Going Universes Beyond - Shadow the Hedgehog

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm|sld|1773" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/leossart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leonardo Santanna</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>! We're heading back in time to another <em>Secret Lair</em> Drop. This time, however, is a first in our series: we're covering a reskinned commander. Moreover, it's a commander that's nostalgic to me, dating back to the original precons. It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, reskinned as Slimer, Voracious Apparation.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mimeoplasm|sld|1773"></div></div>
<p>With that said, let's get into it.</p>
<h2>A New Disturbance</h2>
<p>Lore-wise, there isn't much to Slimer. He's a gluttonous ghost that wreaks havoc in kitchens everywhere while the Ghostbusters try to capture him. He's encountered within each adventure, but typically doesn't end up being the big villain.</p>
<p>How does all this relate to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? My guess is that, since the dead it devoured advanced its form, something similar could be said about the food Slimer eats. Or, perhaps, they both have insatiable appetites.</p>
<p>Fortunately, like I said earlier, The Mimeoplasm's (henceforth known as Slimer until the end) been around for a long time. Crucially, the main strategy is to fill your graveyard (or everyone's), then exile them to create our own monstrosity.</p>
<p>I always like it when we can actually "create" our creatures because it lets our imaginations run wild. That said, this only applies to Slimer himself this time.</p>
<h2>A Ghastly Banquet</h2>
<p>There's a myriad of creatures we can use with Slimer and, for this section, we're covering cards we should exile for the +1/+1 counters.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lunar Hatchling"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shard of the Nightbringer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yargle and Multani|sld|872"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, the landcyclers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lunar Hatchling" href="#" target="_blank">Lunar Hatchling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great targets. We can discard them to get a land, and they can be exiled later on for Slimer.</p>
<p>Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lumbering Megasloth" href="#" target="_blank">Lumbering Megasloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> yields a hefty eight counters to be working with. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shard of the Nightbringer" href="#" target="_blank">Shard of the Nightbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Woodfall Primus" href="#" target="_blank">Woodfall Primus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are heavy on colored mana, but not stats. On the other hand, we can reanimate the latter to blow up a troublesome permanent.</p>
<p>But what if we wanted to go bigger? In addition to what I said above, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hierophant Bio-Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Hierophant Bio-Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> boasts big numbers, but is also a good choice with those keywords. Further, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death&#039;s Shadow|sch|40" href="#" target="_blank">Death&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic choice that's bigger than the Bio-Titan itself.</p>
<p>That said, the biggest of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yargle and Multani|sld|872" href="#" target="_blank">Yargle and Multani</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a vanilla creature with a whopping 18 power. On the right creature, you can instantly eliminate someone with commander damage (or infect, if you're a monster. A bit more on that later).</p>
<p>Another good choice is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diamond Weapon" href="#" target="_blank">Diamond Weapon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's cheaper with a well-stocked graveyard, is immune to combat damage, and hits like a truck. Too bad it doesn't have trample.</p>
<p>Push comes to shove, some of the above mentioned options make for some good reanimation targets, which is something I'll get to momentarily. While some of these cards make good choices for Slimer to copy, there's always even better choices.</p>
<h2>Quality Food</h2>
<p>This next section covers the creatures that are worth copying with Slimer.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Warring Triad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tifa Lockhart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shard of the Void Dragon"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Warring Triad" href="#" target="_blank">The Warring Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes a brutal beater under Slimer, especially when paired with a creature with colossal stats. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hexmark Destroyer" href="#" target="_blank">Hexmark Destroyer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes it so that Slimer becomes very difficult to block unless our opponents have a lot of tokens.</p>
<p>Secondly, the infamous <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jumbo Cactuar" href="#" target="_blank">Jumbo Cactuar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (which I'm going to center an article on some day) makes for a tempting choice. Just be advised that we have to give it trample or some other evasion.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shard of the Void Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Shard of the Void Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> destroys a permanent on attack with the slight chance of it getting bigger. Moreover, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polyraptor|sld|1391" href="#" target="_blank">Polyraptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes multiple copies of itself when it takes damage, making combat hard for our opponents. Just note that it doesn't become a copy of Slimer, nor does it inherit the +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p>Finally, having Slimer become a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa Lockhart" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa Lockhart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is especially deadly. Slimer gains trample and the ability to double his power for the turn. These, on top of the counters he'll get, make him lethal very quickly.</p>
<p>Another option is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vashta Nerada" href="#" target="_blank">Vashta Nerada</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, ensuring that it'd be a huge, indestructible threat. It also has shadow, which renders it unblockable to make it even more terrifying. We can't block with Slimer if we do, but it's not like we were going to block with him anyway.</p>
<h2>Recycling Waste</h2>
<p>This list has a Reanimator slant to it as well to take advantage of all the creatures we'll hit. That said, this wouldn't be our first rodeo with Reanimator builds, so we have some repeat but good options here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reanimate|fic|282"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beacon of Unrest|40k|194"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ardyn, the Usurper"></div></div>
<p>We have the ever-classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will bring back a big creature for a price. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beacon of Unrest" href="#" target="_blank">Beacon of Unrest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> reanimates from any graveyard, but is more expensive to cast. In addition, it shuffles itself back in upon resolution, so it'll not always be available to cast.</p>
<p><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>, with the right board state, can be cast for its flashback cost. While he's not on the list, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> slowly builds us an army of copied creatures while being graveyard hate.</p>
<p>In addition, we have ways to fill everyone's graveyard to make it all happen.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Water Crystal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rejoin the Fight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Power Fist"></div></div>
<p>For one, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windfall|sld|1775" href="#" target="_blank">Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is good to cast if our hand count is low, or we have creatures to discard. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extract from Darkness|ltc|266" href="#" target="_blank">Extract from Darkness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Incarnation Technique|sld|1776" href="#" target="_blank">Incarnation Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both mill and reanimate, giving us the best of both worlds. In addition, the newly minted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rejoin the Fight" href="#" target="_blank">Rejoin the Fight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does this, too, but we get back multiple creatures.</p>
<p>From <em>Final Fantasy</em>, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Water Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">The Water Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which doesn't do much for us with reducing mana costs, but adding four cards to each instance of mill is huge. Its activated ability is also perfect if we have extra mana laying around.</p>
<p>Then there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emet-Selch, Unsundered" href="#" target="_blank">Emet-Selch, Unsundered</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who is very easy to transform, and lets us cast anything from our graveyard.</p>
<p>On the other hand, we have ways to further bolster Slimer. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Fist" href="#" target="_blank">Power Fist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives trample, and can potentially double his power. In a similar vein, the Finality half of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Find // Finality|pip|216" href="#" target="_blank">Find // Finality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives a small buff, then potentially wipes the board of everything else.</p>
<p>Also, any creature with the monstrosity ability will further buff Slimer for a cost.</p>
<h2>Exotic Foods</h2>
<p>If you've kept up with my articles at this point, you know we're no strangers to covering Reanimator strategies in this series. I first covered it with the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/celes-rune-knight-commander-deck-tech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Celes deck tech a while back</a>, even. However, this is Slimer we're working with, and we're losing two colors in exchange for the others. With that, we get new options.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord of Extinction"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mindskinner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cruel Somnophage"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of Extinction" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of Extinction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The "Boom Tube," as we elderly folk call it, is only as big as everyone's graveyards combined. This, in turn, will make Slimer colossal, a word that doesn't do it justice in this case. Pair it with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a way to win.</p>
<p>Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consuming Aberration" href="#" target="_blank">Consuming Aberration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is slightly smaller, but can also mill our opponents when we cast a spell. There's also the Lhurgoyfs (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mortivore" href="#" target="_blank">Mortivore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), which don't get quite as big, but are options anyway.</p>
<p>Other options include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titanoth Rex" href="#" target="_blank">Titanoth Rex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> which is a colossal beast that can cycle itself. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cruel Somnophage" href="#" target="_blank">Cruel Somnophage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is essentially Mortivore, but can be cast for its adventure cost to mill someone.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghalta, Primal Hunger" href="#" target="_blank">Ghalta, Primal Hunger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mindskinner" href="#" target="_blank">The Mindskinner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> boast huge buffs and, in the case of the latter, can be an outright win condition. Make Slimer a copy of it with Lord of Extinction for the counters, and watch our opponents collectively groan.</p>
<p>Also, for you naughty, naughty gremlins out there, infect creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plague Stinger" href="#" target="_blank">Plague Stinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ensure that Slimer kills in one hit, provided he's unblockable. The Agent provides this already, but there's other ways to do so.</p>
<h2>Slimer, Voracious Apparition/The Mimeoplasm Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-You Ooze, You Looze" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 The Mimeoplasm
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Alpha Deathclaw
*1 Balamb T-Rexaur
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Emet-Selch, Unsundered // Hades, Sorcerer of Eld
*1 Hexmark Destroyer
*1 Hierophant Bio-Titan
*1 Lumbering Megasloth
*1 Lunar Hatchling
*1 Polyraptor
*1 Sepulchral Primordial
*1 Shard of the Nightbringer
*1 Shard of the Void Dragon
*1 The Warring Triad
*1 Tifa Lockhart
*1 Troll of Khazad-dûm
*1 Wayward Swordtooth
*1 Woodfall Primus
*1 Yargle and Multani
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Beast Within
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Consider
*1 Contaminated Drink
*1 Deadly Rollick
*1 Dismember
*1 Entish Restoration
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Krosan Grip
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Power Fist
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Curiosity
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Resilience
*1 The Water Crystal
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Beacon of Unrest
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Careful Study
*1 Cultivate
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Dread Return
*1 Extract from Darkness
*1 Farseek
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Find // Finality
*1 Harmonize
*1 Incarnation Technique
*1 Living Death
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Reanimate
*1 Rejoin the Fight
*1 Rise of the Dark Realms
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Windfall
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Greater Good
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Out of the Tombs
*1 Pernicious Deed
*1 Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Exotic Orchard
*6 Forest
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*6 Island
*1 Opulent Palace
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*6 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Thriving Grove
*1 Thriving Isle
*1 Thriving Moor
*1 Vineglimmer Snarl
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Onto the Next Meal</h2>
<p>Going through <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> again, after all these years, was interesting. Some of the old guard stayed, while others were cut. Perhaps because they didn't pass the test of time. Going <em>Universes Beyond</em> only does stifle us a bit, but we remain undeterred. This case had a stronger reanimator sub-theme, yet the 'Plasm still remained as good as ever.</p>
<p>Join me next time as I either revert back to <em>Final Fantasy</em>, or ride along with a recent ruling that was announced.</p>


Slimer, Voracious Apparition Commander Deck Tech

Sonic the Hedgehog Commander Deck - Hurry Up and Wait

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower" href="#" target="_blank">Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/johnthacker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Thacker</a></em></p>
<p>I’m not that into video games, but Sonic is one of the few I do have some history with, as I grew up with a neighbor that had a Sega system with <em>Sonic 2</em>. I loved that game because, unlike <em>Final Fantasy</em>, it had a multiplayer mode, so I got to play, too.</p>
<p>My neighbor would get first pick of character because it was his system and game, so I would be Tails while he would be Sonic. With the advent of the most recently-announced Secret Lair, I can relive those memories by making a Tails deck and suiting him up with every machine known to man (and some known only to Foxes).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower"></div></div>
<p>Interestingly enough, Foxes were recently featured in <em>Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty</em>, along with the return of Vehicles and the creation of the Pilot creature type. Vehicles are an artifact subtype that have power and toughness only when animated or crewed, although their other abilities can be used whether they're crewed or not.</p>
<p>Their tapping abilities are affected by summoning sickness when animated or crewed, but not otherwise. As a result, one needs to be careful when crewing or animating Vehicles.</p>
<p>Tails never was the more intuitive of the two characters, but figuring things out always made me feel like a genius, and this Tails deck can make you feel that way, too!</p>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower" href="#" target="_blank">Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p>Miles is a 3/1 flier for three with flash, which is fairly aggressively costed for an Azorius (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) legendary creature. Flash functions a lot like haste, enabling Tails to come down on an open board or one post-wrath and get some chip in. Do it seven times, and you can steal a game with commander damage!</p>
<p>Speaking of functioning like haste, crewing Vehicles is an outside ability, so creatures that are summoning sick can still be used to crew. Crewing cares about power and protects the creature from combat (although that part I never understood from a Vorthos perspective: How does the destruction of a Vehicle not affect those crewing it? They must have excellent safety precautions!). Tails’s small toughness, therefore, is not all that important.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shorikai, Genesis Engine"></div></div>
<p>There are two primary commanders people tend to think of when it comes to Azorius Vehicles: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shorikai, Genesis Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Shorikai, Genesis Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kotori, Pilot Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Kotori, Pilot Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both of them happen to be in this deck, primarily because of how powerful they are.</p>
<p>Shorikai is a Vehicle that can be a commander, and it generates Pilots to crew itself and other Vehicles. It also functions as a card draw/selection engine and a means of loading up the graveyard. Kotori is a Pilot that alters crew costs to be crew 2, which can significantly lower the cost of crewing and enable aggressive turns. It also gives an artifact creature lifelink and vigilance on each of our combats.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kotori, Pilot Prodigy"></div></div>
<p>What sets Tails apart from the others, in addition to the IP and nostalgia factors, is that Tails combines the draw from Shorikai with the augmenting and crewing from Kotori. Tails draws a card when a Vehicle with flying enters or gives flying to a Vehicle entering without it.</p>
<p>Vehicles tend to have above-rate power and toughness, enabling them to attack for large amounts of power at the cost of needing to be crewed. Tails has a body that crews Vehicles easily and an ability that makes those above-rate Vehicles evasive. He combines what the others do well in one adorably aggressive package.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower" href="#" target="_blank">Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Tails’ primary need is Vehicles. A lot of them. Without Vehicles, he can still be an interesting tempo commander, but the Vehicles are where the draw engine and evasive addendums come into play.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smuggler&#039;s Copter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peacewalker Colossus"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smuggler&#039;s Copter" href="#" target="_blank">Smuggler&#039;s Copter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the poster child for the power of Vehicles, having been banned in Standard almost as quickly as it entered. Speaking of it entering, it has flying, so Tails can draw a card when the Copter enters, and it can block and loot (hence the Looter Scooter nickname) the same turn it comes down.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peacewalker Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Peacewalker Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an ironically-named beater, given that it neither promotes peace nor walks (if Tails comes down first). It also has an activated ability that animates Vehicles, making it one of the more dangerous cards in the deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyberdrive Awakener"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Armed and Armored"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dance of the Manse"></div></div>
<p>The reason why the Colossus is so dangerous is because it can animate multiple Vehicles. One of the downsides of playing too many Vehicles is that going up the crewing ladder has diminishing returns. Vehicles stacking up like Matryoshka dolls goes tall but not wide, and can only go as tall as the last Vehicle crewed.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyberdrive Awakener" href="#" target="_blank">Cyberdrive Awakener</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> animates and pumps the Vehicles, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armed and Armored" href="#" target="_blank">Armed and Armored</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> animates, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dance of the Manse" href="#" target="_blank">Dance of the Manse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <em>re</em>animates. All three of these cards make it so our collection of mechs can be controlled remotely; you could even call them autopilot cards!</p>
<p>One of the primary benefits Tails has over other Azorius Vehicles commanders is that he has a built-in engine: Each Vehicle entering either draws cards or gains flying. In order to use the card draw engine, we need to be casting multiple Vehicles in a turn, digging as deep as we can to try to find one of the autopilot cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etherium Sculptor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Foundry Inspector"></div></div>
<p>While digging, we don't want to be hamstrung on mana, so we need cost-reduction effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one that comes to mind quickly, having fueled powerful artifact decks since players were just learning the name “Esper.” It and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foundry Inspector" href="#" target="_blank">Foundry Inspector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> help to give the deck the velocity to rip through our library and fill up our garage with as many mechs, skyships, cars, and boats as we can fit.</p>
<p>A quality of Vehicles that's a double-edged sword is that they aren’t creatures when they aren’t crewed. This is a benefit in that they're difficult to remove: they can’t be hit by creature removal, mass or spot, on anyone else’s turn, unless we make them vulnerable. The downside is that it means that we're wide open to being attacked when they aren’t animated.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swords to Plowshares"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dispatch"></div></div>
<p>As a result, we need to pack removal for when opponents inevitably turn on us. Much of our removal is instant-speed stock 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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dispatch" href="#" target="_blank">Dispatch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, both of which exile opponents' threats for the low, low price of one white mana. We want stuff dead and not coming back, and we want it done for cheap, as our mana should be spent advancing our board.</p>
<h2>How Does This Miles "Tails" Prower Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>Miles wins through a fairly linear play pattern: cast Vehicles, crew Vehicles, smash with Vehicles. He has an easier time smashing with them when they have flying and an easier time building the board by drawing off of the ones that already do.</p>
<p>What we're hoping to find through all of that digging is a mass animation spell, so that all of our Vehicles can attack, preferably with flying, and eliminate multiple opponents.</p>
<h2>Miles "Tails" Prower Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Miles" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Aerial Surveyor
*1 Brotherhood Vertibird
*1 Cargo Ship
*1 Deluxe Dragster
*1 Imperial Recovery Unit
*1 Imposter Mech
*1 Mechtitan Core
*1 Mighty Servant of Leuk-o
*1 Mindlink Mech
*1 Mobile Garrison
*1 Mobilizer Mech
*1 Nautiloid Ship
*1 Parhelion II
*1 Peacewalker Colossus
*1 Prodigy&#039;s Prototype
*1 Reaver Titan
*1 Reckoner Bankbuster
*1 Salvation Engine
*1 Shorikai, Genesis Engine
*1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*1 Surgehacker Mech
*1 The Indomitable
*1 The Lunar Whale
*1 The Regalia
*1 Thopter Fabricator
*1 Thunderhawk Gunship
*1 Unidentified Hovership
*1 Unlicensed Hearse
*1 Weatherlight
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Aeronaut Admiral
*1 Cid, Freeflier Pilot
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Gold Myr
*1 Hotshot Mechanic
*1 Interface Ace
*1 Kitsune Ace
*1 Kotori, Pilot Prodigy
*1 Lita, Mechanical Engineer
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Palladium Myr
*1 Silver Myr
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Stenn, Paranoid Partisan
*1 Vedalken Engineer
*1 Voyager Quickwelder
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Armed and Armored
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Dispatch
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Stroke of Midnight
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Dance of the Manse
*1 Organic Extinction
*1 Vanquish the Horde
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*20 Island
*20 Plains
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This is a medium-speed engine-based deck, so those who enjoy midrange and fairly standard Commander strategies will like this. We also have just enough explosive power to appeal to those who enjoy combo decks.</p>
<p>It’s always fun to find an Azorius commander that doesn’t look to stifle opponents’ fun and/or creativity, and this one is a ton of fun to play, whether you like the IP or not!</p>


Building a Vehicles Deck with Miles "Tails" Prower

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Eggman" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Eggman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by <a href="https://nathaliefourdraine.crevado.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathalie Fourdraine</a></em></p>
<p>If you've reached this <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Eggman" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Eggman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck tech with legitimately anything but the most villainous intentions, you may be disappointed to know that this deck, based around that most dastardly villain, is true to form.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dr. Eggman"></div></div>
<p>This deck revolves around <em>Sonic the Hedgehog</em>'s mad scientist antagonist and his Construct and Robot minions. Are you strapped in and ready for a ride? Let's go!</p>
<h2>What Does Dr. Eggman Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Eggman" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Eggman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a discard commander, first and foremost. His ability to either cause a discard or force your opponent to allow you to put a Construct, Robot, or Vehicle onto the battlefield is a fairly intuitive one for your foes.</p>
<p>Spoiler alert: unless an opponent has a vital response to something and need to keep it in hand, they will generally opt to discard before they'll allow you to cheat in a Construct.</p>
<p>In addition, Dr. Eggman draws you a card at every one of your end steps. This further fuels the options you have handy for cheating in an artifact of some sort.</p>
<p>Finally, as a 3/6 body for <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-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" 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>, Dr. Eggman won't swing in for much damage, but he's a fantastic flying blocker much of the time.</p>
<h3>Which Commander Is Dr. Eggman Most Comparable To?</h3>
<p>On the surface, Dr. Eggman feels fairly similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Davros, Dalek Creator" href="#" target="_blank">Davros, Dalek Creator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Off the bat, they're both legendary Scientist creatures in the blue-black-red (Grixis) color identity. They're both <em>Universes Beyond</em> villains, and they are both relatively evil. These comparisons can't be ignored. Nevertheless, the biggest differences they share are in the villainous choice they offer your opponents.</p>
<p>Sure, both have something to do with board state advantage, card draw, and opposing discard. The buck stops there, however. Dr. Eggman affects all of your opponents automatically; Davros needs opponents to lose life before their pain can truly begin.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Davros, Dalek Creator"></div></div>
<p>As for the way this deck wants to operate, the strategy is that of an overwhelming force of Construct creatures, many of which are easy to cheat in with Dr. Eggman himself. With over 50 sources of mana and a glut of robotic creatures (if not Robot creatures), it's plausible to think the pilot of this deck will be able to power out the good Doctor sooner than players may expect, and then begin churning out value.</p>
<p>With the versatility of Constructs, the deck should be well-equipped to present many different tough situations for opponents.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Dr. Eggman</h2>
<p>Various good choices exist for a Dr. Eggman deck. Here, I'd like to highlight two key aspects of the deck:</p>
<ul>
<li>Strong Constructs and Robots for when your opponents make the wrong decision</li>
<li>Cards that punish opponents for making the <em>right</em> decision</li>
</ul>
<p>It's no surprise that, as soon as many people looked up this <em>Secret Lair</em> drop, they were encouraged to "always choose discard" when they face down Dr. Eggman. This is widely the right decision; after all, better the devil you know, right? ...Right?</p>
<h3>A Construct Toolbox for Your Hand</h3>
<p>Fret not, for there <em>is hope</em>! There are those foolish enough to forgo discarding without the foresight to properly estimate the versatility of the cards Dr. Eggman can and will eventually cheat into play. To that end, here are but three notable Constructs you could see in a Dr. Eggman deck many turns too early:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cityscape Leveler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrap Trawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cryptothrall"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cityscape Leveler" href="#" target="_blank">Cityscape Leveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is less scary when cast outright, but it can still spook your opponents enough into reconsidering the merits of discarding that pivotal counterspell or combat trick. Furthermore, its talents aren't completely lost if you don't cast it, for it also triggers on the attack. To that end, you're going to decimate many different permanents with this thing.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrap Trawler" href="#" target="_blank">Scrap Trawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will also allow a Dr. Eggman player to keep a sizable grip on the deck's artifacts. If you've lost the aforementioned Cityscape Leveler, you might be consoled with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> you lost a couple of turns prior. Lost a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Battlesphere" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Battlesphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Here's a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Noxious Gearhulk" href="#" target="_blank">Noxious Gearhulk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for your pains. The possibilities are expansive and oh, so diabolical!</p>
<p>Let's also discuss <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptothrall" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptothrall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With as simple an ability as giving your artifact creatures hexproof, Cryptothrall is an unassuming threat in a deck with quite a few haymakers. However, when your opponents find they can't <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abrade" href="#" target="_blank">Abrade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> your other options, they'll realize they have to focus down a less overt card to get to anything else.</p>
<p>That's pretty evil, in all the best ways!</p>
<h3>Forcing Discards</h3>
<p>Plenty of cards exist in the general realm of Constructs for a commander like Dr. Eggman, and we'll get to them shortly. But how do we encourage opponents to decide to forgo discarding?</p>
<p>Three kinds of cards exist to assist this line of discard discouragement. Two are extremely familiar to most players experienced with discard themes in Commander. There's one more kind of card in this overarching category that is less obvious, although it's on the more salt-inducing end of things.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana&#039;s Caress"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waste Not"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Telepathy"></div></div>
<p><strong>Damage Upon Discard:</strong> Cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megrim" href="#" target="_blank">Megrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana&#039;s Caress" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana&#039;s Caress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and similar all deal damage to an opponent upon discarding. These can add up to more damage than an opponent may feel comfortable taking. At the same time, they're also losing a valuable card in hand, so this eases the stress of a painful decision.</p>
<p><strong>Benefits Upon Discard:</strong> Roughly in the same vein as dealing damage upon discard, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waste Not" href="#" target="_blank">Waste Not</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide you with bonuses for making your opponent discard.</p>
<p>As such, perhaps your opponent doesn't want you to have an extra Zombie token blocker or draw an additional card. So, they'll discard a land (or allow you to cheat in a Construct) instead. Forcing the decision to make itself is a very strong tool in your arsenal.</p>
<p><strong>Informed Hand Control: </strong>This is a more subtle way to force your opponents to discard cards. If your opponents' hands are pretty full, it helps to know why. Therefore, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Telepathy" href="#" target="_blank">Telepathy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glasses of Urza" href="#" target="_blank">Glasses of Urza</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are prime pieces to use here. They allow you to both make informed decisions and strongarm opponents with a political factor.</p>
<p>Of the two, I prefer Glasses of Urza. With it, you can focus the fear upon other opponents by looking at one opponent's hand and monitoring their otherwise hidden hand. You're snooping, as usual, and that's only fair!</p>
<h2>How Does Dr. Eggman Win?</h2>
<p>Put simply, Dr. Eggman wants to run your opponents well out of options while slowly amassing a robotic legion and then overrunning them with said legion.</p>
<p>Notably, there are a few cards that allow you to double up on villainous choices and other abilities. When you have a critical mass of automatons and your opponents have no ready means of dealing with them, you'll be able to win in practically no time at all.</p>
<h2>Dr. Eggman Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Dr. Eggman" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Dr. Eggman
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cryptcaller Chariot
*1 Demonic Junker
*1 Foreboding Steamboat
*1 Glasses of Urza
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Jackdaw
*1 Mechtitan Core
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Panharmonicon
*1 RMS Titanic
*1 Relic of Sauron
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 The Falcon, Airship Restored
*1 The Last Ride
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Fevered Visions
*1 Funeral Room // Awakening Hall
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Liliana&#039;s Caress
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage
*1 Telepathy
*1 Waste Not
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Barbed Servitor
*1 Cityscape Leveler
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Cryptothrall
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Goring Warplow
*1 K-9, Mark I
*1 Kuldotha Forgemaster
*1 Manakin
*1 Myr Battlesphere
*1 Noxious Gearhulk
*1 PuPu UFO
*1 Roaming Throne
*1 Rose, Cutthroat Raider
*1 Ruin Grinder
*1 Scavenged Brawler
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Scrawling Crawler
*1 Silent Arbiter
*1 Starscream, Power Hungry // Starscream, Seeker Leader
*1 The Valeyard
*1 Torrential Gearhulk
*1 Walking Atlas
*1 Y&#039;shtola Rhul
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Damnation
*1 Raise the Palisade
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Access Denied
*1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Counterspell
*1 Mana Leak
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Blackcleave Cliffs
*1 Blazemire Verge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crosis&#039;s Catacombs
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Darkslick Shores
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Gloomlake Verge
*1 Great Furnace
*3 Island
*1 Mana Confluence
*3 Mountain
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Raucous Theater
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Spirebluff Canal
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Sulfur Falls
*3 Swamp
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Undercity Sewers
*1 Vault of Whispers
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Xander&#039;s Lounge
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>In short, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Eggman" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Eggman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a pretty imposing commander. He's similar to Davros in his triggering of a tough villainous choice. He's also very similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kefka, Court Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kefka, Court Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in many related ways as well. If you're a fan of either of those commanders, you're certain to like Dr. Eggman.</p>
<p>So now, I'd like to hear from you, dear readers. Are you excited about the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/secret-lair-x-sonic-three-new-drops-officially-announced/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new <em>Secret Lair</em> drop series</a>, out July 14th? Would you play a Dr. Eggman deck? Do any of the other mechanically unique cards pique your deckbuilding interest? Sound off below!</p>


secret lair commander

Going Universes Beyond - Shadow the Hedgehog

Slimer, Voracious Apparition Commander Deck Tech

Sonic the Hedgehog Commander Deck - Hurry Up and Wait

Building a Vehicles Deck with Miles "Tails" Prower

Constructing Evil With a Dr. Eggman Deck Tech