<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electro, Assaulting Battery" href="#" target="_blank">Electro, Assaulting Battery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CPiotr+Dura%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piotr Dura</a></em></p>
<p>A simple question with a complex answer: Is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electro, Assaulting Battery" href="#" target="_blank">Electro, Assaulting Battery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> strong enough to be played in cEDH? The best way I can answer the question is with researched speculation and comparison to cards that see play in the format.</p>
<p>I'm a fan of cEDH and the gameplay of high-power, no-holds-barred 100-card winner-takes-all. I'm by no means an expert on that style of gameplay, or any, for that matter. I enjoy theory and questioning the status quo, especially in areas like EDH, so when I first saw this card during spoiler season, I drew an immediate comparison to another card of well-known power, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birgi, God of Storytelling" href="#" target="_blank">Birgi, God of Storytelling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Let the comparisons begin and the hype build as I take a look and try my best to answer the question of whether one of Spider-Man's rogue gallery members is strong enough for Competitive Elder Dragon Highlander. My name is Nick, and this is <em>Tech The Deck</em>. We're looking at Electro to see if they're strong enough for cEDH.</p>
<h2>Corporate Needs You to Find the Difference</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Electro, Assaulting Battery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Birgi, God of Storytelling"></div></div>
<p>They're the same picture. Obviously, there are some in-your-face differences when looking at these two cards. Electro can fly, and Birgi has a backside, but the core of what makes them essential is just close enough. Both cards add <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> when you cast an instant or sorcery spell. To be fair to the God of Storytelling, they add the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> no matter what type of spell you cast. This is the key to what allows both decks to work in theory in the strongest version of Commander. This ability drew these two cards together in my mind, which is why I started down this deck-building path.</p>
<h3>Birgi Is Better</h3>
<p>To address this point sooner rather than later, Birgi is better suited for this strategy. You get mana off of any card being cast, the mana cost 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-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> is better with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Tomb" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Tomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="City of Traitors" href="#" target="_blank">City of Traitors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> running around, and the backside of Birgi is helpful in a pinch. However, the one thing that Birgi does not offer that could make or break it for Electro is a way to finish off a table with a direct damage ability.</p>
<h2>What's the Plan</h2>
<p>This deck plans to utilize fast mana to power out our commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electro, Assaulting Battery" href="#" target="_blank">Electro, Assaulting Battery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> early. Once out, we try to chain instant and sorceries to gain mana, and we have some cards to help with this.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Runaway Steam-Kin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urabrask"></div></div>
<p>We have the fastest of mana to speed up any part of the strategy as well.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lion&#039;s Eye Diamond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mox Diamond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Vault"></div></div>
<p>Once enough mana has been gathered, we employ classic Red Storm win conditions to close out the game by zapping our opponents with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherflux Reservoir" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherflux Reservoir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, assembling an infinite mana combo thanks to a copy spell, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reiterate" href="#" target="_blank">Reiterate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Geyser" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Geyser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or, the cleanest and most straightforward way, using the many combos offered up thanks to <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 a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twinflame" href="#" target="_blank">Twinflame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div id="147-1235" 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 />
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The deck loves large numbers. Because of Electro, we have a not-so-simple plan to burn everyone out with the leave the battlefield trigger, assuming we can pull it off enough times. Hopefully, once the loop is shown a few times, everyone will agree that you win the game and pack it up. If not, make sure you have practiced and can execute at a brisk but efficient pace.</p>
<p>If all goes according to plan, a win can be achieved quickly. It's not all glass cannon, however. Even in mono-red, we have some tricks up our super villain sleeves.</p>
<h2>No Force No Fret</h2>
<p>No blue in the deck means no <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Will" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and that's okay. Red has its own ways of protecting its own combos and disrupting others. From the brand new <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em> set comes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider-Punk" href="#" target="_blank">Spider-Punk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a red version of <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>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Overmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make the most essential spell get through when we need it. A suite of instant spells allows us to fizzle counters, disrupt plays, and more.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyroblast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return the Favor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tibalt&#039;s Trickery"></div></div>
<p>We have one more small piece of "protection" for our spells: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krark, the Thumbless" href="#" target="_blank">Krark, the Thumbless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Krark is a high risk but high reward style of card. Technically this card works for us no matter what the result of the coin flip is if an opponent gets counter happy and does not wait for the trigger to resolve. In reality, this card is a win-more card, and we hope that every time it bounces a spell back to our hand we have enough cost reduction cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helm of Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Helm of Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruby Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Ruby Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to cast it again and net mana off our commander.</p>
<h2>Is it cEDH?</h2>
<p>We have a plan to win the game, and we know how to get from start to finish, so what's the verdict? Is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electro, Assaulting Battery" href="#" target="_blank">Electro, Assaulting Battery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cEDH? Maybe. There's just as much of a chance that this card ends up on a channel that does cEDH gameplay or in a deck dump from a tournament as there is that this card never sees the inside of a sleeve. It compares nicely to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birgi, God of Storytelling" href="#" target="_blank">Birgi, God of Storytelling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, so it has a precedent for being a playable card, but what will be the deciding factor is what the meta looks like when this card comes out? There could be more cards from <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em> that see play, and there are already rumblings of cards from the <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender. </em></p>
<p>I believe that if there is an efficient way to utilize the last part of Electro and leverage the X damage ability, then it will see play. This means it might not lead a deck, but it will find a spot inside the 99 and be paired with blue cards. Sadly, I don't see this as a likelihood because, when thinking of what makes a card playable when you are at the top of the competitive mountain, is it better than all the other options for what you are trying to do?</p>
<h2>Wrap Up</h2>
<p><em>Marvel's Spider-Man </em>is a very polarizing set. Based on what I have seen so far, the set features powerful cards with interesting abilities, alongside some that I'll likely forget about the day after they're released. What I don't see much of is the middle ground. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electro, Assaulting Battery" href="#" target="_blank">Electro, Assaulting Battery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> hits higher up on the scale, so I imagine it will stick around one way or another. Will we ever see it in the hands of someone like ComedianMTG winning yet another Timetwister? Or maybe it will show up on the Spikefeeders channel.</p>
<p>At a minimum, it is the newest card to the all <em>Universes Beyond</em> storm deck led by <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>.</p>
<h2>Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tech The Deck - cEDH - Electro, Assaulting Battery" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Electro, Assaulting Battery
[/Commander]
[Artifact]
*1 Aetherflux Reservoir
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Chrome Mox
*1 Cloudstone Curio
*1 Helm of Awakening
*1 Lion&#039;s Eye Diamond
*1 Lotus Petal
*1 Mana Vault
*1 Mishra&#039;s Bauble
*1 Mox Amber
*1 Mox Diamond
*1 Mox Opal
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Endstone
*1 The One Ring
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*1 Artist&#039;s Talent
*1 Underworld Breach
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Deflecting Swat
*1 Desperate Ritual
*1 Display of Power
*1 Expedite
*1 Final Fortune
*1 Lightning Bolt
*1 Pyretic Ritual
*1 Pyroblast
*1 Reiterate
*1 Return the Favor
*1 Reverberate
*1 Seething Song
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Tibalt&#039;s Trickery
*1 Untimely Malfunction
*1 Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge
[/Instant]
[Creature]
*1 Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Grinning Ignus
*1 Imperial Recruiter
*1 Krark, the Thumbless
*1 Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak
*1 Priest of Urabrask
*1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
*1 Runaway Steam-Kin
*1 Simian Spirit Guide
*1 Skirk Prospector
*1 Spider-Punk
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Treasonous Ogre
*1 Urabrask // The Great Work
*1 Walking Ballista
[/Creature]
[Sorcery]
*1 Bonus Round
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Crash Through
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Gamble
*1 Grapeshot
*1 Ignite the Future
*1 Infernal Plunge
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Mizzix&#039;s Mastery
*1 Molten Duplication
*1 Overmaster
*1 Past in Flames
*1 Rite of Flame
*1 Shatterskull Smashing // Shatterskull, the Hammer Pass
*1 Strike It Rich
*1 Twinflame
*1 Warlord&#039;s Fury
*1 Wheel of Fortune
*1 Wheel of Misfortune
*1 Winds of Change
*1 Wrenn&#039;s Resolve
[/Sorcery]
[Lands]
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 City of Traitors
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Crystal Vein
*1 Dwarven Ruins
*1 Gemstone Caverns
*1 Great Furnace
*9 Mountain
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Sandstone Needle
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Wooded Foothills
[/Lands]"></span></div>


red storm

Is Electro, Assaulting Battery Strong Enough For cEDH?