<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of Extus" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of Extus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.wyliebeckert.com/?show=portfolio">Wylie Beckert</a>)</h6>
<h1>Looks Like We've got Another Mystery on our Hands!</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Archetune-Up</em>, an article series devoted to tweaking a deck with the help of the EDHREC <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes">Theme</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes">Pages</a>!</p>
<p>For this article, I wanted to cover a legend that has captured my interest from the moment they were first spoiled, and the only three-color card in <em>Strixhaven</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extus, Oriq Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Extus, Oriq Overlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Extus, Oriq Overlord"></div></div>
<p>Extus has been the only legend on my brain since spoiler season (seriously, it took me almost an <a href="https://twitter.com/thejesguy/status/1394121100267765761?s=20">entire month of deliberation</a> to get my personal list together), and even now he hasn't relinquished his hold over me. In an effort to try and loosen his vice-like grip (or spread his teachings, whichever you think applies), I decided to check out his average list, and see what he was working with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Average Extus" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Extus, Oriq Overlord
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Cruel Celebrant
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Doomed Traveler
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Impulsive Pilferer
*1 Keeper of the Accord
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Monastery Mentor
*1 Ogre Slumlord
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Sedgemoor Witch
*1 Sengir Autocrat
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Teysa Karlov
*1 Thalisse, Reverent Medium
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Young Pyromancer
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Despark
*1 Fracture
*1 Fury Storm
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Rise of the Dread Marn
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Assemble the Legion
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Bitterblossom
*1 Black Market
*1 Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blot Out the Sky
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Diabolic Intent
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Lingering Souls
*1 Martial Coup
*1 Painful Truths
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Reanimate
*1 Ruinous Ultimatum
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Marsh Flats
*3 Mountain
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*4 Plains
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Spectator Seating
*6 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>With over 1,000 decks to his name, Extus is easily the most popular legend coming out of <em>Strixhaven</em>, and for good reason! He's incredibly versatile, able to build entire gameplans around either his front half or his flip side, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>That said, there are two things I took away from this average list:</p>
<ul>
<li>Y'all ain't running enough lands! How in the world is <strong>33</strong> acceptable??</li>
<li>The average decklist shows that the majority of people are building around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>Both sides of Extus are great, but each one wants their decks to do <em>slightly </em>different things. Yes, both Extus and The Blood Avatar want plenty of creatures to churn through, but Extus wants to play a bit more of a grindy game, accruing value over time with nontoken creatures. Conversely, The Blood Avatar wants a wide board of fodder to sac in order to create multiple Avatar tokens in a turn, and token fodder will often do this the best.</p>
<p>Looking at all the token makers and support in this list, a lot of these decks are geared to summon The Blood Avatar as opposed to follow the ways of Extus. I have a personal fondness for The Oriq Overlord, despite his Saturday morning cartoon villainy in the <em>Strixhaven</em> story, so he's who I'll be focusing on building around today!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Like, Zoinks, Scoob!</h2>
<p>I'll be using EDHREC's <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/aristocrats/rwb">Mardu Aristocrats Theme</a> to find the inclusions for today's list. Before I dig into the cards I added, I want to take a moment to also mention that I brought the land count up to 36 from 33. 36 is still a bit lean for me, but it is <em>a lot</em> better than the blatantly irresponsible 33 the original deck had, so with that quick fix out of the way, what does this theme hold for us?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valakut Awakening"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agadeem&#039;s Awakening"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malakir Rebirth"></div></div>
<p>Well, it has... more land!</p>
<p>If you've read my articles this year, y'all should know how much I <span style="text-decoration: underline;">adore</span> <em>Battle for Zendikar</em>'s MDFCs. On top of being outright fantastic cards, they pull double duty in an Extus deck, since they are both lands <em>and</em> spells. They help patch up the land base while also being cards that can trigger <em>Magecraft</em> to keep the deck chugging along!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valakut Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Valakut Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agadeem&#039;s Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Agadeem&#039;s Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malakir Rebirth" href="#" target="_blank">Malakir Rebirth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hagra Mauling" href="#" target="_blank">Hagra Mauling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were the four MFDCs found on the Aristocrats theme page, but there are a few others that would also be a perfect fit for the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sejiri Shelter" href="#" target="_blank">Sejiri Shelter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Inversion" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Inversion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shatterskull Smashing" href="#" target="_blank">Shatterskull Smashing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all viable options for Extus, and I cannot recommend them enough!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Ruh-roh, Raggy!!</h2>
<p>Now that we've got the mana base in order, what's next? Well, while The Blood Avatar wants to force itself into the foray and bring games to an end quickly, Extus wants to move a bit slower and more methodically. What exactly does that mean, though?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tormenting Voice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Costly Plunder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buried Alive"></div></div>
<p>What Extus desires instead of pure power is <em>synergy</em>! Extus tacks on a free <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Raise Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with every spell we cast, so why not take advantage of that?</p>
<p>Spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormenting Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Tormenting Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Costly Plunder" href="#" target="_blank">Costly Plunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have additional costs needed to cast them, so if Extus is in play, even if we discard or sacrifice a creature to help pay for the spell, we can just get another right back! This is a great way to quickly and cheaply accrue value, turning the downside of these cards' additional costs into something negligible, or even beneficial! These kinds of spells are right at home here, from removal like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Payment" href="#" target="_blank">Final Payment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bone Splinters" href="#" target="_blank">Bone Splinters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to a reusable sac outlet like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worthy Cause" href="#" target="_blank">Worthy Cause</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. All of them are welcome additions to Extus's repertoire.</p>
<p>Due to this deck being more graveyard-based than a Blood Avatar deck, we need to make sure we have ways to enable our shenanigans, and <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> does just that. For three mana, we get to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Raise Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a creature from our graveyard if Extus is out, and then comb through our deck for three creatures to dump them directly into our precious graveyard. <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> might not be as powerful as it is in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karador, Ghost Chieftain" href="#" target="_blank">Karador, Ghost Chieftain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, but it is still <em>fantastic</em> here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the brand new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unmarked Grave" href="#" target="_blank">Unmarked Grave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Modern Horizons 2</em> would also be wonderful additions in the same vein if we want some more redundancy for an effect like this.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Jinkies!</h2>
<p>I dug up a lot of interesting and powerful interactions and cards for Extus during my deep dive over the past month, and one class of card in particular stood out to me when I was constructing by personal brew. Since they weren't listed in the <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/aristocrats/rwb">Aristocrats Theme</a>, I wanted to be sure to dedicate a section to them, since I think they are so integral to how our Oriq Overlord functions.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Order of Midnight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merchant of the Vale"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Embereth Shieldbreaker"></div></div>
<p>Much like the MDFCs from the first section, <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=type%3Aadventure+commander%3AWBR"><em>Adventure</em> creatures</a> are important for any Extus build. Adventure cards provide the best of both worlds, with one half triggering Extus's <em>Magecraft</em> ability, and the other half that can be sacrificed and subsequently brought back! With Extus and a sacrifice outlet, you have the potential to loop two <em>Adventure</em> creatures multiple times in a turn, triggering all of your <em>Magecraft</em> effects as well as all of the effects that trigger when your creatures die.</p>
<p>While this style of card are a home-run in this deck, I only added the three most important ones: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Order of Midnight" href="#" target="_blank">Order of Midnight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merchant of the Vale" href="#" target="_blank">Merchant of the Vale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Embereth Shieldbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Embereth Shieldbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Others, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shepherd of the Flock" href="#" target="_blank">Shepherd of the Flock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foulmire Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Foulmire Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realm-Cloaked Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Realm-Cloaked Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are also great inclusions, and I would highly recommend giving them all a look if you want to build Extus.</p>
<hr />
<h2>I Would Have Gotten Away With It, Too!</h2>
<p>There we have it, ten easy inclusions to make a deck more Extus-centric!</p>
<p>While I am happy with the additions to the deck, I personally think that the list could use even more more synergy to help differentiate itself from Blood Avatar decks. Swapping generic removal spells for things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, having ways to protect Extus like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selfless Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Selfless Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Benevolent Bodyguard" href="#" target="_blank">Benevolent Bodyguard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or having ways to loop instants and sorceries, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Living Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghitu Chronicler" href="#" target="_blank">Ghitu Chronicler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, really makes Extus hum. In an Extus build, the cheaper, the better, and the more spells you can cast in a turn, the more likely you are to win.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spark Harvest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selfless Savior"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Living Lightning"></div></div>
<p>That said, no matter what side you decide to build around, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extus, Oriq Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Extus, Oriq Overlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>//<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is incredibly fun and gives Aristocrat players two different ways to go about draining the life from their opponents.</p>
<p>What about you, though? Which side do you prefer, Extus, or The Blood Avatar? Are there any neat moves that you've come up with for either side? Make sure to let me know down below!</p>
<p>As always, you can reach me on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/thejesguy">@thejesguy</a>), where you can always hit me up for <i>Magic- </i>or Jeskai-related shenanigans 24/7. Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Please don’t hesitate to leave them below or get in touch! Stay safe, get vaccinated, wear your mask, and keep fighting the good fight. I support you. No justice, no peace.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Archetune-Up Extus Would Have Gotten Away With it Too!" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Extus, Oriq Overlord
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Cruel Celebrant
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Doomed Traveler
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
*1 Embereth Shieldbreaker
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Merchant of the Vale
*1 Monastery Mentor
*1 Order of Midnight
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Sedgemoor Witch
*1 Sengir Autocrat
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Teysa Karlov
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Young Pyromancer
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Costly Plunder
*1 Despark
*1 Fury Storm
*1 Hagra Mauling
*1 Malakir Rebirth
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Rise of the Dread Marn
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Valakut Awakening
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Agadeem&#039;s Awakening
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Diabolic Intent
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Martial Coup
*1 Painful Truths
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Tormenting Voice
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Assemble the Legion
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Black Market
*1 Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Marsh Flats
*4 Mountain
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*5 Plains
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Spectator Seating
*7 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>



Archetune-Up - The Monster of the Week

Deep Analysis - Aristocrats

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primordial Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Primordial Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CJustin+Sweet%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Justin Sweet</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>Before the histories, before the songs, there was the genesis of a sort of protoculture. A collective of wanderers, working together to find meaning, pattern, and purpose. In this semiotic genesis, there were countless groups - families, really - that simply died out, lost to the grindstones of time and nature. Others bested the odds, and their lines continued, but always surviving into the future in unrecognizable form. The very earliest could not even be said to be progenitors of the blood, since no one, not even the very oldest, can remember them.</p>
<p>Welcome to <em>Dual Shot</em>, where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck. This time, it's a keyword soup deck atop a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/sacrifice">sacrifice</a> deck, led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rayami, First of the Fallen" href="#" target="_blank">Rayami, First of the Fallen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rayami, First of the Fallen"></div></div>
<p>Since there are no stone tablets, no monolithic records, no cave paintings, scraps of vellum, or familial tapestries, there is no bridge to the past beyond conjecture. But perhaps the best primary source is a survivor. Despite the incalculable tract of time between the present and the first stirrings of Ulamog in Akoum, there are Bloodchiefs who endured more than just their transformation - they endured the passage of the millennia. But there is an irony in agelessness, for even the greatest sires of vampirism on Zendikar are slaves to memory.</p>
<p>There may be no clear memory of the past, but there are some cards that can bridge the thematic gap. Without getting too far out into the <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772262/">Midsommar</a> weeds here, let's take a look:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Rayami, the First Sacrifice" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Rayami, First of the Fallen
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Archdemon of Unx
*1 Balustrade Spy
*1 Banehound
*1 Brazen Borrower
*1 Contraband Kingpin
*1 Demon of Catastrophes
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Eyeless Watcher
*1 Faerie Seer
*1 Fathom Feeder
*1 Fleetfeather Cockatrice
*1 Geode Golem
*1 Gifted Aetherborn
*1 Horizon Chimera
*1 Korozda Guildmage
*1 Lazotep Reaver
*1 Leyline Prowler
*1 Llanowar Dead
*1 Loyal Drake
*1 Maraleaf Pixie
*1 Nightveil Predator
*1 Ochran Assassin
*1 Ornithopter
*1 Poison-Tip Archer
*1 River Hoopoe
*1 Runaway Carriage
*1 Sagu Mauler
*1 Silhana Ledgewalker
*1 Silver Myr
*1 Siren Lookout
*1 Skylasher
*1 Tajuru Pathwarden
*1 Thornweald Archer
*1 Torrent Elemental
*1 Troll Ascetic
*1 Warteye Witch
*1 Woodlot Crawler
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Dark Bargain
*1 Glint
*1 Golgari Charm
*1 Grave Birthing
*1 Growth Spiral
*1 Mystic Genesis
*1 Shred Memory
*1 Simic Charm
*1 Sultai Charm
*1 Tribute to the Wild
*1 Withering Boon
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Absorb Vis
*1 Incubation // Incongruity
*1 Pilfered Plans
*1 Spark Harvest
*1 Sylvan Scrying
*1 Urban Evolution
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Dominance
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Evolutionary Leap
*1 Golgari Germination
*1 Perilous Forays
*1 Vampiric Rites
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Blighted Woodland
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Tower
*1 Darkslick Shores
*1 Evolving Wilds
*5 Forest
*1 Golgari Rot Farm
*1 Grim Backwoods
*1 Guildmages&#039; Forum
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*5 Island
*1 Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers
*1 Opulent Palace
*1 River of Tears
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Simic Guildgate
*1 Slippery Karst
*5 Swamp
*1 Temple of Deceit
*1 Thornwood Falls
*1 Tranquil Thicket
*1 Underground River
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Interpreting the Past</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Poison-Tip Archer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warteye Witch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Torrent Elemental"></div></div>
<p>With Rayami on the battlefield, death means getting etched into indelible memory. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torrent Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Torrent Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offers some nice, clean synergy, but scratching a bit beyond the surface shows that since we need our creatures to die, some simple payoffs for that seem like a good idea. However, it gets tricky: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Poison-Tip Archer" href="#" target="_blank">Poison-Tip Archer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides a death trigger for our creatures (and everyone else's creatures, incidentally), but Rayami will steal those deaths, saving them for the soup instead. It's still a worthwhile inclusion, as it flavors the soup with deathtouch and reach. Just be aware of these replacement effects.</p>
<p>In a similar vein, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demon of Catastrophes" href="#" target="_blank">Demon of Catastrophes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archdemon of Unx" href="#" target="_blank">Archdemon of Unx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can eventually provide keywords to Rayami, but would sooner sacrifice something else, offering that creature's keywords to the soup. Ultimately, much of the bridge-building is performed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Poison-Tip Archer" href="#" target="_blank">Poison-Tip Archer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Imagine this sequence: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Korozda Guildmage" href="#" target="_blank">Korozda Guildmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golgari Germination" href="#" target="_blank">Golgari Germination</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to provide the fodder, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golgari Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Golgari Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to inflict a substantial loss of life.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Korozda Guildmage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golgari Germination"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golgari Charm"></div></div>
<p>But let's take a look at more likely scenarios - each chunk of the deck as they might play out. Firstly, we have our creatures that, should they be sacrificed for the cause, or die some other way, feed Rayami. Though, as willing as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Runaway Carriage" href="#" target="_blank">Runaway Carriage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is to die for the cause, it's odd to imagine how the First to Fall assimilates its abilities. Maybe, in his primitive perspective, he saw how the carriage wheeled about and crushed its pedestrian obstacles. Then perhaps the proto-Vampire thought to himself, "Oh, that's how you do it."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Woodlot Crawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skylasher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Runaway Carriage"></div></div>
<p>A fun direction to take this deck, given the theme of creatures to include for Rayami's sake, is Mutate. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nightveil Predator" href="#" target="_blank">Nightveil Predator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Banehound" href="#" target="_blank">Banehound</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ochran Assassin" href="#" target="_blank">Ochran Assassin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> make solid targets for that strategy. It is, of course, challenging to make room for it, given the other moving parts we want to include. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolutionary Leap" href="#" target="_blank">Evolutionary Leap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Perilous Forays" href="#" target="_blank">Perilous Forays</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Rites" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Rites</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide a bulk of our succor for sacrifice. These tools do force us to make decisions about when to keep a creature in play, as a defensive piece or as a threat, and when to draw or when to ramp. It can be difficult to read the table and to discern when or if to make those choices, but that's part of what makes this brew entertaining.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Conclusion</h1>
<p>But the thread to the past is rather indelicate, so protecting our plan with things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Withering Boon" href="#" target="_blank">Withering Boon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Genesis" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Genesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glint" href="#" target="_blank">Glint</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be essential. And since our primitivist sensibilities are easily offended, disrupting the trappings of modernity as peacocked by our opponents is also a good idea. To that end, employ age-old methods like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Birthing" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Birthing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tribute to the Wild" href="#" target="_blank">Tribute to the Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shred Memory" href="#" target="_blank">Shred Memory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Birthing"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tribute to the Wild"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shred Memory"></div></div>
<p>The erosion of time may have softened the narrative into illegibility, but there's still something resembling a story here. There always is - for everything - no matter how much has elapsed, or what's been forgotten.</p>
<p>That's all for this installment of <em>Dual Shot</em>. Be sure to send us your keyword soup recipes! How have you fared with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rayami, First of the Fallen" href="#" target="_blank">Rayami, First of the Fallen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Or do you prefer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Odric, Lunarch Marshal" href="#" target="_blank">Odric, Lunarch Marshal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kathril, Aspect Warper" href="#" target="_blank">Kathril, Aspect Warper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Or perhaps paprika? Well, until next time!</p>


Dual Shot - Primordia

Archetune-Up - An Undercity Tradition

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Ebb" href="#" target="_blank">Time Ebb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Alan_Rabinowitz">Alan Rabinowitz</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Dual Shot</em>, the strange place where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck.</p>
<p>This time, the old familiar space has changed - is still changing. It was never not in flux, like anything. Before things get too Heraclitean, let's try to capture an image, a snapshot of an idea, to try and preserve it - if only for a moment - against the fate of change.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inexorable Tide"></div></div>
<p>The weft, warp, and ripple sends us down the stream to this: a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/lifegain">lifegain</a> deck overtop a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/voltron">Voltron</a> deck. But nothing's ever that simple, even on the shore. There's safety there, sure, and more certainty than in the riffling deep, the rapids, the waves. Instead, our supertheme here presents as loss of life. There are no infinite lifegain combos, no <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felidar Sovereign" href="#" target="_blank">Felidar Sovereign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, no <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherflux Resevoir" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherflux Resevoir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Instead, we're swimming with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathgreeter" href="#" target="_blank">Deathgreeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a sparse few instances of lifelink - to scarcely mitigate our <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CastFromHitPoints">blood magic</a>.</p>
<p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greven, Predator Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Greven, Predator Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at the helm, as he was meant to be, we'll be recklessly fueling our life-engines, creating towering, combative win conditions, betting everything on the connection.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Greven, Predator Captain"></div></div>
<p>If we can avoid the ever-looming bad luck of the rip current, we should see our life total circle around widely and wildly. Get him wielding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loxodon Warhammer" href="#" target="_blank">Loxodon Warhammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and turn an opponent's loss to commander damage into a dramatic shift in our own life total.</p>
<p>And hey, enchant yourself with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of Fool&#039;s Wisdom" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of Fool&#039;s Wisdom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, why not.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Water, Fire, Flux</h2>
<p><strong>Ebb:</strong> Life is paid, the cost for continuation. The risk of diminishing to nothing, but nothing's ever nothing.</p>
<p><strong>Flow:</strong> That's the truest swing of all, that change of life from something to nothing, to less than nothing, to a new game, back to full.</p>
<p>This is a brew about movement. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firewing Phoenix" href="#" target="_blank">Firewing Phoenix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> flies from the graveyard to your hand, to the battlefield, and dead again in the whorl. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revenge of Ravens" href="#" target="_blank">Revenge of Ravens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns combat into a dance of life totals. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relentless Assault" href="#" target="_blank">Relentless Assault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> beats at the beach with endless-seeming waves.</p>
<p><strong>Ebb:</strong> The water recedes, shies from shore. Your body thins, determination wavers, hope slips beneath water.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moltensteel Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slash Panther"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vault Skirge"></div></div>
<p><strong>Flow:</strong> The snows melt, the floods rear, the river swells, surges, knells.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rush of Vitality"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghitu War Cry"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Furnace Whelp"></div></div>
<p>You get the idea.</p>
<p><strong>Ebb:</strong> Maybe <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syphon Flesh" href="#" target="_blank">Syphon Flesh</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stinkweed Imp" href="#" target="_blank">Stinkweed Imp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Withering Boon" href="#" target="_blank">Withering Boon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will save us. Reactive, punitive, teetering.</p>
<p><strong>Flow:</strong> More like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampire Nighthawk" href="#" target="_blank">Vampire Nighthawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murderous Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Murderous Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Butcher&#039;s Glee" href="#" target="_blank">Butcher&#039;s Glee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Ambitious, resourceful, springing.</p>
<p>If the conversation ends in compromise, what cards are required to make that clear?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Greven, Tide Strider" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Greven, Predator Captain
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Agent of Erebos
*1 Ahn-Crop Crasher
*1 Angrath&#039;s Marauders
*1 Blood Celebrant
*1 Chancellor of the Dross
*1 Deathgreeter
*1 Dire Fleet Hoarder
*1 Firewing Phoenix
*1 Furnace Whelp
*1 Gutterbones
*1 Immolating Souleater
*1 Indulgent Tormentor
*1 Iron Myr
*1 Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
*1 Knight of Infamy
*1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
*1 Leaden Myr
*1 Loyal Apprentice
*1 Loyal Subordinate
*1 Mardu Strike Leader
*1 Mogg War Marshal
*1 Moltensteel Dragon
*1 Murderous Rider // Swift End
*1 Organ Grinder
*1 Piper of the Swarm
*1 Puppeteer Clique
*1 Scrapheap Scrounger
*1 Slash Panther
*1 Sorcerer&#039;s Broom
*1 Stinkweed Imp
*1 Tenacious Dead
*1 Urborg Syphon-Mage
*1 Valakut Fireboar
*1 Vampire Nighthawk
*1 Vault Skirge
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Butcher&#039;s Glee
*1 Crypt Incursion
*1 Dark Bargain
*1 Ghoul&#039;s Feast
*1 Mercadia&#039;s Downfall
*1 Necrologia
*1 Rack and Ruin
*1 Rush of Vitality
*1 Withering Boon
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Forever Young
*1 Fumarole
*1 Infernal Contract
*1 Relentless Assault
*1 Syphon Flesh
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Loxodon Warhammer
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Ring of Xathrid
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Curse of Fool&#039;s Wisdom
*1 Ghitu War Cry
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Revenge of Ravens
*1 Shadows of the Past
*1 Unspeakable Symbol
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tibalt, Rakish Instigator
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodfell Caves
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Foreboding Ruins
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Graven Cairns
*1 Kher Keep
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Memorial to Folly
*10 Mountain
*1 Rakdos Carnarium
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Spinerock Knoll
*10 Swamp
*1 Tainted Peak
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>In truest <em>Dual</em> Shot fashion, there's a tertiary component of <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/sacrifice">sacrifice</a> at play here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadows of the Past" href="#" target="_blank">Shadows of the Past</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sorcerer&#039;s Broom" href="#" target="_blank">Sorcerer&#039;s Broom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <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> all play nicely with cheap, recursive drowners.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gutterbones"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrapheap Scrounger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mogg War Marshal"></div></div>
<p><strong>Ebb:</strong> You could lean into this more heavily; it's risky going in with Greven alone, and there's not overmuch protection for the captain.</p>
<p><strong>Flow:</strong> Or you could commit to it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Butcher&#039;s Glee" href="#" target="_blank">Butcher&#039;s Glee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rush of Vitality" href="#" target="_blank">Rush of Vitality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swiftfoot Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Swiftfoot Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whispersilk Cloak" href="#" target="_blank">Whispersilk Cloak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (mind your ordering on that one - hammer, then cloak). These all work well enough to, well... <em>well</em>.</p>
<p><strong>Ebb:</strong> These water puns are weakening.</p>
<p><strong>Flow:</strong> So too your resolve.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crypt Ghast" href="#" target="_blank">Crypt Ghast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would be a good swap-in if we're not feeling enough acceleration - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Celebrant" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Celebrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only provides fixing (that is, in this context - it's also an unlimited source of loss of life). <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vilis, Broker of Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Vilis, Broker of Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is terribly on-theme, and worth experimenting with, but generally too top-heavy here - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angrath&#039;s Marauders" href="#" target="_blank">Angrath&#039;s Marauders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is tricky enough to cast. And sure, you're already spending five mana to get Greven out, but you'll more likely want to spend the turns after that curving into the mana you need to deal lethal commander damage. As well, consider things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for added redundancy, and some extra utility. Perhaps the most obvious alternate inclusion is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, turning all of your black pips into Phyrexian mana, and having three of them in his own casting cost.</p>
<p><strong>Ebb:</strong> Needs <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damnation" href="#" target="_blank">Damnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><strong>Flow:</strong> Or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>And while this is a lifegain deck only in a painfully ironic sense, the presentation of the concept was pretty hipster too. That makes it all right.</p>
<p><strong>Ebb:</strong> Let the current of pretentiousness pull you down. There is comfort in the deep.</p>
<p><strong>Flow:</strong> Come on, this deck's not that weird. I can get way more obtuse with the brew. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temporal Extortion" href="#" target="_blank">Temporal Extortion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cauldron Dance" href="#" target="_blank">Cauldron Dance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?</p>
<p><strong>Ebb:</strong> I meant in the writing.</p>
<p><strong>Flow:</strong> Oh.</p>
<p>Before we let ourselves wade too far into the deep end, that's all for this experiment. We all have stories about securing victory from the nearest jaws of defeat. What about intentionally wandering into near-death to grab a win out of nowhere? What decks have you used to bloodbend your way to the top? Send us your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="One with Nothing" href="#" target="_blank">One with Nothing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> win cons, <em>please</em>.</p>
<p>Till next time.</p>


Dual Shot - Ebb and Flow

Conditions Allow - Gadrak, the Crown-Scourge

Conditions Allow - Isareth the Awakener

Archetune-Up - Korvold, King of the Gobbos

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rude Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Rude Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.mtgpics.com/illus?art=351&amp;reprints=1">Ittoku</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>"Rude awakening." That's a strange idiom, isn't it? There's the intended meaning of a harsher realization casting a cold, hard shadow on one's naive preconceptions. This plays on the lyrical image of someone being shaken awake, as from a pleasant slumber or a daydreaming doze. The feeling of a sudden turbulence, a dramatic change in one's state of mind (or board), is likely a familiar one for all of us.</p>
<p>And though it can certainly be unpleasant, why is politeness factored into the discussion at all? Is it somehow a breach of decorum to alert someone, even roughly, to the truth of wakefulness?</p>
<p>Wake up, sheeple! Or, wake up sheeple? Oh, uh, Gyrus can actually do that. Commas can be fun.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gyrus, Waker of Corpses"></div></div>
<p>And the sad truth is that although there is a distant and tertiary theme of Dragon tribal in this brew, this <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/reanimate">Reanimate</a> deck inside a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/sacrifice">Sacrifice</a> deck has no method by which to grant Human as an additional creature type to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nyx-fleece Ram" href="#" target="_blank">Nyx-fleece Ram</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, although I'm sure that's possible in another deck.</p>
<p>Without too much more rambling in the hillsides of madness, I welcome you to the latest edition of <em>Dual Shot</em>, where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Hidden in the Depths</h2>
<p>We're back to a split more closely approximating 80/20, as was established in <em>Dual Shot</em>'s pilot studies. Actually, sometimes it feels like you have to really dig for the reanimation subtheme to rear its head, even with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyrus, Waker of Corpses" href="#" target="_blank">Gyrus, Waker of Corpses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at the helm. But these two themes enjoy a sort of natural synergy: sacrificing creatures puts them into the graveyard, and in this case, apparently, they're only mostly dead, as your Hydra alarm clock is clamorous enough to get them up and out of their deathbed.</p>
<p>And while we're going to be running cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Victimize" href="#" target="_blank">Victimize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dread Return" href="#" target="_blank">Dread Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the payoffs are primarily in the shape of sacrifice triggers - in fact, in our 99 lurks a king cursed with gluttony: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Korvold, Fae-Cursed King" href="#" target="_blank">Korvold, Fae-Cursed King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Korvold almost functions as a hidden commander, fueled by the rest of the deck and either drawing you into an out or turning sideways, himself. Reanimating one of our draconic threats - cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund" href="#" target="_blank">Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atarka, World Render" href="#" target="_blank">Atarka, World Render</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can easily knock a single player out of the game, but you'll need to rely on the pressure of recursion and card draw in order to eke out a victory - especially with a card as common as <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> essentially hitting you like it's a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Walk" href="#" target="_blank">Time Walk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you're in a lane for reanimation.</p>
<p>One other thing to be wary of is the fact that Gyrus puts a creature token onto the battlefield tapped and attacking - which means that although the creature <em>is</em> attacking, it was never declared as an attacker while moving into to phase (when you declared Gyrus as an attacker) - this means that any tokens you create with on-attack triggers do not trigger. No surprise bonus mana from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Savage Ventmaw" href="#" target="_blank">Savage Ventmaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, sadly. But let's take a look at the pile of cards and see what <em>does</em> work.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gyrus and the Circle of Corpses" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gyrus, Waker of Corpses
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Paradise Druid
*1 Leyline Prowler
*1 Sorcerer&#039;s Broom
*1 Rapacious Dragon
*1 Izoni, Thousand-Eyed
*1 Demanding Dragon
*1 Thrashing Brontodon
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Catalyst Elemental
*1 Battle Rampart
*1 Korvold, Fae-Cursed King
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Atarka, World Render
*1 Darigaaz Reincarnated
*1 Malfegor
*1 Tymaret, the Murder King
*1 Swift Warkite
*1 Lyzolda, the Blood Witch
*1 Plaguecrafter
*1 Gorging Vulture
*1 Hope of Ghirapur
*1 Goblin Cratermaker
*1 Bladewing the Risen
*1 Keeper of Fables
*1 Priest of Forgotten Gods
*1 Gluttonous Troll
*1 Judith, the Scourge Diva
*1 Savage Ventmaw
*1 Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Murder
*1 Bake into a Pie
*1 Gang Up
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Fling
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Gild
*1 Tormenting Voice
*1 Hull Breach
*1 Taste of Death
*1 Painful Lesson
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Mana Seism
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Portent of Betrayal
*1 Savage Twister
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bloodsoaked Altar
*1 Golden Egg
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Rakdos Cluestone
*1 Gruul Cluestone
*1 Golgari Cluestone
*1 Witch&#039;s Oven
*1 Altar of Shadows
*1 Kolaghan Monument
*1 Golgari Locket
*1 Rakdos Locket
*1 Gruul Locket
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bloodfire Infusion
*1 Shade&#039;s Form
*1 Moldervine Reclamation
*1 Dark Heart of the Wood
*1 Burning Sands
*1 Rhythm of the Wild
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Angrath, Captain of Chaos
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*1 Guildmages&#039; Forum
*1 Jund Panorama
*1 Savage Lands
*1 Geothermal Crevice
*1 Rocky Tar Pit
*1 Mountain Valley
*1 Bloodfell Caves
*1 Jungle Hollow
*1 Rugged Highlands
*1 Timber Gorge
*1 Foul Orchard
*1 Cinder Barrens
*1 Golgari Guildgate
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Cryptic Caves
*1 Sapseep Forest
*1 Rakdos Carnarium
*1 Gruul Turf
*5 Swamp
*4 Mountain
*7 Forest
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>So you might have noticed that this is a shakily modified Korvold Brawl deck. As well, this particular <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dual Shot" href="#" target="_blank">Dual Shot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is still in the early stages of development. You'll want good utility from your sacrificial lambs, er, Dragons, or whatever weird thing you'll be delivering to the gods. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spore Frog" href="#" target="_blank">Spore Frog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are must-includes, and although we want our creatures dying for the cause, a good pair of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be nice for Gyrus, though I'm not exactly sure it's the boot-wearing type. Sandals, maybe. In any case, Gyrus dying to removal isn't the worst thing in the world, as his commander tax can be worked into his casting cost rather elegantly. For example, the first time you cast him, say you make X=3, so you cast him for 6 mana in total. He dies, and then you recast him with X equaling 1, you pay the tax of 2, and you've... spent 6 mana in total. Your clangorous Hydra still enters with six +1/+1 counters. That's the sort of recursion that any Timmy or Tammy could love.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spore Frog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashnod&#039;s Altar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning Greaves"></div></div>
<p>Then some obvious cards to connect our adjacent themes at play: <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Victimize" href="#" target="_blank">Victimize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dread Return" href="#" target="_blank">Dread Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - and a few other <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-esque cards (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, perhaps) to get the infrastructure of our thematic bridge up to code.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buried Alive"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Victimize"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dread Return"></div></div>
<p>While you're cleaning up your mana base - replacing the taplands, gainlands, and lockets with any sort of fetch, even things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolving Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Evolving Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terramorphic Expanse" href="#" target="_blank">Terramorphic Expanse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for fixing and sacrifice triggers - you may also tidy up some of the rest of the chaff. While all-stars like <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Gitrog Monsters" href="#" target="_blank">The Gitrog Monsters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all very interested in what we're doing, simpler upgrades (read: removal suite) take priority. How did a regular old <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> find its way in here? Gods, it's like I'm asleep when I add the removal to these decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doom Blade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm&#039;s Wrath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reclamation Sage"></div></div>
<p>You'll also have fun slotting in things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anger" href="#" target="_blank">Anger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ramunap Excavator" href="#" target="_blank">Ramunap Excavator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshbag Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Fleshbag Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feldon of the Third Path" href="#" target="_blank">Feldon of the Third Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <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>. This reanimation catalogue, though not particularly fleshed out (accidental pun with our Zombie Warrior friend), ends up looking more Mardu than Jund - insofar as it's combat-centric. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyrus, Waker of Corpses" href="#" target="_blank">Gyrus, Waker of Corpses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bladewing the Risen" href="#" target="_blank">Bladewing the Risen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atarka, World Render" href="#" target="_blank">Atarka, World Render</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is wonderfully stupid and probably doesn't even work the way I want it to (remember, when creatures are made to enter the battlefield tapped and attacking, they were never declared as attackers, so "when ~ attacks" triggers don't hit the stack). At any rate, if you need another Dragon, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prossh, Skyraider of Kher" href="#" target="_blank">Prossh, Skyraider of Kher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has got your back. I can only assume that means he has your back, and most of the rest of you, in his mouth, but, hey, free sacrifice outlet.</p>
<p>As it stands, this list is really more of a 90/10 split, but that's owing to one simple truth: that this was just a Korvold deck at first. The Brawl precon got retooled into an EDH deck that looked a little bit too much like many other recs for the Fae-Cursed King. That there was a good deal of overlap in the sacrifice and reanimation themes (and any graveyard strategy, really) led to this becoming an early <em>Dual Shot</em> candidate. And even in its fledgling form, this list hearkens back to <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/dual-shot-dynamic-stall/">an earlier <em>Dual Shot</em></a> experiment, one with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest" href="#" target="_blank">Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> front and center. By this I mean that a much closer split seems very feasible. As long as you can reliably fill your graveyard (self-mill, sacrifice outlets, big threats eating spot removal), you have fuel for reanimation. If you can secure payoffs for both filling <em>and</em> emptying your yard, then perhaps by some metrics, you've brewed two decks at the same time...<em> in one deck</em>... aaaand <em>Catchphrase!</em></p>
<p>That's all for today. If I'm to field a question to you folks, then it has to be about graveyard synergy. What lists have you played with that did more than one thing with the old lichyard? Were you bringing back lands and maybe hoping for a heavy ping with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lotleth Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Lotleth Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Let us know in the comments. Till next we meet.</p>


sacrifice