Nearly Identical - Commander Liara Portyr or Neyali?

Nearly Identical - Edgar or Edgar?

Challenge the Stats – Phylath, World Sculptor

Power Sink - Kala-Max Power!

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tin Street Market" href="#" target="_blank">Tin Street Market</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://noahbradley.com/">Noah Bradley</a>)</h6>
<h1>War of the Legendary Creatures</h1>
<p>Hello, everyone! Welcome to another edition of the <em>Underdog's Corner</em>! If this is your first time reading, I'm going to spend the next thousand or more words telling you about a legendary creature that's getting less attention than he should. With <em>War of the Spark</em>, we saw a staggering 16 legendary creatures enter into the fold for EDH. A few have immediately risen above the rest, as we're seeing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feather, the Redeemed" href="#" target="_blank">Feather, the Redeemed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet Reborn" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet Reborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even some like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves" href="#" target="_blank">Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have jumped into the upper echelon unexpectedly. Then there are the legends that lag behind - the ones I love to talk about! Today we'll cover a legend that I'm surprised is in the bottom 25%. Let's meet our newest Underdog!</p>
<h2>Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin"></div></div>
<p>Hmm... That name looks familiar.</p>
<p>Krenko looks pretty different since we last saw him. His last iteration, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is a personal boogeyman of mine and a combo machine. Honestly, the main thing they have in common is being able to create ludicrous amount of Goblin tokens while also being Goblins themselves.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div></div>
<p>Let's look at what the <em>new</em> Krenko brings to the table.</p>
<h4>"Whenever Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it..."</h4>
<p>A three mana 1/2 isn't all that impressive, but once we enter combat the first time, Krenko bumps up to a 2/3. Three toughness tends to turn the corner in terms of survivability in the early game; using <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=cmc%3C%3D3+t%3Acreature&amp;order=edhrec&amp;as=grid&amp;unique=cards">Scryfall's EDHREC filter</a> we can see the most popular creatures with CMC three or less that would be able to block Krenko in the early game, and of the top 60, only 9 would be able to block and kill him, which means he's got great odds for attacking and surviving in the beginning of the game. That's just the first time he attacks, too; once he attacks again, he becomes increasingly more resilient in combat.</p>
<h4>"...then create a number of 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens equal to Krenko’s power."</h4>
<p>This is where Krenko's power comes from, and in turn, the Goblins come from his power. We've seen a few legends in the past create tokens based on power, but Krenko is the first red commander with this ability. Arguably, Krenko has the most potential to take advantage of this ability thanks to red's ability to quickly and easily boost power. Finally, while Goblin tribal is a valid and powerful strategy, I want to look beyond tribal. We won't ignore it completely, but we're not going to be tethered to it either.</p>
<p>This new Krenko is still powerful, but I think if we try to compare to the two side by side, we will end up disappointed. Rather than being an alternative for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to stand on his own. Rather than continue this comparison, let's look at another red legend that has more in common with new Krenko: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valduk, Keeper of the Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Valduk, Keeper of the Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valduk, Keeper of the Flame"></div></div>
<p>Released in <em>Dominaria</em>, Valduk has gained a nice cult following over the year since his release. Both he and Krenko create tokens, with different conditions. Valduk creates a number of temporary 3/1 Elementals based on the number of Auras and Equipment attached to him. Krenko creates a number of 1/1 Goblins equal to his power. While at first glance these abilities aren't terribly similar, I think their deckbuilding choices will greatly mirror each other. With over 200 decks, Valduk offers a lot of data, so let's lean into Valduk's EDHREC's page to find suggestions.</p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Keeper of Tin Street</h2>
<p>The top end of Valduk's page unsurprisingly contains a lot of Equipment. Most of them are cost-efficient, intended to get the most of his ability quickly. While we won't want all of them, let's check out the major players.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tenza, Godo&#039;s Maul"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bravado"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stoneforge Masterwork"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tenza, Godo&#039;s Maul" href="#" target="_blank">Tenza, Godo&#039;s Maul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has one of the highest stats-to-cost ratios of Equipment available to us. Creating an additional three tokens per combat is massive, and let's not forget that it also will give Krenko trample. Even on his first swing, Krenko will be a 5/6. While that can be chump blocked, we still make a ton of tokens. Besides, once we add trample to the mix, things become more complicated.</p>
<p>Found in 50% of Valduk decks, we have the Aura <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bravado" href="#" target="_blank">Bravado</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from the venerated <em>Urza's Saga</em>. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bravado" href="#" target="_blank">Bravado</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> won't immediately buff Krenko in combat like our Equipment will, it does offer a higher ceiling. Let's assume that we enchant Krenko with Bravado, and then attack. We'll only make two tokens, but Krenko will then become a 4/5. When Krenko attacks the next turn, he'll create five tokens, and then become a 10/11. That's a massive amount of stats over only two turns. If left unchecked, that could easily spell doom for our opponent as we overwhelm them with Goblins. While it doesn't have quite the same ceiling, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stoneforge Masterwork" href="#" target="_blank">Stoneforge Masterwork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pennon Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Pennon Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great second and third copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bravado" href="#" target="_blank">Bravado</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and will produce very similar results.</p>
<hr />
<h2>All-Out Assault</h2>
<p>Once we've made all of these tokens, what do we do with them? For a mono-red deck, the answer is easy and somewhat formulaic. Without a diversity of options, we're going to lean on some tried and true staples.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Bombardment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Outpost Siege"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the best sacrifice outlets in the game. It's cheap, it's free to use, and it's a more resilient permanent type than a lot of its brethren. Even without any buffs to our army, we can use this enchantment to double our damage output whenever we swing all-out against an enemy, just in case we need the extra few points to get there. What's more thematic than throwing these fiends to their gleeful deaths?</p>
<p>If we want a redundant effect for that functionality, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavalcade of Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Cavalcade of Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> really pumps out the damage with small tokens. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Outpost Siege" href="#" target="_blank">Outpost Siege</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is often played for its impulse-draw mode, but don't forget that it can also ping opponents whenever a creature we control leaves the battlefield. Not just when they die, but when they leave the battlefield. This can be a massive deterrent for a board wipe in the right situation, especially if we can play it into a developed board.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Purphoros, God of the Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Impact Tremors"></div></div>
<p>I won't say much about these two, since you've likely faced down these terrors yourself if you've played with or against any token decks that include red. Appearing in 17,500 and 10,500 decks respectively, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impact Tremors" href="#" target="_blank">Impact Tremors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will end the game in short order if left untouched. If you're playing these, be prepared to protect them.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marton Stromgald"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mercadia&#039;s Downfall"></div></div>
<p>Let's discuss a few lesser-played gems though. This is a series about lesser-played commanders, so what better way to show them off? First up is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marton Stromgald" href="#" target="_blank">Marton Stromgald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who appears in a measly 700 decks. As someone who has been on the receiving end of this card before, I will assert this number is too low. While Marton is a very fragile card, attacking once with him will often spell doom for our opponents' life totals. Even attacking with three creatures will grant a hardy +3/+3 bonus to those creatures. Note that Marton does not count himself nor buff himself with his ability, so he will always be a 1/1. However, note also that we can stack this trigger to resolve before Krenko's triggered ability to supercharge our Goblin output. If you want a similar effect, check out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Veteran&#039;s Armaments" href="#" target="_blank">Veteran&#039;s Armaments</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It puts your board at risk, but it will pay back the investment at minimum.</p>
<p>For another team buff we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mercadia&#039;s Downfall" href="#" target="_blank">Mercadia&#039;s Downfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card is only currently played in 86 decks, but I think it's potential impact is worth more than that. For three mana, we can pump the power of attacking creatures by the number of nonbasic lands the defending player controls. Note that this affects any attacking creatures, not just our own, so there's a potential to use this card politically. This card can fill a similar role to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Berserk" href="#" target="_blank">Berserk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which we discussed in my <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/underdogs-corner-arixmethes-slumbering-isle/">last article</a>. For special notes on this card, it will only count nonbasic lands for the player each creature is attacking. A creature attacking Player A, who has five nonbasic lands, will get +5/+0, while a creature attacking Player B, who has two nonbasic lands, will get +2/+0. Let's be clear, though - nonbasic lands run rampant in EDH, so you'll never attack someone who only has 2. You're more likely to attack someone who has nothing <em>but </em>nonbasic lands!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coat of Arms"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shared Animosity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obelisk of Urd"></div></div>
<p>Lastly, we have the big guns. Tribal has been a fairly supported archetype over the years, and we have several cards to push us over the edge. We're not wholly going to dive into Goblin tribal, but it would be remiss to ignore these powerful pieces. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shared Animosity" href="#" target="_blank">Shared Animosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stacks well with Krenko's triggered ability, and it will let us turn many of our tokens into killing machines. If we attack with five Goblins, they each get +4/+0. Attacking with a 1/1 is a nuisance, but attacking with multiple 5/1s makes blocks difficult. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coat of Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Coat of Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another great tool in our arsenal as well, and it can even help our survivability. (Watch out for other tribal decks, though, as it is a purely symmetrical effect.) Finally, while I typically don't like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obelisk of Urd" href="#" target="_blank">Obelisk of Urd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I can actually see it pulling weight in this deck. I love that Krenko plays well with anthem effects. If we are able to attack twice with Krenko, we'll almost be able to play it for free just off of Krenko's Goblins!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Brothers and Sisters in Arms</h2>
<p>Before we move onto the decklist, I'd like to say that this commander finally gave a me a way to build in a direction that I've been struggling with. I've always wanted to build decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor" href="#" target="_blank">Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valduk, Keeper of the Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Valduk, Keeper of the Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I've always been turned off by their relative lack of similar effects. Writing about Krenko, I realized all three of them can be included in the same deck and function as alternate commanders for one another. Many of the tricks that work with Krenko, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coat of Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Coat of Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shared Animosity" href="#" target="_blank">Shared Animosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, also work incredibly well with Varchild's Survivors and Valduk's Elementals. It's a direction that I'm happy to have discovered, and I think gives this deck more legs rather than relying on primarily on its commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Goblins New Groove" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Captain Lannery Storm
*1 Dark-Dweller Oracle
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Goblin Banneret
*1 Goblin Trashmaster
*1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
*1 Hanweir Garrison
*1 Hellrider
*1 Krenko, Mob Boss
*1 Legion Loyalist
*1 Marton Stromgald
*1 Meteor Golem
*1 Moonveil Dragon
*1 Neheb, the Eternal
*1 Ogre Battledriver
*1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
*1 Siege-Gang Commander
*1 Treasure Nabber
*1 Valduk, Keeper of the Flame
*1 Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor
[/Creature]
[Artifact]
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Coat of Arms
*1 Dragon Throne of Tarkir
*1 Eldrazi Monument
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Hammer of Purphoros
*1 Heirloom Blade
*1 Konda&#039;s Banner
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Obelisk of Urd
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Stoneforge Masterwork
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Tenza, Godo&#039;s Maul
*1 Veteran&#039;s Armaments
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifact]
[Instant]
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Electrodominance
*1 Mercadia&#039;s Downfall
*1 Tears of Rage
[/Instant]
[Enchantment]
*1 Bravado
*1 Break Through the Line
*1 Breath of Fury
*1 Experimental Frenzy
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Outpost Siege
*1 Quest for the Goblin Lord
*1 Shared Animosity
[/Enchantment]
[Sorcery]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Burn at the Stake
*1 Chain Reaction
*1 Descent of the Dragons
*1 Gamble
*1 Kindred Charge
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorcery]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalker]
[Land]
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Goblin Burrows
*1 Hanweir Battlements
*1 Looming Spires
*30 Mountain
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Spinerock Knoll
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Thanks for reading, and thank you for joining me in the <em>Underdog's Corner</em>!</p>


mercadias downfall

Nearly Identical - Commander Liara Portyr or Neyali?

Nearly Identical - Edgar or Edgar?

Challenge the Stats – Phylath, World Sculptor

Power Sink - Kala-Max Power!

Underdog's Corner - Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin