<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sierra, Nuka&#039;s Biggest Fan" href="#" target="_blank">Sierra, Nuka&#039;s Biggest Fan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by </em><a href="https://www.artstation.com/akreon"><em>Anna Podedworna</em></a></p>
<p>If you've played the game <em>Fallout 4</em>, specifically the <em>Nuka-World</em> DLC, you might be familiar with a long series of "fetch quests" to find a specific "cipher" that unlocks the secrets of Nuka Cola's founder. If you've never played this game, or this DLC, this is all gibberish to you. No matter your connection to <em>Fallout 4</em> or its aforementioned quests, today we are brewing around a character that no one expected to appear in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sierra, Nuka&#039;s Biggest Fan" href="#" target="_blank">Sierra, Nuka&#039;s Biggest Fan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sierra, Nuka&#039;s Biggest Fan"></div></div>
<p>Sierra is a strange choice to design a legendary creature around, as she only appears during that short questline in the <em>Fallout 4</em> DLC, and she's not particularly memorable. Sure, it's interesting to see a "normal person" in the wasteland, but she doesn't bring a lot to the story. My opinions on Sierra's character aside, her card design is very intriguing.</p>
<p>According to EDHREC, there are only 56 decks in mono-white that are focused on the proliferate theme, and this commander gives the perfect opportunity to explore this relatively uncharted territory. Sierra also leans a little bit into the artifact and token spaces, but we're focusing specifically on proliferating to get the most out of her "sneaky damage" trigger.</p>
<h2>Category #1: Evasive Attackers</h2>
<p>Sierra's trigger lets us pump a creature equal to amount of quest counters on her, and that means we need as many evasive creatures as possible. Here are some of my favorites:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shrike Force" href="#" target="_blank">Shrike Force</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has flying, double strike, <em>and</em> vigilance, so when we pump it, it's going to hit <em>hard</em>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shrike Force"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soltari Foot Soldier" href="#" target="_blank">Soltari Foot Soldier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a one-mana creature that has shadow, and, last I checked, not many people run cards with shadow these days, so it's practically unblockable.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soltari Foot Soldier"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Healer&#039;s Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Healer&#039;s Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a one-mana flying creature that can gain us a ton of life the longer Sierra stays onboard.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Healer&#039;s Hawk"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gingerbrute" href="#" target="_blank">Gingerbrute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give itself "unblockable by non-haste creatures", and that makes it a great target to pump.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gingerbrute"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combat Calligrapher" href="#" target="_blank">Combat Calligrapher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> benefits our opponents for attacking each other <em>and</em> grants free additional flyers when we attack. Win-win!</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Combat Calligrapher"></div></div>
<h2>Category #2: Proliferate Engines</h2>
<p>Our deck is focused around proliferating as many quest counters as we can, so we have several "enhancers" to help us do that.</p>
<p>Our first enhancer is a newcomer from <em>Edge of Eternities Commander</em>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Patrolling Peacemaker" href="#" target="_blank">Patrolling Peacemaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is arguably the best card in the deck, as our opponents will be committing crimes more often than you think. It's not unlikely that this card could proliferate upwards of four times in a turn cycle.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Patrolling Peacemaker"></div></div>
<p>Our second enhancer comes from a Universe Beyond: <em>Battle for Baldur's Gate.</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lae&#039;zel, Vlaakith&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Lae&#039;zel, Vlaakith&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> essentially <em>doubles</em> each time we proliferate, and that can get out of hand pretty quickly.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lae&#039;zel, Vlaakith&#039;s Champion"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Metastatic Evangel" href="#" target="_blank">Metastatic Evangel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our third enhancer. This card is crazy: a creature enters under our control, we proliferate. It needs to be nontoken, but that doesn't tone it down too much.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Metastatic Evangel"></div></div>
<p>Our last two enhancers are cards that do similar things: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Filigree Vector" href="#" target="_blank">Filigree Vector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throne of Geth" href="#" target="_blank">Throne of Geth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Filigree Vector" href="#" target="_blank">Filigree Vector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> puts counters on anything as it enters, and, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throne of Geth" href="#" target="_blank">Throne of Geth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, lets us sacrifice an artifact to proliferate. This is a great card with our commander because when we deal combat damage to someone, we create a Food token <em>and</em> get a quest counter that we can later proliferate.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Filigree Vector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Throne of Geth"></div></div>
<h2>Category #3: Protection</h2>
<p>Sierra is very much a "glass cannon", in that if she gets removed, we have to start from 0. With this in mind, I included some cards that can make it hurt a little less when she is inevitably removed.</p>
<p>The first two cards in this category are similar: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ozolith" href="#" target="_blank">The Ozolith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Resourceful Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Resourceful Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ozolith" href="#" target="_blank">The Ozolith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets us store Sierra's quest counters on it when she dies, so we don't need to start completely over. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Resourceful Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Resourceful Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a little different in that we move those counters to something else but can then move them back at a later time for five mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ozolith"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Resourceful Defense"></div></div>
<p>The next card in this category is card that is often overlooked: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Together Forever" href="#" target="_blank">Together Forever</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It enters and gives out two +1/+1 counters which isn't much, but it fuels its second ability: allowing us to return a creature with <em>any counters</em> on it to our hand when it dies. Sierra will have quest counters no matter what, so this gives us the opportunity to avoid commander tax if we have one open mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Together Forever"></div></div>
<p>The last card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damning Verdict" href="#" target="_blank">Damning Verdict</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card is "protection" because Sierra will always have counters, and we have plenty of ways to give counters to our other creatures. If we have counters on everything, this is a one-sided board wipe.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Damning Verdict"></div></div>
<h2>Category #4: The "Secret Spice"</h2>
<p>This deck's "secret spice" will allow us to knock out opponents out of nowhere. Allow me to explain:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetheric Amplifier" href="#" target="_blank">Aetheric Amplifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a newer card that can act as a mana rock on early turns, then double Sierra's quest counters in the late game to deliver a knock-out punch.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aetheric Amplifier"></div></div>
<ul>
<li>Arcbound Ravager and Krark-Clan Ironworks are ways to sacrifice our food tokens en masse, often generating a lethal attacker after blockers are declared. Just land one of these cards, go to combat, wait for declare blockers, and before damage pump the unblocked creature as much as you need to deliver a lethal blow.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcbound Ravager"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krark-Clan Ironworks"></div></div>
<h2>Closing Thoughts</h2>
<p>I hope you enjoyed exploring an underplayed <em>Fallout</em> commander with me! While her character in the game is pretty lackluster, her commander can be pretty interesting if built around properly. Check out my decklist below!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Proliferating in Mono-White with Sierra, Nuka’s Biggest Fan" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sierra, Nuka&#039;s Biggest Fan
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Aerial Extortionist
*1 Apothecary White
*1 Arcbound Ravager
*1 Astrid Peth
*1 Bennie Bracks, Zoologist
*1 Celestine, the Living Saint
*1 Combat Calligrapher
*1 ED-E, Lonesome Eyebot
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Filigree Vector
*1 Gingerbrute
*1 Grateful Apparition
*1 Healer&#039;s Hawk
*1 Keeper of the Accord
*1 Lae&#039;zel, Vlaakith&#039;s Champion
*1 Mangara, the Diplomat
*1 Metastatic Evangel
*1 Mother of Runes
*1 Nils, Discipline Enforcer
*1 Norn&#039;s Choirmaster
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Patrolling Peacemaker
*1 Rosie Cotton of South Lane
*1 Scholar of New Horizons
*1 Shrike Force
*1 Soltari Foot Soldier
*1 Stridehangar Automaton
*1 Yes Man, Personal Securitron
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Aetheric Amplifier
*1 Aetherworks Marvel
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Argent Dais
*1 Astral Cornucopia
*1 Bagel and Schmear
*1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
*1 Candy Trail
*1 Coalition Relic
*1 Eriette&#039;s Tempting Apple
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Lembas
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Nuka-Cola Vending Machine
*1 Recon Craft Theta
*1 Robe of Stars
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Staff of Compleation
*1 Sword of Truth and Justice
*1 The Ozolith
*1 Throne of Geth
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Hoofprints of the Stag
*1 Land Tax
*1 Norn&#039;s Decree
*1 Resourceful Defense
*1 Together Forever
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Damning Verdict
*1 Secret Rendezvous
*1 Steelshaper&#039;s Gift
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Flawless Maneuver
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Razorgrass Ambush // Razorgrass Field
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Crystal Vein
*1 Demolition Field
*1 Diamond City
*1 Fountainport
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*19 Plains
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Remote Farm
*1 Roadside Reliquary
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Secluded Steppe
*1 Strip Mine
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>


Proliferating in Mono White with Sierra, Nuka's Biggest Fan

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadow the Hedgehog" href="#" target="_blank">Shadow the Hedgehog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Yardley">Tracy Yardley</a></h6>
<p>When I was a kid, I went over to a cousin’s house and played a new and mysterious thing called a Sega. Aside from <em>Mortal Kombat</em>, we played some of this strange, colorful racing platformer with a blue blur. I drew pictures of the game for months afterwards in an age without the internet to look it up and find it again. My video game journey would go on from there, with me picking up a GameCube so I could play <em>Sonic Adventure 2: Battle</em>. There’s where I first encountered Shadow the Hedgehog. He was cool, he was dark, he was edgy. He… died at the end of the game.</p>
<p>Shadow got better under mysterious circumstances and went on to star in his own video game, which I also played to completion (be nice, I was only 13). After suffering through that, I was less of a Shadow fan, but the grumpy antihero still holds a special place in my heart. When the Secret Lair for this was announced, I was taken aback, but the idea of a Shadow deck sounded too good to pass up, so let’s board the ARK and take a look at the Ultimate Life Form!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shadow the Hedgehog"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Shadow the Hedgehog Do?</h2>
<p>Shadow is a 4/2 with haste and two major abilities. He draws cards when any creature you control with haste or flash dies. The flavorful <em>Chaos Control</em> ability grants split second to spells you cast using mana from an artifact. This means that a spell you cast will have zero counterplay: they can’t sacrifice something in response to removal, they can’t cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to dodge an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exsanguinate" href="#" target="_blank">Exsanguinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and of course no <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both of these abilities have layers of interesting possibilities, so let’s dig in for a minute.</p>
<p>Shadow’s first ability incentivizes you to find a bunch of creatures with flash or haste for the deck, and that’s an interesting road to go down. There are only 58 creatures with flash in his colors, but nearly 600 with haste. You could genuinely choose to just fill it up with the best haste creatures and go to town, but let’s keep digging. Red has ways to make hasty tokens repeatably, which often exile or sacrifice themselves. Red can also steal opposing creatures and give them haste until end of turn; with black’s sacrifice outlets, you have a stew. I don’t want to go too niche here, though. The final ability encourages artifacts, but not in a big flashy payoff; a subtheme is fine.</p>
<p>I like Shadow as a midrange deck, using a mix of red’s hasty tricks and black’s sacrifice outlets to maximize his card draw abilities. By using a mix of standard artifact ramp and a Treasures package, the deck can gain some inevitability with a handful of big late game plays that work with the deck’s themes.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Shadow the Hedgehog</h2>
<p>We need three ingredients for our deck: sources of hasty creatures, ways to ensure they die, and a solid ramp package to keep up with the card flow. This deck wants to stay on the board and overwhelm the table, so let’s look at the ways the deck makes haste.</p>
<p>In my build, there are only 11 creatures with haste. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rankle, Master of Pranks" href="#" target="_blank">Rankle, Master of Pranks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good card, but even with reanimation tricks, he and his fellow haste-havers can only die so many times. That’s fine, though: we have cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urabrask&#039;s Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Urabrask&#039;s Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which make a hasty token that we sacrifice. There aren’t a ton of these, but enough to ensure we can draw them with some regularity. In a similar vein, there are cards like <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> that make a token copy with haste. This boosts our count a little higher (giving a 50% chance of drawing one of them in the opener).</p>
<p>For the final ten creatures in our deck lacking haste or flash, there are ways to get around that. We don’t have the original <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fervor" href="#" target="_blank">Fervor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rising of the Day" href="#" target="_blank">Rising of the Day</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fire Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">The Fire Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> get there with additional utility. This sets us up for fodder for draw, but how do we make it happen?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Siege-Gang Lieutenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Fire Crystal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning Greaves"></div></div>
<p>Plenty of our creatures will die in combat, but not always. It’s best to control things and make sure it happens. Free and unrestricted is our “best in class” (<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>). Free and once per turn is usually good enough (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keskit, the Flesh Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Keskit, the Flesh Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), and mana-restricted is acceptable under rare circumstance (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being “acceptable” is hilarious, but you get what I mean). Special shout out to the new free sac outlet coming to us from <em>Edge of Eternities</em>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umbral Collar Zealot" href="#" target="_blank">Umbral Collar Zealot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This need for sacrifice also bends our draw pool, so expect a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Dispute" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Dispute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This ensures that we can get our creatures to die exactly when we need them to.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yahenni, Undying Partisan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vampiric Rites"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Village Rites"></div></div>
<p>This deck should never go into topdeck mode unless something goes seriously wrong. With a full grip, we’ll need one more ingredient to keep our foot on the gas: mana. Lots of mana. <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> is starting to give red more ways to search up lands and produce mana, but Treasures are still one of the best ways to go. This deck especially likes Treasures for the <em>Chaos Control</em> split second rider, so in addition to the seven-mana rocks, we have ten cards which repeatedly make Treasure (and three more that do it once). Some of these cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xorn" href="#" target="_blank">Xorn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are pure Treasure cards, but most pull double duty. For instance, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mahadi, Emporium Master" href="#" target="_blank">Mahadi, Emporium Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plays into our sacrifice theme, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Reaver Cleaver" href="#" target="_blank">The Reaver Cleaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> leans into the aggressive play pattern. In this category, we of course bring in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knuckles the Echidna" href="#" target="_blank">Knuckles the Echidna</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Knux might be Sonic’s friend, but he does some good work with Shadow.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warren Soultrader"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knuckles the Echidna"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goldspan Dragon"></div></div>
<p>Beyond that, we have a slew of mana rocks, a few removal spells, and one special category of interaction: protection spells. This deck has some serious midrange elements going on with it (<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> is an old school card that still puts in work), but this deck really wants to keep the commander on the field. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadow the Hedgehog" href="#" target="_blank">Shadow the Hedgehog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is going to draw a lot of fire, especially early on. Black’s death prevention spells work to dodge any kind of destruction spell, while red’s redirects can deflect any targeted removal, destruction or exile. The black spells are especially flavorful here: Shadow accidentally pulls off <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feign Death" href="#" target="_blank">Feign Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the story. I focused on finding one- and two-mana versions of these effects (shout-out to Shadow’s power being four, meaning <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolt Bend" href="#" target="_blank">Bolt Bend</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets its cost reduced), but red doesn’t have enough yet, so in goes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wyll&#039;s Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Wyll&#039;s Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return the Favor" href="#" target="_blank">Return the Favor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has more versatility, but it’s also more color-intensive, and with Shadow being four pips, that generic cost is going to be a clencher from time to time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fake Your Own Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Untimely Malfunction"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Supernatural Stamina"></div></div>
<p>With hasty creatures dying, our hand growing, and mana exploding… how does the deck actually close out the game?</p>
<h2>How Does Shadow the Hedgehog Win?</h2>
<p>The card draw engine is itself part of the wincon. Hasty creatures are creatures that can attack faster. This deck gets in the red zone on turn two and stays there. Drawing those extra cards each turn keeps the deck from running out of steam if the other players start building up defenses. The Treasures and ramp package keep the deck running fast enough to overwhelm.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loyal Apprentice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadly Dispute"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kellogg, Dangerous Mind"></div></div>
<p>Attacking with a bunch of weenies is a good opener, but there’s a lot of damage to distribute. The deck needs more than just attackers. In the midgame, we’re going to rely on cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Descent into Avernus" href="#" target="_blank">Descent into Avernus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Garna, Bloodfist of Keld" href="#" target="_blank">Garna, Bloodfist of Keld</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to sling out some extra damage while pulling double duty in our ramp and draw needs. The devil, the myth, the legend in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mayhem Devil" href="#" target="_blank">Mayhem Devil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is going to really up the ante on this with our Treasures and everyone sacrificing all kinds of permanents. This is not a full-on aristocrat deck to make way for the haste and Treasure package, but that’s not a bad direction to take the list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Balrog, Durin&#039;s Bane" href="#" target="_blank">The Balrog, Durin&#039;s Bane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could pass for Black Doom from the original Shadow: the Hedgehog (2005) and works as a big beater that can be discounted pretty heavily with Treasure mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Garna, Bloodfist of Keld"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Balrog, Durin&#039;s Bane"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mayhem Devil"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of big beaters, though, there are some proper finishers in the list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bladewing, Deathless Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Bladewing, Deathless Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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> are big plays that immediately impact the board while also playing into our haste theme. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mob Rule" href="#" target="_blank">Mob Rule</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not a full <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insurrection" href="#" target="_blank">Insurrection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it gets the job done well enough. It grants haste to those creatures, so Shadow will draw cards off of them so long as there’s a sac outlet down and ready to chew up those stolen goods. If none of those show up, there’s always a trusty <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exsanguinate" href="#" target="_blank">Exsanguinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for an absurdly high number.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mob Rule"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exsanguinate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bladewing, Deathless Tyrant"></div></div>
<p>And with that, the deck is ready to show off as a brave-hearted hero… or a black-hearted evil?</p>
<p>Shadow the Hedgehog Commander Decklist</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Shadow the Hedgehog" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Shadow the Hedgehog
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Charcoal Diamond
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 The Fire Crystal
*1 The Reaver Cleaver
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Urabrask&#039;s Forge
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Anger
*1 Ardyn, the Usurper
*1 Ayara, Widow of the Realm // Ayara, Furnace Queen
*1 Bladewing, Deathless Tyrant
*1 Captain Lannery Storm
*1 Feldon of the Third Path
*1 Garna, Bloodfist of Keld
*1 Goldspan Dragon
*1 Jaxis, the Troublemaker
*1 Kellogg, Dangerous Mind
*1 Keskit, the Flesh Sculptor
*1 Knuckles the Echidna
*1 Lagomos, Hand of Hatred
*1 Loyal Apprentice
*1 Mahadi, Emporium Master
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Necron Deathmark
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Rankle, Master of Pranks
*1 Siege-Gang Lieutenant
*1 The Balrog, Durin&#039;s Bane
*1 Umbral Collar Zealot
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Warren Soultrader
*1 Xorn
*1 Yahenni, Undying Partisan
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Descent into Avernus
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Rising of the Day
*1 Vampiric Rites
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Blazemire Verge
*1 Command Tower
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drossforge Bridge
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Fountainport
*1 Graven Cairns
*1 Great Furnace
*1 Haunted Ridge
*9 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Rakdos Carnarium
*1 Shadowblood Ridge
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*7 Swamp
*1 Tainted Peak
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Vault of Whispers
[/Lands]
[Instants]
*1 Bedevil
*1 Bolt Bend
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Fake Your Own Death
*1 Feign Death
*1 Infernal Grasp
*1 Supernatural Stamina
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Undying Malice
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Untimely Malfunction
*1 Village Rites
*1 Wyll&#039;s Reversal
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Exsanguinate
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Mob Rule
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Chandra, Acolyte of Flame
[/Planeswalkers]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Morbid confession: for a brief time in 2004, I ran a forum on a fan fiction website dedicated to Shadow the Hedgehog. So I may have been in the target audience for this card, but I accept that. It was a blast and a half considering how to build this. I loved the mechanics, but still found myself picking a few cards for flavor reasons.</p>
<p>There’s been rumblings for a while about how cracked Shadow is, and I can absolutely see it. I’m sure there are Optimized (4) versions (some claim cEDH-viable but I don’t go there, so I’m not making claims), but this grindier Core (2) version is my type of playstyle. I could see someone trimming out the artifact ramp, going all in on Treasures, and picking more flavorful cards (like my aforementioned Balrog for Black Doom) to make it a story-driven Exhibition (1) deck or going more towards a true aristocrats strategy for an Upgraded (3) experience.</p>
<p>Let me know where you land on the black hedgehog and what kind of deck you’re building with him!</p>


Shadow the Hedgehog

Too-Specific Top 10 - Shadowy Figures

Evasive Maneuvers — The Synthesis

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowbane" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowbane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://douglasshuler.com/">Douglas Shuler</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>Welcome to <em>Dual Shot</em>, where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck! This typically leaves us with a marriage of themes, sometimes in a neat 80/20 balance, other times in a mess of abstraction, a melding of approaches. Half one way, half the other, with a bridge between.</p>
<p>This time, two partitions will display a unity of focus, but to the exclusion of their peripheral awarenesses. They are alike in purpose, but they are not like-minded, even if they share the same headspace. Although sometimes, if your Voltron commander works, there won't be much left in the way of headspace, not with Zurgo Helmsmasher at the, uh, helm.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zurgo Helmsmasher"></div></div>
<p>(Check the archives! Have we made that joke before? If not, originality! If so, continuity!)</p>
<p>This edition of <em>Dual Shot</em> brings us another combat-centric deck. I know, be patient, I'm sure there'll be a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/wheels">Wheel</a> deck inside a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/stax">Stax</a> deck, or a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/rat-colony">Rat Colony</a> deck inside a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/persistent-petitioners">Persistent Petitioners</a> deck inside a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/shadowborn-apostles">Shadowborn Apostle</a> deck someday.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rat Colony"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Persistent Petitioners"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shadowborn Apostle"></div></div>
<p>(Oh, write those down!)</p>
<p>But no, for now the duality is a subtle one, one scarcely aware of its own schism, obvious and opaque at once. In one sphere sits the straightforward, the outward, the brash, even the honorable. In the other hides the meandering, the muttering, the surreptitious, the anxious. Day and night aren't so different; they merely color the sky. The sky's purpose is still there.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Shadow of Zurgo" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Zurgo Helmsmasher
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Adriana, Captain of the Guard
*1 Agent of Stromgald
*1 Augur il-Vec
*1 Azra Oddsmaker
*1 Dauthi Cutthroat
*1 Dauthi Ghoul
*1 Dauthi Jackal
*1 Dauthi Mercenary
*1 Dauthi Mindripper
*1 Dauthi Trapper
*1 Dauthi Warlord
*1 Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar
*1 Port Razer
*1 Soltari Champion
*1 Soltari Crusader
*1 Soltari Foot Soldier
*1 Soltari Guerrillas
*1 Soltari Monk
*1 Soltari Priest
*1 Soltari Trooper
*1 Soltari Visionary
*1 Spirit en-Dal
*1 Stronghold Overseer
*1 Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner
*1 Throat Slitter
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Despark
*1 Howl from Beyond
*1 Leave // Chance
*1 Savage Beating
*1 Seething Song
*1 Stir the Pride
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Temur Battle Rage
*1 Terminate
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bond of Discipline
*1 Dusk // Dawn
*1 Insult // Injury
*1 Read the Bones
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Rakdos Locket
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aggravated Assault
*1 Cavalcade of Calamity
*1 Curse of Stalked Prey
*1 Dauthi Embrace
*1 Latulla&#039;s Orders
*1 Rage Reflection
*1 Raid Bombardment
*1 Sphere of Safety
*1 Unspeakable Symbol
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Bloodfell Caves
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Castle Ardenvale
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Command Tower
*1 Concealed Courtyard
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Isolated Chapel
*4 Mountain
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Path of Ancestry
*5 Plains
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Rupture Spire
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Scoured Barrens
*1 Secluded Steppe
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*5 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Reconciling</h2>
<p>Our general wants to smash. His army isn't even on the same battlefield. Reducing it down, this is a win-by-commander-damage deck atop a wide, evasive combat deck. To each end, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rage Reflection" href="#" target="_blank">Rage Reflection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Savage Beating" href="#" target="_blank">Savage Beating</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insult // Injury" href="#" target="_blank">Insult // Injury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seem to act as the only channel of communication and compromise. Otherwise, we'll be fighting two different wars. Self and shadow. Conscious and unconscious. Ego and id. Digestible and euphuistic. Dictionary and thesaurus. Something and... someplace.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rage Reflection"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Savage Beating"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Insult // Injury"></div></div>
<p>Anyway, tangled among all the cards that exist in one camp here (e.g., <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howl from Beyond" href="#" target="_blank">Howl from Beyond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is really only going to benefit your commander, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stir the Pride" href="#" target="_blank">Stir the Pride</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only exhibits its utility when the shadows are long), there are two tenuous, brittle bridges: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Embrace" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Embrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Trapper" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Trapper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dauthi Embrace"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dauthi Trapper"></div></div>
<p>This deck's <em>raison d'être</em>. With these, Zurgo can give into his <em>Shadow</em> archetype, his buried truth. He is no true Khan of the Mardu Horde, not in the sense of acquiescence to the weight of culture, of honorable battle, of vendettas and oaths and ambition. All of that is in service to the chase of the bloodbath. An otherwordly stab in the back will meet that requirement just as well as crossed swords.</p>
<p>But there is a danger in giving in to the dark. With an army stuck in the shadow, you'll enjoy your evasiveness, sure, but in doing so, each of your opponents are guaranteed the same. You cannot block. And like our psychic shadow, if pressured into a defensive posture, it is a perverted one. Paranoia, carelessness, irrationality. You know, the "always be attacking" type of Jungian psychology. That isn't to say this deck can't work, only that, unlike typical <em>Dual Shot</em> fare, the pivot presented here is rather more like shifting our weight from a fixed stance. Here, despite our brazenness, our brashness, our bravado - our brutality - we do not adapt, we submit.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This is a deck at odds with itself. Running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raid Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Raid Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavalcade of Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Cavalcade of Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is terribly risky, since while we do prioritize effects that grant double strike, rather than simply buffing our power, these do seem like the first cuts to make. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> feels like the all-star here, definitely going a long way toward making this list seem fun and not frustrating. But that aggravating antipode is at the very heart of this deck - something honest and something askance. This brew does a good job of illustrating an early glimpse into the goals of <em>Magic</em>. You want to win by dealing damage to your opponents, so dealing unavoidable damage quickly seems like the clearest path to victory. But then caveats begin to pile up, lines of play become visible only after you've closed them off, and someone played <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stasis" href="#" target="_blank">Stasis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and somehow there's an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth, Knight-Errant" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth, Knight-Errant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that's going to ult and there's nothing you can do about it.</p>
<p>Often, this excavates a salt mine - at first. But it's that same circuity that keeps us coming back, reliving plays in our heads, sharing jank with friends, and turning grim metaphors into decklists at the insistence of the plague-madness.</p>
<p>That's it for this episode! Check out <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/trent-trombley/">Trent Trombley</a>'s <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/evasive-maneuvers-shadow/"><em>Evasive Maneuvers - Shadow</em></a> for more insight into this tech! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Embrace" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Embrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Trapper" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Trapper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> see a &lt; 1% inclusion rate on EDHREC, and <em>Shadow</em>, in general, is an underappreciated mechanic; it seems that people's enthusiasm for the keyword dwindles once they realize that it means they can't block. But to hell with blocking, I say! Zurgo, smash!</p>
<p>Let us know in the comments below when "always be attacking" worked for you. Or, perhaps more interestingly, tell us about a moment you had in your Commander career when you realized that this game had more going on underneath the hood that you'd first thought. Anyway, stay safe and stay sane. Till next edition.</p>
<p>Try to stay safe and sane after next edition, too.</p>


shadow

Proliferating in Mono White with Sierra, Nuka's Biggest Fan

Shadow the Hedgehog

Too-Specific Top 10 - Shadowy Figures

Evasive Maneuvers — The Synthesis

Dual Shot - Shadow Aspect

Too-Specific Top 10 - A Type I've Not Heard in a Long Time