<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder" href="#" target="_blank">Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by </em><a href="https://www.daarken.com/"><em>Daarken</em></a></p>
<p>I've tried to make big creatures work many times in Pauper Commander. I've had decks that make a ton of mana, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tatyova, Benthic Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Tatyova, Benthic Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; decks that care about attacking, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tori D&#039;Avenant, Fury Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Tori D&#039;Avenant, Fury Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; and decks that specifically want huge spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty" href="#" target="_blank">Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but over and over, I have the same problem. Pauper doesn't really have any good monsters. Once you go above six power or so, the best thing you've got is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ulamog&#039;s Crusher" href="#" target="_blank">Ulamog&#039;s Crusher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even that massive Eldrazi is pretty mediocre in a four-player, 120-life format. (90 if you're playing pEDH.) I mean, seriously, what are you gonna do with it? Attack and force someone to sacrifice two permanents every turn cycle? Annihilator 2 is strong, but not damning like it is in a 60-card format, and an 8/8 without trample is just going to get blocked until it dies to a board wipe. But that's the best we've got!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ulamog&#039;s Crusher"></div></div>
<p>So I've more or less dismissed the idea of making a big creatures deck. As far as I could tell, it was never gonna work, and if I wanted large numbers, I'd just have to settle for infinite combos. But then I found <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder" href="#" target="_blank">Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and I think that maybe, just maybe, he could make a feasible big creatures deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder"></div></div>
<p>There's a few reasons why he changes the game. First and and foremost is his color identity. Red, green, and black? Jund is basically the shard of big scary things. Dragons, Dinosaurs, Dragon Dinosaurs, you name it. With access to three colors, the range of creatures we can pick from becomes much wider, and therefore, much better. Conveniently, these three colors are the best possible ones for our theme.</p>
<p>Then there's Mr. Orfeo's actual ability. Whenever you attack, double target creature's power until end of turn. Very simple, but it spells out our strategy for us. Get some power on the board, then double that power. About as basic as it gets. We're just gonna play creatures that deal a ton of damage, and use them to deal twice that damage. Nothing to it!</p>
<h2>XL Creatures</h2>
<p>While we don't have anything like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghalta, Primal Hunger" href="#" target="_blank">Ghalta, Primal Hunger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, there are still plenty of big creatures for us to take. Some of them may be mediocre by most standards, but as long as they're reasonably costed and carry decent keywords, like trample, they'll work just fine. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rust Goliath" href="#" target="_blank">Rust Goliath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good example. Ten mana for a 10/10 isn't a great deal, but hey, we'll be playing the ramp needed to cast it, and Mr. Orfeo can turn it into a 20-power trampler. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Annoyed Altisaur" href="#" target="_blank">Annoyed Altisaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maelstrom Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Maelstrom Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ulamog&#039;s Crusher" href="#" target="_blank">Ulamog&#039;s Crusher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all in here for the same reason. Big power, reasonable cost.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rust Goliath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maelstrom Colossus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Annoyed Altisaur"></div></div>
<p>But despite all the ramp we're gonna be playing, we still are gonna have a few turns where seven-drops are dead in hand. That's why it's gonna be wise to play creatures with cycling. For the sake of draft formats, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> has started printing huge creatures with cycling (or discard) abilities in every single set. It improves Limited decks, and it can improve ours as well. In go <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greater Sandwurm" href="#" target="_blank">Greater Sandwurm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valley Rannet" href="#" target="_blank">Valley Rannet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Troll of Khazad-dûm" href="#" target="_blank">Troll of Khazad-dûm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oliphaunt" href="#" target="_blank">Oliphaunt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also fits in this category, but it's really here because it gives other creatures trample.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Greater Sandwurm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Troll of Khazad-dûm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oliphaunt"></div></div>
<p>We'll also keep an eye out for creatures that are cheaper to cast. We can't afford to be spending seven mana on every creature, of course. Luckily, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Monstrosity" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Monstrosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> do just that, by reducing their own cost. There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gargadon" href="#" target="_blank">Gargadon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can be suspended for two, and then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miming Slime" href="#" target="_blank">Miming Slime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which could be a three-cost 20/20 if it's played at the right time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Molten Monstrosity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gargadon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Miming Slime"></div></div>
<h2>A Bit of Backup</h2>
<p>But of course we're gonna need some support for all these big guys we're casting. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossal Dreadmaw" href="#" target="_blank">Colossal Dreadmaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great, it doesn't do all that much on its own, so why don't we cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temur Battle Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Temur Battle Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on it and send it swinging in for 24? We can also use our big creatures as forms of removal, with some fight spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prizefight" href="#" target="_blank">Prizefight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pit Fight" href="#" target="_blank">Pit Fight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ram Through" href="#" target="_blank">Ram Through</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, all are great ways to take our opponents' creatures out. Why waste space on an effective removal spell like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feed the Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Feed the Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> when we could be reliant on a big creature? Well... okay, maybe we should just play the typical removal spells, but hey, fight spells are cooler and on-theme.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temur Battle Rage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prizefight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ram Through"></div></div>
<p>There are a few cards that can do some actually unique tricks with high power, however. I'm talking about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, of course. Swing in for 20 damage, cast Fling, deal 20 more damage, and you've killed a player. That's a pretty great trick that's won more games than I can count, and because we're in Jund colors, we can play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Consumption" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Consumption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Essence Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Essence Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well! These cards are most likely how this deck is going to close out a game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fling"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rite of Consumption"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Essence Harvest"></div></div>
<p>Finally, we've got to make sure we're hitting our ramp quota, because a high curve has to be compensated for. It shouldn't be difficult, however. Green is packed full of cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Llanowar Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Llanowar Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, plus the classic sorceries, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Pretty good, but we can do even better. We'll include all the Signets, and a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought Vessel" href="#" target="_blank">Thought Vessel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to boot, but the best ramp cards are cost-reducers. Conveniently, we're in just the colors to play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thunderscape Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Thunderscape Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Anarchomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Anarchomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The discounts those cards provide will rack up huge numbers by the end of the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Llanowar Elves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampant Growth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderscape Familiar"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Pauper Commander - Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Ambitious Dragonborn
*1 Annoyed Altisaur
*1 Boarding Party
*1 Carrion Grub
*1 Colossal Dreadmaw
*1 Crimson Fleet Commodore
*1 Dread Linnorm // Scale Deflection
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Experiment One
*1 Fin-Clade Fugitives
*1 Gargadon
*1 Greater Sandwurm
*1 Ironhoof Boar
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Maelstrom Colossus
*1 Molten Monstrosity
*1 Oliphaunt
*1 Rust Goliath
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Spitebellows
*1 Springbloom Druid
*1 Thunderscape Familiar
*1 Troll of Khazad-dûm
*1 Ulamog&#039;s Crusher
*1 Valley Rannet
*1 Writhing Necromass
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Fling
*1 Harrow
*1 Nature&#039;s Claim
*1 Pit Fight
*1 Predator&#039;s Rapport
*1 Prizefight
*1 Ram Through
*1 Reckoner&#039;s Bargain
*1 Soul&#039;s Fire
*1 Temur Battle Rage
*1 Unexpected Windfall
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Dead Reckoning
*1 Edge of Autumn
*1 Essence Harvest
*1 Farseek
*1 Hull Breach
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Miming Slime
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Rite of Consumption
*1 Seize the Spoils
*1 Sign in Blood
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Capenna Express
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Gruul Signet
*1 Nihil Spellbomb
*1 Pinnacle Kill-Ship
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Thundersteel Colossus
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*11 Forest
*11 Mountain
*11 Swamp
*1 Thriving Bluff
*1 Thriving Grove
*1 Thriving Moor
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>So that's how to build a power matters deck in Pauper. I've been thinking about it for so long, and I've finally got a pile that works! Mr. Orfeo's ability is just nuts. I mean, doubling the power of a creature? That kind of ability used to be reserved for mythics, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xenagos, God of Revels" href="#" target="_blank">Xenagos, God of Revels</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Now, we can do the same thing with a Pauper commander. Spectacular! Yes, this deck is held back by a high mana curve and creatures that only really do one thing, but hey, they do that one thing really well, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> really seals the deal. Mission success, I'd say.</p>


orfeo

Pauper Commander - Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder