>What is your favorite way to <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=atraxa">brew with Atraxa</a>? What are your favorite combination of keywords?</p>
<h3><strong>Read More:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/ultra-budget-brews-odric-lunarch-marshal/">Ultra Budget Brews - Odric, Lunarch Marshal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-other-ability-pia-nalaar-consul-of-madness/">The Other Ability- Pia Nalar, Consul of Madness</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/deep-analysis-blink/">Deep Analysis - Blink</a></li>
</ul>


hexproof

A Beginner-Friendly Commander Deck With The Terror of Serpent's Pass

The Other Ability - Atraxa's Four Other Abilities (They're Keywords)