Desert Bloom - Thunder Junction Precon Review

From the Brim to the Trim - Melting opponents' faces with a Budget Reanimator Deck

Rally the Ancestors - Build an Azorius Mill Deck

Hosts of Mordor - Precon Primer

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator" href="#" target="_blank">Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/ninovecia">Nino Vecia</a></h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo, and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>Let's talk about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator" href="#" target="_blank">Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator"></div></div>
<p>Vohar is a surprisingly powerful commander for its cost. In a way, he works very similar to <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, Vryn&#039;s Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, Vryn&#039;s Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but we get a more front-loaded value effect from the <em>Flashback</em> effect in exchange for the flexibility of JVP's flipped side. The card filtering aspect alone can more than replace the need to play cheap cantrips, and while the ping damage won't make that much difference, gaining a few points of life can make the difference throughout a longer game.</p>
<p>The biggest draw to Vohar, however, is his second activated ability. The ability to play an instant or sorcery from the graveyard is very powerful and easy to build around. Even when going for a more 'goodstuff' type of build, it's possible, together with strong self-mill support, to build a toolbox that's just hanging out in our graveyard waiting for us to need it.</p>
<p>One of the most impressive things about Vohar is how both parts of his kits complement each other and his color combination. Reanimation decks, for example, get to <em>Dredge</em> away without the fear of milling a reanimation spell.</p>
<p>So, how will we give Vohar a twist?</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gyruda, Doom of Depths"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maddening Cacophony"></div></div>
<p>I'm a bit surprised that we don't have all that many <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyruda, Doom of Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Gyruda, Doom of Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <em>Companion</em> Vohar decks out there. This combination seems so good! They both straightforwardly complement each other, making up for each other's deficits.</p>
<p>The core of the deck (as is the case in many Gyruda lists) is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clone" href="#" target="_blank">Clone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects to duplicate the Gyruda effect over and over, constantly grabbing new copies to redo the effect and churn through tons of cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Double" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Double</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces" href="#" target="_blank">Sakashima of a Thousand Faces</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may be the most important Clones because they allow us to keep more than one Gyruda on the board. Damage isn't our main gameplan, but multiple blockers or 6/6 attackers is a nice way to stay safe or eliminate players with damage if we need a backup plan. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undercover Operative" href="#" target="_blank">Undercover Operative</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s shield counter makes it a lot safer to pass the turn, which can help us go off when we untap, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirrorhall Mimic" href="#" target="_blank">Mirrorhall Mimic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vizier of Many Faces" href="#" target="_blank">Vizier of Many Faces</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide value when they hit the graveyard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evil Twin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undercover Operative"></div></div>
<p>Once we've triggered Gyruda a few times, we're ready to start phase two, which is to finish milling our opponents with the big mill spells that wound up in our graveyard from all the Gyruda milling. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maddening Cacophony" href="#" target="_blank">Maddening Cacophony</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cut Your Losses" href="#" target="_blank">Cut Your Losses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mill a ton of cards, and a big <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Grind" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Grind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a lot of variance, but usually does the trick. We're also packing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mesmeric Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Mesmeric Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mindcrank" href="#" target="_blank">Mindcrank</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as other mill sources, which are particularly useful to finish players off after playing our big spells.</p>
<p>It's often best to let Gyruda die to the legend rule to avoid leaving it open to exile-based removal. This makes it important to include some reanimation effects in the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood for Bones" href="#" target="_blank">Blood for Bones</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful effect that gives us access to two creatures, one to hand and one to the battlefield, and this can be used to put Gyruda safely into our hand to dodge graveyard exile effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ever After" href="#" target="_blank">Ever After</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a bit expensive, but the power-to-card ratio makes it a great option to top deck or to use our commander's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persist" href="#" target="_blank">Persist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exhume" href="#" target="_blank">Exhume</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are cheap reanimation effects with a few small disadvantages, but given how our deck operates, we tend to either pass over them very quickly or just go over the top of their downsides (for instance, using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persist" href="#" target="_blank">Persist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clone" href="#" target="_blank">Clone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to copy the Gyruda we already have in play).</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Voharuda" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator
[/Commander]
[Companion]
*Gyruda, Doom of Depths
[/Companion]
[Creature]
*Phantasmal Image
*Snapcaster Mage
*Clone
*Evil Twin
*Gigantoplasm
*Mirrorhall
*Mocking Doppelganger
*Phyrexian Metamorph
*Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
*Sakashima the Impostor
*Sakashima&#039;s Student
*Spark Double
*Stunt Double
*Undercover Operative
*Vizier of Many Faces
*Wall of Stolen Identity
*Wonder
*Sakashima&#039;s Protege
[/Creature]
[Artifact]
*Everflowing Chalice
*Mox Amber
*Arcane Signet
*Coldsteel Heart
*Dimir Signet
*Fellwar Stone
*Liquimetal Torque
*Mesmeric Orb
*Mind Stone
*Mindcrank
*Talisman of Dominance
*Hedron Archive
*Panharmonicon
*Thran Dynamo
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Animate Dead
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Arcane Denial
*Cyclonic Rift
*Drown in the Loch
*Infernal Grasp
*Mission Briefing
*Narset&#039;s Reversal
*Negate
*Twin Cast
*Empty the Pits
*Memory Deluge
*Wheel and Deal
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Exhume
*Feed the Swarm
*Maddening Cacophony
*Mind Grind
*Persist
*Scour All Possibilities
*Stitch Together
*Blood for Bones
*Bond of Insight
*Damnation
*Deep Analysis
*Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication
*Rite of Replication
*Blood on the Snow
*Cut Your Losses
*Ever After
*Army of the Damned
[/Sorcery]
[Land]
*Bojuka Bog
*Command Tower
*Creeping Tar Pit
*Drowned Catacomb
*Faerie Conclave
*Fetid Pools
*Ghost Quarter
*Hall of Storm Giants
*Hive of the Eye Tyrant
*Morphic Pool
*Shipwreck Marsh
*Sunken Hollow
*Tainted Isle
*Tectonic Edge
*Temple of Deceit
*Underground River
*Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*Watery Grave
*10 Snow-Covered Island
*10 Snow-Covered Swamp
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>With the amount of self-mill we're doing, it's important that we don't overwork our commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snapcaster Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Snapcaster Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mission Briefing" href="#" target="_blank">Mission Briefing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are copies of our commander's sacrifice ability, and they give us the opportunity to access our spells effect even without Vohar around.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snapcaster Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mission Briefing"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deep Analysis"></div></div>
<p>In addition, <em>Flashback</em> effects are great ways to help us grind through some types of interactions. Card draw spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deep Analysis" href="#" target="_blank">Deep Analysis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memory Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Memory Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can help us dig for any other cards we need. Oh, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Army of the Damned" href="#" target="_blank">Army of the Damned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a neat opportunistic threat stored in our back pocket.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>Our opening hands are very forgiving; we mostly just don't want to have many <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clone" href="#" target="_blank">Clone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. Between playing our commander and paying the <em>Companion</em> tax, we're pretty much tied up in the early turns.</p>
<p>Our first Gyruda trigger is a key moment in the game; most games we'll chain into a couple of Clone effects and keep one, but, if we hit any of our nonlegendary Clones, we can also gather a small army. Getting to untap with a Gyruda out can be pretty good, but we can always use one of our reanimation spells to get the chain started all over again.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Empty the Pits"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Memory Deluge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bond of Insight"></div></div>
<p>Our late game is great, too! Between our commander and some of our graveyard recursion effects, we have a lot of potential for winning the attrition war. Just watch out for graveyard hate! That's the main way this deck shuts down, and losing access to Gyruda can be a challenge to overcome. As long as we stay focused, though, our commander and our <em>Companion </em>will help us 'even' the odds!</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think of this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which did you not? Was this experiment a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Vohar

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cosima, God of the Voyage" href="#" target="_blank">Cosima, God of the Voyage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.micahepsteinart.com/">Micah Epstein</a></h6>
<h1>Epic Preparation</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>In this article, let's take a look at one of the Gods from <em>Kaldheim.</em> Dual-faced commanders have always intrigued me, since the added flexibility gives us space to play around with both aspects of the card. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cosima, God of the Voyage" href="#" target="_blank">Cosima, God of the Voyage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful commander with two separate sides that are very synergistic with each other, but you can also build with only one of them in mind.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cosima, God of the Voyage"></div></div>
<h3>Cosima Side</h3>
<p>Cosima's side is quite the powerhouse, providing a slow-building clock that will even give us cards to protect itself in the process. It plays better in a control shell where we're guaranteed to have consistent land drops and can play it early and leave it exiled for a few turns to restock our hand afterward. It's worth noting that while the Vehicle side does offer synergy with Cosima, it might be too slow to try to keep switching between sides.</p>
<h3>Omenkeel Side</h3>
<p>While Cosima is a slower and more control-ish card, The Omenkeel is better suited for aggressive decks that want to abuse its land-stealing ability and play fewer lands. A Vehicle that cares about other Vehicles is also pretty new for this color, since Vehicles-matter effects are usually either white, red, or Boros. This offers us some cool interactions that we often don't see in the archetype, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ensoul Artifact" href="#" target="_blank">Ensoul Artifact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mindcrank"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Body and Mind"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maddening Cacophony"></div></div>
<p>The Omenkeel is interesting because, while its kit is designed to find lands for its controller to play, it can also be used as a way to mill our opponents by exiling their cards. The best part is that since the lands are already exiled, we don't need to worry about graveyard-based synergies.</p>
<p>However, with a one-to-one damage-to-card ratio, we won't be that effective; after all, each player starts with 40 life vs. 99 cards in a deck. They'd lose to damage long before losing to mill! Luckily for us, there's a lot of support that can help us out, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mindcrank" href="#" target="_blank">Mindcrank</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Body and Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Body and Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In other words, if we're deciding between good mill and good combat, we can just say: why not both?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smuggler&#039;s Copter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cultivator&#039;s Caravan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Weatherlight"></div></div>
<p>Our Vehicle suite must therefore be very aggressive, since it helps us to get the ball rolling in the mill department. Vehicles are almost always very aggressively costed, which allows for our early game to be quite powerful, although they can get out-scaled if we don't draw our support cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aethersphere Harvester" href="#" target="_blank">Aethersphere Harvester</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heart of Kiran" href="#" target="_blank">Heart of Kiran</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sky Skiff" href="#" target="_blank">Sky Skiff</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smuggler&#039;s Copter" href="#" target="_blank">Smuggler&#039;s Copter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are cheap, evasive beaters that are great to put the pressure on most stages of the game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivator&#039;s Caravan" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivator&#039;s Caravan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an impressive role-player in this type of shell, being both a mana rock and beater, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skysovereign, Consul Flagship" href="#" target="_blank">Skysovereign, Consul Flagship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weatherlight" href="#" target="_blank">Weatherlight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide a lot of utility while being great top-end.</p>
<p>Our pilots provide a lot of passive utility, either by having useful ETBs, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Amphin Mutineer" href="#" target="_blank">Amphin Mutineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or by providing constant value, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sai, Master Thopterist" href="#" target="_blank">Sai, Master Thopterist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diligent Excavator" href="#" target="_blank">Diligent Excavator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dreamborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Dreamborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sage&#039;s Row Denizen" href="#" target="_blank">Sage&#039;s Row Denizen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have the added benefit of also acting as constant mill sources, which are an important part of an unconventional mill deck like ours. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chief of the Foundry" href="#" target="_blank">Chief of the Foundry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foundry Inspector" href="#" target="_blank">Foundry Inspector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Padeem, Consul of Innovation" href="#" target="_blank">Padeem, Consul of Innovation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sai, Master Thopterist" href="#" target="_blank">Sai, Master Thopterist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are a pretty decent "Artifacts Matter" pilot suite.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fractured Sanity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mesmeric Orb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Diligent Excavator"></div></div>
<p>Aside from our beatdown plan, we still want to have a few mill cards that aren't reliant on combat, both to boost our mill potential and act as a back-up in those games where our beatdown might otherwise be lacking.</p>
<p>We have two different types of mill cards: one-shot and constant effects. The first type is great at bursting down libraries and providing an immediate return on our mana investment; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fractured Sanity" href="#" target="_blank">Fractured Sanity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maddening Cacophony" href="#" target="_blank">Maddening Cacophony</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tasha&#039;s Hideous Laughter" href="#" target="_blank">Tasha&#039;s Hideous Laughter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are very cost-effective global mill spells that won't get in the way of our main gameplan. The second type is crucial for our success; after all, milling in Commander is more of a marathon than a sprint. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altar of the Brood" href="#" target="_blank">Altar of the Brood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mesmeric Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Mesmeric Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hedron Crab" href="#" target="_blank">Hedron Crab</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruin Crab" href="#" target="_blank">Ruin Crab</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychic Corrosion" href="#" target="_blank">Psychic Corrosion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> consistently put pressure on our opponents and can also act as a lightning rod for potential removal spells.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Cosima Mill" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Cosima, God of the Voyage
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Hedron Crab
*Overwhelmed Apprentice
*Ruin Crab
*Siren Stormtamer
*Diligent Excavator
*Etherium Sculptor
*Vantress Gargoyle
*Animating Faerie
*Chief of the Foundry
*Foundry Inspector
*Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar
*Sage&#039;s Row Denizen
*Sai, Master Thopterist
*Skilled Animator
*Tribute Mage
*Trinket Mage
*Amphin Mutineer
*Dreamborn Muse
*Glen Elendra Archmage
*Padeem, Consul of Innovation
*Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
*Sakashima the Impostor
*Sower of Temptation
*Whirler Rogue
*Archetype of Imagination
*Sphinx Mindbreaker
*Workshop Elders
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*Ensoul Artifact
*Psychic Corrosion
*Levitation
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Cyclonic Rift
*Reality Shift
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Maddening Cacophony
*Rise and Shine
*Fractured Sanity
*Ravenform
*Tasha&#039;s Hideous Laughter
*Baral&#039;s Expertise
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*Altar of the Brood
*Sol Ring
*The Blackstaff of Waterdeep
*Funeral Longboat
*Guardian Idol
*Heart of Kiran
*Key to the City
*Mesmeric Orb
*Mindcrank
*Sky Skiff
*Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*Aethersphere Harvester
*Cultivator&#039;s Caravan
*Fountain of Ichor
*Mobile Garrison
*Renegade Freighter
*Sleek Schooner
*Sword of Body and Mind
*Fleetwheel Cruiser
*Thundering Chariot
*Untethered Express
*Weatherlight
*Ballista Charger
*Dusk Legion Dreadnought
*Enchanted Carriage
*Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
[/Artifact]
[Land]
*Castle Vantress
*Crawling Barrens
*Dread Statuary
*Faceless Haven
*Faerie Conclave
*Mishra&#039;s Factory
*Mobilized District
*Mutavault
*Hall of Storm Giants
*26 Snow-Covered Island
[/Land]"></span></div></p>
<hr />
<p>We're also packing some cards that turn our artifacts into creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ensoul Artifact" href="#" target="_blank">Ensoul Artifact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These are a bit of a double-edged sword. They provide some quality-of-life improvement, making it so that we don't have to worry about the <em>Crew </em>costs of our Vehicles, but they also leave us more vulnerable to board wipes, which are normally a non-issue for Vehicles. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Blackstaff of Waterdeep" href="#" target="_blank">The Blackstaff of Waterdeep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animating Faerie" href="#" target="_blank">Animating Faerie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skilled Animator" href="#" target="_blank">Skilled Animator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ensoul Artifact" href="#" target="_blank">Ensoul Artifact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise and Shine" href="#" target="_blank">Rise and Shine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide a solid base for this type of effect and are great early-game ways to further accelerate our already aggressive gameplan.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skilled Animator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ensoul Artifact"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Animating Faerie"></div></div>
<p>The last piece of the puzzle is ways to give our Vehicles evasion, which is very important for a deck that wants to deal combat damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archetype of Imagination" href="#" target="_blank">Archetype of Imagination</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while a bit on the expensive side, basically makes our creatures unblockable. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Workshop Elders" href="#" target="_blank">Workshop Elders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pulls double duty as both an animator and evasion-granter. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whirler Rogue" href="#" target="_blank">Whirler Rogue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides a few key creatures unblockability while also creating a few bodies we can use to pilot our vessels. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Levitation" href="#" target="_blank">Levitation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just <em>borderline</em> playable, but I think the extra redundancy is worth this somewhat lackluster effect.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>For opening hands, we're mainly looking for a Vehicle and a pilot or two. It's important to start putting pressure as soon as turn 3, when we untap with our commander, because those early turns are less likely to have blockers, so we get to rain down some terror before we start having to worry about evasion.</p>
<p>Our deck plays like an Aggro deck, which means that our early game is where we'll be doing the most damage. Being able to curve out effectively is important, and having an aggressive curve is usually recommended. However, there are some inclusions that make our deck stronger than the average combat-centric list.</p>
<p>By the mid-game, our creatures might start losing a bit of their spark, but luckily for us our threats are very resilient to board wipes, thriving in the post-board-wipe battlefields (especially since our creatures can <em>Crew</em> on the same turn they enter play). That being said, this is the point of the game where evasion starts making the most difference.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rise and Shine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tasha&#039;s Hideous Laughter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hall of Storm Giants"></div></div>
<p>The late game isn't as bad as it might seem. Here, our "Plan B" cards work great, allowing us to flip the switch and play a bit more like a conventional mill strategy for anyone we haven't already worn down. Plus, we have a lot of creature lands to go full aggro if all else fails. Our biggest weakness is the lack of good control elements, which can mean that we might get taken out by an unanswered threat that overstays its welcome.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Endless Possibilities</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bident of Thassa"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grand Architect"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Court of Cunning"></div></div>
<p>The deck already has a lot of different packages, so it's hard to keep a streamlined list without sacrificing a bit of versatility. One package that I felt didn't play out that well, but had potential, were the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bident of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Bident of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects that draw cards on combat damage. These cards could be played in a more tempo-oriented shell, but I feel that we'd need be a bit faster than we are right now.</p>
<p>The pilot suite is very flexible too, and there's always plenty of room for changes. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Architect" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Architect</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be a great card for this type of shell, providing solid mana and the anthem effect. Our mill suite can be very easily changed, too! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Court of Cunning" href="#" target="_blank">Court of Cunning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could be great on less aggressive metas, where we could try to maintain <em>Monarch</em> for one or two turns during the game. Mixing mill and combat keeps our enemies on their toes, and this could also be explored further by other Omenkeel voyagers.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think of this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which did you not? Was this <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Cosima Mill

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keruga the Macrosage" href="#" target="_blank">Keruga the Macrosage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://danscottart.format.com/">Dan Scott</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>This week we'll be looking into one very angry Hippo. While it has probably the most controversial keyword ever created, we're using it the good ol' fashioned way. We're talking about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keruga, the Macrosage" href="#" target="_blank">Keruga, the Macrosage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Note: the <em>Companion</em> text below is the errata version, not how the card was originally printed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Keruga, the Macrosage"></div></div>
<p><strong>Companion — Your starting deck contains only cards with converted mana cost 3 or greater and land cards. <em>(If this card is your chosen companion, you may put it into your hand from outside the game for {3} any time you could cast a sorcery.)</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>When Keruga, the Macrosage enters the battlefield, draw a card for each other permanent you control with converted mana cost 3 or greater. </strong></p>
<p><strong>Observation 1:</strong></p>
<p>There are a lot of differences between Keruga as a <em>Companion</em> and as a commander. In this article we'll be looking at Keruga as the latter. To read about Keruga in the <em>Companion</em> zone, here's a link to my <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/collected-company-keruga/"><em>Collected Company</em> article</a>.</span></p>
<p><strong>Observation 2:</strong></p>
<p>Keruga's ability is really strong in the Simic colors: having an explosive draw effect that rewards committing to the board can be quite powerful, and we have enough support to exploit it.</p>
<p><strong>Observation 3:</strong></p>
<p>Unlike its <em>Companion</em> version, Keruga as a commander is not restricted to three-CMC and greater cards, so it can pack normal interaction, such as counterspells and cheap removal, which makes building it as a commander much less risky.</p>
<p><strong>Observation 4:</strong></p>
<p>Keruga has one glaring weakness: it needs to overextend to reap the benefit from the draw. This leads into situations where we can get blown out by board wipes while trying to get more value from Keruga.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Keruga-Sig-2.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-53855" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Keruga-Sig-2-1024x466.png" alt="" width="1024" height="466" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Keruga-Sig-2-1024x466.png 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Keruga-Sig-2-300x136.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Keruga-Sig-2-768x349.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Keruga-Sig-2.png 1361w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></p>
<p>Keruga is a powerful midrange commander; most lists are packing creatures with powerful effects to fuel Keruga's card draw, this is similar to a blink shell, and it can even be adapted to become one. There's something to be said about the risk of using creatures to get value from Keruga, since it's very easy to get blown out by board wipes.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Control Magic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rites of Flourishing"></div></div>
<p>To counteract the need of overextending, we could use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alhammarret&#039;s Archive" href="#" target="_blank">Alhammarret&#039;s Archive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make Keruga's trigger more efficient; however, that means that we need to find and play them before casting our commander. This play pattern can be awkward because these are kill on sight cards, which means that it's very likely that we won't untap with them. But what if I told you that, without having to rely on any specific enablers, there's a way to <em>always</em> get double the value from our cards?</p>
<p>Enter <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Control Magic" href="#" target="_blank">Control Magic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a four-mana enchantment that allows us to steal creatures from our opponents. Which ultimately means that we get double the card draw for each of these effects that we've played!</p>
<p>While our core theme is set, we still need to find a shell to enable this interaction. Group Hug is great for this as it allows us to develop our game plan while flying under the radar. Our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Control Magic" href="#" target="_blank">Control Magic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects can even help this strategy as a whole because we can steal threats from our opponents, if their board state gets too big.</p>
<p>Our game plan is very mana hungry. Because of that, the <em>Hug </em>pieces that we are looking for are mainly ones that provide us said mana, either by ramping or drawing into them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="New Frontiers" href="#" target="_blank">New Frontiers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Collective Voyage" href="#" target="_blank">Collective Voyage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Veteran Explorer" href="#" target="_blank">Veteran Explorer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are explosive pieces that, if played early on, opens up the game right from the start. Since our commander can be a great source of card draw, it isn't our main concern; however, it still helps both at finding our ramp and as a political currency.</p>
<p>Here are some cards that help us along in our plans:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temple bell" href="#" target="_blank">Temple bell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an amazing tool, as we get to choose when we want to activate it, and there's a lot of potentials for deals here</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace Beleren" href="#" target="_blank">Jace Beleren</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has some similarities to Temple Bell, but it trades the instant speed aspect for the potential of selfish activation</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Horn of Greed" href="#" target="_blank">Horn of Greed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes a powerful draw engine that tends to stay on board because it's symmetrical</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ominous Seas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Folio of Fancies"></div></div>
<p>Our game plan isn't so efficient at closing games. After all, beating people with their own creatures can be quite slow, especially when said creatures can disappear after their owner is eliminated from the game. Therefore, we still need some threats of our own. The hardest part, for me at least, in any politics-oriented deck is finding the right win condition; we need them to be effective, but they can't be too effective or else they'll attract aggro and undo all of our hard political work. Mill works perfectly for what we're trying to accomplish; cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage" href="#" target="_blank">Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychic Corrosion" href="#" target="_blank">Psychic Corrosion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be great "concealed" win conditions because, until we start going off, they don't present as themselves as immediate threats for the rest of the table.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Keruga Group Hug" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Keruga, the Macrosage
[/Commander]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Folio of Fancies
*Crystal Shard
*Horn of Greed
*Pendant of Prosperity
*Portal of Sanctuary
*Temple Bell
*Erratic Portal
*Panharmonicon
*Vedalken Orrery
*Alhammarret&#039;s Archive
*Keening Stone
[/Artifact]
[Creature]
*Veteran Explorer
*Farhaven Elf
*Springbloom Druid
*Wood Elves
*Sower of Temptation
*Grothama, All-Devouring
*Tatyova, Benthic Druid
*Consecrated Sphinx
*Rampaging Baloths
*Agent of Treachery
*Avenger of Zendikar
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*Ominous Seas
*Psychic Corrosion
*Rhystic Study
*Rites of Flourishing
*Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage
*Teferi&#039;s Tutelage
*Control Magic
*Leyline of Anticipation
*Vernal Equinox
*Control Magic
*Treachery
*Confiscate
*In Bolas&#039;s Clutches
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Nature&#039;s Claim
*Pongify
*Rapid Hybridization
*Swan Song
*Arcane Denial
*Counterspell
*Cyclonic Rift
*Reality Shift
*Beast Within
*Aetherize
*Sudden Substitution
*Aetherspouts
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Collective Voyage
*Minds Aglow
*New Frontier
*Wildest Dreams
*Farseek
*Nature&#039;s Lore
*Rampant Growth
*Show and Tell
*Tempt with Discovery
*Hour of Promise
*Blatant Thievery
[/Sorcery]
[Planeswalker]
*Jace Beleren
[/Planeswalker]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*Breeding Pool
*Botanical Sanctum
*City of Brass
*Mana Confluence
*Waterlogged Grove
*Hinterland Harbor
*Yavimaya Coast
*Exotic Orchard
*Temple of Mystery
*Alchemist&#039;s Refuge
*Thespian&#039;s Stage
*Dark Depths
*11 Forest
*15 Island
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Our deck is lacking in targets for cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erratic Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Erratic Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; however, when considering that our commander is our main way to recover cards, it's easy to understand how this support suite can be effective. These pieces become especially good in the later portions of the game, when we have enough mana to both draw and play cards on the same turn.</p>
<p>One of the main setbacks when playing Group Hug decks is that we can sometimes accidentally act as a kingmaker. This happens because many of our more explosive effects can only be played on our turn, regardless if the next player is already too far ahead or is unwilling to cooperate. To get around this, we're playing some <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> effects; these cards are great because they give us a new dimension by which to bargain because now we can try to make deals regarding when we play a Hug effect. They also play well into our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Control Magic" href="#" target="_blank">Control Magic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> spells, as stealing a creature at instant speed allows us to have a pseudo-haste effect.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>Our opening hands are very flexible; we're mostly looking to play some ramp and stay on curve. Overall, some easy mulligans are hands that contain too many late-game pieces, such as: expensive threats, mill pieces, and Keruga support. We have an expensive deck, and we won't have the time to cast them all if our opening hand is full of them. The sooner we start playing our Group Hug cards, the sooner we can start making deals (and hopefully steal some important threats); however, if we take too long to ramp it, can slow us down by the mid-game.</p>
<p>By the mid-game, we should be looking for the opportunity to either: play Keruga and draw some cards if we're running out of steam; start making deals with the table, if we drew some of our Hug pieces; or even steal some threats, if we need to break parity or control the board. When looking to make deals, especially when it involves symmetrical effects, we need to carefully consider how it affects each other player, because games tend spiral out of control when we fail to do so. Alternatively, we could try to make a deal with the already established threat, if we think that we can out-scale them in the late game. This allows us to use them to eliminate other players while we develop, waiting for a chance to strike. Needless to say, this might be a bit salt-inducing for the rest of the table, especially if we go on to lose the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Keening Stone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampaging Baloths"></div></div>
<p>Our late-game chances are pretty good, and if we're doing our job right, we have a decent chance of living to see this stage of the game quite comfortably. This gives us the time we need to develop our mana in order to play some of our more expensive threats, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avenger of Zendikar" href="#" target="_blank">Avenger of Zendikar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampaging Baloths" href="#" target="_blank">Rampaging Baloths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; or even go crazy on the mill pieces. It's important to understand when to make the face-heel turn; if we go too soon, we might not have what it takes to finish the game, and if we take too long, we might be too late.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thassa, Deep-Dwelling"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reclamation Sage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Food Chain"></div></div>
<p>Another way to build is investing deeper into creatures with ETB triggers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reclamation Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Reclamation Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wood Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Wood Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and lean heavier in the flicker side. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa, Deep Dwelling" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa, Deep Dwelling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conjurer&#039;s Closet" href="#" target="_blank">Conjurer&#039;s Closet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do some work, but they're just awkwardly slow without a higher number of decent ETB creatures in our deck.</p>
<p>Another change could be substituting some win condition (probably mill, as it's very slot-heavy) to be more combo-oriented. The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Food Chain" href="#" target="_blank">Food Chain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Misthollow Griffin" href="#" target="_blank">Misthollow Griffin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo is game-ending when combined with our commander, as we get to draw our entire library and then use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Laboratory Maniac" href="#" target="_blank">Laboratory Maniac</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to win the game. If considering this approach, we should also include a dedicated tutor suite to help to find our combo pieces.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was this <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Keruga Theft

Archetune-Up - License to Mill

Conditions Allow - Dralnu, Lich Lord

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rooftop Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Rooftop Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://stankoillustration.com/">John Stanko</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I'll guide you through each aspect that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background attention. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus"></div></div>
<p>When talking about Ludevic, it's nearly impossible to avoid his ultimate creation, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus" href="#" target="_blank">Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and because they both have <em>Partner</em>, the deck we build will have both of them as its commanders.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Ludevic of Ulm is a reclusive necro-alchemist that lives in Havengul on the plane of Innistrad. In his necro-alchemical pursuits, he aims for more than simply the creation of Skaabs. Instead, Ludevic aims to understand the horror his creations inspire. Some think that Ludevic's consumption of potions and inhalation of toxic vapors has left him no choice but to abandon his experiments, leaving him to devote his sizable intellect to the problem of making himself and his business partners filthy rich. He has taken Geralf Cecani under his wing, training him in the arts of necro-alchemy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stitcher Geralf"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicName.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42166 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicName.jpg" alt="" width="449" height="90" /></a></p>
<p>A necro-alchemist is a wizard that harnesses the energy of Geists to fuel crazed technological inventions. Effectively, they achieve necromancy through alchemical means. Also known as "skaberen," these wizards hone the craft of creating frankensteinian monstrosities known as Skaabs. Skaabs are blue-aligned Zombies that frequently interact with the graveyard, either through putting cards there from the top of the library, or requiring creatures (corpses) to be exiled from your graveyard. Using up dead bodies to craft a Skaab evokes images of a crazed scientist in a lab coat standing over a piecemeal behemoth abomination, periodically illuminated by blindingly bright arcs of electricity, and we can see through various cards in the game that Ludevic's protégé, Geralf, is following in his mentor's footsteps.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Geralf&#039;s Masterpiece"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicCost.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42163 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicCost.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="83" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Blue: </strong>Intelligence is king; a Wizard must accumulate as much knowledge as possible. Blue is controlled and calculated.</p>
<p><strong>Red: </strong>Impulsive and rash, red is the wild inventor. Exploring an idea only as long as it holds their attention.</p>
<p><strong>Izzet (blue/red): </strong> Leaping from one ill-conceived experiment to another, an Izzet mage is able to spend much time studying, but will abandon fruitless pursuits for more promising experiments. Blue and red embody the mad scientist moving from one obsessive project to the next.</p>
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<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicType.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42168 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicType.jpg" alt="" width="624" height="89" /></a></p>
<p>Ludevic is <em>Magic: the Gathering</em>'s Dr. Frankenstein. Unlike that unfortunate would-be giver of life, however, Ludevic is enthralled by his creation and loves the horror Kraum brings to the denizens of Havengul. Instead of running away from the meat golem, Ludevic studies it.</p>
<p>A simple way to build the deck would be as a Zombie tribal deck. The colors of Ludevic don't line up with the primary color of the Zombie tribe (black), and though Ludevic does create monstrosities, he is truly obsessed with the horror he can inflict. The primary path to victory for this deck is a bit of a cobbled together monstrosity itself. Mill, resource denial, and punisher themes all come together here to form a rather annoying deck that, oddly enough, functions a bit like a Group Hug deck. The card that best showcases this idea is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fevered Visions" href="#" target="_blank">Fevered Visions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fevered Visions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfuric Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Copper Tablet"></div></div>
<p>It functions similarly to <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>, but asks for a bit in return. This is exactly how we want Ludevic to function. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sulfuric Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Sulfuric Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pair with Ludevic to fuel our own Fevered Visions.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicRules.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42167 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicRules.jpg" alt="" width="625" height="286" /></a></p>
<p>Ludevic is a somewhat political commander. Using his ability to point aggression elsewhere is a good way to keep your life total higher than your opponents'. However, I want to trigger this for other people; I want people to have so many cards in their hands that they feel inclined to decline the draw. As mentioned before, using cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sulfuric Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Sulfuric Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will automatically trigger Ludevic on each of your opponents' turns.</p>
<p>With Ludevic filling the hand, we have access to a few extra options to deal continual damage to our opponents that rely upon the number of cards in hand.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Give Em the Clamps" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Clamps!]
Viseling
Black Vise
Ebony Owl Netsuke
Thumbscrews
Iron Maiden
Misers&#039; Cage
[/Clamps!]"></span></div>
<hr />
<h2>Flavor Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicFlavor.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42164 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicFlavor.jpg" alt="" width="582" height="104" /></a></p>
<p>When selecting corpses for experimentation, those with large, healthy brains make the most excellent servants. If he is feeling particularly generous, Ludevic will take those less naturally gifted and give them some lessons. In <em>Magic</em>, a thought in one's mind is represented by a card in hand. With Ludevic's ability, we're hoping to load up everyone's hand with as many cards as possible; let's get those brains nice and fat, ready for the harvest.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brain in a Jar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Folio of Fancies"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forced Fruition"></div></div>
<p>The next step in our gameplan is to limit our opponents' ability to take advantage of their bounty. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Laboratory" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Laboratory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damping Sphere" href="#" target="_blank">Damping Sphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> limit the amount of spells cast each turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Maze" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Maze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Static Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Static Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all inhibit mana production. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forced Fruition" href="#" target="_blank">Forced Fruition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fits in this category as well because our opponent will never be able to empty their hands, which is the main goal of this group of cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Laboratory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Maze"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Static Orb"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicBasics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42239 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicBasics.jpg" alt="" width="530" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>The basic lands I've selected for Ludevic and Kraum are, appropriately, from the plane of Innistrad. The isolated tower on the water is the perfect quiet place to experiment while the small valley hamlet provides Kraum plenty of individuals to terrorize.</p>
<p>The deck has a very slim average converted mana cost, coming in just under three, and it boasts a healthy dose of card draw. These two factors make it run smoothly and consistently. It's fairly defenseless, aside from a few board wipes, so play them sparingly. People will absolutely get annoyed by a lot of the things this deck does, and aggression towards you is to be expected. Ultimately, the deck operates like a less-tuned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, but with loads of flavor.</p>
<p>No card costs over $20, and the deck as a whole sits around $250 if you were to assemble it yourself. The most surprising cost is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which was once on the Reserved List pre-2002.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="IT LIVES!" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commanders]
*1 Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist
*1 Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus
[/Commanders]
[Creatures]
*1 Kami of the Crescent Moon
*1 Ludevic&#039;s Test Subject
*1 Chasm Skulker
*1 Gadwick, the Wizened
*1 Jace&#039;s Archivist
*1 Magus of the Wheel
*1 Dreamborn Muse
*1 Viseling
*1 Psychosis Crawler
*1 Stitcher Geralf
*1 Niv-Mizzet, Parun
*1 The Locust God
*1 Dragon Mage
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Tormod&#039;s Crypt
*1 Black Vise
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Anvil of Bogardan
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Brain in a Jar
*1 Copper Tablet
*1 Damping Sphere
*1 Ebony Owl Netsuke
*1 Folio of Fancies
*1 Howling Mine
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Thumbscrews
*1 Winter Orb
*1 Iron Maiden
*1 Misers&#039; Cage
*1 Static Orb
*1 Temple Bell
*1 Font of Mythos
*1 Skullcage
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Minds Aglow
*1 Preordain
*1 Prosperity
*1 Fascination
*1 Mana Vapors
*1 Skyscribing
*1 Day&#039;s Undoing
*1 Windfall
*1 Wash Out
*1 Reforge the Soul
*1 Echo of Eons
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Vision Skeins
*1 Words of Wisdom
*1 Evacuation
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Mana Maze
*1 Arcane Laboratory
*1 Dictate of Kruphix
*1 Fevered Visions
*1 Psychic Corrosion
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage
*1 Sulfuric Vortex
*1 Manabarbs
*1 Pyrohemia
*1 Dictate of the Twin Gods
*1 Forced Fruition
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Jace Beleren
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fiery Islet
*15 Island
*11 Mountain
*1 Riptide Laboratory
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Spirebluff Canal
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Temple of Epiphany
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>I hope I've fueled your mind for your next experiment. The data on EDHREC relating to <em>Partner</em> commanders is a little hazy, but <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/kraum-ludevics-opus-ludevic-necro-alchemist">Ludevic and Kraum</a> command only 114 decks together. This is likely due to the fact that the main reason to run <em>Partner</em> commanders is to add additional colors. Whatever the reason, the two actually work decently well together; if Ludevic is giving out extra cards, your opponents will have more spells to cast, triggering Kraum. This build capitalizes on the extra card draw in order to find the cards that finally hinder the ability to cast extra spells in a turn rather than to draw cards throughout the entire game.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>
