<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Kuja, Genome Sorcerer | Art by <a href="https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-joshua-raphael/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joshua Raphael</a></em></p>
<p>The long-awaited <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin"><em>Final Fantasy</em></a> set is on the horizon, and the hype train has already left the station. Even if you aren't the most excited to see cards from this video game series enter <em>Magic</em>, you do have to admit that some of these new designs are incredible. One of the legendary creatures that has taken the internet by storm already is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>When I was young, my brothers played through <em>Final Fantasy IX</em> and I'll be honest with everyone here: Kuja was terrifying to me... So, it seems only fitting that I would overcome my fear for this villain and bring you fourteen cards for under $14 to help you get started on brewing around this commander on a budget. Strap in, throw <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4AQ7kRcn_A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuja's awesome theme</a> on, and get ready to bring the house down with your accursed flames!</p>
<h2>What Does Kuja, Genome Sorcerer Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer"></div></div>
<p>Coming in straight from my childhood nightmares to terrorize your playgroup, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. On its front side, you'll be making an 0/1 Wizard on your endstep that pings your opponents when you cast noncreature spells. Then, after you control four or more Wizards, Kuja will flip to his other side, Trance Kuja, Fate Defied, which then doubles the damage any of your Wizards deal from there on out.</p>
<p>Since this commander costs four mana, there's a good chance you'll have a Wizard or two out already by the time you cast him. That means you'll be flipping over to the damage doubling side sooner than most people think. So, with this list I'll be highlighting some great Wizards that pair nicely with that second side of Kuja, as well as some big noncreature spells that can help set you far ahead the rest of the table, especially when paired with those little Wizard tokens.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at the list now.</p>
<h3>Coruscation Mage</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coruscation Mage"></div></div>
<p>Our first card this week is a perfect Wizard for this list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coruscation Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Coruscation Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deals a damage to each opponent when you cast a noncreature spell, which is the main goal of this deck already. It also can come with an offspring token, to add even more fuel to its fire. Once your Kuja flips, you could possibly be dealing four damage to your foes over and over again. Pair this Otter with your small Wizard tokens, and it's time to really deal some pain.</p>
<h3>Gleeful Arsonist</h3>
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<p>This next card fills a similar role to our last entry, and it comes with an added layer of protection. If <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gleeful Arsonist" href="#" target="_blank">Gleeful Arsonist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> happens to get killed as your game goes on, that undying effect is here to bring it right back with a +1/+1 counter on it. Since the Arsonist deals damage to your opponents equal to its power, you'll almost prefer it to get destroyed just so it can come back better than ever! Plus, this card looks like it fits right in with Kuja and his antics...</p>
<h3>Irencrag Pyromancer</h3>
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<p>Decks built around this new commander will most likely be filled with cantrips (spells that have an effect and also draws you a card), to help trigger your Wizard's pinging abilities as often as you can. If your build of the deck goes in that direction, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irencrag Pyromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Irencrag Pyromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perfect for you. Of course, the ability to double its damage could just end games for you, but even dealing three damage as its base level can clear up your opponents' threats. Dropping this on turn three could just halt a lot of other players' game plans if they're concerned you could just wipe their value pieces off the board.</p>
<h3>Blood Cultist</h3>
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<p>Another great way to keep the board clear of small threats is with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Cultist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Cultist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Tapping to deal one damage isn't too bad, especially when you can ping things down to grow your creature. However, once Kuja has flipped over to his other side, you can then deal two damage to enemy creatures or just swing in with a big beefy Cultist. One way or another, adding this card to your deck will be a thorn in everyone else's sides.</p>
<h3>Basalt Ravager</h3>
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<p>Next up is a card you might want to hold on to until your board is just right. Sure, you can slam <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basalt Ravager" href="#" target="_blank">Basalt Ravager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> down before you have double damage and it would probably make a big impact. However, if you wait until the right time and Kuja has been flipped over, you could possibly just take a player out of the game. On top of that burn damage the Ravager offers, it can also swing in to deal eight damage if you put it in the red zone.</p>
<h3>Anathemancer</h3>
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<p>Speaking of game enders, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can truly take some of the more lavish players at your table out of the game. When it enters, it hits one of your opponents with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Price of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Price of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-esque effect, which, when paired with a damage doubler, could be backbreaking. This type of spell is great for picking off a player who might be more ahead than the rest of the table, after they fill their board with stacks of specialty lands. Also, even though <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s unearth is expensive, you could take someone by surprise late in the game to close things out.</p>
<h3>Harmonic Prodigy</h3>
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<p>Alright, since we're midway through the list, it's time to double everything our Wizards are doing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonic Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonic Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! So far, every creature we've talked about has had a triggered ability, which means that when the Prodigy is out, your game plan is going to go up a level. With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> flipped, doubling your Wizard's damage, that 0/1 token is dealing four damage whenever you cast a noncreature spell. Which is already crazy, but then you drop something like that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we just talked about... That could be game over.</p>
<h3>Harnesser of Storms</h3>
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<p>This deck is already looking to cast as many noncreature spells as possible, so adding a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harnesser of Storms" href="#" target="_blank">Harnesser of Storms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the list will ensure you're constantly churning through your library. This deck will most likely be an <em>all-in</em> type of strategy, so having an effect to dig deeper into your library while you're progressing through a risky turn will be a big help. Even if this creature only assists you with hitting your land drops each turn, you'll be happy to have it on your team.</p>
<h3>Party Thrasher</h3>
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<p>If you happen to have a lot of those 0/1 tokens sitting around, why not throw a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Party Thrasher" href="#" target="_blank">Party Thrasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> down and have them help you cast your spells? Giving convoke to all your noncreature spells is a great way to push through that last little bit of damage to the rest of the table, by chaining several powerful spells together on the same turn. Plus, even if you run out of threats to cast, the Thrasher has a way to exile two cards from your library and ensure you can keep this pain train rolling.</p>
<h3>Electrostatic Infantry</h3>
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<p>A majority of the noncreature spells you'll be casting in a deck like this will be instants and sorceries, which is exactly what <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electrostatic Infantry" href="#" target="_blank">Electrostatic Infantry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves to see. Gaining a counter whenever you sling one of those spells is great, especially when you make it to the late game and can double the trampling damage this creature can offer. Given enough time, this could be a way to slam through your opponent's defenses and turn their chump blockers into chump change (I don't even know if that made sense).</p>
<h3>Taurean Mauler</h3>
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<p>Listen, I know this bull thing doesn’t look like a Wizard, but technically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Taurean Mauler" href="#" target="_blank">Taurean Mauler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a part of that team. Throwing this onto the field in the early game and letting it grow to a massive size just means that you can consistently pressure the boards of the other players at the table. On top of that, the next few spells I'll be talking about on this list work perfectly when you have a big creature like the Mauler, which is just champing at the bit for its damage to be doubled!</p>
<h3>Soul's Fire</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul&#039;s Fire"></div></div>
<p>Next up, we have a spell that's similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but lets you keep your creature around. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows one of your Wizards to deal damage equal to its power to any target. When played in conjunction with the flip side of <span class="edhrecp__link only-back"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can deal a big chunk of damage to anything! Think of that with either of our last two cards on the list, and that's a way to wipe one of your foes out of the game completely, at instant speed.</p>
<h3>Chandra's Ignition</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chandra&#039;s Ignition"></div></div>
<p>One of the most impactful spells on the entire list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra&#039;s Ignition" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra&#039;s Ignition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not only is this spell a board wipe, but when paired with a large Wizard, it could take your opponents' life totals down to single digits; all while clearing the way for your last remaining threat to swing through freely and deal another major blow. This card is a staple in our format, so be sure to snatch one up just in case that price starts to climb higher and higher.</p>
<h3>Surge to Victory</h3>
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<p>We're closing things out this week with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surge to Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Surge to Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, basically an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in this deck. Giving your board a buff to their power based on the mana value of the spell you exile is great for a big swing, especially since those 0/1 Wizard tokens can finally enter into combat. Then, you get to cast a copy of that spell when your creatures hit a player, which just adds insult to injury! Imagine casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> over and over again after a big combat? That's brutal.</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>Well, there you have it: fourteen cards for under $14 to help get you started on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. I know the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set is still almost a month away, but grabbing these cards for a low price now will help you in the long run.</p>
<p>Let me know what you thought of this list in the comments below. Also, if Kuja scared you as a kid as well, let me know and we can support each other during this scary time. Thank you everyone for reading this far, and I'll see you next week!</p>


Building Kuja, Genome Sorcerer on A Budget - Fourteen Cards Under $14

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://scryfall.com/card/sld/1755/saw-in-half">Saw in Half</a> |Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/maniaks">Slawomir Maniak</a></h6>
<h6 style="text-align: right;"></h6>
<h1>A Deadly Distraction</h1>
<p>I'm sure the hypes and vibes are everywhere right now. <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> just released a few days ago, and everyone's having a blast! In fairness, I am, too. As a precon connoisseur, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/temur-roar-precon-guide-tarkir-dragonstorm">I cannot get over how well built those precons are</a>. Why, I got the set of them with no higher than five upgrades each sleeved up and ready.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, tragedy had to strike and I fell ill, but I'm coming out of it as I'm writing this article. That being said, I'm looking forward to getting some games in with them and enjoying them before that massive meteorite known as <em>Final Fantasy</em> hits shelves. I'm trying really hard to distract myself from it.</p>
<p>Oh, but what's this? Another distraction? That's right.</p>
<h1>April Pools! ...Or is it?</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadpool, Trading Card"></div></div>
<p>Well, well. I guess Tarkir was not the only talk of the town after all. We had our sixth <em>Marvel</em>-themed <em>Secret Lair Drop</em> in Deadpool, the big bad merc who just loves to break the fourth wall. Does he? Let's find out together.</p>
<p>Deadpool was originally an antagonist of the X-Force and the New Mutants but has evolved over time into an anti-hero character, where he enjoys an incredible amount of popularity, even in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe, for those who don't know).</p>
<p>In addition, he comes with a regeneration factor alongside a mastery for close combat (including swords and martial arts). Deadpool also boasts superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes among other things. But, let's face it, his greatest superpower is breaking the fourth wall, but I'm getting ahead of myself.</p>
<p>His card could very well be the most complicated card I've had to work with for an article. For starters, his textbox-swapping ability is seen on only one other card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exchange of Words" href="#" target="_blank">Exchange of Words</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is surprisingly legal. Consequently, he's going to be a rules nightmare for the uninitiated.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the other abilities rarely matter to you; that's for your opponents to worry about instead. Unless, somehow, Deadpool failed to switch textboxes. All this raises the question: how do we get him to work?</p>
<h1>Draw Me Like One of Your Scam Artists</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flamerush Rider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Master, Multiplied"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Saw in Half"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, it's worth noting that Deadpool won't work once you switch the textboxes. Think of him as a clone effect with an extra twist. When I started to make a list, my first attempt was to build it like one of those infamous Scam decks from 60-card formats, but the <em>UB</em> card pool was not in my favor. Then, it hit me eventually: what if I copied Deadpool?</p>
<p>The selection there isn't much, but it'll get us going. Effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twinflame" href="#" target="_blank">Twinflame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Friends to the End; 82978 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamerush Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Flamerush Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (26,976 decks) create temporary copies of Deadpool, so you'll get more chances to steal some textboxes.</p>
<p>The tokens made will be legendary, so they will be sacrificed as part of state-based effects. However, that's not before the text swap happens, so you're essentially "eliminating" a threat in an unorthodox way.</p>
<p>You can also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saw in Half" href="#" target="_blank">Saw in Half</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (91,161 decks) your own Deadpool, so you can text-swap two creatures for the price of three mana.</p>
<p>That said, the best card in the deck is easily <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Master, Multiplied" href="#" target="_blank">The Master, Multiplied</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (21,148 decks). The card spiked in price for a reason, after all. The "legend rule" no longer applies to the Deadpool tokens you create, so they're around forever, and they'll have myriad, ensuring you create even more tokens and become a real headache to your opponents.</p>
<p>Consequently, you likely will have swapped the textboxes to get that effect, so you'd have to get rid of the Deadpooled Master somehow.</p>
<p>Even if you don't have him, <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> (84,636 decks) does a good impression, for a whopping nine mana. If you can pay that much and protect both Deadpool and the Equipment, you're off to the races.</p>
<h1>A Thrilling Encore</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harmless Offering"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Too Greedily, Too Deep"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Incarnation Technique"></div></div>
<p>With a small card selection for making copies of Deadpool, I had to turn to some grave means: we're going to reanimate Deadpool over and over again.</p>
<p>Most importantly, if Deadpool were to kick the bucket, send him to the graveyard (don't worry if someone <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s you; you're still able to send him back into the command zone to cast again), then use a reanimation spell to get him back.</p>
<p>You can also do this to any creature you Deadpooled, because it'll have its original textbox back. Failing that, you can always use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmless Offering" href="#" target="_blank">Harmless Offering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,387 decks) to send it to an opponent.</p>
<p>Moreover, we've got a good selection of reanimation spells, from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Death" href="#" target="_blank">Living Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (155,419 decks) to the lowly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (484,613 decks).</p>
<p>Secondly, we've also got access to some reanimation spells unique to <em>UB</em>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Too Greedily, Too Deep" href="#" target="_blank">Too Greedily, Too Deep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (15,420 decks) wipes the board while bringing something back, clearing the way for an attack. If you can connect with Deadpool, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Restart Sequence" href="#" target="_blank">Restart Sequence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (17,997 decks) can be cast for half off its original cost.</p>
<p>Otherwise, four mana isn't too shabby. Some others from the original IP include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Incarnation Technique" href="#" target="_blank">Incarnation Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> [reskinned as Escape Containment (31,814 decks)], which fills our graveyard and reanimates a creature, and, if you take advantage of the demonstrate ability, we can do it again.</p>
<p>In addition, don't worry if your opponents don't have anything worth text-swapping because we can do it to our own creatures, too. That said, Deadpool should be the number one reanimation target. If there's nothing worth copying, feel free to bring out some other beater and hammer your opponents that way.</p>
<p>Lastly, Don't be afraid to use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Bring Out Your Dead!; 167,946 decks) to ditch some big monsters into your 'yard.</p>
<p>You'd be able to reanimate them on a later turn or, if you're lucky, the same turn! If it's not in your graveyard when you cast it, find that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anger" href="#" target="_blank">Anger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (167,616 decks) and get it in there, so your creatures don't become sitting ducks, waiting a full turn to attack.</p>
<h1>Deadpool's Cinema</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-&#039;Pooling Around" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Deadpool, Trading Card
[/Commander]
[Sorceries]
*1 Beacon of Unrest
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Dread Return
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Harmless Offering
*1 Incarnation Technique
*1 Lidless Gaze
*1 Living Death
*1 Reanimate
*1 Restart Sequence
*1 Too Greedily, Too Deep
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Twinflame
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Wake the Dragon
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 The Ruinous Powers
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Anger
*1 Bloodthirster
*1 Cavern-Hoard Dragon
*1 Chaos Defiler
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Flamerush Rider
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Grave Titan
*1 Humble Defector
*1 Inferno Titan
*1 Kardur, Doomscourge
*1 Scourge of the Throne
*1 Shard of the Void Dragon
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 The Balrog of Moria
*1 The Master, Multiplied
[/Creatures]
[Lands]
*1 Billiard Room
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Foreboding Ruins
*1 Haunted Ridge
*1 Lavaclaw Reaches
*9 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Shadowblood Ridge
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*9 Swamp
*1 Tainted Peak
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 War Room
[/Lands]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Blade of Selves
*1 Cloudstone Curio
*1 Confession Dial
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Resurrection Orb
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Bituminous Blast
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crypt Incursion
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Deadly Rollick
*1 Dismember
*1 Go for the Throat
*1 Saw in Half
*1 Terminate
*1 Unexpected Windfall
[/Instants]"></span></div>
<h1>Deadpool? More like Deadcool, Am I Right?</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodthirster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Titan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Balrog of Moria"></div></div>
<p>This decklist tells us one thing: a reanimator deck is absolutely possible within the <em>UB</em> card pool thanks to the <em>Hosts of Mordor</em> precon that came with <em>The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth </em>release.</p>
<p>Consequently, it also gave us some of the beefiest reanimator targets. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavern-Hoard Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Cavern-Hoard Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (67,106 decks) can potentially get us a lot of Treasures. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scourge of the Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Scourge of the Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodthirster" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodthirster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (65,971 and 44,009 decks respectively) can also give us extra combat phases, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inferno Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Inferno Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (41,661 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as West Tek Tyrant; 68,587 decks) do something when they come in or attack, so they're valuable to have.</p>
<p>Further, it's perhaps best to treat Deadpool as yet another reanimation target, like I mentioned in the previous section. Chances are, you'll end up with a weaker version of your own creature if you Deadpool it, since he'll retain his stat line.</p>
<p>However, there are a few exceptions to this. Copying <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crimson Caravaneer" href="#" target="_blank">Crimson Caravaneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5,825 decks) would enable Deadpool to gain double strike and trample, plus give us Junk tokens to impulse draw when we need it.</p>
<p>The only other exception in the deck list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gimli of the Glittering Caves" href="#" target="_blank">Gimli of the Glittering Caves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (27,572 decks), who also gives him double strike, but also the ability to make Treasure tokens when he hits.</p>
<p>That said, we can always return him to our hand if we need to. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Sorry Jack...Chucky's Back; 96,674 decks) can fish it out of our 'yard.</p>
<p>This is especially useful if someone decides to exile your graveyard. Another way is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Elessar, the Eflstone; 52,062 decks), which will send Deadpool back to our hand if another creature of ours comes in.</p>
<p>Its application here is more limited, since you ideally don't want to be bouncing your big stuff to your hand. Then again, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Balrog of Moria" href="#" target="_blank">The Balrog of Moria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solemn Simulacrum" href="#" target="_blank">Solemn Simulacrum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (23,846 and 784,945 decks, respectively) are your other best targets for the Curio.</p>
<h1>A Merc's Job Done</h1>
<p>I quite enjoyed the semi-unique spin on Deadpool. Where with in-universe cards, you're making copies of him like he's a rabbit, we're out here reanimating him and other beefy creatures to get the job done. Hopefully one day, a full-on copy/scam build a truly possible with Deadpool, but only time will tell if that can be done.</p>
<p>With Marvel being a long-term crossover, we can expect more content centered on it. However, I'm going to cover as many of the Marvel legends from the first wave as I can. Maybe I can get them out before <em>Final Fantasy </em>hits shelves, but I doubt that. I do have others I want to cover before then, too, especially one that's on my shortlist.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, next time won't be Marvel... but it can be? I could make it a double decklist article, like I did with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Battle-Ready" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Battle-Ready</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer" href="#" target="_blank">Kassandra, Eagle Bearer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the other week.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments if you want me to do that next week If not, it won't be until around June that I get to it next. In any case, tune in next time when we get up to some wizardry shenanigans. Lastly, bonus internet points to any of you reading this article while eating a chimichanga.</p>


Beyond the Multiverse-Deadpool, Trading Card

Borderland Explorer – Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos

Commander Fusion: Juri, Born of the Forge

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/chriscold">Chris Cold</a></h6>
<h1><b>The call was coming from inside the house!</b></h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello there! Welcome once again to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">EDHighlights</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the mini-series where I build decks for the year's most popular commander for each color combination. Now that 2024's set releases have finished up, I'll be taking a look at the most popular releases from the past year. Here, I'll talk a bit about each of the most popular commanders and build a deck for them with a little twist to keep things interesting.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We're working with the year's most popular Rakdos commander this time, which means this article will be about… [<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the first precon face commander in this series, and it's not hard to see why he's so popular. Rakdos is already a well-loved color pair, group slug is a popular strategy, and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Duskmourn</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was a pretty popular set. So, let's see what this demonic dude can do.</span></p>
<h2><b>They put this thing in a precon?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 4/4 Elder Demon with flying and ward (cost: pay 2 life) for 4 mana. And, whenever one of our opponents loses life for the first time during their turn, we get to draw a card and put a +1/+1 counter on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a very strong commander, and it incentivizes us to ensure that we can create a steady stream of life loss for each of our opponents. If we can do that, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> promises us heaps of card advantage and a large, evasive creature to win in combat with.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's lots of ways to hurt our opponents in Rakdos colors, so we won't be starved for options. But, I promised that this deck would break the mold slightly. So, we'll be making our opponents lose life through Aristocrat-style gain-and-drain effects. This color combination is a natural fit for an Aristocrats strategy, and I'm excited to get brewing!</span></p>
<h2><b>Joining the aristocracy</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I think of Aristocrats, my mind immediately goes to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This creature is a format staple for a reason, and it works particularly well here. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When ANY creature dies, one of ours or one of our opponents', we'll get a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> trigger. Most of the time, we'll have a spare creature lying around that we can sacrifice, and something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vraan, Executioner Thane" href="#" target="_blank">Vraan, Executioner Thane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will trigger our commander.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zulaport Cutthroat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vraan, Executioner Thane"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and co. will make sure that when creatures die, we get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to do his thing. But now we need a good pool of disposable creatures. One of the best ways to do this in Commander is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loyal Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Loyal Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We'll (hopefully) have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the battlefield for the majority of the game, so this card can really shine. There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord Skitter, Sewer King" href="#" target="_blank">Lord Skitter, Sewer King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which makes tokens and acts as an efficient graveyard hate piece. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lagomos, Hand of Hatred" href="#" target="_blank">Lagomos, Hand of Hatred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>] is here too, both as a token generator and (sometimes) as a repeatable tutor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loyal Apprentice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord Skitter, Sewer King"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lagomos, Hand of Hatred"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If we're going to have expendable creatures, and payoffs for them dying, we need some ways to sacrifice them too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos, the Muscle" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos, the Muscle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a free sac outlet, a card advantage engine, and a big flying creature all in one. I think this card is great, and this deck actually plays very well around its “once per turn” restriction. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only cares about the first time an opponent loses life each turn, we can use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos, the Muscle" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos, the Muscle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s free sacrifice ability quite well. There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, Widow of the Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, Widow of the Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She provides a sacrifice outlet with built-in life loss, and can reanimate the best thing in our graveyard each turn once we manage to transform her. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I've also included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Priest of Forgotten Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Priest of Forgotten Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can trigger our commander easily (just like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, Widow of the Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakdos, the Muscle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ayara, Widow of the Realm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Priest of Forgotten Gods"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b>A friendly game of ping pong</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead of making this just another Aristocrats deck that happens to have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at the helm, I'm also including some of the best group slug pieces that Magic has to offer. This commander is so strong, and I want to ensure that we can get maximum value out of him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Razorkin Needlehead" href="#" target="_blank">Razorkin Needlehead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrawling Crawler" href="#" target="_blank">Scrawling Crawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both released recently, and they're perfect cards for this deck. They're guaranteed to ping our opponents at least once on each of their turns, and odds are they'll do a lot more than that. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthborn Battler" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthborn Battler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good card too, because we'll get to choose where the damage goes no matter who cast their second spell. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This means we can choose to either get more triggers from our commander or whittle down a specific player's life total, whichever seems best at the moment. I'm also a big fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mogis, God of Slaughter" href="#" target="_blank">Mogis, God of Slaughter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It gives our opponents a choice, but each option is pretty bad for them. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plus, because of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style effects in the deck, they'll usually trigger <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> no matter what.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Razorkin Needlehead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hearthborn Battler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mogis, God of Slaughter"></div></div> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rounding out the group slug package here is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Sharpshooter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Sharpshooter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to act as either a way to ping someone's face or kill a creature, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kardur, Doomscourge" href="#" target="_blank">Kardur, Doomscourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make combat even more chaotic, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to disincentivize our opponents from attacking us. Combined, these creatures will hopefully make attacking us a little less appealing than it otherwise would be.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Sharpshooter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kardur, Doomscourge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b>All together now…</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crucially, there are only 9 cards in the 99 of this deck that have a converted mana cost of 4 or higher. It's important to get some setup on the board before <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> arrives, and to be able to ramp up the group-slugginess quickly after that, so this deck is relatively low to the ground.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And now, here's the full decklist:</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="2024&#039;s EDHighlights - Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Ayara, Widow of the Realm // Ayara, Furnace Queen
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Boggart Trawler // Boggart Bog
*1 Carrion Feeder
*1 Garna, Bloodfist of Keld
*1 Gleeful Arsonist
*1 Goblin Sharpshooter
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Hearthborn Battler
*1 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
*1 Juri, Master of the Revue
*1 Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant
*1 Kardur, Doomscourge
*1 Kederekt Parasite
*1 Lagomos, Hand of Hatred
*1 Lord Skitter, Sewer King
*1 Loyal Apprentice
*1 Marionette Apprentice
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Midnight Reaper
*1 Mogis, God of Slaughter
*1 Morbid Opportunist
*1 Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin
*1 Ophiomancer
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak
*1 Priest of Forgotten Gods
*1 Rakdos, the Muscle
*1 Razorkin Needlehead
*1 Rug of Smothering
*1 Scrawling Crawler
*1 Spiteful Prankster
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Totentanz, Swarm Piper
*1 Vein Ripper
*1 Vengeful Bloodwitch
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Vraan, Executioner Thane
*1 Woe Strider
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Bitterblossom
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Bloodchief Ascension
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Roiling Vortex
*1 The Meathook Massacre
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Blazemire Verge
*1 Blightstep Pathway // Searstep Pathway
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Command Tower
*1 Graven Cairns
*1 Haunted Ridge
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Mount Doom
*5 Mountain
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*1 Shadowblood Ridge
*1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
*1 Spymaster&#039;s Vault
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*10 Swamp
*1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
[/Lands]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Edict
*1 Bloodsoaked Insight // Sanguine Morass
*1 Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cryptolith Fragment // Aurora of Emrakul
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
*1 Flare of Duplication
*1 Flare of Malice
*1 Ghostfire Slice
*1 Hellish Rebuke
*1 Kolaghan&#039;s Command
*1 Lightning Bolt
*1 Not Dead After All
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Supernatural Stamina
*1 Untimely Malfunction
*1 Withering Torment
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ob Nixilis, the Adversary
[/Planeswalkers]"></span></div>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glorious End" href="#" target="_blank">Glorious End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks for reading this week's edition of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">EDHighlights</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">! This was a fun deck to build, and reminded me a lot of my own high-power <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> build. Both commanders want opponents to lose life, and both provide +1/+1 counters and card advantage when they do. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both cards are great, they both work great in the 99 of each other's decks. And, for a little extra Ob Nixilis in my life, I included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis, the Adversary" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis, the Adversary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a way to force lifeloss, another sacrifice outlet, and can even provide card advantage if it sticks on the board long enough.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ob Nixilis, the Adversary"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Which do you think is better? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Let me know in the comments below. I'll see you all next time, when I look at the year's most popular Gruul commander!</span></p>


2024’s EDHighlights -  Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CDmitry+Burmak%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Dmitry Burmak</a>)</h6>
<h1>Laughing at Everything</h1>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Smiles at Death" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Smiles at Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is back in <em>Foundations</em> as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">While she might have lost the color white, she gained an ability <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">she hadn't seen in a while: <em>R</em><em>aid</em></span><em>. </em>The old version of Alesha, and by old, I mean the card printed in the past, was a reanimation machine thanks to her activated ability. While the newer version can still bring creatures back from the grave, there are more hoops to jump through.</span></p>
<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">But a new card brings a new challenge, so join me, Nick, as we look at what <em>Foundations</em> offers with a deck tech that will leave you in stitches!</span></p>
<h2>Fate is a Cruel Mistress</h2>
<p><em>Raid </em>is not a mechanic I'm very fond of. It has its advantages, like usually not having a restriction on the creature with <em>Raid</em> attacking to get the trigger. But the major downside is that it triggers at the end of your turn. When it comes to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a single attack will allow you to bring back any creature with a mana value of three or less. While that might not look like much, there are some solid creatures to get back at the end of a turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Accursed Marauder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Imperial Recruiter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Voldaren Thrillseeker"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Accursed Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Accursed Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> messing up the opponents' boards with an end-of-turn sacrifice or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imperial Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Imperial Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> getting you many of the creatures in your deck at the end of turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voldaren Thrillseeker" href="#" target="_blank">Voldaren Thrillseeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can add a few counters to something already on the board, but with extra mana lying around, you can throw a creature for damage and set yourself up for reanimation on a later turn.</p>
<p>The sweet spot of this deck for free reanimation outside of some combos, which we will get to late, is at four CMC.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pitiless Plunderer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Canoptek Tomb Sentinel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Murderous Redcap"></div></div>
<p><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> is a mainstay card in any black deck adopting an aristocratic strategy. Turning every creature that dies on your side of the field into treasures lets any turn that looks mild go wild. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Canoptek Tomb Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Canoptek Tomb Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes a fabulous removal spell in this deck. Bring it back to exile, the biggest problem on the board, then attack it, hoping your opponent will send it back to the graveyard so you can do it all again.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murderous Redcap" href="#" target="_blank">Murderous Redcap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> often looks like a waste of a card slot to those who have never been combo-killed by this card in a 60-card format. In our deck, this card can be as few as two damage a turn to as high as 10+, depending on what other cards we have. It is also a card on which I have always enjoyed the art. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Garna, Bloodfist of Keld" href="#" target="_blank">Garna, Bloodfist of Keld</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, acts as another <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Judith, the Scourge Diva" href="#" target="_blank">Judith, the Scourge Diva</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and can sometimes draw an extra card or two.</p>
<h2>By a Thousand Cuts</h2>
<p>Speaking of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Judith, the Scourge Diva" href="#" target="_blank">Judith, the Scourge Diva</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the primary win condition of this deck is using creatures to poke away at the life total of the table. Rakdos has access to all of the major players in the aristocratic strategies in the commander format. While self-expression is part of the game, there are some must-play cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mayhem Devil"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marionette Apprentice"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are the most classic cards in our primary strategy. Both creatures not only deal damage but gain life, with Zulaport being a small margin better by hitting all opponents simultaneously. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marionette Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Marionette Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is new on the scene but has the added benefit of creating a creature that can immediately trigger their effect, thanks to Fabricate. It can also work with <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> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Professional Face-Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Professional Face-Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> by dealing damage whenever we sacrifice a treasure.</p>
<h2>What Makes Us Different?</h2>
<p>Our additional two combos make this deck different from your average Rakdos Aristrocrats commander deck. The first combo is an old-fashioned one from commander long past, known as the Worldgorger Combo. As the name implies, it uses the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldgorger Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Worldgorger Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and how it interacts with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animate Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Animate Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The short version of this combo results in infinite enter and leaves the battlefield triggers and infinite mana. Still, I'll turn to our friends at Commander Spellbook for a more detailed interaction.</p>
<div id="4812-4846" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="4812-4846" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Animate%20Dead%22%2C%22Worldgorger%20Dragon%22%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colored%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%5D&id=4812-4846&color=BR&extraRequirementCount=0"></script></div>
<div style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"></div>
<p>Most decks would take sole advantage of the mana generation to cast something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fireball" href="#" target="_blank">Fireball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and win the game. We do not have any cards like that in the deck. Instead, we want to focus on another part of the combo.</p>
<h3>Infinite Enters</h3>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldgorger Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Worldgorger Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to use some newer cards and one of the best red cards in the format to get a win.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agate Instigator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="General Kreat, the Boltbringer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Impact Tremors"></div></div>
<p>These cards will trigger when creatures enter during the loop, pinging our opponent for one damage at a time. We can see how the math gets fun if we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murderous Redcap" href="#" target="_blank">Murderous Redcap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out during this time. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Kreat, the Boltbringer" href="#" target="_blank">General Kreat, the Boltbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is the newest addition to these types of cards and does an exciting interpretation of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>If we can sneak in some of our other under-the-radar cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genesis Chamber" href="#" target="_blank">Genesis Chamber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warstorm Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Warstorm Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Uncivil Unrest" href="#" target="_blank">Uncivil Unrest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, not only will we be able to shorten the number of iterations of the combo, but we can get ourselves on the fast track to another game.</p>
<h2>Fool Me Twice Shame on Me</h2>
<p>The second combo in this deck is vastly more involved than the first. We have more than one way to combine cards to use our "second" combo. The key part to the combo(s) is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dualcaster Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Dualcaster Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This creature allows us to not only catch an opponent off guard by flashing it in to copy something like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a piece of removal 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 even a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allowing us to grab the last piece we need for a win.</p>
<p>There are <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=card%3A%22dualcaster+mage%22+ci%3Arakdos">34 </a>combos within the Rakdos color combination using the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dualcaster Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Dualcaster Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and we don't have all of them, but what we do have is a creature that can immediately come back thanks to our commander and multiple cards that allow us to win the game.</p>
<p>My favorite part of these combos is making an impossibly large number of copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dualcaster Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Dualcaster Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and then passing the turn. The tokens will all sacrifice themselves and allow us to trigger cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mayhem Devil" href="#" target="_blank">Mayhem Devil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion of Remembrance" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion of Remembrance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent of the Iron Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Agent of the Iron Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Funeral Room // Awakening Hall" href="#" target="_blank">Funeral Room // Awakening Hall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards rotate"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Funeral Room // Awakening Hall"></div></div>
<h2>Wrap Up</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, might not be the easiest creature to lead a Rakdos Aristocrats strategy, but it's one of the newest. <em>Foundations</em> is one of the year's best sets and one of my favorites in recent memory. I expect to see a lot of Alesha as she's a fan favorite character, and I hope to see many of the cards from this set both in decks and leading them. We even have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder" href="#" target="_blank">Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as part of our 99, and it could very easily be used as the commander for this same deck style, if not our exact build.</p>
<p>If you need <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">more content about <em>Foundations,</em> check out the other articles I</span> and many others have written on <a href="https://edhrec.com/">EDHREC</a> and <a href="https://commandersherald.com/">Commander's Herald</a>.</p>
<h2>Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Laughing All the Way" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate
[/commander]
[Creature]
*1 Accursed Marauder
*1 Agate Instigator
*1 Anger
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Canoptek Tomb Sentinel
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder
*1 Garna, Bloodfist of Keld
*1 General Kreat, the Boltbringer
*1 Imperial Recruiter
*1 Jaxis, the Troublemaker
*1 Judith, the Scourge Diva
*1 Juri, Master of the Revue
*1 Marionette Apprentice
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Murderous Redcap
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Stitcher&#039;s Supplier
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Voldaren Thrillseeker
*1 Warren Soultrader
*1 Worldgorger Dragon
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/creature]
[Enchantment]
*1 Agent of the Iron Throne
*1 Animate Dead
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Funeral Room // Awakening Hall
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Uncivil Unrest
*1 Warstorm Surge
[/Enchantment]
[Artifact]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Genesis Chamber
*1 Phyrexian Altar
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifact]
[Sorcery]
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Come Back Wrong
*1 Diabolic Intent
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Gamble
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Molten Duplication
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Persist
*1 Reanimate
*1 Twinflame
*1 Unearth
*1 Unmarked Grave
[/Sorcery]
[Instant]
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Entomb
*1 Fake Your Own Death
*1 Feign Death
*1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
*1 Kazuul&#039;s Fury // Kazuul&#039;s Cliffs
*1 Malakir Rebirth // Malakir Mire
*1 Not Dead After All
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Saw in Half
*1 Village Rites
*1 Withering Torment
[/Instant]
[Land]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Blazemire Verge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Haunted Ridge
*1 High Market
*1 Luxury Suite
*5 Mountain
*1 Rakdos Carnarium
*1 Raucous Theater
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Spymaster&#039;s Vault
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*13 Swamp
*1 Talon Gates of Madara
[/Land]"></span></div>


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