<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/lasahido" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lius Lasahido</a></em></p>
<p>As mentioned in my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-a-demon-typal-deck-with-ardyn-the-usurper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Demon Typal Deck Tech</a> last week, <em>Final Fantasy</em> is a cool IP that doesn’t speak to me. There are, however, tons of interesting designs, many of which are amazing as IP-agnostic game pieces. The one I’m focusing on today is a timewalking mechanist who reminds me of when I was just learning the game in high school. The school I went to has a mascot named Sidney Raider, after the Spanish hero El Cid. This timeless hero of gallantry, bravery, and sacrifice seems a fitting commander for a deck, so let’s learn how to build around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, Cid reminds me of high school in more than just his name: he works with artifacts and cycling, which were themes of a couple of my early decks! I started playing with <em>Champions of Kamigawa</em>, right after <em>Mirrodin</em> block, which was a terrible time to learn. Damage went on the stack; mana burned if it wasn’t all spent; and broken-in-half artifacts enabled incredibly explosive starts. My first deck that could compete was a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grinding Station" href="#" target="_blank">Grinding Station</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Cheerios combo deck; my second was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Astral Slide" href="#" target="_blank">Astral Slide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ETBs and Morphs. Somehow, someway, Cid manages to bridge my high school experience and my current deckbuilding kick: strange typal decks!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Cid, Timeless Artificer Do?</h2>
<p>Cid is an intriguing card in the 99, and can even take multiple slots, as a deck can have any number of cards named <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It also has cycling, which is another ability better served in the 99. So…why run Cid as a commander? Well, in addition to being an aggressively-costed four-drop, Cid gives artifact creatures and Heroes +1/+1 for each Artificer we control and each Artificer in our graveyard. This pump only happens if we have a copy out, so we can use our commander to take advantage of the waves and waves of Cid’s past lives we cycle away.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Lord Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Prince of Kroog"></div></div>
<p>There are a number of legendary Artificers who could helm an Artificer-themed deck, most of whom involve adding or subtracting a color from our Azorius color identity. Ironically, the closest we can get to a predecessor to the kindly and paternal Cid is one of the incarnations of the curmudgeonly eugenicist, Urza. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Prince of Kroog" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Prince of Kroog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both in the deck, so we could tag them in as the commander if wanted. The Lord Protector reduces the cost of artifacts, instants, and sorceries we cast, although we already do have some cost reducers and we don’t run many instants or sorceries. The Prince of Kroog acts as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tempered Steel" href="#" target="_blank">Tempered Steel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a means of copying artifacts, but Cid already pumps the artifact creatures and we don’t have a glut of mana to pour into the Prince’s ability, so he doesn’t really add anything.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hare Apparent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon&#039;s Approach"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Persistent Petitioners"></div></div>
<p>Trying to place this deck into known archetypes is a bit of a tough ask, as Cid has an ability that breaks a fundamental rule of singleton formats. The more successful cards that can have any number of copies tend to be focal points of their decks: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hare Apparent" href="#" target="_blank">Hare Apparent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon&#039;s Approach" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon&#039;s Approach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persistent Petitioners" href="#" target="_blank">Persistent Petitioners</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slime Against Humanity" href="#" target="_blank">Slime Against Humanity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Cid is a bit more of a role-player and is the first to be able to go into the command zone. While cycling may be a blank on a commander (without committing to the bit), Cids do work together by offering flexibility. They need artifact creatures and/or Heroes to pump, however, so we can’t just pack our deck with a bunch of Cids. While there is probably a more Cid-focused cycling deck or a cheap, evasive artifact-focused aggro deck, our list is a moderate tempo-based version.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Cid, Timeless Artificer</h2>
<p>One of the most important cards in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck is…<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! Why is that? Well, it does the things we need, which is why we have it as a commander and why we’re playing a card where we can have any number of copies. But how many is enough? Is there such a thing as too many? Unlike other cards with similar effects, we don’t need more than 20, nor do we need a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrumming Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Thrumming Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as we’re cycling instead of casting. We also have a version in the command zone, so we’re likely casting it as the primary copy and the rest will be cycled away to dig for the “real” spells. As a result, 15 Cids seems like a fair amount - one for each variant!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|407"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|409"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|414"></div></div>
<p>The other Artificers need to either produce or interact with artifacts, as Cid pumps them and many effects care about them. <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> can draw us cards with our artifacts. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam" href="#" target="_blank">Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combine to give the deck a fairly strong engine: bouncing, re-casting, copying, and recurring artifacts to slowly develop a wide board through synergy. <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 evasive bodies that soak up the Cid boosts like a sponge and can also tap to punch through extra damage in a pinch.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Padeem, Consul of Innovation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mishra&#039;s Bauble"></div></div>
<p>While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn’t usually an important card to go into detail about, the deck is mana-hungry and there are interesting combos and synergies with it. It both provides mana to fuel Drafna’s abilities and is an incredible outlet for them, as making extra Sol Rings is one of the more powerful things one can do. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra&#039;s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are similarly powerful artifacts to juggle around, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ornithopter of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Ornithopter of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can quickly go from a setup mana creature to a game-ending threat!</p>
<h2>How Does This Cid, Timeless Artificer Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>Ideally speaking, our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Timeless Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Timeless Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck wins by powering up incidental bodies using copies of our namesake card. It’s worth noting that Cid cares about all Artificers, not just copies of himself, so we wind up with ways to add almost 40 power and toughness if we can flip our whole deck into play. While that's unlikely, it shows how many Artificers we're running, many of whom make bodies for us to pump.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|419"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|418"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer|fin|417"></div></div>
<p>When a single Thopter can slice off half of your life? Yeah, that’s a powerful aggressive line. When you factor in that that’s not even using our better cards? You better believe this deck has potential. While we’d prefer to win through cycling Cids to stack up boosts on evasive creatures, sometimes we need to rely on the synergies shared between members of the Artificer creature type, using spare copies of Cid to dig to our more powerful cards and to piece together the synergies needed to build inevitability.</p>
<h2>Cid, Timeless Artificer Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Cid, Timeless Artificer Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Cid, Timeless Artificer
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Artificer&#039;s Assistant
*1 Aspiring Aeronaut
*1 Aviation Pioneer
*14 Cid, Timeless Artificer
*1 Digsite Engineer
*1 Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Etherium Spinner
*1 Experimental Aviator
*1 Grand Architect
*1 Hangarback Walker
*1 Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator
*1 Inspired Sphinx
*1 Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*1 Leonardo da Vinci
*1 Lita, Mechanical Engineer
*1 Losheel, Clockwork Scholar
*1 Master Transmuter
*1 Master Trinketeer
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Oltec Matterweaver
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
*1 Renowned Weaponsmith
*1 Riddlesmith
*1 Sai, Master Thopterist
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Sharding Sphinx
*1 Thopter Mechanic
*1 Thought Monitor
*1 Urza, Lord Protector
*1 Urza, Powerstone Prodigy
*1 Urza, Prince of Kroog
*1 Whirler Rogue
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Cloud Key
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mishra&#039;s Bauble
*1 Retrofitter Foundry
*1 Shorikai, Genesis Engine
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Mightstone and Weakstone
*1 Thopter Fabricator
*1 Whirlermaker
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Thopter Spy Network
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*20 Island
*20 Plains
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>There are some powerful cards in our deck, which enable fast starts. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are the more egregious offenders, especially since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be annoying to track. At least, with its synergy with Cids, the Sentinel can get strong enough that most players will just not be able to pay its cost. While we do play some staples, we have ways to make those staples more interesting. And while we do play 15 of the same card, that card has a lot of “play” to it. When do you cast it? When do you cycle it? Do you cast a spare copy or the commander itself? We can even use the spare copies to have access to our commander without paying for tax!</p>
<p>This deck is one for those who enjoy tempo decks with a solid amount of flexibility and problem solving. It’s easy to play but tough to master, as every card has decision-making trees. If you enjoy Kaijudo/Duel Masters, you’ll love the decision trees that come with each copy of Cid, as those games are largely defined by the choices of how you want to play each individual card.</p>
<p>How would you build a Cid deck? And how many Cids is too many? Let us know in the comments.</p>


Building an Artificer Typal Deck with Cid, Timeless Artificer

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fallen Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fallen Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CIttoku%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ittoku</a></em></p>
<p>Hello! Welcome back to <em>Archetypes of Imagination</em>, the series where we build decks based on popular Commander archetypes. I'll be using Scryfall's tagging system and EDHREC's Tag pages to build around a new theme each week. Scryfall has a really cool way of categorizing cards, where each card has specific labels attached to it for later reference. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drakuseth, Maw of Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Drakuseth, Maw of Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the burn tag and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scavenger Grounds" href="#" target="_blank">Scavenger Grounds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the graveyard hate tag. EDHREC's tag system is really cool too, letting users see popular cards associated with a given strategy.</p>
<p>This week we'll be building a deck focused on “flinging” creatures: sacrificing them to deal damage equal to their power to any target. To maximize the value of these <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, we're going to need some pretty big creatures to throw around. There's lots of ways to make big creatures in <em>Magic</em>, but I'd like to focus on a card from the most exciting upcoming set: <em>Final Fantasy</em>! This set has some super powerful cards, but one of them caught my eye for this week's article. So, this deck will be helmed by… <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fallen Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fallen Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fallen Hero"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fling"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Sephiroth, Fallen Hero Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fallen Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is super strong, turning each of our modified creatures (creatures that are equipped, enchanted, or have counters on them) into big, bulky 7/5s every time he attacks. And, on top of that, it's easy to avoid paying extra to recast Sephiroth because he can return himself to the battlefield if we sacrifice a modified creature. But we need a little more direction than just modified creatures. We'll be focusing on pumping up our creatures with +1/+1 counters, and then taking advantage of their Sephiroth-boosted power to quickly reduce our opponents' life totals to 0. Let's get brewing!</p>
<h2>Key Fling Strategy Cards For Sephiroth, Fallen Hero</h2>
<p>This deck is focused on dealing direct damage to our opponents based on our creatures' power. Let's talk about the best ones. One of my personal favorites is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brion Stoutarm" href="#" target="_blank">Brion Stoutarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This big guy can take our 7/5s and sacrifice them for both direct damage and life gain. Plus, this is a repeatable effect, meaning we can cause a 14 point life swing on each table rotation. Similarly, I'm a big fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burning Anger" href="#" target="_blank">Burning Anger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Although this isn't a traditional fling effect, it lets our biggest creatures hit our opponents over and over again. Plus, the classics like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kazuul&#039;s Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Kazuul&#039;s Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thud" href="#" target="_blank">Thud</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all here. Although they're not necessarily as flashy as some of the other cards I've talked about, they're important role players in this deck's 99.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brion Stoutarm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burning Anger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kazuul&#039;s Fury"></div></div>
<p>We want to get extra value when we fling a creature. There are a few creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cacophony Scamp" href="#" target="_blank">Cacophony Scamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fireblade Charger" href="#" target="_blank">Fireblade Charger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartfire Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Heartfire Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, that can deal additional damage to our opponents when they die, making them ideal targets for our effects that require a creature sacrifice. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elenda&#039;s Hierophant" href="#" target="_blank">Elenda&#039;s Hierophant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be a big, evasive attacker once we modify it, and will explode into a bunch of valuable tokens when it dies. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gleeful Arsonist" href="#" target="_blank">Gleeful Arsonist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the ability to come back to life with a counter on it and start dealing extra damage to our opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heartfire Hero"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elenda&#039;s Hierophant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gleeful Arsonist"></div></div>
<p>But we won't be sacrificing <em>all</em> of our creatures; we'd like to attack with our 7/5s too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paladin Elizabeth Taggerdy" href="#" target="_blank">Paladin Elizabeth Taggerdy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ryan Sinclair" href="#" target="_blank">Ryan Sinclair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can both let us cheat the mana cost of our spells once their powers are big enough, and our commander makes that a trivial requirement. Similarly, <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> can flood the board with Goblins quite quickly and has the ability to grow larger as the game goes on.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Paladin Elizabeth Taggerdy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ryan Sinclair"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin"></div></div>
<h2>Ways to Modify Our Creatures</h2>
<p>In order to make a Sephiroth deck work, we'll need some extra ways to modify our creatures. One of my favorites is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mikaeus, the Lunarch" href="#" target="_blank">Mikaeus, the Lunarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This Cleric enters the battlefield as a modified creature, and can tap to let us add +1/+1 counters to every creature we control. This is not only a super powerful buff, but synergizes perfectly with our commander's base power/toughness buff. I've also included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felidar Retreat" href="#" target="_blank">Felidar Retreat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathars&#039; Crusade" href="#" target="_blank">Cathars&#039; Crusade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for team-wide +1/+1 counter distribution. These cards are super strong in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>-based creature decks, and they're a perfect fit here.</p>
<p>Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Uncivil Unrest" href="#" target="_blank">Uncivil Unrest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fantastic way to close out games. Because we've got so many ways to distribute +1/+1 counters among our creatures, this is essentially a damage doubler that can give our creatures haste if needed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mikaeus, the Lunarch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathars&#039; Crusade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Uncivil Unrest"></div></div>
<p>We'll also need a few ways to protect our board state, given how heavy we're leaning into having big creatures on hand at all times. One of my favorite new cards fits perfectly here: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Duty Beyond Death" href="#" target="_blank">Duty Beyond Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We'll usually have at least one creature on board that we don't mind sacrificing, and this protection spell will also add some bonus +1/+1 counters to our creatures.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Duty Beyond Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bulwark Ox"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zack Fair"></div></div>
<p>Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bulwark Ox" href="#" target="_blank">Bulwark Ox</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zack Fair" href="#" target="_blank">Zack Fair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can add some counters to our creatures and protect them from our opponents' pesky removal spells. There's been a lot of cool board state protection tools printed recently, and I'd rather run these than the obviously-powerful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a lower-bracket deck like this.</p>
<h2>Sephiroth, Fallen Hero Fling Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>Here's the full decklist:<br />
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Archetypes of Imagination - Building a Fling Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sephiroth, Fallen Hero
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Duty Beyond Death
*1 Fling
*1 Get Lost
*1 Kazuul&#039;s Fury // Kazuul&#039;s Cliffs
*1 Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Soul&#039;s Fire
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Take Up the Shield
*1 Untimely Malfunction
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Chandra&#039;s Ignition
*1 Damning Verdict
*1 Requisition Raid
*1 Thud
*1 Zenith Festival
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon
*1 Auron, Venerated Guardian
*1 Balduvian Berserker
*1 Blade Historian
*1 Bloodshot Cyclops
*1 Brion Stoutarm
*1 Bulwark Ox
*1 Cacophony Scamp
*1 Captain Ripley Vance
*1 Chocobo Knights
*1 Dragonhawk, Fate&#039;s Tempest
*1 Elenda&#039;s Hierophant
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Fireblade Charger
*1 Flaming Tyrannosaurus
*1 Gleeful Arsonist
*1 Guardian Scalelord
*1 Heart-Piercer Manticore
*1 Heartfire Hero
*1 Inti, Seneschal of the Sun
*1 Jacked Rabbit
*1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
*1 Loran of the Third Path
*1 Loyal Warhound
*1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Paladin Elizabeth Taggerdy
*1 Ryan Sinclair
*1 Spikeshot Goblin
*1 Stalking Vengeance
*1 Surtland Flinger
*1 Urdnan, Dromoka Warrior
*1 Voldaren Thrillseeker
*1 Winota, Joiner of Forces
*1 Zack Fair
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Burning Anger
*1 Cathars&#039; Crusade
*1 Felidar Retreat
*1 Spiteful Banditry
*1 Uncivil Unrest
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Archangel Elspeth
*1 Elspeth Resplendent
[/Planeswalkers]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bitterthorn, Nissa&#039;s Animus
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Infantry Shield
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Diamond City
*10 Mountain
*1 Nesting Grounds
*11 Plains
*1 Restless Bivouac
*1 Rugged Prairie
*1 Slayers&#039; Stronghold
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sunbillow Verge
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunscorched Divide
[/Lands]"></span></div></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The End" href="#" target="_blank">The End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>I hope you enjoyed this <em>Final Fantasy-</em>themed edition of <em>Archetypes of Imagination</em>. Before you go, I wanted to talk about this deck's board wipe package. I intentionally picked three wipes that work very well with the board states we plan to construct. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damning Verdict" href="#" target="_blank">Damning Verdict</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is pretty close to being a one-sided wipe for just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and that's hard to pass up. Similarly, if we cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spiteful Banditry" href="#" target="_blank">Spiteful Banditry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for X=4 after combat, we've got a good chance of hitting all of our opponents' creatures while sparing ours. And, finally, as one final fling effect, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra&#039;s Ignition" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra&#039;s Ignition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can both wipe the board and hit our opponents for some big damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Damning Verdict"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spiteful Banditry"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chandra&#039;s Ignition"></div></div>
<p>Thanks once again for reading. I'll see you all next week, for another edition of <em>Archetypes of Imagination</em>: a group slug deck!</p>


How to Make a Fling Deck, With Sephiroth, Fallen Hero

Top 10 Stax Effects for a G'raha Tia cEDH Deck

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serah Farron" href="#" target="_blank">Serah Farron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By: <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CCarissa+Susilo%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carissa Susilo</a></em></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serah Farron" href="#" target="_blank">Serah Farron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> 2/2 Human Citizen, is a very unassuming card. Normally, this would be just another creature tossed to the bulk box, never to be seen again. But this is <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> in the year 2025, so let's see what kind of deck we can make with her.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Serah Farron"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Serah Farron Do?</h2>
<p>The main focus of this card is making the first legendary creature we cast each turn cost <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> less, which is strong ramp to have on a commander. We can flip Serah into Crystallized Serah by controlling two other legends at the beginning of our combats. As a legendary artifact, it still reduces costs but comes with a +2/+2 bonus for our legendary creatures.</p>
<p>So, what is this deck looking to do? Play legends, play some more legends, and win the game. That's the strategy, and it does this reasonably well. This deck runs 36 creatures, and 34 of them just so happen to be legendary. We hope to cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serah Farron" href="#" target="_blank">Serah Farron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on turn three, and if everything goes right, the card should be flipping over by turn five, with us turning some creatures sideways.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Serah Farron</h2>
<p>The deck's first card to be discussed is a very special <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> mana value rock.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Relic of Legends"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relic of Legends" href="#" target="_blank">Relic of Legends</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is possibly the single best card in the entire deck, and that's not hyperbole. Selesnya is not often a color combination that needs to run mana rocks, as having access to green gives land ramp options. But this deck just so happens to come packed with 34 creatures that can be used as a makeshift mana rock. If Relic hits the battlefield, we should be able to combine it with the cost reduction of our commander to turbo out many creatures to the battlefield.</p>
<p>Some legends are better than others, for sure. Compare <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite" href="#" target="_blank">Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to a new card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte" href="#" target="_blank">Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and some discrepancies do appear. Both cards are good, but like many creatures in the deck, it will depend on what's happening across the table from you. So, here are some of my favorites.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trostani Discordant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sergeant John Benton"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful" href="#" target="_blank">Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best boy on the battlefield. It gets so incredibly big so fast in this deck and is one of the best creatures to help flip our commander.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trostani Discordant" href="#" target="_blank">Trostani Discordant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has earned a special place in my heart for the number of times my opponents have forgotten that I get my creatures back if they're stolen. The +1/+1 and the lifelinking tokens are also a pretty sweet treat. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sergeant John Benton" href="#" target="_blank">Sergeant John Benton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a creature that will have your opponents taking damage, but not realizing that they should have blocked instead.</p>
<p>As an honorable mention, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reki, the History of Kamigawa" href="#" target="_blank">Reki, the History of Kamigawa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> finds a place as one of the most insane card draw options a deck has ever seen.</p>
<h2>Legends Matter</h2>
<p>Outside of the creatures, we have other cards that care about how many legends we're running.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kamahl&#039;s Druidic Vow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Ruinous Blast"></div></div>
<p>These are twists on classic cards <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genesis Wave" href="#" target="_blank">Genesis Wave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planar Cleansing" href="#" target="_blank">Planar Cleansing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> but with the caveat of needing a legendary creature planeswalker out to cast them.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Konda&#039;s Banner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heroes&#039; Podium"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Konda&#039;s Banner" href="#" target="_blank">Konda&#039;s Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make our creatures even bigger thanks to being a two-color deck with plenty of creatures that share a color. And in this deck, we should never have to worry about not having a legend to equip. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroes&#039; Podium" href="#" target="_blank">Heroes&#039; Podium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide at most a +33/+33 boost, it can also find us more legends if we have extra mana and nothing to do with it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flowering of the White Tree"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ring Goes South"></div></div>
<p>While ward <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> doesn't look like much, it will add up when paired up with some other cards in the deck. So <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flowering of the White Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Flowering of the White Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will become the must-kill card on the table for our opponents.</p>
<p>Lastly is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ring Goes South" href="#" target="_blank">The Ring Goes South</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Read this one carefully because it gets any land, not just basics. In an average scenario, this card is just as good as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Open the Way" href="#" target="_blank">Open the Way</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and in other cases it can be the best ramp spell ever printed. Sure, the lands might come in tapped, but that often won't matter when you get 10-15 lands onto the battlefield for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<h2>How Does This Serah Farron Deck Win?</h2>
<p>This deck wins by turning big creatures sideways and reducing our opponent's life totals to zero. Our creatures should be larger than our opponents and a bit "stickier" since they're legends with significant effects. The goal is to cast creatures constantly and gain value off cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian Project" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian Project</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Day of Destiny" href="#" target="_blank">Day of Destiny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Great Henge" href="#" target="_blank">The Great Henge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>While the deck includes nothing that qualifies as a "Plan B," we won't often need one. We also have a subtle Stax theme to the deck with creatures like:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thalia, Heretic Cathar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yasharn, Implacable Earth"></div></div>
<p>Flying under the radar with a simple plan and then slamming the door in our opponents' faces is genuinely the name of the game with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serah Farron" href="#" target="_blank">Serah Farron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I do wish that this card could do a little bit more. Maybe if there were a way to prevent the legend rule from being applied, we could try to find copy synergies? Or if the card has a different effect on the backside to get some extra value from flipping it over?</p>
<p>That's not to say that this deck won't be fun; it might not be my cup of tea, but not everything is. If you like playing Selesnya or turning big creatures sideways, you would probably sleeve up this deck for a Commander night. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serah Farron" href="#" target="_blank">Serah Farron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes from a Universes Beyond product, you might also want to play this deck if you're a fan of <em>Final Fantasy XIII.</em></span></p>
<p>Serah will probably be found in the 99 of far more decks than in the command zone, but there's something clean and straightforward about a commander whose purpose is to help you cast creatures, make them bigger, and then win the game.</p>
<h2>Serah Farron Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tech The Deck - Serah Farron GW Legends" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Serah Farron // Crystallized Serah
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Boromir, Warden of the Tower
*1 Bruna, the Fading Light
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Dragonlord Dromoka
*1 Eladamri, Korvecdal
*1 Elena, Turk Recruit
*1 Elesh Norn // The Argent Etchings
*1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
*1 Gilded Goose
*1 Gisela, the Broken Blade
*1 God-Eternal Oketra
*1 Gwenna, Eyes of Gaea
*1 Karametra, God of Harvests
*1 Kogla, the Titan Ape
*1 Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar
*1 Legolas Greenleaf
*1 Loran of the Third Path
*1 Maester Seymour
*1 Mangara, the Diplomat
*1 Myrel, Shield of Argive
*1 Reidane, God of the Worthy // Valkmira, Protector&#039;s Shield
*1 Reki, the History of Kamigawa
*1 Samwise Gamgee
*1 Selvala, Explorer Returned
*1 Sergeant John Benton
*1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
*1 Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte
*1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
*1 Sovereign Okinec Ahau
*1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
*1 Torsten, Founder of Benalia
*1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets
*1 Trostani Discordant
*1 Wakka, Devoted Guardian
*1 Yasharn, Implacable Earth
*1 Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Beast Within
*1 Eladamri&#039;s Call
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Worldly Tutor
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Heroes&#039; Podium
*1 Konda&#039;s Banner
*1 Mox Amber
*1 Patriar&#039;s Seal
*1 Relic of Legends
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Great Henge
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary
*1 Kamahl&#039;s Druidic Vow
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 The Ring Goes South
*1 Three Visits
*1 Time of Need
*1 Urza&#039;s Ruinous Blast
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Day of Destiny
*1 Elven Chorus
*1 Flowering of the White Tree
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Mirari&#039;s Wake
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Branchloft Pathway // Boulderloft Pathway
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Eiganjo Castle
*1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
*1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
*1 Fabled Passage
*6 Forest
*1 Homeward Path
*1 Lush Portico
*1 Minas Tirith
*1 Mosswort Bridge
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*7 Plains
*1 Plaza of Heroes
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Windswept Heath
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Fin</h2>
<p>While I may not have ever Finaled a Fantasy, that doesn't mean I won't be consuming content for this upcoming release. What's your favorite legend printed in this set? What character did you want them to add who didn't make the cut? Let me know.</p>
<p>Make sure to check out all the other content related to all the <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin">cards from <em>Final Fantasy</em></a> at EDHREC. I have and always will be nicnax96, and thank you for joining me and this last saved checkpoint for another <em>Tech the Deck</em>.</p>


Building a Selesnya Legends Deck With Serah Farron

Ranking the Five Crystals of Magic's Final Fantasy Set

Final Fantasy Deck Tech: Terra, Magical Adept

Scions &#038; Spellcraft Precon Guide - Final Fantasy

Vivi Ornitier Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gau, Feral Youth" href="#" target="_blank">Gau, Feral Youth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CEgl%C4%97+Mosakait%C4%97%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eglė Mosakaitė</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome to our deck tech featuring one of <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>'s most unique characters. Gau grew up in the Veldt, an area teeming with dangerous monsters, where he was left there by his father. Despite this unceremonious parting, Gau grew up and learned to fend for himself. Despite being largely detached from society and the nearby town of Mobliz, Gau becomes an unlikely ally of The Returners. In the upcoming <em>Magic</em> <em>Final Fantasy</em> set, Gau has his own card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gau, Feral Youth" href="#" target="_blank">Gau, Feral Youth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and in this article we're exploring a way to build Gau into a recursion machine.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gau, Feral Youth"></div></div></p>
<h2><strong>What Does Gau, Feral Youth Do?</strong></h2>
<p>Gau is a 2/2 Human Berserker that costs <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to cast. He has two abilities that work in tandem to produce a unique effect in red. The first is a triggered ability that reads, "Whenever Gau attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it." This ability is not unique, with dozens of other cards having the same or similar abilities. The second ability, however, is unique for a red card, reading "At the beginning of each end step, if a card left your graveyard this turn, Gau deals damage equal to its power to each opponent." Effects that care about cards leaving the graveyard exist in <em>Magic</em>, but mainly in black.</p>
<p>The strategy of this deck centers around triggering Gau's second ability as much as possible using artifact recursion, taking advantage of the fact that Gau can trigger every end step, not just <em>your</em> end step, for maximum damage.</p>
<p>The deck has three distinct components to facilitate this objective. The first is recurring artifacts, either to your hand or to the battlefield, satisfying the condition for Gau to trigger at the end step. The second is to allow Gau to attack while staying protected, to get the boost from its first ability and to perhaps deal some extra damage. The third is to boost Gau's power so when he does trigger, it will pack a bigger punch. In the way we're using Gau for this deck, there are several red commanders that have decks built in similar fashions. Examples include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slobad, Iron Goblin" href="#" target="_blank">Slobad, Iron Goblin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>Gau's Shiny Treasures</h2>
<p>The core pieces of this deck involve causing cards to leave your graveyard as often as possible. This deck mainly uses artifact recursion pieces to accomplish this, and red and colorless have many options for this purpose. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Welder" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Welder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrap Trawler" href="#" target="_blank">Scrap Trawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are pivotal to this objective, and can be triggered or activated at instant speed so Gau will trigger during an opponent's turn. The deck also uses many utility artifacts like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ichor Wellspring" href="#" target="_blank">Ichor Wellspring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prized Statue" href="#" target="_blank">Prized Statue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to get extra advantage from the constant cycle of artifacts leaving and entering the battlefield. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slobad, Iron Goblin" href="#" target="_blank">Slobad, Iron Goblin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krark-Clan Ironworks" href="#" target="_blank">Krark-Clan Ironworks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> serve as sacrifice outlets, allowing cards like Scrap Trawler to then trigger with ease.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Welder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slobad, Iron Goblin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ichor Wellspring"></div></div></p>
<p>While the main purpose of the deck centers around recurring artifacts, several other effects are also included that can help Gau trigger. The deck contains several cards with flashback, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faithless Looting" href="#" target="_blank">Faithless Looting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isengard Unleashed" href="#" target="_blank">Isengard Unleashed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as casting them for their flashback costs will cause them to leave the graveyard. Some other notable ways to trigger Gau include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elixir of Immortality" href="#" target="_blank">Elixir of Immortality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrap Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Scrap Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, among many others.</p>
<p>This deck also includes cards with the sole purpose of helping Gau deal more damage when it does trigger. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nettlecyst" href="#" target="_blank">Nettlecyst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> work extremely well in this deck, boosting Gau's power by a large amount due to the number of artifacts the deck contains. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another very useful buff piece that should be fairly cheap to cast. While these cards boost Gau's power directly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="City on Fire" href="#" target="_blank">City on Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other cards simply amplify the damage dealt by Gau, causing a similar effect overall.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nettlecyst"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Excalibur, Sword of Eden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrap Mastery"></div></div></p>
<p>Several cards are also included to protect Gau when it attacks, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Regalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whispersilk Cloak" href="#" target="_blank">Whispersilk Cloak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, with Gau only costing <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, he won't be outlandishly expensive to recast even if he's wiped off the board a couple times. Many of the buff effects (like the Equipment mentioned earlier) are also not very expensive to reattach to Gau, so him being wiped off the board is nowhere near game-ending. While keeping Gau around is best to stack counters from attacking, the deck can still function fine with just using external buffs.</p>
<h2>How Will Gau End the Game?</h2>
<p>The main way Gau plans to end the game is by damage dealt with its second ability. Over the course of the game, Gau should be able to be buffed and fling a considerable amount of damage at opponents. Even if he isn't heavily buffed, dealing damage during each end step can quickly add up to a devastating amount if left unchecked. The deck does contain a few pieces of redundancy that can also fling damage, and possibly end the game on their own. This includes cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fuming Effigy" href="#" target="_blank">Fuming Effigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckless Fireweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Reckless Fireweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can supplement Gau's damage or continue to deal damage if Gau happens to leave the battlefield.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fuming Effigy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckless Fireweaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ingenious Artillerist"></div></div></p>
<p>This deck does contain some other possible win conditions. One such condition is combat damage, as we're constantly attacking (hopefully) with Gau and maybe other creatures, which can be amplified by the damage increasers and possibly end a game. This method, of course, isn't the primary focus or an overly reliable plan, but it could work in a pinch.</p>
<p>The deck also contains several combos that, when paired with some payoffs, can end the game on the spot. According to <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/find-my-combos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander Spellbook's Find My Combos</a> feature, this deck contains eight infinite combos. These combos can largely trigger Reckless Fireweaver or similar cards repeatedly, leading to infinite damage and thus ending the game. Let's work through one of the simplest combos in the deck:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirrorworks"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Retriever"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krark-Clan Ironworks"></div></div></p>
<p>To perform this combo, cast Myr Retriever for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. When it enters, Mirrorworks and Reckless Fireweaver trigger, dealing one damage to each opponent and triggering you to pay <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to copy Myr Retriever. You can then sacrifice the nontoken Myr Retriever to Krark-Clan Ironwroks for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-c" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-c" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. Myr Retriever will trigger, allowing you to return another artifact card from your graveyard to your hand. Then, repeat the same process with the token Myr Retriever, instead returning the nontoken Myr Retriever to your hand. From here, repeat the combo infinitely until the game ends from Reckless Fireweaver's damage. Below are a few other possible combos in this deck, thanks to help from <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander Spellbook</a>.</p>
<div id="1020-1117-2866-4659-5034" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="1020-1117-2866-4659-5034" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Scrap%20Trawler%22%2C%22Myr%20Retriever%22%2C%22Krark-Clan%20Ironworks%22%2C%22Sol%20Ring%22%2C%22Junk%20Diver%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20blinking%20of%20artifacts%20you%20control%20with%20a%20mana%20value%20of%200%22%2C%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20storm%20count%22%5D&id=1020-1117-2866-4659-5034&color=C&extraRequirementCount=0"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe></p>
<div id="1020-2866-4659-5346" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="1020-2866-4659-5346" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Crime%20Novelist%22%2C%22Krark-Clan%20Ironworks%22%2C%22Myr%20Retriever%22%2C%22Scrap%20Trawler%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20storm%20count%22%2C%22Infinite%20%2B1%2F%2B1%20counters%20on%20Crime%20Novelist%22%2C%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20red%20mana%22%5D&id=1020-2866-4659-5346&color=R&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe></p>
<div id="1721-3210-4659" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="1721-3210-4659" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Scrap%20Mastery%22%2C%22Codex%20Shredder%22%2C%22Krark-Clan%20Ironworks%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20magecraft%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20mana%20artifacts%20you%20control%20can%20produce%22%2C%22Infinite%20storm%20count%22%5D&id=1721-3210-4659&color=R&extraRequirementCount=2"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe></p>
<p>With that out of the way, let's get to the fun part: the deck.</p>
<h2>Gau, Feral Youth's Artifact Déjà Vu - Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gau&#039;s Artifact Déjà Vu" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gau, Feral Youth
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Adaptive Omnitool
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Codex Shredder
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Dowsing Device // Geode Grotto
*1 Elixir of Immortality
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Genesis Chamber
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mimic Vat
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirrorworks
*1 Mycosynth Wellspring
*1 Mystic Forge
*1 Nettlecyst
*1 Perpetual Timepiece
*1 Prized Statue
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Throne of Eldraine
*1 Unlicensed Hearse
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Deflecting Swat
*1 Demand Answers
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Isengard Unleashed
*1 Reckless Handling
*1 Scrap Mastery
*1 Trash for Treasure
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 City on Fire
*1 Fiery Emancipation
*1 Pia&#039;s Revolution
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Crime Novelist
*1 Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer
*1 Feldon of the Third Path
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Fuming Effigy
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Goblin Welder
*1 Gogo, Mysterious Mime
*1 Ingenious Artillerist
*1 Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*1 Junk Diver
*1 Metalwork Colossus
*1 Myr Battlesphere
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Reckless Fireweaver
*1 Ruin Grinder
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Scrap Welder
*1 Slobad, Iron Goblin
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Tersa Lightshatter
*1 Toggo, Goblin Weaponsmith
*1 Workshop Assistant
*1 Yidaro, Wandering Monster
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Command Tower
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Great Furnace
*27 Mountain
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This deck is a fun way to explore a unique card while having a legitimate chance of winning a few games. It fits well into Bracket 3 - being reasonably strong while not being excruciating to play against. It's probably not going to fare well against ultra-polished Bracket 4/5 decks, but it fits well for the average casual player who wants to play something unique and different. It is worth noting that Gau is not the optimal recursion commander - cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormod, the Desecrator" href="#" target="_blank">Tormod, the Desecrator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have far more options and are generally more useful.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, Commander is about having fun, especially in a casual environment. Gau allows you to have fun while pioneering a reasonably strong deck. However, if you're looking for an extremely strong or polished commander, especially for cEDH, I would recommend checking out Tormod or other options instead. Perhaps, if Gau was in Rakdos, you could make it a lot stronger and accomplish this, but it doesn't seem to be possible with it in mono-red.</p>


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