Recross the Paths - Kess, Dissident Mage

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artpad.org/">Jaime Jones</a></h6>
<h1>It's Token Time!</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Singleton Shmingleton</em>, where I bend the singleton rules of Commander by building decks with as many functional reprints of a certain card as possible. This week, I'm tackling <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that has found a home as a support card in many strategies, from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin decks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zada, Hedron Grinder" href="#" target="_blank">other Goblin decks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wort, the Raidmother" href="#" target="_blank">even more Goblin decks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Two mana for two bodies with a relevant creature type is perfect for filling curves and adding consistency, especially in decks that care about having a critical mass of tokens, but it's never an exciting rate. No one has ever jumped for joy to see <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in their opening hand... until now. Two bodies for two mana had better pull some serious weight, because I'm about to build a deck that plays 11 functional copies of the card.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon Fodder"></div></div>
<p>Here's a list of cards that create two creatures for two mana. Only a few of them create Goblins however, so if we want to play as many of these cards as possible we can't be too picky about type.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Dragon Fodders" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Sorceries]
*1 Clowning Around
*1 Dragon Fodder
*1 Forbidden Friendship
*1 Gather the Townsfolk
*1 Join the Dance
*1 Krenko&#039;s Command
*1 Ral&#039;s Reinforcements
*1 Rally at the Hornburg
*1 Saproling Migration
*1 Servo Exhibition
*1 Shadow Summoning
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Raise the Alarm
*1 Verdant Command
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Goblin Instigator
*1 Mogg War Marshal
*1 Resolute Reinforcements
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Fists of Ironwood
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>


<p>Most of these cards center around red and white, with the third most common color being green. This makes sense, as those are the three colors that care most about making tokens. While 17 functional versions of this card is impressive, especially since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">only</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko&#039;s Command" href="#" target="_blank">two</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of them are <em>exactly</em> the same, the most played of these effects is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the original, at 27,993 decks. Following close behind are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko&#039;s Command" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko&#039;s Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with 26,261 decks, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mogg War Marshal" href="#" target="_blank">Mogg War Marshal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with 22,326 decks. The Goblin creature type gives these cards a clear boost over any other version of this effect, and that makes sense: Goblin decks need to build an early army of disposable dorks, and they have enough synergy that the two tokens are worth the actual cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon Fodder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mogg War Marshal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clowning Around"></div></div>
<p>The least played of these cards (besides <em><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=%28type%3Acreature+type%3Agoblin%29+%28game%3Apaper%29+set%3Altr">The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth</a> ones</em>, which just came out) is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clowning Around" href="#" target="_blank">Clowning Around</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at 1,028 decks. It's not a bad card at all. In fact, the rate of about 2.33 bodies for two mana puts it well above most of the other cards on this list. But the Un-set effect has kept it well below its counterparts. When I was making this list, I scrolled past it three times before remembering that it was actually legal in our format.</p>
<h2>1/1s Galore</h2>
<p>Okay, so now we have a way to consistently generate several 1/1s. I don't know how games usually go at your tables, but where I play that doesn't sound very impressive. To make our bad cards useful we need to turn them into an engine, and to make an engine we need to use them to generate mana and/or cards. Mana and cards are the two most important resources in the game, and in Commander the player who can generate the most of both usually wins.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm still fresh off of the <em>March of the Machine</em> play pattern of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral&#039;s Reinforcements" href="#" target="_blank">Ral&#039;s Reinforcements</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Preening Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Preening Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meeting of Minds" href="#" target="_blank">Meeting of Minds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the first thing I want to do with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s is Convoke. By tapping the tokens for Convoke costs, we can use them as effectively mana sources, ramping out big spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="City on Fire" href="#" target="_blank">City on Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Transcendent Message" href="#" target="_blank">Transcendent Message</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Since our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes two bodies for two mana, if we cast them into a Convoke spell on the same turn, they can be mana-neutral and start to build mana the next turn.</p>
<p>This play pattern reminds me of the recent Pioneer Convoke deck that looks to dump its hand early and use its creatures to accelerate out either <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venerated Loxodon" href="#" target="_blank">Venerated Loxodon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knight-Errant of Eos" href="#" target="_blank">Knight-Errant of Eos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venerated Loxodon" href="#" target="_blank">Venerated Loxodon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can often give enough of a boost to threaten lethal the next turn, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knight-Errant of Eos" href="#" target="_blank">Knight-Errant of Eos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can dig deeper to keep the train rolling. In Commander, raw stats often can't close out a game on their own, but card advantage is even more important, so we want to find something to replace the draw engine of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knight-Errant of Eos" href="#" target="_blank">Knight-Errant of Eos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ornithopter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Venerated Loxodon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knight-Errant of Eos"></div></div>
<p>Well, there certainly is one, and we can even play it in the command zone. Say hello to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kasla, the Broken Halo" href="#" target="_blank">Kasla, the Broken Halo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I don't often build around commanders from preconstructed decks because they usually define their own strategy, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kasla, the Broken Halo" href="#" target="_blank">Kasla</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the perfect missing piece to make our engine run.</p>
<p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kasla, the Broken Halo" href="#" target="_blank">Kasla</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, our Convoke cards will draw us a card, making them card-neutral. Since our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s are mana-neutral and our Convoke cards are card-neutral, we should be able to build a formidable board very quickly. Throw in other payoffs like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mentor of the Meek" href="#" target="_blank">Mentor of the Meek</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Opposition" href="#" target="_blank">Opposition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and we can hopefully get out of control before anyone finds a board wipe to nerf us.</p>
<h2>Play Patterns</h2>
<p>Our first goal is usually to resolve <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kasla, the Broken Halo" href="#" target="_blank">Kasla</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With a one drop on turn one and a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on turn two, we can put her out on turn three, but usually we'll have to wait until the fourth turn. A more "glass cannon" build of this deck might include extra one-drop creatures to try to power out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kasla, the Broken Halo" href="#" target="_blank">Kasla</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as soon as possible, but I stuck with just a couple all stars.</p>
<p>Once we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kasla, the Broken Halo" href="#" target="_blank">Kasla</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, we can chain together as many Convoke cards as possible until we run out of mana. Then an opponent casts a board wipe, we laugh, and we start over again. It's often best to keep a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in hand in order to recover faster, since our strategy is fragile. Such are the risks of playing a go-wide creature deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrath of God"></div></div>
<h2>Card Spotlights</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shared Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Shared Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: The secret Convoke card! In our deck this finally lives up to its dreams of being almost <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancestral Recall" href="#" target="_blank">Ancestral Recall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I've been looking for a home for it for years, and I finally found one. There's never been a better time for a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shared Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Shared Disco</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="To Arms!" href="#" target="_blank">To Arms!</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This card is swingy; sometimes it effectively generates five mana and draws a card, and sometimes it cycles away for no value. I want to keep trying it out. Also, I didn't know that there was a card with punctuation in the name as early as <em>Guildpact </em>(!)<em>.</em></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burn at the Stake" href="#" target="_blank">Burn at the Stake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Oh my goodness, pulling this off feels crazy every single time. It is so easy to kill someone with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burn at the Stake" href="#" target="_blank">Burn at the Stake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that it's often best to wait until the last moment possible, just so you know who to kill. There's a sense of security that comes from playing with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Door to Nothingness" href="#" target="_blank">Door to Nothingness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> up your sleeve.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shared Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="To Arms!"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burn at the Stake"></div></div>
<h2>The Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Dragon Fodder" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kasla, the Broken Halo
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Bennie Bracks, Zoologist
*1 Chasm Skulker
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Flockchaser Phantom
*1 Goblin Instigator
*1 Halo Hopper
*1 Interdisciplinary Mascot
*1 Junk Winder
*1 Knight-Errant of Eos
*1 Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury
*1 Martyr&#039;s Soul
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Mogg War Marshal
*1 Monastery Mentor
*1 Prince Imrahil the Fair
*1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
*1 Raff, Weatherlight Stalwart
*1 Resolute Reinforcements
*1 Saint Traft and Rem Karolus
*1 Stonybrook Schoolmaster
*1 Third Path Iconoclast
*1 Thraben Inspector
*1 Venerated Loxodon
*1 Welcoming Vampire
*1 Wildfire Awakener
*1 Young Pyromancer
[/Creatures]
[Battles]
*1 Invasion of Segovia
[/Battles]
[Artifacts]
*1 Moonsnare Prototype
*1 Obelisk of Urd
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Springleaf Drum
*1 Throne of the God-Pharaoh
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Artistic Refusal
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Clever Concealment
*1 Meeting of Minds
*1 Raise the Alarm
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 To Arms!
*1 Transcendent Message
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Burn at the Stake
*1 Clowning Around
*1 Dragon Fodder
*1 Forbidden Friendship
*1 Forth Eorlingas!
*1 Gather the Townsfolk
*1 Hard Evidence
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Krenko&#039;s Command
*1 Ral&#039;s Reinforcements
*1 Rally at the Hornburg
*1 Servo Exhibition
*1 Shared Discovery
*1 Triplicate Spirits
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 City on Fire
*1 Conclave Tribunal
*1 Intruder Alarm
*1 Jeskai Ascendancy
*1 Opposition
*1 Skrelv&#039;s Hive
*1 Tocasia&#039;s Welcome
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*7 Island
*5 Mountain
*1 Mystic Monastery
*4 Plains
*1 Raugrin Triome
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Training Center
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<p>This deck is fast and explosive, and the variation in the payoff cards makes it feel fresh for a long time. On the other side of the coin, this deck is fragile and not very interactive. It doesn't just fold to a board wipe, but it's definitely hoping to dodge them, and if another player starts doing something broken the only thing we can do is try to go faster than them. One of this deck's biggest strengths is the stack of tokens you get to carry around with it: Two Servos, three Clowns, one Dinosaur, two blue and red Elementals, and <em>a lot</em> of Goblins, and that's not even getting into the 1/1 Krakens with trample.</p>
<p>In terms of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Fodder" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Fodder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s themselves, they pull their weight. They double as ramp and pressure, and it very rarely feels like we've drawn too many of them. It's a good feeling when your opponents are playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s while you're casting your six-drop commander on turn three on top of an already-wide board. Since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kasla, the Broken Halo" href="#" target="_blank">Kasla</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a precon commander, I also want to note that this deck doesn't play like a preconstructed deck at all. The engine adds a fun Storm feel to the game, and the plan feels much more focused.</p>
<h2>Until Next Time</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Braingeyser"></div></div>
<p>Who doesn't love drawing cards? Since the very beginning of <em>Magic</em>, these X-spell draw effects have tickled the imagination of those who want <em>all</em> the cards. With over a dozen of these cards now in print, the only question remaining is "how big is X?" Join me to find out next time on <em>Singleton Shmingleton</em>!</p>
<p>Would you like to read about another Convoke strategy? Check out our recent article, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/brew-for-your-buck-tap-down-flashback/">Brew For Your Buck - Tap Down, Flashback</a>.</p>


krenkos command

Recross the Paths - Kess, Dissident Mage

Singleton Shmingleton - Dragon Fodder

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