<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prismari Command" href="#" target="_blank">Prismari Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/algenpfleger">Johannes Voss</a></em></p>
<p>Last month we had a first look at the upcoming <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em></a> set. We got to <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/secrets-of-strixhaven-and-marvel-super-heroes-products-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">see the entire product line-up</a>, including the five Commander preconstructed decks and their respective face commanders.</p>
<p>This week, I'll be covering a deck tech on the leader of the <em>Prismari Artistry</em> deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" href="#" target="_blank">Rootha, Mastering the Moment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" href="#" target="_blank">Rootha, Mastering the Moment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p>You can read all about Rootha's backstory <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Rootha_Squallheart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. True to her character, she delayed her graduation to reach the perfection she long sought. A <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magma Opus" href="#" target="_blank">Magma Opus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you might say.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rootha, Mastering the Moment"></div></div>
<p>Much like the Prismari back in the original <em>Strixhaven: School of Mages</em> set, we're not casting a billion spells, ramping up to storm off. Instead, we're going with the big spells, and this version of Rootha rewards us by creating a hasty, flying token that can smack opponents for some big damage.</p>
<p>All of this is well and good, but what kind of big spells are we talking about here?</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" href="#" target="_blank">Rootha, Mastering the Moment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<h3>Artistic Performance</h3>
<p>While we could look through all of the <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spellslinger</a> options we have, Rootha needs us to run something different from the norm. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Creative Technique" href="#" target="_blank">Creative Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are valuable because, at worst, we're getting a 5/5 Elemental. However, we could always hit one of our bigger spells instead, which is even better.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Into the Story|eld|50"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Creative Outburst"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Creative Technique"></div></div>
<p>In the case of both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Creative Outburst" href="#" target="_blank">Creative Outburst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the aforementioned Magma Opus, we can discard these to get a Treasure token, but being able to cast them for free is simply divine.</p>
<p>Even better, though, are the spells that can discount themselves.</p>
<p>For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Into the Story" href="#" target="_blank">Into the Story</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could be cast for two mana. However, Rootha checks for the mana value of the card, not how much you paid into the spell. So, you technically get a 7/7 for just two mana! Sadly, I must point out that Rootha does not work with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because Rootha triggers at the start of combat, but she'll die before then - unless you find a way to protect her.</p>
<p>That said, there aren't many cards that are worthwhile in the deck. Maybe more will come out, but we'll make do with what we have.</p>
<h3>A Token Performance</h3>
<p>You might be asking what the big idea is behind this section. Well, considering that we make only one of those Elementals during our turn (assuming we've cast an instant or sorcery), it'll mean the game plan will be slow, and easily hindered in a multiplayer setting. The bad news is that, at the time of writing, there aren't too many ways we can make multiple tokens that can attack that turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curiosity Crafter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Full Throttle"></div></div>
<p>However, the good news is that we have a few ways to get things going. We have our usual suspects, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talrand, Sky Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Talrand, Sky Summoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but there's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ovika, Enigma Goliath" href="#" target="_blank">Ovika, Enigma Goliath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who will make an army of these tokens. Though, we also have options like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twinflame" href="#" target="_blank">Twinflame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can make copies of a given card.</p>
<p>Beware, though, because Rootha only triggers during combat, and a lot of these spells are sorcery-speed. The key player in all of this is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It'll turn every token we have into the same Elemental we make, plus make a token of its own. Here's hoping that we have more ways to make Rootha's ability work sooner or later.</p>
<p>It's at this point that it makes sense to protect the token we create as best as we can. That way, when it comes back to our turn, we can use red's various cloning effects to copy the token.</p>
<p>This is especially true when we take into account the key suite of cards that make Rootha tick: extra combat steps! The more combats we get, the more Rootha triggers we'll get. Plus, these tokens will have haste, so they can attack right away. Our prime example is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Full Throttle" href="#" target="_blank">Full Throttle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will give us a bunch of extra combat steps, meaning more tokens to swing with.</p>
<h2>How to Win With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" href="#" target="_blank">Rootha, Mastering the Moment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Our ways to win are not much different from the average Spellslinger deck. That said, in our case, we have to go big or go home.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crackle with Power"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shark Typhoon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Surge to Victory"></div></div>
<p>Cards like <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> pumps our board, and creates a copy of whatever spell we pick when we cast it. While Rootha won't see the copied spell, she will see the Surge, giving us a 6/6 token, perhaps more with an extra combat spell.</p>
<p>Speaking of tokens, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shark Typhoon" href="#" target="_blank">Shark Typhoon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (aka "sharknado") will make plenty of tokens, including big ones we can copy. However, the main token will not have haste, making Brudiclad even more important.</p>
<p>Otherwise, we can rely on the Old Faithful method of using big spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Replication" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Replication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crackle with Power" href="#" target="_blank">Crackle with Power</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The X-spells in the deck will ensure that we'll always have a giant token to use. That said, I would not advise <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Epic Experiment" href="#" target="_blank">Epic Experiment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you load up on those. X will be zero every time, and the cards would basically do nothing.</p>
<h2>Rootha, Mastering the Moment Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Mastering the Moment with Rootha" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Rootha, Mastering the Moment
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Primal Amulet // Primal Wellspring
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Consider
*1 Creative Outburst
*1 Dig Through Time
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Galvanic Iteration
*1 Into the Story
*1 Invert Polarity
*1 Magma Opus
*1 Opt
*1 Prismari Command
*1 Savage Beating
*1 Seething Song
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Crackle with Power
*1 Creative Technique
*1 Dance with Calamity
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Expressive Iteration
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Full Throttle
*1 Fury of the Horde
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Mizzix&#039;s Mastery
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Relentless Assault
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Surge to Victory
*1 Treasure Cruise
*1 Volcanic Salvo
*1 Volcanic Vision
*1 World at War
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Archmage Emeritus
*1 Archmage of Runes
*1 Balmor, Battlemage Captain
*1 Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer
*1 Coruscation Mage
*1 Curiosity Crafter
*1 Firebrand Archer
*1 Goblin Electromancer
*1 Goldspan Dragon
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Haughty Djinn
*1 Kessig Flamebreather
*1 Mizzix of the Izmagnus
*1 Ovika, Enigma Goliath
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Stormcatch Mentor
*1 Third Path Iconoclast
*1 Thunderclap Drake
*1 Young Pyromancer
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Case of the Ransacked Lab
*1 Determined Iteration
*1 Shark Typhoon
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Ferrous Lake
*1 Fiery Islet
*1 Frostboil Snarl
*11 Island
*11 Mountain
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Training Center
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Aaaaand, Scene!</h2>
<p>And that is just one of the five face commanders from <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em>. Rootha does seem dull, but built and/or played right, she can be taken into a path within the archetype that can be rather unique. She just simply needs a bit more support to push her over the edge (or the Edge, you might say).</p>
<p>Now, I would like to hear from you. Which of those face commanders gets your attention? Are you looking forward to going back to <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Arcavios" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arcavios</a>? Either way, be sure to come back next time, where I hopefully (more like finally!) begin one of the two new series I have planned for you.</p>


rootha

Mastering the Moment With Rootha in Commander