Mechanically Minded - Companion

Mechanically Minded - Mutate

Mechanically Minded - Escape

<h1>Meet the EDHREC Crew!</h1>
<p>We hope you're having a terrific holiday season! To celebrate the end of another wild year for the Commander format, we just wanted to share something that we hope will add a little whimsy to your festivities.</p>
<p>It takes a lot of work to make EDHREC run smoothly. If the site was a Vehicle card, it would have <em>Crew 30. </em>We've got a bunch of awesome folks here working on admin, programming, behind-the-scenes upgrades, and of course, writing awesome content to help inspire new brews and give more context to all this awesome data.</p>
<p>Season's greetings, from our EDHREC family to yours.</p>
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<h2>The Podcasters</h2>
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<h3>Joey Schultz - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/joseph-schultz/">Commander Showdown</a>; Article editor</h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Joey-of-Clan-EDHREC.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41565" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Joey-of-Clan-EDHREC.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Dana Roach - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/dana-roach/">Superior Numbers</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dana-the-History-of-EDHREC.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41557" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dana-the-History-of-EDHREC.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Matt Morgan - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/matt-morgan/">60 to 100</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Matt-Keeper-of-the-Game.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41573" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Matt-Keeper-of-the-Game.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Ken Peddle - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/tag/edhrecast/">EDHREC Podcast Editor</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kennesh-Norn.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41568" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kennesh-Norn.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h2>The Writers</h2>
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<h3>Angelo Guerrera - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/angelo-guerrera/">Archetune-Up</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Angelo-the-Jesguy.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41552" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Angelo-the-Jesguy.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Doug Young - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/douglas-young/">Too-Specific Top Ten</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Doug-the-Overly-Specific.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41559" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Doug-the-Overly-Specific.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Joseph Megill - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/joseph-megill/">Ranking Every Land with EDHREC</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Joseph-Ranker-of-Lands.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41566" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Joseph-Ranker-of-Lands.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Kya Vess - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/kya-vess/">Bringing Magic to Life</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kya-the-Chaotician.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41569" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kya-the-Chaotician.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Ben Doolittle - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/ben-doolittle/">Conditions Allow</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ben-the-Conditional.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41553" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ben-the-Conditional.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Tom Anderson - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/thomas-anderson/">The Suite-est Thing</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tom-of-Sweet-Suites.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41578" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tom-of-Sweet-Suites.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Kyle Keller - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/kyle-keller/">Forgotten Harvest</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kyle-God-of-Forgotten-Harvests.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41570" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kyle-God-of-Forgotten-Harvests.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Steven Vincent - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/steven-vincent/">Monomania</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Steven-the-Monomaniac.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41576" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Steven-the-Monomaniac.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Bernardo Melibeu - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/bernardo-melibeu/">Epic Experiment</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bernardo-Innovator.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41554" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bernardo-Innovator.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Charles Allison - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/charles-allison/">Historically Speaking</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Charles-Who-Knows-Things.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41555" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Charles-Who-Knows-Things.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Elijah Klein - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/elijah-klein/">The Toobox</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Elijah-of-Many-Tools.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-41560 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Elijah-of-Many-Tools.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Eric Seidl - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/eric-seidl/">Lore Seeker</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Eric-Lost-but-Loreseeking.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-41561 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Eric-Lost-but-Loreseeking.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Jeremy Podczerwinski - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/jeremy-podczerwinski/">Mind Bend</a></h3>
<h3><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Jeremy-Lord-High-Mindbender.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-41564 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Jeremy-Lord-High-Mindbender.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></h3>
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<h3>Kyle Massa - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/kyle-massa/">Mechanically Minded</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kyle-Mechanic-Cursed-King.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-41571 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kyle-Mechanic-Cursed-King.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Mason Brantley - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/mason-brantley/">Underdog's Corner</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Mason-Undercity-Underdog.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41572" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Mason-Undercity-Underdog.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Seth "DM" Cross - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/dm-cross/">Replacement Commanders</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Seth-the-Replacer.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41575" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Seth-the-Replacer.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Andrew Cummings - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/andrew-cummings/">Ultra Budget Brews</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Andrew-All-Budgeteering.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41551" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Andrew-All-Budgeteering.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Willem-Jan Rensink - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/willem-jan-rensink/">Shape Anew</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Willem-Jan-the-Multifunctional.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-41579 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Willem-Jan-the-Multifunctional.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Christian Alexander - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/edh_rec/?hl=en">EDHREC Instagram @edh_rec</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Christian-of-the-Instagramagnus-Copy.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-43055" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Christian-of-the-Instagramagnus-Copy.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h2>The Administrators</h2>
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<h3>Jason Alt - <a href="https://blog.mtgprice.com/author/jalt/">Content Manager</a><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Jason-Alt-Manager-of-Content.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-41563 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Jason-Alt-Manager-of-Content.jpg" alt="" width="201" height="280" /></a></h3>
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<h3>Jack Kaupanger - Copy Editor</h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Commander-Jack.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-41556 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Commander-Jack.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Henry Stukenborg - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/">Former Editor</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Henry-Lord-of-Everything.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41562" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Henry-Lord-of-Everything.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Nate Burgess - <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/author/nate-burgess/">Commander Focus</a>; Programmer</h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nate-Teller-of-Themes.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41574" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nate-Teller-of-Themes.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>David Keatts - <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">Programmer</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Keattz-the-Coder.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41567" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Keattz-the-Coder.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Tom Buck - Admin</h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tom-Buck.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41577" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tom-Buck.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>
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<h3>Donald Miner - <a href="https://edhrec.com/">Creator of EDHREC</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Don-the-EDHWrecker.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-41558" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Don-the-EDHWrecker.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="279" /></a></p>


Happy Holidays from the EDHREC Crew!

<h6 style="text-align:right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paliano, the High City" href="#" target="_blank">Paliano, the High City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.adampaquettemtg.com/">Adam Paquette</a>)</h6>
<h1><span style="font-weight:400;">Let’s Put it to a Vote</span></h1>
<p>Whether you vote for Pedro, Kodos, or somebody else, this is the article for you. Today on <em><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/tag/mechanically-minded/">Mechanically Minded</a></em><em>, </em>the series where we build decks around mechanics using the wisdom of EDHREC, we're doing some voting.<br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Voting isn’t technically a mechanic; it’s a game action in which players do exactly what you’d think: vote for a particular outcome. Let's build around it and see what happens.</span></p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magister of Worth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bite of the Black Rose"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Council&#039;s Judgment"></div></div><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Voting first entered <em>Magic</em> with 2014’s </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Conspiracy. </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">As the game’s first multiplayer booster set, this keyword action was perfect. It personifies the politics of the format, encouraging players to win opponents over to their side and to offer favors in exchange for votes. Voting appeared on cards with </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Will of the Council, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">a fancy term that simply means all players vote for one of two possible outcomes. The outcome with the most votes then occurs, with ties usually being settled slightly less in favor of the caster. You’ll see it on cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magister of Worth" href="#" target="_blank">Magister of Worth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bite of the Black Rose" href="#" target="_blank">Bite of the Black Rose</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Voting returned again in 2016 with a sequel set to the original <em>Conspiracy</em> called </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Conspiracy: Take the Crown. </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">This time it was reimagined as </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><em>Council’s Dilemma</em>:<em> </em></span>p<span style="font-weight:400;">layers still vote for one of two possible outcomes, but each outcome occurs once for each vote cast in its favor, rather than a one-or-the-other outcome.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Our Elected Leader</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Now that we’ve settled on our "mechanic", it’s time to pick our commander. As we so often do, I recommend heading to the trusty </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes">Themes section</a></span><span style="font-weight:400;">. Let’s start with the </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/politics">Politics theme</a></span><span style="font-weight:400;">. It’s not exclusively about </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">but being defined as “cards that encourage interaction and discussion among players” puts us pretty darn close.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">When it comes to voting decks, many players opt for this commander:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Voting </span><span style="font-weight:400;">cards are mostly found in Esper, so this makes good sense. However, I think we can find something a little more interesting than a dude who makes his living chilling in the command zone.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">If I learned anything from 2012’s Speilberg film </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Lincoln, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">it's that great facial hair comes in many forms. Also, a great way to earn votes is to bribe people. So, since no legendary creature specifically references </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting, </span><span style="font-weight:400;">we might instead elect one that lets us reward our opponents in exchange for votes, which made me think of the Goat:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zedruu the Greathearted"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Maybe not </span><span style="font-weight:400;">the </span><span style="font-weight:400;">GOAT, but definitely a</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">Goat. Zedruu has always been one of my all-time favorite commanders, and I’ve never had the privilege of writing about her. She was pretty much a shoe-in for this article...</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">...until I recalled a certain new commander from our latest set.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kenrith, the Returned King"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Kenrith <em>has</em> to be our commander. Notice that each ability benefits all players or a player of your choice, meaning we’ve got five different ways to bribe our opponents for votes. In addition, Kenrith gives us access to all five colors, rather than only three.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Being a king means he doesn’t need our vote, but he gets it anyway.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Voting Cards</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Now that we have our commander, it’s time to explore our central theme. Again, I’m heading to the </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/politics">Politics theme</a></span><span style="font-weight:400;"> for ideas.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plea for Power"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Split Decision"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magister of Worth"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">The first three </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting </span><span style="font-weight:400;">cards we see are three of the best. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plea for Power" href="#" target="_blank">Plea for Power</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> almost always turns into a draw three, which is pretty nice for four mana. We usually want the extra turn, though, even though we usually don’t get it. In this deck, however, we’ll get it way more often since we can offer voters a reward in return.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Same goes for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Split Decision" href="#" target="_blank">Split Decision</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a powerful card in and of itself. One and a blue to counter any instant or sorcery is nice, and the same cost to copy it might be even better, depending on the circumstances. The drawback, of course, is that you don’t know how the council will vote. Again, that’s where our bribery comes into play.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magister of Worth" href="#" target="_blank">Magister of Worth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be very powerful in one direction or the other. If one player pulls farther ahead of all others, you’ll usually get people to vote for condemnation (which leaves you with the Magister). In the late game, players will more likely vote for grace. Keep that in mind when you play it.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Let's examine a few more powerful voting cards:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Capital Punishment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coercive Portal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Council&#039;s Judgment"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">First off, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Capital Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Capital Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offers a lose-lose scenario for our opponents (just look at the picture!). We’re trying to work cooperatively with them to maximize our voting cards, so I wouldn’t recommend playing too many similar effects. However, I'll make an exception here because mass sacrifice and mass discard effects are sweet.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Next up, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coercive Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Coercive Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It’s usually a personal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and that’s already pretty good. The option to wipe the board makes it great. To be honest, you probably won’t convince players to vote for the latter option no matter how well you bribe them. Still, it’s a nice option for the table in case one player gets too out of hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Council&#039;s Judgment" href="#" target="_blank">Council&#039;s Judgment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This oddball card is already outstanding as an exile spell (it weirdly gets around hexproof and protection, since it doesn’t target). It’s even better when it exiles two nonland permanents, which it can do when players split the vote evenly. I recommend doing your best to orchestrate this.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Of course, there are many more </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting </span><span style="font-weight:400;">cards to be included in our final list. However, I think it's time to move onto another supplementary subject that will reinforce our politically-minded deck.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Extra Bribery</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Now that we know what we’re voting for, let’s find some additional bribery tools. Kenrith offers many, but in this deck, I think a few more should do well. Some examples:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Intellectual Offering"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selvala, Explorer Returned"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hunted Phantasm"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Intellectual Offering" href="#" target="_blank">Intellectual Offering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and the entire Offering cycle, for that matter) is cool because you can bribe several players with one card. Drawing three cards is legitimate upside, but I like the untapping clause for bribing purposes even more. Why? Because you will appear to be doing an opponent a favor without actually giving them a significant advantage. Maybe they now have extra blockers or get to activate a tap ability a second time, but that’s fine. We gain their favor for future votes without giving them too much free stuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">I doubt <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala, Explorer Returned" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala, Explorer Returned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the mutton-head who thought of </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Parley, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">but it is her signature mechanic. And hey, it works. We give our opponents free cards, plus we potentially get free mana and free life for our troubles.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">The entire “Hunted” cycle also works well in this slot, but I picked <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hunted Phantasm" href="#" target="_blank">Hunted Phantasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because I think it’s the best of the bunch. Five 1/1s is a lot to give, but a 4/6 unblockable for three is too good to pass up.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Rigging the Vote</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Now, when it comes to </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>, </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">some votes simply must go our way. Sometimes we can’t afford to mess around with bribing our opponents. Fortunately for us, R&amp;D offers several options that tip the ballot in our favor.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brago’s Representative"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Illusion of Choice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grudge Keeper"></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">I think it’s pretty clear what you’re doing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago’s Representative" href="#" target="_blank">Brago’s Representative</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There’s also a near-identical copy of it from </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><i>Conspiracy: Take the Crown </i></span><span style="font-weight:400;">called <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ballot Broker" href="#" target="_blank">Ballot Broker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and we’re totally playing both. Those additional votes help us push through our agenda or even possibly split the vote, as in the case of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Council&#039;s Judgment" href="#" target="_blank">Council&#039;s Judgment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusion of Choice" href="#" target="_blank">Illusion of Choice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a low-cost, low-downside way to fix the most important votes. I think it’s excellent in tandem with high-upside cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coercive Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Coercive Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala&#039;s Stampede" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala&#039;s Stampede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, it’s probably best with the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Council&#039;s Judgment" href="#" target="_blank">Council&#039;s Judgment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Assuming there are three other players at the table, you can vote for the four nonland permanents you like least and exile them all. Now that’s judgement.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grudge Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Grudge Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the weakest of the riggers, though it’s on-theme and highly flavorful. Though the two life isn’t all that much, it’s a decent punishment for those who don’t vote our way.</span></p>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">The List</span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kenrith for King" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
Kenrith, the Returned King
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
Ballot Broker
Biomancer&#039;s Familiar
Brago&#039;s Representative
Custodi Lich
Custodi Squire
Grudge Keeper
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer
Humble Defector
Hunted Dragon
Hunted Horror
Hunted Phantasm
Keeper of Keys
Magister of Worth
Orzhov Advokist
Pramikon, Sky Rampart
Queen Marchesa
Regal Behemoth
Seedborn Muse
Selvala, Explorer Returned
Xantcha, Sleeper Agent
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
Anguished Unmaking
Benevolent Offering
Cyclonic Rift
Fact or Fiction
Fog
Illusion of Choice
Intellectual Offering
Out of Bounds
Split Decision
Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
Capital Punishment
Collective Voyage
Council&#039;s Judgment
Cruel Entertainment
Expropriate
Farseek
Merciless Eviction
Minds Aglow
Pir&#039;s Whim
Plea for Power
Regna&#039;s Sanction
Scheming Symmetry
Selvala&#039;s Stampede
Tempt with Discovery
Tempt with Immortality
Tyrant&#039;s Choice
Virtus&#039;s Maneuver
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
Arcane Signet
Chromatic Lantern
Coercive Portal
Commander&#039;s Sphere
Fellwar Stone
Heartstone
Pendant of Prosperity
Sol Ring
Wishclaw Talisman
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
Ghostly Prison
Marchesa&#039;s Decree
Mystic Barrier
Propaganda
Rhystic Study
Smothering Tithe
Training Grounds
[/Enchantments]
[Land]
Arcane Sanctum
Blood Crypt
Boros Garrison
Breeding Pool
Command Tower
Crumbling Necropolis
Evolving Wilds
Exotic Orchard
Forbidden Orchard
Gateway Plaza
Godless Shrine
Hallowed Fountain
Maze of Ith
Mystic Monastery
Nomad Outpost
Orzhov Guildgate
Overgrown Tomb
Reliquary Tower
Sacred Foundry
Steam Vents
Stomping Ground
Temple Garden
Terramorphic Expanse
Throne of the High City
Watery Grave
3 Plains
3 Island
3 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Forest
[/Land]"></span></div>
<hr>
<h2><span style="font-weight:400;">Final Votes</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">In the early game, do some favors for your opponents. Give their commander haste and trample, offer them some free life, or maybe even give them a card or two. However, always make sure you name a price. Make them promise to vote for Pedro (or replace Pedro with your name if your name doesn’t happen to be Pedro). Then, in the late game, cash in those favors for big-time </span><span style="font-weight:400;">voting </span><span style="font-weight:400;">spells.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Of course, don’t expect players to honor their word every time. For those who renege on the deal, go after them with furious retribution. This will show both them and the rest of the table that you take your deals seriously. If you properly decimate oathbreakers, your playgroup will be less likely to break promises with you in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Likewise, don’t ever promise a future favor in exchange for a present vote without delivering on the promise. If you do it once, your opponents will never trust you to keep your word again. So don’t do it! Both these concepts are already valuable, but they become even more valuable for this deck because we need votes.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight:400;">Happy voting!</span></p>


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