<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sisters of Stone Death" href="#" target="_blank">Sisters of Stone Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://donatoarts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donato Giancola</a></em></p>
<p>In 2018, <em>Guilds of Ravnica</em> was released, and as a relatively new <em>Magic</em> player at the time, it was my first look at the plane of Ravnica. The setting completely captivated me. From the laboratories housing mad experiments of the Izzet League to the overgrown decay of the Golgari Swarm's underworld, everything felt so perfectly crafted.</p>
<p>Alongside the set's release, Wizards of the Coast released a supplemental product called Guild Kits. These were fully playable 60-card decks built around each of the ten guilds on the plane. At the time, my local game store only had the Golgari Swarm one in stock, but I still grabbed it without hesitation. It was filled with your usual suspects: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadbridge Chant" href="#" target="_blank">Deadbridge Chant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abrupt Decay" href="#" target="_blank">Abrupt Decay</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathrite Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Deathrite Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, just to name a few.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadbridge Chant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abrupt Decay"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deathrite Shaman"></div></div>
<p>It was a graveyard-focused deck at its core and functioned relatively well, but each game I would draw the same eight-mana card that didn't seem to really do anything: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sisters of Stone Death" href="#" target="_blank">Sisters of Stone Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Even then, the card seemed very weak for an eight-mana spell, but I always thought it might make a good commander someday.</p>
<p>Is that day today? Let's find out!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sisters of Stone Death" href="#" target="_blank">Sisters of Stone Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sisters of Stone Death"></div></div>
<p>On EDHREC, there are only 519 <em>total</em> decks in the database with this commander, and I don't blame players for overlooking this one. Not only is it <em>eight</em> mana, it requires <em>even more</em> mana to activate its abilities. Being in green means this shouldn't be too much of a problem, but why should we build this commander?</p>
<p>If we analyze this card closely, we'll see three things: it cares about blocking or being blocked, it cares about stealing things from our opponents, and it craves a <em>ton</em> of mana. These are three very different things, but that's what makes this commander so cool.</p>
<p>Playing Sisters of Stone Death requires a lot of setup, so let's take a look at how we can do that.</p>
<h2>Category #1: Ramp</h2>
<p>Ramp can be a boring piece of the deckbuilding process, but this deck thrives off of having a suite of ramp spells that can often serve multiple purposes. Looking at the stats, we have eighteen pieces of ramp, most of which pull double duty in some way.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Awakening Zone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bounty Board"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Freestrider Lookout"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awakening Zone" href="#" target="_blank">Awakening Zone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an older card, but getting a free blocker each turn that can be turned in for colorless mana later is very good.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bounty Board" href="#" target="_blank">Bounty Board</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Freestrider Lookout" href="#" target="_blank">Freestrider Lookout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will feed into our subtheme of "committing crimes" (I'll get into that later).</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disorienting Choice" href="#" target="_blank">Disorienting Choice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is either a ramp spell for <em>any land</em> or it's a removal spell for a couple artifacts or enchantments (or both!).</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nightshade Dryad" href="#" target="_blank">Nightshade Dryad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a deathtouch blocker (need I say more?).</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while a <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer</a>, lets us activate our commander if someone attacks us (not to mention it's crazy with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vedalken Orrery" href="#" target="_blank">Vedalken Orrery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shriekwood Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Shriekwood Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might the best creature in the deck, as our commander can attack and untap <em>seven lands</em>!</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marshland Bloodcaster" href="#" target="_blank">Marshland Bloodcaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can let us cast out commander for eight life rather eight mana.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coveted Jewel" href="#" target="_blank">Coveted Jewel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herd Heirloom" href="#" target="_blank">Herd Heirloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can both provide card draw along with ramp.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seedborn Muse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shriekwood Devourer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herd Heirloom"></div></div>
<p>The cards in this category can allow us to cast our commander, but what else can we do?</p>
<h2>Category #2: Draw</h2>
<p>Just like how ramp can be a boring piece of the deckbuilding process, draw isn't much better. We have 12 pieces of draw in this deck, and some of them I admittedly have never played before.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stinging Study"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Syphon Mind"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Speed Demon"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stinging Study" href="#" target="_blank">Stinging Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the spiciest piece of draw in the deck, as it draws us <em>eight cards</em> for the cost of five mana and eight life.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syphon Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Syphon Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> denies resources from our opponents while drawing us three cards, which is a great two-for-one.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Speed Demon" href="#" target="_blank">The Speed Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has always seemed like a cool card, and it really shines in a deck like this. Watch out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Arena" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Arena</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, your days are numbered.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barbed Servitor" href="#" target="_blank">Barbed Servitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can draw a card when it hits someone, but it's in the deck for a special reason that's coming up soon.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor" href="#" target="_blank">Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an underrated group hug piece. Yeah, you heard me correctly: <em>group hug</em>. If your opponents want a "free card," they'll need to stop attacking you.</li>
<li>Yes, I have used <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damnable Pact" href="#" target="_blank">Damnable Pact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to kill someone before. Is that why it's in the deck? Also, yes.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market Connections" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market Connections</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a staple in every black deck.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rishkar&#039;s Expertise" href="#" target="_blank">Rishkar&#039;s Expertise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is amazing when you can <em>draw eight cards and then cast something for free.</em></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Arena"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barbed Servitor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor"></div></div>
<p>We have the mana, we have the resources. Now what?</p>
<h2>Category #3: Lure</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sisters of Stone Death" href="#" target="_blank">Sisters of Stone Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s first two abilities care about her (or they?) being blocked. The perfect complement to that? Lure effects. Lure effects are named after the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lure" href="#" target="_blank">Lure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and have a similar text box. The attacking creature "lures" each other creature to block it. If we have enough mana to sink into our commander, one lure effect = game over for our opponents.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shinen of Life&#039;s Roar" href="#" target="_blank">Shinen of Life&#039;s Roar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a way to lure our commander without it being countered, as <em>channel</em> abilities can't be countered unless someone has a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stifle" href="#" target="_blank">Stifle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tempting Licid" href="#" target="_blank">Tempting Licid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> starts as a creature, but can be turned into an Aura to act as a lure effect.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roar of Challenge" href="#" target="_blank">Roar of Challenge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lures a creature, but then grants that creature <em>indestructible</em>.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lure" href="#" target="_blank">Lure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the namesake of the effect, so it had to be included.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shinen of Life&#039;s Roar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tempting Licid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lure"></div></div>
<p>When every creature is blocking our commander, we can get in for some sneaky damage with our two Assassins: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Virtus the Veiled" href="#" target="_blank">Virtus the Veiled</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unstoppable Slasher" href="#" target="_blank">Unstoppable Slasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These creatures both halve an opponent's life total, and are the perfect includes to close out the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Virtus the Veiled"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unstoppable Slasher"></div></div>
<h2>Category #4: The Secret Spice</h2>
<p>Our first "secret spice" ties directly into our lure plan with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vicious Battlerager" href="#" target="_blank">Vicious Battlerager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barbed Servitor" href="#" target="_blank">Barbed Servitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If a Lure effect is placed on either one of these creatures, we can deal massive amounts of damage to the defending player.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vicious Battlerager" href="#" target="_blank">Vicious Battlerager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability stacks with the amount of creatures that block it, so if we force our opponent to block with five tokens, they lose <em>25 life</em>!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barbed Servitor" href="#" target="_blank">Barbed Servitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is similar, as it will deal damage equal to the amount <em>that it is dealt</em> (similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vicious Battlerager"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barbed Servitor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lure"></div></div>
<p>Our second "secret spice" is more of a "secret category."</p>
<p>As previously mentioned, we have a few things that care about crimes being committed, and our commander's first two abilities count as committing a crime! Because of this, we have included things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rattleback Apothecary" href="#" target="_blank">Rattleback Apothecary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to grant our commander lifelink or menace, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gisa, the Hellraiser" href="#" target="_blank">Gisa, the Hellraiser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to create more bodies for our army, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Servant of the Stinger" href="#" target="_blank">Servant of the Stinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to search for whatever we need.</p>
<p>This is a Golgari deck, so we'll be committing crimes outside of our commander, too.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rattleback Apothecary"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gisa, the Hellraiser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Servant of the Stinger"></div></div>
<h2>Closing Thoughts</h2>
<p>This deck is definitely on the slower side, but it lets you fly under the radar for long enough to get some sneaky wins. If you don't want to sink mana into your commander, I added some finishers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morlun, Devourer of Spiders" href="#" target="_blank">Morlun, Devourer of Spiders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Outrageous Robbery" href="#" target="_blank">Outrageous Robbery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to help get the job done.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Morlun, Devourer of Spiders"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Outrageous Robbery"></div></div>
<p>Overall, this is not my usual style of deck, but I can't wait to test it out at my LGS.</p>
<p>Check out my deck list below!</p>
<h2>Sisters of Stone Death Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Sisters of Stone Death" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sisters of Stone Death
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Animate Dead
*1 Awakening Zone
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Lure
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Culling Ritual
*1 Damnable Pact
*1 Decree of Pain
*1 Disorienting Choice
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Open the Way
*1 Praetor&#039;s Grasp
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Reanimate
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Roar of Challenge
*1 Syphon Mind
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Barbed Servitor
*1 Elves of Deep Shadow
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Freestrider Lookout
*1 Gisa, the Hellraiser
*1 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
*1 Jangling Automaton
*1 Keen Duelist
*1 Marshland Bloodcaster
*1 Morlun, Devourer of Spiders
*1 Nightshade Dryad
*1 Rattleback Apothecary
*1 Saryth, the Viper&#039;s Fang
*1 Seedborn Muse
*1 Servant of the Stinger
*1 Shinen of Life&#039;s Roar
*1 Shriekwood Devourer
*1 Sweet-Gum Recluse
*1 Tempting Licid
*1 The Speed Demon
*1 Unstoppable Slasher
*1 Vicious Battlerager
*1 Vigor
*1 Virtus the Veiled
*1 Vraska, the Silencer
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bounty Board
*1 Coveted Jewel
*1 Herd Heirloom
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mirage Mirror
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sting, the Glinting Dagger
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Tangleweave Armor
*1 Vedalken Orrery
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Archdruid&#039;s Charm
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Malakir Rebirth // Malakir Mire
*1 Outrageous Robbery
*1 Revitalizing Repast // Old-Growth Grove
*1 Stinging Study
*1 Sudden Spoiling
*1 Worldly Tutor
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Barad-dûr
*1 Cactus Preserve
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Detection Tower
*10 Forest
*1 Golgari Rot Farm
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*10 Swamp
*1 Talon Gates of Madara
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Underground Mortuary
*1 Undergrowth Stadium
*1 Witch&#039;s Clinic
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>


lure effects in commander

Sisters of Stone Death: A Hidden Commander Gem?