Fire and Ice: What Cards are Hot and Cold for August 22nd?

Fire and Ice: What Cards are Hot and Cold for August 15th?

Fire and Ice: What Cards are Hot and Cold for August 8th?

Fire and Ice: What Cards Are Hot and Cold for August 1st?

Fire and Ice: What Cards are Hot and Cold for July 25th?

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-chippy-dugan-3459761?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BEWbBb4H6SHGZZ%2FfyICfZ8w%3D%3D">Chippy</a></em></p>
<h2>What "Dying" Looks Like</h2>
<p><em>Magic</em> players have always been eager to classify the strongest cards at their disposal. Whether it be today's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis" href="#" target="_blank">Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or yesterday's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shivan Dragon|LEA|174" href="#" target="_blank">Shivan Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, powerful cards always seem to draw everyone's attention both on and off the tabletop.</p>
<p>In an effort to classify a card's strength, some shorthanded expressions have been adopted to fast-track the conversation. This is where "dies to removal" is best expressed.</p>
<p>A card can be strong, sure, but if it's prone to removal or easy to counter then just how strong is the card really?</p>
<p>Take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for example. Its ETB + cast effect is very powerful on its own, effectively granting its controller amnesty from everything for a whole round. As if this was not enough, it also provides significant card advantage with very little downside.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring|LTR|748"></div></div>
<p>All of this is possible in every deck imaginable as well, seeing as The Ring only asks a player to invest <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> once in order to access everything The Ring offers.</p>
<p>Applying the "dies to removal" critique against The Ring, it's apparent that The Ring's strongest effect, its ETB + cast trigger, can only "die" while on the stack.</p>
<p>Once the ability resolves, there's nothing left to interact with, as The Ring's controller has already achieved their goal in "guaranteeing" survival for another round of turns.</p>
<p>Even if The Ring is exiled before they're able to tap The Ring to draw a card and eventually lose one life at their upkeep, their <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> was well spent.</p>
<p>The Ring cannot die while on the battlefield, as its ETB + cast trigger has already resolved at this point. It would need to die before this ability hits the stack in order for The Ring to be effectively removed.</p>
<h2>When Do Cards Actually "Die"?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may literally be able to go from the battlefield to any other zone and literally be removed, but that's not what this shorthand is suggesting happens when players agree that something dies to removal.</p>
<p>In order for something to be removable, players must have ample time to respond to said threat and completely remove said threat. In The Ring's case, only <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell|LEA|54" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doorkeeper Thrull" href="#" target="_blank">Doorkeeper Thrull</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects can meaningfully remove the threat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jodah, Archmage Eternal|DOM|198"></div></div>
<p>But this <em>is</em> the case for something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, Archmage Eternal|DOM|198" href="#" target="_blank">Jodah, Archmage Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Opponents facing a Jodah Commander deck have ample time to respond to the threat that is Jodah's controller casting some large spell for just <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 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>.</p>
<p>Typically, Jodah players aim to ramp into Jodah as fast as possible, then draw into enough protection for the round Jodah is resolved. Ramp and protection is notably something Jodah requires, not something that he himself enables or provides on his own.</p>
<p>This is something important to highlight, as established powerhouses, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Arbiter Augustin IV" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Arbiter Augustin IV</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, provide hefty resource advantages as soon as they resolve with the stack being the only place to stop their controllers' from gaining this advantage.</p>
<p>Jodah, on the other hand, usually needs to wait a round before his controller can spend their next turn resolving just one spell. If this is not the case, Jodah may not be resolved until much later in the game when his controller has enough resources to resolve both him and another spell, requiring at minimum nine mana to do so: <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" 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-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> for Jodah and <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 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> for some big spell.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Absolute Virtue"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Apex Devastator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omniscience|M13|63"></div></div>
<p>This gives Jodah's opponents plenty of time to search for answers before Jodah "does the thing", if not searching for a way to knock the Jodah player out entirely. Because Jodah requires extensive protective efforts from the deck he is commanding as well as an experienced Commander player to understand how best to play him, Jodah most certainly dies to removal.</p>
<h2>Where Removal Doesn't Work</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vivi Ornitier"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, Archmage Eternal|DOM|198" href="#" target="_blank">Jodah</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being a commander does mean that he could just be recast the next turn and therefore reintroduce the threat of large spells being resolved for cheap (as cheap as <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 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> can be). However, this most likely means the Jodah player spends another turn resolving Jodah before a large threat is played.</p>
<p>By this time, Jodah's opponents have already gone through the effort to find answers to Jodah and are actively building their own game-winning boards. If all Jodah does is continue to be resolved and removed, the Jodah players is not going to have a pleasant experience.</p>
<p>Strategy is required on all participants to understand when it's best to resolve and answer a Jodah, which creates a desired and fulfilling gaming experience. Jodah actually dying to removal allows all players to enjoy the game of Commander.</p>
<p>This engagement is notably something missing from some of Commander's strongest cards. We only need to look at <em>Final Fantasy</em> to see <em>Magic's</em> two latest examples of unengaging Commander games.</p>
<p>As mentioned in my last article, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very difficult to interact with, if not impossible at times. Essentially, players only have two or three moments they can interact with Sephiroth before he achieves his "ultimate."</p>
<p>Players can either counter Sephiroth on the stack or remove him before he transforms. If Sephiroth is allowed to resolve, his controller only needs to resolve one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cruel Edict|9ED|121" href="#" target="_blank">edict</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect before his controller receives an immortal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist|AVR|86" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> emblem. If a player manages to remove Sephiroth before he transforms, his low mana investment of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" 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> incentivizes players to just recast him from the command zone (or simply resurrect him from the grave if he's not too expensive to recast/part of the 99).</p>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em>'s other big "doesn't die to removal" card is, of course, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivi Ornitier" href="#" target="_blank">Vivi Ornitier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. As is the running theme, Vivi <em>must</em> either not be allowed to resolve or he must be disabled before "doing the thing" as there are no other points of interaction for stopping him.</p>
<p>In fact, it may not be enough to try and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder|M13|101" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Vivi after he resolves, as the Commander deck he pilots will mostly consist of instants and sorceries to quickly inflate his power before activating him with the intention of "<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyretic Ritual|M11|153" href="#" target="_blank">ritualing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>" into a large storm count, if not some string of spells that combo into winning the game. In other words, unless Vivi or his wincon(s) actually die to removal, there's no preventing Vivi from running away with the game.</p>
<p>For <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivi Ornitier" href="#" target="_blank">Vivi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, removal only works in very specific instances and arguably requires knowledge before the game begins for a player to adequately remove these threats. But even still, these cards are so cheap to resolve and do not ask much from a deck to be included in it that they can ultimately "die" multiple times before truly being removed. Thus, these cards do not die to removal.</p>
<h2>Why Does This Matter?</h2>
<p>These are just three current instances of the "dies to removal" argument demonstrating how these cards fail to promote an engaging game of Commander.</p>
<p>While this is not the only metric that can be used, nor does it mean that these cards absolutely cannot generate a fun or healthy Commander game, it's an important lesson to learn that many fun Commander games, if not <em>Magic</em> games as a whole, are derived from players being able to meaningfully interact with each other to prevent their opponents from winning and increasing the odds of their deck achieving victory.</p>
<p>A card not dying to removal is but one aspect players should take into account when evaluating the strengths of their cards. The fewer points of interaction your opponents have access to, the stronger your deck will be.</p>
<p>But as we are Commander players and we often search for a more casual experience, it's often necessary to intentionally allow our decks to have weak points for the sake of increasing how enjoyable the games we play are for everyone involved. To do otherwise and aim to <em>only</em> build the strongest deck possible without social consideration would be to build a Bracket 4-5 deck.</p>
<p>Powerful decks can certainly be fun, and higher Bracket games can often allow players to engage in deep strategies and political discussions, but this is only possible if it's what the other players want.</p>
<p>If I were to optimize all of my threats to be extremely durable, consistent, repeatable, etc., as possible, then players looking to engage in a social game of Commander would most likely be very disappointed when I reveal, say, a Bracket 4 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> artifacts stax deck. "Dies to removal" is a tool I should have used in order to determine what kind of game I wanted to play and where the most satisfying game could take place.</p>
<h2>How Dying to Removal Builds a Better Player</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jace, Vryn&#039;s Prodigy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jace, the Mind Sculptor|WWK|31"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">I hope that this analysis of what "dying to removal" entails helps you become a better player. <em>Magic</em> is a complex game, and Commander makes no effort to make it any easier to quantify.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Just as the Bracket system aims to help players find more compelling games, I wish for this discussion to better equip you to find opponents who seek to play a similar Commander game as you do. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Remember to always talk it out with your opponents during Rule 0! It never hurts to ask what the intentions behind a deck are or to explain what your intentions are, and if for whatever reason someone does get upset, well... perhaps it's for the best.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">"Dying to removal" is not a filter that's to be used against your opponents, rather a means of self-diagnosing where your deck and your intentions with a deck rest.</span></p>
<p>How do you feel about something dying to removal? Do you think that this explanation was to broad or generous? What are some other ways you could gauge a deck's intentions?</p>
<p>I hope that this article serves as a helpful starting point for determining what actually does and does not die to removal, but I'd love to hear from you if there's something missing or if I've started yelling at the clouds. Tune in next time to continue this deep dive in the Bracket system and more Commander Philosophy!</p>


Commander Philosophy - How Does "Dies To Removal" Actually Work?

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire // Ice|CMD|198" href="#" target="_blank">Fire // Ice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_L._Martin">David Martin</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.franz-vohwinkel.com/">Franz Vohwinkel</a></h6>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire // Ice" href="#" target="_blank">Fire // Ice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></em>, a data-driven series where we'll go over some cards that are gaining and losing popularity in various Commander decks. I'm Julia, EDHREC's Duchess of Data.</p>
<p>Of course, EDHREC has a ton of data. Using this data, we'll draw some conclusions about how certain commander's decks are changing over time, give some insight into how players are thinking about new cards, and maybe even give you some cool tech for your favorite commander's list. Now, let's jump right into it!</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/introducing-the-math-behind-edhrecs-fire-and-ice-series"><strong><em>For information on how we calculate the </em>Fire and Ice<em> Scores used in this article, check out this writeup.</em></strong></a></p>
<h1><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breya, Etherium Shaper" href="#" target="_blank">Breya, Etherium Shaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breya, Etherium Shaper"></div></div>
<p>Breya has long been one of the format's most popular commanders, and currently sits at the #46 spot on our top commander list.</p>
<p>This 4-color deck wants us to fill our deck with synergistic artifacts, and rewards us with a powerful sacrifice outlet in the command zone. This deck can get quite powerful, and <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=card%3A%22Breya%2C+Etherium+Shaper%22+ci%3Ayoretiller">Breya herself is part of over a dozen infinite combos</a>.</p>
<p>Breya decks have diverse game plans, but some popular cards include <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> (in 60% of decks), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (in 54% of decks), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (in 56% of decks).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sai, Master Thopterist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skullclamp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etherium Sculptor"></div></div>
<p>Now that we know what Breya does, let's see what cards are hot and cold for her deckbuilders!</p>
<h2>What's Fiery for Breya Decks?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stridehangar Automaton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daretti, Scrap Savant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Voyage Home"></div></div>
<p>Artifact decks have gotten a lot of love recently, especially from <em>Aetherdrift</em>. First, and most popular, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stridehangar Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Stridehangar Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a super high Fire Score of 6.73, the highest we've seen so far in this series.</p>
<p>Looking closely at the card, it's not hard to see why this card is being put in so many Breya lists. It's an anthem for the most common artifact creature token that these decks have access to, it's functionally a token-doubler in most scenarios, and <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=card%3A%22Stridehangar+Automaton%22+ci%3Ayoretiller">it's part of even more combos than Breya herself is</a>. This card is a slam dunk include here.</p>
<p>Next up is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daretti, Scrap Savant" href="#" target="_blank">Daretti, Scrap Savant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who has a Fire Score of 2.81 despite being released over a decade ago. This card is a great include in Breya decks, providing valuable card selection and artifact recursion. I'm surprised that this card's inclusion rate has risen so much recently, given its age. But, it's a powerful card that works well in the deck.</p>
<p>Finally, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voyage Home" href="#" target="_blank">Voyage Home</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a Fire Score of 3.19. In decks that easily create huge boards full of artifacts, this card is essentially <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Healing Salve" href="#" target="_blank">Healing Salve</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancestral Recall" href="#" target="_blank">Ancestral Recall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stapled together.</p>
<p>This is one such artifact-heavy deck, so it tracks that this card has been slotted into a ton of Breya decks since it was released earlier this year.</p>
<h2>What's Icy for Breya Decks?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Counterspell"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhystic Study"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crime Novelist"></div></div>
<p>There's a few cards that have been taken out of Breya decks recently, but none seem to have left as many decks as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With an Ice Score of -3.98, deckbuilders are shying away from this OG piece of counteraction.</p>
<p>I'd hazard a guess that Breya's deckbuilders are more focused on mana-efficient or easier-to-cast interaction, and would rather run countermagic that is free or closer to it. <em>Magic</em>, in general, is printing more and more exciting cards that Breya pilots may want to try out in place of old staples.</p>
<p>We also see big drops in deck inclusion rate for noted <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers">Game Changer</a> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reshape" href="#" target="_blank">Reshape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, two very powerful cards. Rhystic Study has an Ice Score of -2.93 and Reshape has an Ice Score of -2.82.</p>
<p>Given <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wotc-introduces-new-bracket-system-for-edh">the implementation of the bracket system</a>, and these cards' status as a Game Changer and a tutor respectively, players who'd rather play in Bracket 3 pods may be slotting these cards out so that they can comfortably sit at those tables.</p>
<p>These cards are about as good as it gets for card advantage and tutors in high-powered casual decks, so I'm guessing that these cards' changes in inclusion rate indicate that some players are moving their decks down the bracket system.</p>
<p>Notably, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crime Novelist" href="#" target="_blank">Crime Novelist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has also fallen out of Breya lists, with an Ice Score of -2.11. This card is really cool, and I expected it to be quite popular following its release in <em>Murders at Karlov Manor</em>. But, it's included in just 2.33% of eligible decks, and appears to be leaving a significant number of Breya decks recently.</p>
<p>This card is powerful, but requires a specifically crafted board state to unlock its full potential. Breya players may be leaning towards easier-to-activate value engines, like some of the cards we talked about in the Fiery section for this commander.</p>
<div id="attachment_159477" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.33-PM-scaled.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-159477" class="wp-image-159477 size-full" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.33-PM-scaled.png" alt="" width="2560" height="851" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.33-PM-scaled.png 2560w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.33-PM-300x100.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.33-PM-1024x340.png 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.33-PM-768x255.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.33-PM-1536x511.png 1536w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.33-PM-2048x681.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-159477" class="wp-caption-text">Recent trend data for Breya, Etherium Shaper</p></div>
<h1><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marneus Calgar" href="#" target="_blank">Marneus Calgar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marneus Calgar"></div></div>
<p>Marneus looks to make a lot of tokens, a <em>lot</em> of the time. To be more specific, this deck wants to have a ton of tokens that enter the battlefield at different times so that our commander can provide huge amounts of card advantage.</p>
<p>This commander was also the leader of a preconstructed deck from the <em>Warhammer 40K</em> series, so a lot of its pilots have upgraded copies of that deck to make it their own.</p>
<p>All that said, some of the most popular cards in Marneus decks include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadir Kraken" href="#" target="_blank">Nadir Kraken</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (in 57% of decks), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (<a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/245-1722-2034/">which combos with Nadir Kraken</a> and is in 45% of decks), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kambal, Profiteering Mayor" href="#" target="_blank">Kambal, Profiteering Mayor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (in 48% of decks).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nadir Kraken"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashnod&#039;s Altar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kambal, Profiteering Mayor"></div></div>
<h2>What's Fiery for Marneus Decks?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Voice of Victory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warren Soultrader"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Amphibian Downpour"></div></div>
<p>By far the highest rising card in Marneus Calgar decks is <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>, with a Fire Score of 5.98. This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Abolisher" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Abolisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> variant works perfectly in this deck, as its Mobilize trigger makes some creature tokens that its commander turns into card advantage. And, it's got the most important parts of Grand Abolisher on an easier-to-cast body, making it invaluable for some higher power versions of this deck.</p>
<p>Now, let's talk about <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/fire-and-ice-what-cards-are-hot-and-cold-for-july-2025">a card we also talked about last week</a>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warren Soultrader" href="#" target="_blank">Warren Soultrader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card has a Fire Score of 2.93 in Marneus decks, and its easy to see why. It's a (virtually) free sacrifice outlet that draws us a card every time we activate it with our commander on the battlefield.</p>
<p>It's pretty difficult to think of a sac outlet that's more efficient than this for token decks, so it makes a lot of sense that its growing in popularity for Marneus players.</p>
<p>Next up is a card that might seem somewhat strange at first glance, but actually works perfectly in the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Amphibian Downpour" href="#" target="_blank">Amphibian Downpour</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> costs twice as much as a typical <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frogify" href="#" target="_blank">Frogify</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect, <em>but...</em> it has Storm.</p>
<p>Because copies of this card on the stack will enter the battlefield at separate times as tokens, each copy of this card on the stack represents a piece of removal <strong>and</strong> a card drawn. That's extremely powerful, and Marenus pilots are taking notice.</p>
<h2>What's Icy for Marneus Decks?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Space Marine Devastator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ultramarines Honour Guard"></div></div>
<p>There's actually only two cards that are leaving a significant number of Marenus Calgar decks: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Space Marine Devastator" href="#" target="_blank">Space Marine Devastator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ultramarines Honour Guard" href="#" target="_blank">Ultramarines Honour Guard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Both of these cards are good, and both of them can make token copies of themselves, and both of them were included in the original precon from 2022. They've got Ice Scores of -2.04 and -2.09 respectively.</p>
<p>But, as more players upgrade their decks with new cards from <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> and <em>Final Fantasy</em>, these less powerful Squad cards are likely being taken out for the new hotness.</p>
<div class="mceTemp">
<p><a style="font-size: 16px;" href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.17-PM-scaled.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159478" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.17-PM-scaled.png" alt="" width="2560" height="871" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.17-PM-scaled.png 2560w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.17-PM-300x102.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.17-PM-1024x348.png 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.17-PM-768x261.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.17-PM-1536x523.png 1536w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-17-at-12.36.17-PM-2048x697.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></p>
<h1>Conclusion</h1>
<p>So that's what's Hot, and what's not, for July 18th, 2025. Did any of the cards surprise you? Have you added any of the cards I've talked about to your decks? Let me know in the comments below. For now, I'll see you all soon for another edition of Fire and Ice!</p>
</div>


Fire and Ice: What Cards are Hot and Cold for July 18, 2025?

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wastes|OGW|184" href="#" target="_blank">Wastes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://raymondswanland.com/">Raymond Swanland</a>)</h6>
<h1>What Does It Mean To Be Colorless?</h1>
<p>Hey here's a question for you, is colorless a "color" in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>? Here on <em>The Monolith </em>we talk about monocolored deck building.</p>
<p>And whilst I'm sure you wouldn't bat an eye if I called an all green deck monocolored, would you consider an all colorless deck to be monocolored?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn, Silver Golem"></div></div>
<p>Back in 1997, Inquest Magazine posted an April fools joke announcement with some huge news. A new color was coming to <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>!</p>
<p>Produced from basic portal lands, purple mana was being introduced into <em>Magic's </em>card pool and it would allow players to do strange things like control their opponent's turn and anchor creatures to other permanents. It was all very strange and cryptic and, obviously, complete nonsense.</p>
<h2>Planned All Along?</h2>
<p>No, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> didn't have any plans to add a sixth color to the famous 5 pointed star that makes up <em>Magic's</em> core design philosophy. In fact, in the end, they didn't really need to. <em>Magic</em> had given us a sixth color of <em>Magic</em> from the game's very inception.</p>
<p>It was there in Alpha and remains in every set printed since. All the way up to whatever set just released as you're reading this. Colorless mana!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emrakul, the Aeons Torn"></div></div>
<p>And whilst it did have some key features that separated it from the big five, it wasn't until the dawn of the Eldrazi that we got to see colorless' true colors.</p>
<p>Colorless was now represented by its very nature. Devoid. Inhuman. The spaces between reality. The Eldrazi were a perfect fit for that philosophy.</p>
<p>An unknowable cosmic horror from beyond our understanding. Colorless now had its own kindred strategies. It had mechanical flavor.</p>
<h3>Mechanical Mechanics</h3>
<p>And this was merely a flourish on what was already there. Colorless was already associated with the machine. Artifacts and Urza's inventions. The Tron lands and mana rocks making for strange, colorless ramp tied to permanents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Tower"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Power Plant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Mine"></div></div>
<p>Artifact cards in general, whilst playing well with most colors, are predominantly colorless themselves. A few might have a proper pip in them, but for the most part they're all paid for by generic mana.</p>
<p>That is of course then reflected by its sub-type Equipment. Most would associate them with red or white, but equipment cards are overwhelmingly colorless as well.</p>
<p>Colorless had a "vibe" to it that the release of the Eldrazi merely solidified and expanded upon. It was an elegant solution from <em>Magic's </em>designers to fulfill their "what if?" fantasies of a new color. To build on something that was as yet untouched but already bubbling under the surface of the game.</p>
<h2>Still Not Enough</h2>
<p>But despite all this support for <em>Magic's </em>secret sixth primary, there are still those out there that would say, "No! There are five colors in <em>Magic</em>.</p>
<p>Colorless is not a color, it is merely a supplement to the actual five." And they're not unsupported in that claim. In fact, those are the actual rules of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>!</p>
<p>'105.1. There are five colors in the <em>Magic</em> game: white, blue, black, red, and green'</p>
<p>'105.4. If a player is asked to choose a color, they must choose one of the five colors. “Multicolored” is<br />
not a color. Neither is “colorless.”'</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angelic Intervention"></div></div>
<p>That's why when this protection spell was printed in <em>March of the Machine</em>, a set that largely revolved around the mechanic of making colorless creature tokens, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> had to be worded like this. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mother of Runes" href="#" target="_blank">Mother of Runes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can't protect you from a colorless spell.</p>
<h2>Then What The Heck is My Eldrazi Deck?</h2>
<p>Now whilst I'm sure this was debated for a long time before hand, I think this really became a point of contention when EDH started to gain popularity.</p>
<p>In Commander of course, your deck has a color identity. If your commander is red, you can only include red cards in its deck. Those are the rules of the format.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liberator, Urza&#039;s Battlethopter"></div></div>
<p>So what about when I build a deck around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberator, Urza&#039;s Battlethopter" href="#" target="_blank">Liberator, Urza&#039;s Battlethopter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Colorless spells have no color. So they can be included in a Commander deck of any color.</p>
<p>But if my commander itself has no color. Then the color identity of that deck... is colorless. It can only run colorless spells. Does that mean that colorless is a color identity? Or that my deck simply doesn't have one?</p>
<h3>The Evidence is There</h3>
<p>And that might be a technicality but there's plenty of other things in the game that point toward this point's legitimacy. Colorless, for example, has its own basic land type. The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wastes" href="#" target="_blank">Waste</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wastes"></div></div>
<p>That's something that might seem silly or gimmicky until you realize that there are plenty of spells that straight up require colorless mana to cast. In fact, <em>Modern Horizons 3 </em>added a whole heaping of them to the card pool.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="It That Heralds the End"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breaker of Creation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Echoes of Eternity"></div></div>
<p>The aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is worded that way because needing to protect yourself from a colorless threat is just as important in the game as any of the main five colors.</p>
<p>There's plenty of colorless creatures, spells, and abilities. You need to be able to protect yourself from them in some way.</p>
<h2>Colorless KPIs</h2>
<p>So there's a mechanical justification for this aesthetic problem, but what about the actual aesthetics themselves. As our title asks, what does it mean to be colorless? If red is know by its aggression, direct damage, and impulsive draw. What is colorless known for?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Enforcer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Battlesphere"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Retriever"></div></div>
<p>The Eldrazi are certainly the poster child creature type, but there's also the robots and automatons as well. The Myr of <em>Mirrodin </em>have plenty of iconic cards without a single colored pip.</p>
<p>Not to mention all the Assembly Workers and Constructs. There's also some incredibly influential characters in <em>Magic's </em>lore who don't identify with any of the five colors.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ugin, Eye of the Storms"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn Liberated"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tezzeret, Cruel Captain"></div></div>
<p>Ugin has just returned to the fold in <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm </em>but as the brother of legendary big bad Nicol Bolas, he's been incredibly influential over <em>Magic's</em> history.</p>
<p>Karn is no different, forming Mirrodin itself and inadvertently spreading the curse of the Phyrexians. We've just seen spoilers for <em>Edge of Eternities</em> and Tezzeret has popped once again as well. Despite being largely aligned with blue and black mana in the past, this time around he's completely colorless.</p>
<h3>Solid as Darksteel</h3>
<p>Being colorless when you're a named character is a big deal as well. There's plenty of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skittering Surveyor" href="#" target="_blank">Skittering Surveyor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s that only exist to make draft a little easier and don't really impact the story all that much.</p>
<p>We're trained to think that something being colorless means that it doesn't really matter what color deck you play it in, it's a slightly worse card that anyone can play. Or it's generic enough that anyone would use it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tezzeret, Artifice Master"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tezzeret, Master of Metal"></div></div>
<p>But when a mainline character who's been in color before, turns up colorless? That means something. It's a statement by <em>Wizards of the Coast. </em>His colorless identity means something stylistically, narratively, and gameplay...ly.</p>
<h2>All is Dust</h2>
<p>So what does this all really mean? In the end its semantics really. The only reason I brought it up is as a big fan of monocolored decks, I've always drawn to the strange allure of a deck that runs absolutely no colors at all.</p>
<p>But with the amount of support <em>Wizards </em>has printed for that archetype, it seems in my mind like it's an idea that's officially supported. Even if the official rules of the game perhaps state otherwise.</p>
<p>It's also an interesting look at how our patterns of play can change how we see our favorite card game. This thought may have never crossed my mind if Emrakul or the Devoid keyword was never printed.</p>
<p>If the colorless mana symbol was never introduced. Or if the format we all now know and love as Commander never rose to popularity.</p>
<p>Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Would you die on the hill that wastes produce <em>Magic's </em>sixth color of mana? Or are you staunch five-only truther? If you were going to add a sixth color to <em>MTG </em>which stupid shade would you pick, and why is it <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@officialmagiconline/video/7508864340657769758">Periwinkle</a>?</p>
<p>Regardless, thank you for reading, and I'll see you on the next edition of <em>The Monolith</em>.</p>


Are Colorless Cards Part of Magic's Color Pie?

Are Red's Nonbasic Lands the Worst? A Scientific Analysis

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wheel of Fortune" href="#" target="_blank">Wheel of Fortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| art by <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/search?artistName=eq~Daniel_Gelon">Daniel Gelon</a></h6>
<p>We've all had to mulligan. It's the nature of randomness of any game even with four of a kind. My question, as it has always been, is are we strict enough about mulligans in Commander, or perhaps too strict, or perhaps it hasn't been well defined or enforced either way.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Vise"></div></div>
<h2>The History of the Mulligan in MTG</h2>
<p>Before we can talk about Commander, a format that only rose to popularity enough to be a recognized format in 2013, we have to talk about <em>Magic</em> in August of 1993.</p>
<p>I found out today that the original game of <em>Magic</em> had no mulligan rules. Its game designers were worried about the very thing that is the crux of most mulligan arguments: They believed it rewarded poor deck building.</p>
<h3>The 1st Mulligan in <em>Magic</em></h3>
<p>However, mulligans were instated literally less than a year later, in 1994. Players likely proved that the system was as-then currently too strict to reward even good deckbuilding.</p>
<p>At least, that's my theory. This mulligan consisted of a player revealing their opening hand, showing no spells or no lands, and drafting a fresh hand. You could only do this once per game. This didn't last by itself very long.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wheel of Fortune"></div></div>
<h3>The Paris Mulligan</h3>
<p>In 1997, the Paris Mulligan rose to popularity. It was suggested as an alternative by Matt Hydra, a Pro Tour player. Mulligans would happen after starting player was determined, but before any other actions.</p>
<p>If dissatisfied with their hand, a player could put their hand back in the deck and draw one less than the the starting hand, all without revealing their hand.</p>
<p>For each mulligan, the player would draw one less card, until they were satisfied or were left with no cards in hand.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gauntlet of Might"></div></div>
<h3>Vancouver Mulligan</h3>
<p>Surprisingly, when I first played a prerelease in 2016 for <em>Kaladesh</em>, they were still using The Paris Mulligan at the local LGS I was at.</p>
<p>This is interesting, because the Vancouver Mulligan went into syndicated ruling effect in 2015. This consisted of the same rules as the Paris Mulligan, but the person with fewer than the starting hand could Scry 1.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Vault"></div></div>
<h3>The London Mulligan</h3>
<p>The London Mulligan (the system we have in place now) was established in <em>Core Set 2020</em> . The rule is: If a player is dissatisfied with their hand after starting player is decided, they may shuffle their hand back in, draw up to seven cards, and put back one card at the bottom of their library in any order for each additional mulligan. No scrying is allowed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk"></div></div>
<h2>Commander Mulligan</h2>
<p>It's actually news to me that the official rules for mulligans for Commander were as they were. I've always heard that Commander has a "free" mulligan. Meaning if you don't like your first hand, you may draw another 7 with no penalty or additional rulings.</p>
<p>Well, there is no official ruling saying this is true. There are a lot of informal rules, but officially Commander follows competitive format rulings on mulligans.</p>
<p>It's important to note however, most players follow the free mulligan rule more casually. The Commander Rule Committee (CRC) advises that even in 1v1 Commander, the free mulligan be used.</p>
<p>The CRC goes one step further and says to set aside hands instead of shuffling them into the deck to save time on shuffling.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Savannah Lions"></div></div>
<h3>Additional Commander Mulligan Types</h3>
<p>There is also the Partial Paris Mulligan, which allows players to set aside any amount of cards from their hand and draw that many minus one for each mulligan. Once the hand is selected, the set side cards are shuffled in.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sol Ring"></div></div>
<h2>The Sides and Their Merits</h2>
<p>Now that we have a good understanding of where mulligans come from, we have some frame of reference. There isn't a ton online about the reasoning behind some of the updates to mulligans throughout the years, but we can take some educated guesses.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Howling Mine"></div></div>
<h3>Strict Mulligan Rulings</h3>
<p>Definition: Following the rules of competitive pay. No free mulligans or only one.</p>
<p>This is at the core of competitive play. We want to know when we play competitively, we minimize as much randomness as we can.</p>
<p>We tune our decks to ensure that it plays as consistently as possible. With a strict mulligan rule, it allows some insight into the strengths and weaknesses of a deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ur-Dragon"></div></div>
<p>An example may be: If in your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck you have to mulligan a lot because most of the permanents in your hand are too costly mana-value wise, it might be a indication that your deck needs more early game options.</p>
<p>You might also discover that in testing with your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower" href="#" target="_blank">Bristly Bill, Spine Sower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> landfall deck you're not seeing anything but lands. It may be that you don't have enough draw in your deck, or that you might be running a touch too many lands. Mulligans can help show you this.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower"></div></div>
<p>If you find in your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coram, the Undertaker" href="#" target="_blank">Coram, the Undertaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck you're not managing to get Coram out fast enough, you might not be running enough ramp. That could be why you haven't been seeing them consistently in your opening hands.</p>
<p>Additionally, it's important as a skill to see whether a hand is worth keeping. Don't push your luck. It's a skill of its own knowing what's keepable in your deck based on how you've built it. Strict mulligan rule help hone this skill.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coram, the Undertaker"></div></div>
<p>All in all, stricter mulligan rules clarify how efficient you can be as a deck builder, and that is something worth exploring.</p>
<h3>Loose Mulligan Rules</h3>
<p>Definition: basically an amount of mulligans based on vibes.</p>
<p>This is at the core of casual play. We want to know when we play casually that we minimize how "unfun" a game can be for other payers.</p>
<p>Specifically, we want to allow any amount of chances for a player to have a fulfilling game of Commander. With a loose mulligan rule, it allows us to maximize the amount of fun the whole tables has on average.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Remora"></div></div>
<p>We've all been in a bad rut where a well-tuned mana base or an efficient deck just has an attitude with you and won't draw well and won't shuffle well. I've once shuffled my deck and saw the same 4 cards in each opening hand.</p>
<p>In a deck that runs 60 singleton, plus some number of unique non-basic lands cards, it's likely that the odds be against you in getting a consistent hand.</p>
<p>We know that <em>Magic </em>sets sometimes print functionally redundant cards, like running <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Running cards that function essentially the same is the key to optimization in a deck, but sometimes the randomness is truly just the randomness.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pongify"></div></div>
<p>It's tough looking at a player who is going to have to sit through a one hour game and tell them they have to play with two cards in hand versus another player who is keeping a solid seven.</p>
<p>Additionally, even if a player deck is unoptimized, is it worth making them play through hours of gameplay to prove that to them?</p>
<p>Most people end up mulligan-ing around three times with loose mulligans rules, and while this can be annoying, social pressure usually encourages them to explain what elements of their decks they're running with.</p>
<p>People will ask after the third mulligan: How many lands and mana rocks are you running? What is the curve of your deck? How many creatures are you running?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Three Visits"></div></div>
<p>All in all, casual mulligans allow for more consistently fun games for everyone.</p>
<h2>Synthesizing the Mulligan</h2>
<p>In writing this article, I've dug up a lot of research about mulligans and it's changed my understanding. I don't think it changes my personal stance, but it clarifies some things for me.</p>
<p>I think Loose Mulligans are better as long as there is a bit of social pressure. I'm not letting someone craft their perfect hand, but I want them to have a playable seven.</p>
<p>My main reasoning here starts with the fact that Commander is a traditionally casual format. The free mulligan that has made its way into the format emphasizes the typical casualness of the game.</p>
<p>We want everyone to have fun more than we want people to build a perfectly optimized deck. If I want that kind of restriction, I would play CEDH.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tymna the Weaver"></div></div>
<p>I'm not saying we shouldn't build competitively in the casual format. We all do. This is why <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wotc-introduces-new-bracket-system-for-edh">the Bracket System</a> is so important. It's just what our priorities should be.</p>
<p>Secondly, in my experience, what makes me decks more efficient isn't just what I see in a mulligan or two.</p>
<p>I learn far more about my decks when it loses to a deck that is just that more efficient, even when my deck performs as intended.</p>
<p>If my deck needs more card draw, better ramp, or lower mana value spells, I can still play may deck at peak and understand those problems.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darksteel Forge"></div></div>
<p>In my experience, I've just had to play against other tuned decks to understand my weaknesses. Iron sharpens iron. I often notice my lack of draw when another deck does it better and so on.</p>
<p>Lastly, I didn't realize how gradually mulligans have rewarded players more over time. Even in competitive formats, the strictness of the mulligan couldn't cancel out the randomness of the game. But perhaps that's a little naive of me. Let me know, I'm <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strixhavendropout.bsky.social">@strixhavendropout on Blue Sky</a>.</p>


opinion