Recross the Paths - Wort, the Raidmother

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planewide Celebration" href="#" target="_blank">Planewide Celebration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/wisnutan">Wisnu Tan</a>)</h6>
<h1><strong>What Team?</strong></h1>
<p>Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania</em>. In this article series we build mono-colored decks as a way to explore ramp and draw packages that are synergistic with our particular deck’s strategy, challenging staples and misconceptions about the color pie. Today I’m tackling a popular theme, looking at how to build a championship team using +1/+1 counters. Let’s get into it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rishkar, Peema Renegade"></div></div>
<p>Rishkar is a surprisingly potent commander when given the right tools. While he may seem innocuous, his subtle ramp effect can help power out powerful cards a turn or two earlier than opponents expect it. Whether this means an early <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zendikar Resurgent" href="#" target="_blank">Zendikar Resurgent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or drawing five cards off of an errant <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it will almost always be an important play.</p>
<p>The real power of this commander is that first ability: putting a counter on up to two creatures so that they can immediately tap for mana. While technically any counter on a creature we control will allow it to tap for green mana, I have chosen to focus on a simple +1/+1 theme to abuse his ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hardened Scales"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Contagion Engine"></div></div>
<p>The idea is simple: make our creatures bigger, enable them to tap for mana, and scale them to the game with <em>Proliferate</em> effects to ensure they remain relevant throughout the game. Rishkar isn’t necessarily 'better' than other multicolored +1/+1 options, but his point on the mana curve and his ability to facilitate high quantities of mana makes him a great commander option. With a little bit of work, he could even take his team to state.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Practice for Success</h2>
<p>+1/+1 counters imply important choices in every category, and ramp is no different. There are several effects that can help us ramp efficiently and effectively to keep up with the game state, and maybe even get ahead of our opposition.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gyre Sage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Incubation Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fertilid"></div></div>
<p>These three creatures are par for the course in +1/+1 counter decks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyre Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Gyre Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is particularly potent in mono-green. If we can even accrue two or three counters on this creature, it becomes a great source of green mana; if left unchecked, the mana it produces can support powerful pivot-turn plays that launch us from last place to first. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Incubation Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Incubation Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a lower ceiling but a higher floor. With even one counter, this creature taps for three mana of any color. That rate is incredible with the right shell. In a Rishkar deck in particular, second-turn <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Incubation Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Incubation Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into turn three Rishkar can accelerate us into a the mid-game with an advantage.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fertilid" href="#" target="_blank">Fertilid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a staple card here. This card works well with counters and also fetches lands from our deck, a more stable source of ramp. If we can add more counters and a steady stream of mana, we’ll be able to use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fertilid" href="#" target="_blank">Fertilid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to gain a significant land advantage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nissa, Who Shakes the World"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harvest Season"></div></div>
<p>In addition to these creatures, we have two planeswalkers that will also help us ramp efficiently while also contributin to our counter theme. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter" href="#" target="_blank">Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a severely underrated card for Commander. I don’t like planeswalkers in this format, but the <em>War of the Spark</em> 'walkers without ultimate abilities or emblems have proven to be decent role-players. There’s nothing threatening about Jiang, and that's his greatest strength. Because he isn't menacing, our opponents might point their aggression in other directions. His ability actually <em>is</em> threatening, just not in an obvious way. He provides redundancy for our commander’s ability and he also puts more counters on our creatures when we need them.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Nissa needs no introduction. She doubles mana. She puts counters on lands. She’s an all-star in this deck.</p>
<p>Finally, take note of the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harvest Season" href="#" target="_blank">Harvest Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This one isn’t applicable in many decks, but when it is applicable, it's often the best ramp effect in the deck, and with Rishkar, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harvest Season" href="#" target="_blank">Harvest Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is right at home. In this deck we want to play creatures and tap them for mana. With a few tapped creatures, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harvest Season" href="#" target="_blank">Harvest Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> suddenly becomes an above-the-curve play. Don’t take this card for granted; it only sees play in 36% of Rishkar decks listed on EDHREC, but that number should be much closer to 100%.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Playing to the Competition</h2>
<p>As above, so below. The +1/+1 theme provides a few good options for us to accumulate card advantage. While situational, this strategy can pay off marvelously when considering how and when to draw cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Armorcraft Judge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inspiring Call"></div></div>
<p>These two cards have the same text, but are very different. The Judge is a good card here because of its body, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspiring Call" href="#" target="_blank">Inspiring Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an instant that we can hold until there’s some threat of removal. In an ideal world, these two cards are discounted versions of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If all goes according to plan, they’ll be exactly that. In its worst case, you can play Rishkar and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspiring Call" href="#" target="_blank">Inspiring Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the same turn for an instant-speed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Divination" href="#" target="_blank">Divination</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elvish Visionary"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wall of Blossoms"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Carven Caryatid"></div></div>
<p>I don’t think these will be popular choices among most players, but I truly believe that cantrip creatures are phenomenal in a Rishkar deck. When building Rishkar, yes, we want +1/+1 counter support, but we also want bodies on the field to absorb buffs and tap for mana. These cantrip creatures are perfect for just that.</p>
<p>One of the traps inherent in commanders that include a form of ramp in their text is that they can run out of gas fairly quickly, leaving us with nothing to ramp towards. By including a suite of creatures that cycle through our deck, we can hopefully keep our momentum rolling, finding threats and dropping them onto the field.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skullmulcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return of the Wildspeaker"></div></div>
<p>Finally, here are two miscellaneous card advantage effects that I believe earn their place here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullmulcher" href="#" target="_blank">Skullmulcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might ask us to sacrifice a few of our utility creatures, but it provides a big body on the board and can help to restock our hand. I’ve raved before about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return of the Wildspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Return of the Wildspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> but it deserves another mention. I’ve had the chance to cast a few copies of this card in the last couple of months and it hasn’t disappointed—it's exactly what we need it to be at any given moment. When we have a big creature pumped up with counters, it can net us great instant-speed card advantage, and when we have a lot of bodies on the battlefield, it's a great buff to make the team lethal.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Deck</h2>
<p>With all that set and settled, let’s take a look at the deck as a whole. I don’t think I’ve put together a perfect or even tuned Rishkar deck, but I do think it will do the job at a Commander night. My curve is fairly high, and I think it could bear to be lowered by a decent amount, but I like the shape of the deck as it is. As always, season to taste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Coach of the Year" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Copperhorn Scout
*1 Experiment One
*1 Pelt Collector
*1 Permeating Mass
*1 Servant of the Scale
*1 Elvish Visionary
*1 Gyre Sage
*1 Heart Warden
*1 Incubation Druid
*1 Pollenbright Druid
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Wall of Blossoms
*1 Carven Caryatid
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Evolution Sage
*1 Fertilid
*1 Generous Stray
*1 Managorger Hydra
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Renegade Krasis
*1 Ridgescale Tusker
*1 Tuskguard Captain
*1 Yavimaya Elder
*1 Armorcraft Judge
*1 Forgotten Ancient
*1 Ivy Lane Denizen
*1 Cultivator of Blades
*1 Loyal Guardian
*1 Plaguemaw Beast
*1 Skullmulcher
*1 Bane of Progress
*1 Craterhoof Behemoth
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter
*1 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds
*1 Garruk Wildspeaker
*1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World
*1 Vivien Reid
*1 Vivien of the Arkbow
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Vitalize
*1 Ancient Animus
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Pounce
*1 Solidarity of Heroes
*1 Wrap in Vigor
*1 Beast Within
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Finale of Devastation
*1 Harvest Season
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Collective Unconscious
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Planewide Celebration
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Contagion Clasp
*1 Cauldron of Souls
*1 Contagion Engine
*1 The Great Henge
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Leyline of Abundance
*1 Zendikar Resurgent
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Desert of the Indomitable
*24 Forest
*1 Forge of Heroes
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Khalni Garden
*1 Llanowar Reborn
*1 Memorial to Unity
*1 Mosswort Bridge
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
*1 Rogue’s Passage
*1 Slippery Karst
*1 Tranquil Thicket
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Among the other notable inclusions here, we have a few ways to protect our creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is almost always good, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cauldron of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Cauldron of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the real star here. Because our deck has ways to put +1/+1 counters on our creatures, we can essentially undo the <em>Persist</em> effect and use the cauldron to protect the same creatures again and again. We also have a few <em>Proliferate</em> effects to pump up our team and also support our very minor planeswalker subtheme.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cauldron of Souls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planewide Celebration"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vitalize"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of 'walkers, I’ve included a few such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivien of the Arkbow" href="#" target="_blank">Vivien of the Arkbow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Garruk Wildspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Garruk Wildspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivien Reid" href="#" target="_blank">Vivien Reid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I like the angle of planewalkers in this deck. We can hopefully protect them behind a wall of creatures and squeeze out incremental value.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vitalize" href="#" target="_blank">Vitalize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a very important card in our deck. Because we turn our creatures into mana dorks, we can easily spend this one green at instant speed to untap and produce much more. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vitalize" href="#" target="_blank">Vitalize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a monster in our strategy.</p>
<p>Anyway, how did I do? I know that +1/+1 counters is a beloved theme in the EDH community and I have very little experience playing with it. In fact, I have much more experience losing to it. Is Rishkar a premium choice for this archetype, or do we need another color, such as blue, to really juice the counters theme? What did I miss? What other facilitators are necessary to get this commander off the ground? Let me know in the comments below! Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


inspiring call

Recross the Paths - Wort, the Raidmother

Monomania - Coach of the Year