<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Noctis, Heir Apparent" href="#" target="_blank">Noctis, Heir Apparent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.winonanelson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Winona Nelson</a></em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Hi there, and welcome to another deck tech highlighting a brand-new commander. Just like in previous articles, we're here to...</p>
<ul>
<li>Highlight interesting game plan(s) for a new commander</li>
<li>Build a budget-friendly (~$40) "Core" power level deck following these plans</li>
<li>Work through important card categories and discuss notable inclusions</li>
<li>Include a decklist and a deck checklist</li>
<li>Go through mid-budget upgrades (&lt;$20 per card) as options to invest more into this strategy.</li>
</ul>
<p>For this week, let's take a look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Noctis, Heir Apparent" href="#" target="_blank">Noctis, Heir Apparent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I'm excited about Noctis for many reasons, but the biggest ist that I <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-a-barret-avalanche-leader-commander-deck" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brewed around</a> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barret, Avalanche Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Barret, Avalanche Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> when it was first spoiled several months ago and it will be interesting to see how an "Equipment attaching for free" commander in the exact opposite colors will shake out.</p>
<p>If you're inspired by this type of strategy, maybe you could even make <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> vs. <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> Equipment-matters duel decks.</p>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Noctis, Heir Apparent" href="#" target="_blank">Noctis, Heir Apparent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Noctis, Heir Apparent"></div></div>
<p>But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's figure out what this commander is all about!</p>
<p>First, Noctis cares about creatures entering during combat. How do creatures enter in the middle of a turn? Great question! We'll discuss this in more detail later on.</p>
<p>Second, Noctis cares about Equipment. If we can fulfill the requirement of causing a creature to enter during combat, we can attach swords, hammers, and all sorts of other weapons to our creatures for free. The more creatures enter, the more free equips we can get!</p>
<p>Third, this commander can protect itself. If we leave up <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, we can save Noctis from removal at will, whether it's facing something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Finally, this commander combos with itself. If we send Noctis on a journey into exile, he will come back during our declare attackers step, triggering his own ability. As an added bonus, he comes back unblockable when this happens.</p>
<h2>Creatures Entering During Combat</h2>
<p>How can we make sure creatures enter during combat? As a reminder, the combat phase has five steps:</p>
<ul>
<li>Beginning of Combat</li>
<li>Declare Attackers</li>
<li>Declare Blockers</li>
<li>Combat Damage</li>
<li>End of Combat</li>
</ul>
<p>We can't normally cast creatures during this phase, so how can we maximize our commander's ability?</p>
<h3>Declare Attackers – Creating Tokens With Activated and Triggered Abilities</h3>
<p>With Noctis on the battlefield, cards that create tokens when they attack (like old-school <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Geist of Saint Traft" href="#" target="_blank">Geist of Saint Traft</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or new-school <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dalkovan Packbeasts" href="#" target="_blank">Dalkovan Packbeasts</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) gain some added utility. This will also work if Noctis was in exile and just entered at the beginning of our declare attackers step.</p>
<h3>Declare Blockers – Ninjutsu</h3>
<p>Looking at the EDHREC page for Noctis, it's immediately apparent that ninjutsu is a great fit for this commander. Unlike <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Geist of Saint Traft" href="#" target="_blank">Geist of Saint Traft</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or creatures with mobilize, ninjutsu has the added bonus of attaching equipment <em>after </em>blocks have been declared.</p>
<p>Ninjutsu is a little weird and has all sorts of interesting interactions, so check out <a href="https://cardgamebase.com/mtg-ninjutsu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this article</a> to learn more! Also, stay tuned for an upcoming ability called sneak, which is very similar to ninjutsu and will debut in <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/new-york-comic-con-2025-magic-the-gathering-panel-recap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</a></em>.</p>
<h3>Anytime – Instants That Create Tokens/Creatures With Flash</h3>
<p>It's easy to miss at first glance, but Noctis actually works on defense too! This is where creatures with flash and instant-speed ways to create tokens – both largely absent in decks that that have been brewed so far – come in.</p>
<p>Many cards that can cause creatures to enter at instant speed already have great synergy with power-boosting Equipment (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drake Hatcher" href="#" target="_blank">Drake Hatcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Meek" href="#" target="_blank">a very specific Equipment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thopter Foundry" href="#" target="_blank">Thopter Foundry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), or Equipment in general (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kemba, Kha Enduring" href="#" target="_blank">Kemba, Kha Enduring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<p>Flash creatures are great, because they can be used on offense after blockers are declared or on defense as a hidden blocker that comes with a Equipment attached for free. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whitemane Lion" href="#" target="_blank">Whitemane Lion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wydwen, the Biting Gale" href="#" target="_blank">Wydwen, the Biting Gale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are reusable, leading to a lot of versatility and free equips at will.</p>
<p>Overall, we'll want to leave up extra mana to protect Noctis with its own ability, so flash threats make a lot of sense.</p>
<h2>The Equipment</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vorpal Sword"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adaptive Omnitool"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dowsing Dagger"></div></div>
<p>Just like with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barret, Avalanche Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Barret, Avalanche Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck we brewed, low-mana value, high-equip cost Equipment are what this strategy is all about.</p>
<p>We're sticking to some old favorites, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossus Hammer" href="#" target="_blank">Colossus Hammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blackblade Reforged" href="#" target="_blank">Blackblade Reforged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and adding new, color-specific tools like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Key to the Vault" href="#" target="_blank">The Key to the Vault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Machinist&#039;s Arsenal" href="#" target="_blank">Machinist&#039;s Arsenal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that go particularly well with an unblockable commander.</p>
<div>
<h2>Noctis, Heir Apparent Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Noctis, Heir Apparent" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Noctis, Heir Apparent
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
*1 Cathar Commando
*1 Chromium, the Mutable
*1 Covert Technician
*1 Dalek Squadron
*1 Dalkovan Packbeasts
*1 Drake Hatcher
*1 Ertai Resurrected
*1 Geist of Saint Traft
*1 Genku, Future Shaper
*1 Grave Titan
*1 Hydroelectric Specimen // Hydroelectric Laboratory
*1 Jacked Rabbit
*1 Kemba, Kha Enduring
*1 Kutzil&#039;s Flanker
*1 Lion Sash
*1 Meloku the Clouded Mirror
*1 Niambi, Esteemed Speaker
*1 Nymris, Oona&#039;s Trickster
*1 Prosperous Thief
*1 Reservoir Kraken
*1 Resolute Reinforcements
*1 Restoration Angel
*1 Shadrix Silverquill
*1 Threefold Thunderhulk
*1 Weeping Angel
*1 Whitemane Lion
*1 Wydwen, the Biting Gale
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Grip of Phyresis
*1 Intrude on the Mind
*1 Resculpt
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Waterlogged Teachings // Inundated Archive
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Open the Armory
*1 Suppression Ray // Orderly Plaza
*1 Supreme Verdict
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Adaptive Omnitool
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Captain&#039;s Claws
*1 Colossus Hammer
*1 Cranial Plating
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Dowsing Dagger // Lost Vale
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Machinist&#039;s Arsenal
*1 Ogre&#039;s Cleaver
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Retrofitter Foundry
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of the Meek
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 The Key to the Vault
*1 Thopter Foundry
*1 Vorpal Sword
*1 Wrecking Ball Arm
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Glasswing Grace // Age-Graced Chapel
*1 Quest for the Holy Relic
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dalkovan Encampment
*1 Darkwater Catacombs
*1 Desolate Mire
*1 Dimir Aqueduct
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Great Arashin City
*6 Island
*1 Orzhov Basilica
*1 Path of Ancestry
*6 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Shineshadow Snarl
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Sunken Hollow
*5 Swamp
*1 Underground River
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Deck Checklist</h2>
<ul>
<li>51 mana sources (36 lands, 9 mana rocks, 4 MDFCs, 2 misc.)</li>
<li>36 ways to make creatures enter during combat</li>
<li>13 Equipment</li>
<li>9 card draw/selection/search</li>
<li>9 targeted disruption</li>
<li>4 mass disruption</li>
</ul>
<h2>Mid-Budget Upgrades</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Voice of Victory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dour Port-Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Andúril, Flame of the West"></div></div>
<p>There are a tons of cards that can improve this deck, while still staying below a $20 price tag for each.</p>
<p>If you want to focus on improving consistency through adding ramp and card draw, try:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dour Port-Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Dour Port-Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Forge and Frontier" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Forge and Frontier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (this won't cause your own <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-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>/<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> Equipment to fall off like some of the other Swords that grant protection might)</li>
</ul>
<p>If you want to create more tokens during combat, try:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ainok Strike Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Ainok Strike Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Andúril, Flame of the West" href="#" target="_blank">Andúril, Flame of the West</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blade of Selves" href="#" target="_blank">Blade of Selves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>To improve your disruption and protection suite, try:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voice of Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Voice of Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Void Rend" href="#" target="_blank">Void Rend</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conqueror&#039;s Flail" href="#" target="_blank">Conqueror&#039;s Flail</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>If you're interested in ending the game quickly with unblockable commander damage, try:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aettir and Priwen" href="#" target="_blank">Aettir and Priwen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes" href="#" target="_blank">Caduceus, Staff of Hermes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genji Glove" href="#" target="_blank">Genji Glove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>Of course, there's also the simple option of maxing out on Ninjas with classic legendary creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Higure, the Still Wind" href="#" target="_blank">Higure, the Still Wind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni" href="#" target="_blank">Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>I hope you enjoyed reading about this low-budget Core deck inspired by a new commander.</p>
<p>Can you see any other interesting interactions that can arise when we're attaching Equipment in the middle of combat? Is there ever a reason to attach an Equipment during the end of combat step? Let the EDHREC community know in the comments below!</p>
<h3>Read More:</h3>
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<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Garland, Royal Kidnapper&#039;s Theft Masterclass&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/garland-royal-kidnappers-theft-masterclass/embed/#?secret=ZyKEQd9VgU#?secret=ZZSH4y1zpE" data-secret="ZZSH4y1zpE" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
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<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Beyond the Multiverse - The Final Fantasy Sendoff&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/beyond-the-multiverse-the-final-fantasy-sendoff/embed/#?secret=FZhqZ8g3P4#?secret=mKYmWkHupa" data-secret="mKYmWkHupa" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
</div>


Noctis, Heir Apparent Commander Deck Tech

Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Set Review - Green

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ramirez DePietro" href="#" target="_blank">Ramirez DePietro</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.studiofoglio.com/">Phil Foglio</a>)</h6>
<h1>What do we do with a drunken sailor?</h1>
<p>Hello again to all the Commander players out there! My name is Seth Crosss and I love writing about some of the most ridiculous deck ideas ever invented! Better yet, I love those decks led by uncommon legendary creatures, so welcome back to <i>Uncommonders, </i>where we talk about just that: uncommon commanders! My hype for this article is due to my excitement for <i>Modern Horizons</i>, where we've so many awesome new cards. I was lucky enough to write the review of the black cards of the set, which inspired today’s deck idea!</p>
<p>It feels like such an exciting time to be a <i>Magic: the Gathering</i> player, and even more so to be a fan of the Commander format. With every new set, it seems like we get a treasure trove of new goodies, from awesome legendary creatures to the supportive cards we need or want to build with some fun, silly ideas. For this article, we are heading back in time to an older uncommon legendary creature, a commander they call…</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Ramirez DePietro!</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ramirez DePietro"></div></div></p>
<p>I know. At first glance, you're probably thinking, “Wow, DM has lost his mind!” But follow me down the rabbit hole for a moment: I understand that a six-mana 4/3 with first strike does not immediately inspire anyone. However, the original idea behind picking Ramirez was that I wanted to build a blue-black Pirates deck. Thanks to <i>Ixalan</i>, the tribe has gotten quite the boost, and I figured it would be a fun idea, especially with some themed support cards to boot. When I was writing the black set review for <i>Modern Horizons</i>, though, I realized I was so hyped for the newly-printed Ninjas in the set, and something struck me like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the brain!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Assassin’s. Creed. Black. Flag. Dot. Dek.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-34778 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ACBF.jpg" alt="" width="616" height="346" /></p>
<p>For those of you who may not know or even just not remember, <i>Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag</i> was based around pirates and the British Navy duking it out in the Caribbean. The main character is Edward Kenway, a pirate who finds himself rolled up in the war between the Assassins and the Templars, who were battling for yet another mystical artifact. Eventually, Kenway became one of the Assassins himself. While Ninjas are not the exact same as an Assassin, I figure the concepts of stealth and killing one’s opponent with a swift, precise strike translates well enough on their own.</p>
<p>So that is the idea for today. We are going full theme and meme, and I personally cannot wait. I do want to make a disclaimer that some of the cards included are for theme purposes. If I wanted to make a “real” or “better” Ninjas deck, it would be completely different, down to the commander. I hope we can put aside power levels for just today and have some fun!</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Privateers</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidisi, Undead Vizier"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ingenious Infiltrator"></div></div></p>
<p>Whenever I brew a deck according to theme, I tend to dive deep in relating certain cards back to places, situations, special items, and people. With a deck based on such a well-received game like <i>Black Flag, </i>I doubled down to ensure I had as many of my bases covered as possible. There are many characters to cover from the game, so unfortunately not everyone made it in, but I included what I felt were the biggest names from <i>Black Flag</i>.</p>
<p>My favorite character from the game, aside from Kenway himself, was James Kidd, a.k.a. Mary Read. A friend to Kenway, she was a pirate who was also part of the Assassin’s order, so I felt it was appropriate to have her represented by a Ninja for the deck. Mary was cool, confident, and very crafty as an Assassin, so I chose <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as her manifestation. Two of Kenway’s other pirate compatriots were Edward “Blackbeard” Thatch and Benjamin Hornigold. I chose <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pitiless Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Pitiless Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for Hornigold, who eventually changes sides to the Templars. For Blackbeard and his belief that there was power in being a scary spectacle, I chose <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dire Fleet Ravager" href="#" target="_blank">Dire Fleet Ravager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a big, bursty effect on the life totals of the game.</p>
<p>The last of the big pirate crew was Charles Vane, who eventually fell victim to his own greed and anger and went crazy by the end of the game. While he was a pirate throughout most of the story, he becomes a traitor and a prisoner, so I chose something that illustrates his different phases while also helping the deck: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Changeling Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Changeling Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>Another major character from <i>Black Flag</i> was the sage Woodes Rogers. Woodes was the key to finding the mystical artifact of the story, so my first thought was an artifact tutor. However, when I remembered that the “mystical artifact” of <i>Black Flag</i> was a place, not an object, I knew that meant the card would need to be able to find lands as well. I finally settled on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidisi, Undead Vizier" href="#" target="_blank">Sidisi, Undead Vizier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to both illustrate Rogers’ cutthroat nature in sacrificing others, while also still being the key to finding whatever we need. The last character I made sure to represent was Adewale, Kenway’s quartermaster. Initially, I was going to use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadeye Quartermaster" href="#" target="_blank">Deadeye Quartermaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for the obvious connection both to being a quartermaster as well as finding Kenway’s ship, the <i>Jackdaw</i>. However, I remembered that Adewale eventually joins the Assassins, and thus chose to use a Ninja to represent him. Adewale is big on working as a group and supporting those he believes in, so <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ingenious Infiltrator" href="#" target="_blank">Ingenious Infiltrator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> felt like a great fit for him.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Gear Makes the Assassin</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conqueror&#039;s Galleon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quietus Spike"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temple Bell"></div></div></p>
<p>A staple of the <i>Assassin’s Creed</i> series is collecting pieces of gear, as well as keys to get a legendary suit of Assassin armor. I figured the best way to represent these themes in the deck was by including Equipment cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quietus Spike" href="#" target="_blank">Quietus Spike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great option for the famous wrist blades, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prying Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Prying Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is solid as Kenway’s sword, 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> represents the hood of Kenway’s outfit, which he normally pulls on when going into stealth mode.</p>
<p>In the game, players could also upgrade their ships to have a diving bell in order to find treasure in the ocean, and it honestly looked like a gigantic <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>, so I added that as well. For Kenway’s ship, the <i>Jackdaw</i>, I chose <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conqueror’s Galleon" href="#" target="_blank">Conqueror’s Galleon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I realize that a Galleon is much bigger than Kenway’s small ship, but I liked that this Galleon can transform into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conqueror’s Foothold" href="#" target="_blank">Conqueror’s Foothold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which represents the pirate base of Nassau.</p>
<p>I tossed in some other goodies like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thaumatic Compass" href="#" target="_blank">Thaumatic Compass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (because every sailor needs to know how to find their way!) and I felt <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Key to the City" href="#" target="_blank">Key to the City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could work according to that theme as well, since throughout the game you pick many locks and steal many keys. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cover of Darkness" href="#" target="_blank">Cover of Darkness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also fit, as every good Assassin does their best work in the dark. For Wrath effects, I was lucky to be able to find a connection for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as there are many instances while sailing wherein you must avoid waterspouts. Speaking of spouts, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherspouts" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherspouts</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works here as well, alongside <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devastation Tide" href="#" target="_blank">Devastation Tide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wash Out" href="#" target="_blank">Wash Out</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The truth is that I could name every card in this deck and where I saw it represented in the game. I spent hours cutting, substituting, researching game information, looking up weird cards, looking at different decklists, and just overall trying to make this deck perfect. But if I detailed the entire process from start to finish, we would never see the list! So let us cut to the good part:</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kenway and Crew" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div><br />
[Commander]<br />
*1 Ramirez DePietro<br />
[/Commander]<br />
[Creature]<br />
*1 Baleful Strix<br />
*1 Burnished Hart<br />
*1 Changeling Outcast<br />
*1 Dire Fleet Ravager<br />
*1 Fallen Shinobi<br />
*1 Graveshifter<br />
*1 Higure, the Still Wind<br />
*1 Ingenious Infiltrator<br />
*1 Invisible Stalker<br />
*1 Mistblade Shinobi<br />
*1 Moonblade Shinobi<br />
*1 Ninja of the Deep Hours<br />
*1 Phantom Ninja<br />
*1 Pitiless Plunderer<br />
*1 Sakashima's Student<br />
*1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier<br />
*1 Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive<br />
*1 Thassa, God of the Sea<br />
*1 Throatseeker<br />
*1 Walker of Secret Ways<br />
*1 Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow<br />
[/Creature]<br />
[Sorcery]<br />
*1 Devastation Tide<br />
*1 Merchant Scroll<br />
*1 Sign in Blood<br />
*1 Stolen Identity<br />
*1 Treasure Cruise<br />
*1 Wash Out<br />
[/Sorcery]<br />
[Enchantment]<br />
*1 Coastal Piracy<br />
*1 Cover of Darkness<br />
*1 Cunning Evasion<br />
*1 Kindred Discovery<br />
*1 Unnatural Selection<br />
[/Enchantment]<br />
[Instant]<br />
*1 Aetherspouts<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Dig Through Time<br />
*1 Go for the Throat<br />
*1 Murder<br />
*1 Opt<br />
*1 Price of Fame<br />
*1 Reality Shift<br />
*1 Swan Song<br />
[/Instant]<br />
[Artifact]<br />
*1 Aetherflux Reservoir<br />
*1 Bident of Thassa<br />
*1 Bolas's Citadel<br />
*1 Commander's Sphere<br />
*1 Conqueror's Galleon<br />
*1 Dimir Locket<br />
*1 Dimir Signet<br />
*1 Fellwar Stone<br />
*1 Hedron Archive<br />
*1 Key to the City<br />
*1 Mind Stone<br />
*1 Prying Blade<br />
*1 Quietus Spike<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Swiftfoot Boots<br />
*1 Talisman of Dominance<br />
*1 Temple Bell<br />
*1 Thaumatic Compass<br />
*1 Vanquisher's Banner<br />
*1 Whispersilk Cloak<br />
[/Artifact]<br />
[Land]<br />
*1 Cavern of Souls<br />
*1 Command Tower<br />
*1 Darkwater Catacombs<br />
*1 Dreadship Reef<br />
*1 Drowned Catacomb<br />
*1 Halimar Depths<br />
*12 Island<br />
*1 Jwar Isle Refuge<br />
*1 Lonely Sandbar *<br />
*1 Remote Isle<br />
*1 Rishadan Port<br />
*1 Rogue's Passage<br />
*1 Scavenger Grounds<br />
*1 Submerged Boneyard<br />
*1 Sunken Ruins<br />
*9 Swamp<br />
*1 Tainted Isle<br />
*1 Underground River<br />
*1 Watery Grave<br />
[/Land]<br />
[/Deck]<br />
</p>
<hr />
<p>A tough thing about flavor-based or theme decks is that it can obstruct your ability to use solid staple cards in EDH. Luckily, there are a few that still fit into this flavorful build: <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>, for example, can represent Kenway’s wedding ring he gave to the wife that left him; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burnished Hart" href="#" target="_blank">Burnished Hart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of many creatures you can hunt in the game; rocks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dimir Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Dimir Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are useful to represent the treasures and gems that Kenway is always trying to steal away. If you're clever, you can find connections for just about everything!</p>
<p>Before we wrap up, per tradition, let's tune in to the comments from last week’s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tiana, Ship’s Caretaker" href="#" target="_blank">Tiana, Ship’s Caretaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> article. The article received many great comments, especially over on the /r/EDH subreddit. This made it very hard to pick one to respond to in today’s article, but I think my favorite was from /u/Gluttony4, who wrote:</p>
<blockquote><p>I love Tiana, and I quite like your take on her, especially because most of the (admittedly few) people I've seen talk about her always go right for the Equipments and tend to forget that good Auras exist!</p>
<p>Swap out just a few cards (coughTeferi'sProtectioncough) and maybe simplify the land base a little, and your list is also pretty great for players on a budget!</p></blockquote>
<p>They suggested a bunch of other awesome stuff for Tiana, and you can read the full comment <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/EDH/comments/bvxznj/how_to_make_a_boros_deck_look_golgari/eptjhsf?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x">here</a>. I loved this reply for several reasons. First, I enjoy that people recognize Tiana has two possible tracks, since Tiana is often stuck with just Equipment; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valduk, Keeper of the Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Valduk, Keeper of the Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> suffers from the same kind of stereotyping. The second reason I loved this comment is the attention it gives to people playing on a budget. Any time anyone has some ideas for budget options for my lists, I thoroughly enjoy hearing them! I try to build my lists with a lower budget in mind, if only to ensure new players can enjoy them relatively easily and cheaply.</p>
<p>Alright, <i>Assassin’s Creed</i> faithful, how did I do? Is there anything in the list that makes no sense to you? Feel free to let me know in the comments below and I will try to explain my thinking for the included cards! As I said earlier, I could go over each card selection, but I think the article would run out of room! I hope you enjoyed this week’s fun theme, and I hope I find room to do more of these in the future. If this article was especially interesting to you, let me know that in the comments, too!</p>
<p>In the meantime, remember you can <a href="https://www.twitter.com/DM_Cross">follow me on Twitter</a> and enjoy all of my daily Commander and <i>Magic: the Gathering </i>ramblings! I also stream twice a week on the <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/praetormagic">Praetor Magic Twitch channel</a> and we do gameplay videos and more over on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/praetormagic">YouTube channel</a>. Our podcast comes out on basically every podcast platform if you search “Praetor Magic” or “Reflections of the Council”. Of course, you can join us on our public <a href="https://discord.gg/CrNHmTE">Praetor Magic Discord server</a>, too! Until next time, though…</p>
<p>Keep assassinating those opponents! Bombs away!</p>


Uncommonders - Sneaking on the High Seas

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician" href="#" target="_blank">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://markwintersart.com/">Mark Winters</a>)</h6>
<h1>Commander Horizons</h1>
<p>I know, it's cheeky to call the <em>Modern Horizons </em>set "Commander Horizons" instead, but let's be honest, there are some extremely cool cards coming up in this set that we EDH players should be very excited for! We have returning mechanics, awesome lore characters, and even support for cool tribes.</p>
<p>Today I'm lucky to talk about the very best cards from <em>Modern Horizons. </em>Why are they the very best? Because these are the black cards, and black cards are the best! Let's get digging.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Mythics</h2>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"></div></div></p>
<p>Hold on, I am trying to collect my thoughts that do not just jumble together into drool over this card. It's rare to see a card that checks so many boxes. He's powerful, he's a value engine, and he's a Vorthos home-run, right down to the protection from Humans.</p>
<p>As a card in the 99, expect to see him follow a similar trajectory to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yahenni, Undying Partisan" href="#" target="_blank">Yahenni, Undying Partisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Commanders like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa Karlov" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa Karlov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are always happy to have additional sacrifice outlets, especially when those sacrifice outselts also help draw cards, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons" href="#" target="_blank">Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> couldn't be happier to see all those -1/-1 counters.</p>
<p>At the helm of the 99, look to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder" href="#" target="_blank">Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and friends for inspiration. Creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ophiomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Ophiomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pawn of Ulamog" href="#" target="_blank">Pawn of Ulamog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reassembling Skeleton" href="#" target="_blank">Reassembling Skeleton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> present excellent choices for sacrifice fodder. Of course, Yawgmoth isn't one to be pigeonholed into a singular strategy. Yawgmoth can turn tokens into card advantage, but with that <em>Proliferate </em>ability, he can also become a home for mono-black superfriends, or a very dastardly <em>Infect </em>commander. I fully expect him and Urza to battle for the #1 spot on the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders#pastmonth">Top Commanders</a> pages for quite some time.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rares</h2>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Cabal Therapist</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Therapist"></div></div></p>
<p>One of the first cards previewed for the set, this card is designed more for Modern than Commander, where it's much more realistic to blindly guess cards your opponents have in hand. It's possible Therapist could find a spot in metas who know each other's decks very well, or in some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Telepathy" href="#" target="_blank">Telepathy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-inclusive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sen Triplets" href="#" target="_blank">Sen Triplets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> builds, but it's not really a card for EDH.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Cordial Vampire</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cordial Vampire"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar Markov" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar Markov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> sits as the second most popular commander built in the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders#past2years">past two years</a>, and with new cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cordial Vampire" href="#" target="_blank">Cordial Vampire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I can only imagine he'll maintain that popularity. Not only will your army get bigger as enemy creatures die, but Vampires have many sacrifices outlets built into their decks, which makes this a very deadly new addition. Consider him also for decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elenda, the Dusk Rose" href="#" target="_blank">Elenda, the Dusk Rose</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yahenni, Undying Partisan" href="#" target="_blank">Yahenni, Undying Partisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Dead of Winter</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dead of Winter"></div></div></p>
<p>Most of us have probably seen snow-covered lands a time or two, especially when someone uses them in conjunction with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extraplanar Lens" href="#" target="_blank">Extraplanar Lens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to collect value no one else can take advantage of. Well, now snow decks also have a variant of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutilate" href="#" target="_blank">Mutilate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one that can work in a multicolored deck with lots of snow-covered basic lands.</p>
<p>I want to believe there is a solid snow deck to be made, but the sad truth is that there are only 40 total snow creatures in the game, so there are very few options to run that will withstand your own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dead of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Dead of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Regardless, I can still accept this as a cheaper, more splashable <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutilate" href="#" target="_blank">Mutilate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Endling</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Endling"></div></div></p>
<p>The end of a cycle! From <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morphling" href="#" target="_blank">Morphling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torchling" href="#" target="_blank">Torchling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thornling" href="#" target="_blank">Thornling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brightling" href="#" target="_blank">Brightling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we can rejoice at the tying up of loose threads. This is a solid battering ram against other creatures. With deathtouch and menace, it will be extremely difficult for your enemies to interact with this creature favorably in combat. Add in the <em>Undying </em>and it's even more of a nuisance. Unlike several others in this cycle, Endling isn't just a Shapeshifter, but has a second creature type: Zombie. As such, this may see play in some classic Zombie tribal decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gisa and Geralf" href="#" target="_blank">Gisa and Geralf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as an efficient beater and an especially irksome blocker.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Force of Despair</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Despair"></div></div></p>
<p>Speaking of cycles, the black part of the “Force of” cycle is a doozy. The timing restrictions make it a worse rate than a traditional <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hero&#039;s Downfall" href="#" target="_blank">Hero&#039;s Downfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can kill a creature regardless of when it entered the battlefield, but this is certainly an efficient answer to combos like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pestermite" href="#" target="_blank">Pestermite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a huge influx of tokens. Look out, bursty token decks! Otherwise, though, this is a niche meta call if you're often up against aggressive decks that summon tons of creatures in one turn, but black has many other removal spells that will occupy this slot and be more effective in the majority of traditional games.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Everything Else</h2>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Ninjas</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Throatseeker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azra Smokeshaper"></div></div></p>
<p>The community has been hungry for more Ninja cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks, and <em>Modern Horizons </em>has delivered! Yuriko is very aggressive, often not able to leave blockers behind, which means she can be targeted pretty easily. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throatseeker" href="#" target="_blank">Throatseeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helps mitigate some of that life loss, a welcome addition. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azra Smokeshaper" href="#" target="_blank">Azra Smokeshaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a tricky card that helps protect Yuriko in the combat phase. Yuriko has climbed up to the #3 most-built Dimir commander slot, and with the help of these great new Ninjas, I won't be surprised if she eventually sneaks all the way up to #1.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Zombies</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undead Augur"></div></div></p>
<p>With a tribe as deep and potent as Zombies, there's always a risk that the tribe is already overcrowded and any new cards won't be able to fight their way into decks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undead Augur" href="#" target="_blank">Undead Augur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is basically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Prophecy" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Prophecy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on legs, is potentially amazing but also potentially dangerous. Zombies are always hungry for card advantage, which could easily push this over the top, but lack of control over this ability makes me think there are better options for Zombies.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Goblins</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sling-Gang Lieutenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warteye Witch"></div></div></p>
<p>Whenever I see “Goblin” on the type line, I become very interested. Most Goblin synergies wind up in red, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grenzo, Dungeon Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Grenzo, Dungeon Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wort, Boggart Auntie" href="#" target="_blank">Wort, Boggart Auntie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have well-known followings. Grenzo in particular probably represents the best synergies; Grenzo loves to sacrifice creatures, then put them on the bottom of his deck from the graveyard with things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reito Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Reito Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and cheat them right back into play with his bottom-of-the-library ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warteye Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Warteye Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works amazingly well here too, since she can help scry fun new targets to the bottom of the deck for Grenzo!</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Shapeshifters</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Graveshifter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Changeling Outcast"></div></div></p>
<p>The Shapeshifters of this set pique my interest more than usual. This set has Goblins, Ninjas, Zombies, Vampires, and then some. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Changeling Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Changeling Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> work amazingly well to enable <em>Ninjutsu </em>and to trigger Yuriko, a welcome addition. There are probably better options for recursion in black, but it's not impossible that a few tribes would enjoy a tribal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravedigger" href="#" target="_blank">Gravedigger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to recur their fallen soldiers, like sacrifice-happy Vampires or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ETB-triggering Wizards.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Spells</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Defile"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mind Rake"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return from Extinction"></div></div></p>
<p>Of the remaining spells, the three above strike me as the most interesting in EDH. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Defile" href="#" target="_blank">Defile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has already gotten attention in Pauper, but a single-target version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutilate" href="#" target="_blank">Mutilate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for one black mana at instant speed seems great for most mono-black decks, possibly as a supplement or a replacement for the occasional <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tragic Slip" href="#" target="_blank">Tragic Slip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Rake" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Rake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s <em>Overload </em>ability is fun in a deck primed to abuse it, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nath of the Gilt-Leaf" href="#" target="_blank">Nath of the Gilt-Leaf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, though it's notable that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delirium Skeins" href="#" target="_blank">Delirium Skeins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only shows up on about 600 total decks on EDHREC. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return from Extinction" href="#" target="_blank">Return from Extinction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a decent recursion spell in tribal decks thanks to its low mana cost, possibly budging out any decks still playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aphetto Dredging" href="#" target="_blank">Aphetto Dredging</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. For these three cards, I predict the order of popularity, from highest to lowest, is the same order the cards are displayed above.</p>
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<h2>The Night is Darkest Just Before the Dawn</h2>
<p>What are your favorite black cards from <em>Modern Horizons</em>? What cards are you putting into your decks? Are there any spicy cards I missed above? What cards are on your radar? Let me know in the comments below!</p>


ninjas

Noctis, Heir Apparent Commander Deck Tech

Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Set Review - Green

Uncommonders - Sneaking on the High Seas

Modern Horizons Set Review - Black

Mechanically Minded - Ninjutsu