The Chopping Block — Vorel of the Hull Clade

Government agencies are still not beyond the use of covert espionage. There was a recent New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/20/world/asia/china-cia-spies-espionage.html?_r=0">report</a> that uncovered details of more than a dozen United States spies working in China who died or were captured between 2010 and 2012. It wasn't that long ago when the US was in trouble with a few countries over <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/24/world/europe/europe-summit-nsa-surveillance/">spying issues</a> after the Edward Snowden leaked details of the NSA's goings on. Even Snowden himself <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2014/05/27/edward-snowden-says-he-was-trained-as-a-spy/?utm_term=.de91206a416c">stated</a> he was "trained as a spy." And we really don’t know that the late Roger Moore wasn’t actually James Bond, right? Spying is a fact of life in the modern day even if it takes place more in cyber space than it used to. Why not dissect this? We can turn the international political arena of spy networks into information for us. What makes them work, and why has there been more than one failing in the last decade for US spy agencies?
<h2>The Spy Who Loved Me</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" src="http://orig08.deviantart.net/96b9/f/2012/220/1/3/mtg_altered___edric_spymaster_bond_by_claarbar-d5ad55t.jpg" alt="http://orig08.deviantart.net/96b9/f/2012/220/1/3/mtg_altered___edric_spymaster_bond_by_claarbar-d5ad55t.jpg" width="295" height="411" />
<h5 style="text-align: center;">How can you not love this alter?</h5>
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a> is really the most logical starting position. The flavor that Wizards of the Coast was going for on the card is a good baseline for how to interpret spying into our decklist. When an agent infiltrates the enemy by attacking them it turns it into tangible information for us to use, ie. card draw. If you look through the signature cards on Edric's EDHREC page <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/edric-spymaster-of-trest#signaturecards">here</a> you can see there are a plethora of one-drop creatures with evasion (<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slither Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Slither Blade</a> is a great new card for this.) These correlate well to the United States intelligence gathering tactics. Generally, what they do is use as wide of a sweep as possible for information, as many sources gathering as much raw data as possible. This is useful for them and us by always ensuring we have as many sources (creatures) and targets as possible. Thus, having a critical mass of one-cost creatures is imperative. One opponent may have an early blocker, but the earlier you have it out the more likely that someone will be open and some information can be gathered.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5934" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/vendilion.png" alt="" width="228" height="379" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5931" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/smuggler.png" alt="" width="228" height="382" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5932" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/survival.png" alt="" width="231" height="378" />
Information gathering is not just figurative in the card draw aspect, it can and should be literal for our purposes if we want to utilize real reasons why spies work so well in the real world. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vendilion Clique" href="#" target="_blank">Vendilion Clique</a> works perfectly for what we wish to accomplish here by being evasive, gathering us, and even extracting, information. There is a severe lack of effects like this in blue and green, however, so we must be a little creative. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought-knot Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Thought-knot Seer</a> is essentially the same effect we can use, although it isn’t evasive, and four CMC with a colorless requirement can make it unreliable at times. So, as well as having access to flicker effects (<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nephalia Smuggler" href="#" target="_blank">Nephalia Smuggler</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadeye Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Deadeye Navigator</a>) for repeatable uses, we must also utilize tutors (<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chord of Calling" href="#" target="_blank">Chord of Calling</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Survival of the Fittest" href="#" target="_blank">Survival of the Fittest</a>.)
&nbsp;
<h2>For Your Scry Only</h2>
<img decoding="async" class="oneimage" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Nissa,%20Steward%20of%20Elements&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" /><img decoding="async" class="oneimage" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Lifecrafter%27s%20Bestiary&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" /><img decoding="async" class="oneimage" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Thassa,%20God%20of%20the%20Sea&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" />
Utilizing the information you gather is more critical than gaining it. Having a toolbox of cards at your disposal is great, and having tutors to find them works well in specific instances, but a true master spy creates advantage for unknown situations. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Augury Owl" href="#" target="_blank">Augury Owl</a> is an unsuspected powerhouse. It works well as a cheap evasive creature, a second turn cast that sets you up well to play your commander, and drawing it late ensures the cards you draw off <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a> are the perfect ones. For similar reasons, fixing your draws with non-creature cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nissa, Steward of Elements" href="#" target="_blank">Nissa, Steward of Elements</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary" href="#" target="_blank">Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary</a>, or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa, God of the Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa, God of the Sea</a> (usually not a creature) work wonders.
As previously mentioned, having ways to get your toolbox cards are important, but what are those cards? <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reclamation Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Reclamation Sage</a> is simply great. An evasive threat that can manage the board. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a> works to manage board wipes, and other problematic spells. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a> makes your graveyard a toolbox. Even being able to find your <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a> when you need it is imperative. And purposefully all these cards work well with the flicker mechanics previously mentioned.
<h2>The Action</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Augury Owl
*1 Chasm Skulker
*1 Cloud Sprite
*1 Cloud of Faeries
*1 Cloudfin Raptor
*1 Coiling Oracle
*1 Craterhoof Behemoth
*1 Deadeye Navigator
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Faerie Miscreant
*1 Flying Men
*1 Glen Elendra Archmage
*1 Gudul Lurker
*1 Hope of Ghirapur
*1 Hypnotic Siren
*1 Invisible Stalker
*1 Jace&#039;s Phantasm
*1 Jhessian Infiltrator
*1 Mausoleum Wanderer
*1 Nephalia Smuggler
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Sakura-Tribe Scout
*1 Scryb Sprites
*1 Skyshroud Ranger
*1 Slither Blade
*1 Spellstutter Sprite
*1 Spiketail Hatchling
*1 Spire Tracer
*1 Sylvan Safekeeper
*1 Thada Adel, Acquisitioner
*1 Thassa, God of the Sea
*1 Thought-knot Seer
*1 Treetop Scout
*1 Triton Shorestalker
*1 Trygon Predator
*1 Vendilion Clique
*1 Wingcrafter
*1 Zephyr Sprite
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Chord of Calling
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Krosan Grip
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Unified Will
*1 Worldly Tutor
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Knowledge Exploitation
*1 Notorious Throng
*1 Overrun
*1 Regrowth
*1 Triumph of the Hordes
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Conjurer&#039;s Closet
*1 Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Beastmaster Ascension
*1 Coastal Piracy
*1 Druids&#039; Repository
*1 Exploration
*1 Survival of the Fittest
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Garruk Wildspeaker
*1 Nissa, Steward of Elements
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Alchemist&#039;s Refuge
*1 Botanical Sanctum
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Command Tower
*1 Flooded Grove
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Simic Guildgate
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Thornwood Falls
*1 Yavimaya Coast
*13 Island
*9 Forest
[/Lands]"></div>
&nbsp;
<h2>The Man with the Golden Library</h2>
Forming the deck is the easy part here. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a>, like his real world counterparts, is very divisive. Many players will stab you in the back like the spy you are for even bringing him to the table. We can kill as early as turn four with a very lucky <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triumph of the Hordes" href="#" target="_blank">Triumph of the Hordes</a>. This can be the case especially if you friends have faced this before. A “Kill it with fire!” mentality is not out of the question.
<img decoding="async" class="aligncenter" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41U-nQ7NMtL._SX355_.jpg" alt="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41U-nQ7NMtL._SX355_.jpg" />
Knowing who is at your table is more important with Edric than normal. You want to know who you are playing against. As a 007-like agent, you want to know if you are facing a metal-toothed maniac who will stop at nothing, like Jaws, or the true plotting evil genius, like Drax. A spy never gets themself into a situation without knowing how to get out. If you pick your fight with one of these enemies without knowing who they are, then how could you have found your outs beforehand like was mentioned in the “For Your Eyes Only” section?
&nbsp;
<h2>A View to a Kill</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5933" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/triumph.png" alt="" width="224" height="375" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5930" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/overrun.png" alt="" width="220" height="369" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5929" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/crater.png" alt="" width="225" height="371" />
The most important advice I can give here is not to set yourself up too early. Lying in wait is what a good spy does. If you need to not attack for a turn or two just to set up your board for a truly final blow that’s just fine. That likely means you won't draw cards, but if it means you kill someone or win on your next turn, then fine. Save your <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triumph of the Hordes" href="#" target="_blank">Triumph of the Hordes</a> for when you have no choice or you can guarantee yourself a lethal blow.
Befriending key people at the table is an important skill we have discussed many times in this EDH political science series, but spies have to do it to a whole other level. Don’t just go spending the night with everything that moves like 007, but be open to all types of treaties and relationships. Having people you can rely on in tight situations is a key way spies work. They have to have a trail of people close to them that like them enough to give them information, and to give them access to feed that information back to home. The best spies will make such good friends as a double agent that they will help you as you stab them in the back (look up Kim Philby.)
This also means you need to worry about those around you. Everyone at the table is also trying to win. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vendilion Clique" href="#" target="_blank">Vendilion Clique</a> works in your favor against enemies, but it quickly changes who your friends are if you use it liberally. Don’t reveal too much too quickly, don’t draw too many cards, and don’t do too much damage too quickly. For you to go all Roger Moore on their back sides, then think like a spy.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="irc_mi aligncenter" src="http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-i-m-the-fourth-best-james-bond-roger-moore-108-63-35.jpg" alt="Image result for roger moore I'm the fourth best james bond" width="688" height="324" />

EDH Political Science — Edric, the Spy Who Loved Me

Last time I built a deck I made the fatal flaw of confusing NBA All-Star Demar DeRozan for classic centaur commander <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stonebrow, Krosan Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Stonebrow, Krosan Hero</a>. This time I promise to make it up to everyone by giving a much-beloved and definite actual magic card, the benchwarmer treatment. This time we build a deck for <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kruphix, God of Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Kruphix, God of Horizons</a>.
One sweet thing about Kruphix is that, despite our restrictions of not using any cards that show up on his page on EDHREC, this deck's ceiling is very high. Kruphix hoards mana like a person struggling to deal with the loss of a loved one hoards old newspaper clippings and cats. The sky is the limit in terms of mana cost and our imagination.
<div id="attachment_5328" style="width: 544px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5328" class="size-full wp-image-5328" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/horders.jpg" alt="" width="534" height="401" />My Sol Ring is in here somewhere...</div>
<h2>I Need This Moldy Teddy Ruxpin</h2>
Normally Kruphix decks are filled with X draw spells and the meanest Eldrazi around, which makes sense for such a big mana focused commander. But when you're cut off from all of the flashy big spells Special K (Kruphix) uses, you're essentially dealing with the mass of old junk your weird uncle keeps in his garage and front yard. Only, not so fast - sure this pile of stuff looks like old junk but could there be some gems hiding in this smelly pile of garbage that used to be a kitchen? As it turns out, EDHREC Kruphix users may be ignoring a whole whack of useful gems simply because they were under some old cereal boxes and in the same general area that was once called the bathroom but is now just not healthy to go near.
In our journey through the discarded Simic turd-pile there certainly are some top-tier cards I'm frankly surprised are not showing up in more decks. I'm not telling you to run more <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel Colossus</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Stretch" href="#" target="_blank">Time Stretch</a>es, but they certainly fit right into the big mana philosophy this Simic deck wants to roll with. Can you believe those cards are not mentioned on the EDHREC page for Kruphix? It's like I went looking for my ALF lunch box from grade 3 and accidentally found an actual X-Wing and the remote from Click instead. Screw the lunchbox, I'm flying this damn thing to Dagobah!
<h2>Kruphix, Lord of Horders</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kruphix and Acquaintences" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
Kruphix, God of Horizons
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Archetype of Imagination
*1 Worldspine Wurm
*1 Silklash Spider
*1 Hooded Hydra
*1 Gigantoplasm
*1 Nimbus Swimmer
*1 Protean Hydra
*1 Vastwood Hydra
*1 Domesticated Hydra
*1 Hydra Broodmaster
*1 Pygmy Hippo
*1 Ivy Elemental
*1 Endless One
*1 Illusory Ambusher
*1 Krakilin
*1 Inkwell Leviathan
*1 Darksteel Colossus
*1 Blightsteel Colossus
*1 Steel Hellkite
*1 Hangarback Walker
*1 Walking Ballista
*1 Metalwork Colossus
*1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
*1 Shizuko, Caller of Autumn
*1 Sakiko, Mother of Summer
*1 Vorel of the Hull Clade
*1 Yeva, Nature&#039;s Herald
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Animist&#039;s Awakening
*1 Sylvan Offering
*1 Gelatinous Genesis
*1 Wildest Dreams
*1 Curse of the Swine
*1 Cultivate
*1 Explosive Vegetation
*1 Ranger&#039;s Path
*1 Ugin&#039;s Insight
*1 Hunter&#039;s Prowess
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Boundless Realms
*1 Clone Legion
*1 Crush of Wurms
*1 Time Stretch
[/Sorciers]
[Instants]
*1 Condescend
*1 Spell Burst
*1 Syncopate
*1 Dominate
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Mark of Sakiko
*1 Mystic Remora
*1 Soothsaying
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Chimeric Mass
*1 Orochi Hatchery
*1 Astral Cornucopia
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Worn Powerstone
*1 Snake Basket
*1 Riptide Replicator
*1 Citanul Flute
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Simic Guildgate
*1 Command Beacon
*1 High Market
*1 Homeward Path
*1 Lumbering Falls
*1 Maze of Ith
*1 Shelldock Isle
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*15 Island
*18 Forest
[/Lands]"></div>
&nbsp; 
Naturally this deck has its share of big X spells like Endless One, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Protean Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Protean Hydra</a> and even a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nimbus Swimmer" href="#" target="_blank">Nimbus Swimmer</a> but this version gets to run with the upside of being able to include my namesake <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vorel of the Hull Clade" href="#" target="_blank">Vorel of the Hull Clade</a> to double up your +1/+1 counters on these and other big guys.
To be honest though, this deck is less about fancy synergies and more about getting the most mana and using it on huge effects. Whether that's a big activation from Steel Hellkite, tutoring for a creature using <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Citanul Flute" href="#" target="_blank">Citanul Flute</a> or even paying the cumulative upkeep on <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Remora" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Remora</a> without breaking anything close to a sweat. This deck takes a slightly different approach to the run-of-the-mill Kruphix decks by providing a lot of big mana sinks as the main way to spend all those weird little diamonds.
<div id="attachment_5331" style="width: 346px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5331" class="size-full wp-image-5331" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/mystic-remora.jpg" alt="" width="336" height="469" />How is this not a creature?</div>
&nbsp;
<h2>Finding the Rembrandt of Clown Pictures</h2>
Speaking of diamonds, while sifting through Uncle Kruphix's weird hoarder pile of Simic garbage, I found a bunch of cards I don't think anyone has ever used in EDH before. Namely <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mark of Sakiko" href="#" target="_blank">Mark of Sakiko</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pygmy Hippo" href="#" target="_blank">Pygmy Hippo</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hunter&#039;s Prowess" href="#" target="_blank">Hunter&#039;s Prowess</a>. Now these cards may not be all that good, or require a lot of set up, and there are much better versions of them readily available. But listen, when you're sifting through a heap of discarded Dance Mix CDs and grocery bags filled with old calendars you're gonna be stoked when you come across something that can draw you 10 or 11 cards even if it is at sorcery speed.
As far as mana rocks go, we are scraping the bottom of the barrel a bit, but there are a few decent options like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worn Powerstone" href="#" target="_blank">Worn Powerstone</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simic Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Simic Signet</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Astral Cornucopia" href="#" target="_blank">Astral Cornucopia</a>, which makes sense as yet another X spell in Uncle K's basket of rocks. Not to be confused with your hoarder uncle's basket of just actual rocks.
<div id="attachment_5332" style="width: 686px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5332" class=" wp-image-5332" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/basketofrocks.jpg" alt="" width="676" height="507" />Uncle K, these are just rocks from your driveway.</div>
<h2>You Didn't Need That, Did You?</h2>
Counterspells are a necessity when talking about blue, and big mana, just because it plain hurts when you go to spend 19 mana on a huge hydra, someone plays <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Essence Scatter" href="#" target="_blank">Essence Scatter</a>, and you feel like a true rube. Well just be careful in this deck to never completely tap out and always hold up a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syncopate" href="#" target="_blank">Syncopate</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Condescend" href="#" target="_blank">Condescend</a>. Since these counterspells require X mana, however, it's important that you use them very carefully. Try holding on to them only when it really matters; stopping a board wipe or another key counterspell is pretty much all you should be using them for.
<h2>Landfills</h2>
Finally, the lands. Luckily it seems like Kruphix players on EDHREC oddly avoid using really good lands. Oh, I can't use Evolving Wilds but I can use <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="High Market" href="#" target="_blank">High Market</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Homeward Path" href="#" target="_blank">Homeward Path</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maze of Ith" href="#" target="_blank">Maze of Ith</a>? Uhh ok. I can even use <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simic Guildgate" href="#" target="_blank">Simic Guildgate</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lumbering Falls" href="#" target="_blank">Lumbering Falls</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simic Growth Chamber" href="#" target="_blank">Simic Growth Chamber</a>! Like, are you guys even trying? A pretty solid mana base here. I'm never afraid to run mostly basics and not get super greedy when it comes to a 2 colour mana base, so I'm perfectly happy with the way this one turned out. It's fairly easy on the wallet this way and definitely will get you what you need when you need it.
<div id="attachment_5333" style="width: 621px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5333" class=" wp-image-5333" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/kfriends.jpg" alt="" width="611" height="256" />Well no one told you that YOU'D MAKE INFINITE COLOURLESS MANA</div>
<h2>I Think I Have a Problem</h2>
So there you have it, if you were to call a regular Kruphix deck “Kruphix and Friends” you'd definitely call this one “Kruphix and Acquaintances”. But in life you need acquaintances because friends are always at your house, hanging around with you and it just becomes impossible to hide your serious hoarding problem from them. General acquaintances just kind of float around and you can always make up excuses like, “my cat is sick,” or “I haven't vacuumed,” or “the city has condemned my living area” to keep them out of your business. Well consider this one the “I haven't vacuumed” of commander decks and tell your friends to ignore your mess of cards.

EDH Benchwarmers — Kruphix, God of Colourless Mana

Gilder Bairn art by Nils Hamm
<h2>Buy One Get One Free</h2>
Today on Low Market we stray slightly from the path of pure-blooded Commander. I love Commander in all – well, most – of its expressions, and I am nothing if not equitable. Today, we turn our budget deckbuilding eye to Pauper Commander!
&nbsp;
<h2>The Princess and the Pauper</h2>
Those who make their home on Magic Online are likely familiar with the constructed format known as Pauper, where decks are restricted to cards that have been printed at common. Pauper Commander, unsurprisingly, applies this concept to EDH: take an uncommon creature as your commander, then build a deck of 99 commons. Therefore it follows that I would highlight Pauper Commander (herein shortened to "PDH") in a budget deck series: with little exception, they are cheap as dirt to construct. My PDH decks are valued between $15.00 and $30.00 going by the market price of the cards, but in reality, they cost me pennies to make, since I can raid commons from my collection, my friends' collections, or my local game store.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-5416 size-full" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/C009-01.jpg" alt="" width="709" height="330" />
Before we proceed to all of the wonderful deckbuilding, a few notes about PDH mechanics: while there is no central authority to dictate rules and banlists, life totals are often set to 30 or 35, with lethal commander damage at 15 or 18. If you and your friends find commanders or cards to be unfun, I highly suggest discussing bans within your local meta game as I've done. Finally, PDH is best played as a 1v1 format, since multiplayer often turns grindy and boardstatey.
Enough of the dry stuff! We have two, count 'em, two decks for you today. First up, my pet commander, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilder Bairn" href="#" target="_blank">Gilder Bairn</a>!
&nbsp;
<h2>Paint It Gold</h2>
It's <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilder Bairn" href="#" target="_blank">Gilder Bairn</a>, a.k.a. <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/vorel-of-the-hull-clade" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vorel of the Hull Clade" href="#" target="_blank">Vorel of the Hull Clade</a>'s</a> awkward (but adorable!) little sibling. We're doubling counters on all kinds of permanents, and finding methods of tapping <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilder Bairn" href="#" target="_blank">Gilder Bairn</a> in order to use its ability. This can involve attacking, but more often we'll grant <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilder Bairn" href="#" target="_blank">Gilder Bairn</a> a tap ability or tap it as part of a cost. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Presence of Gond" href="#" target="_blank">Presence of Gond</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viridian Longbow" href="#" target="_blank">Viridian Longbow</a> each provide powerful tap abilities. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springleaf Drum" href="#" target="_blank">Springleaf Drum</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Holdout Settlement" href="#" target="_blank">Holdout Settlement</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loam Dryad" href="#" target="_blank">Loam Dryad</a> all do precisely the same thing – generating colored mana by tapping a creature – and are all equally playable in this deck.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-5423 aligncenter" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/C009-02.jpg" alt="" width="709" height="330" />
This deck most often takes a midrange 'go-tall' approach to victory: double the counters on <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battering Krasis" href="#" target="_blank">Battering Krasis</a> enough times and you'll kill whatever you hit. Token producers that rely on counters, like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thallid" href="#" target="_blank">Thallid</a> and friends, provide options for going wide, and make our win conditions less susceptible to targeted removal. (With so few boardwipes in PDH, a token swarn can be very hard to deal with.)
To my knowledge, there is at least one infinite combo possible with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilder Bairn" href="#" target="_blank">Gilder Bairn</a>, which I like having around for when one arbitrarily-large creature doesn't quite cut it. All we need is our commander, a tap ability on it, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pentad Prism" href="#" target="_blank">Pentad Prism</a>, and time. Once we have seven or more counters on the Prism, we remove three charge counters, tap <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilder Bairn" href="#" target="_blank">Gilder Bairn</a> with whatever ability we gave it, untap it to double the counters on <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pentad Prism" href="#" target="_blank">Pentad Prism</a>, and repeat. This always results in infinite mana and any number of counters on any permanent, with other possibilities depending upon the tap abilities we have access to. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viridian Longbow" href="#" target="_blank">Viridian Longbow</a>, for example, will end the game with infinite damage.
&nbsp;
<h2>Checking Out - Gilder Bairn</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gilder Bairn PDH" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
Gilder Bairn
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Ambush Viper
*1 Cloudfin Raptor
*1 Drift of Phantasms
*1 Elgaud Shieldmate
*1 Fertilid
*1 Helium Squirter
*1 Loam Dryad
*1 Mold Shambler
*1 Neurok Invisimancer
*1 Shambleshark
*1 Sporeback Troll
*1 Thallid
*1 Thallid Shell-Dweller
*1 Trinket Mage
*1 Vigean Hydropon
*1 Vitaspore Thallid
*1 Wickerbough Elder
*1 Winged Coatl
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Courier&#039;s Capsule
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Pentad Prism
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Springleaf Drum
*1 Viridian Longbow
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aqueous Form
*1 Diplomatic Immunity
*1 Eel Umbra
*1 Font of Fortunes
*1 Karametra&#039;s Favor
*1 Presence of Gond
*1 Psionic Gift
*1 Shielding Plax
*1 Snake Umbra
*1 Utopia Vow
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Banishing Knack
*1 Bioshift
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Counterspell (EMA)
*1 Crop Rotation
*1 Dizzy Spell
*1 Evolution Charm
*1 Into the Roil
*1 Keep Watch
*1 Muddle the Mixture
*1 Mutant&#039;s Prey
*1 Pulse of Murasa
*1 Rabid Bite
*1 Retraction Helix
*1 Rootgrapple
*1 Snakeform
*1 Think Twice
*1 Unnatural Aggression
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Artful Dodge
*1 Elven Cache
*1 Fade into Antiquity
*1 Foresee
*1 Ghostform
*1 Hunt the Weak
*1 Ponder (M12)
*1 Preordain (M11)
*1 Prey Upon
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Halimar Depths
*1 Haunted Fengraf
*1 Holdout Settlement
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Remote Isle
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Simic Guildgate
*1 Slippery Karst
*1 Soaring Seacliff
*1 Thornwood Falls
*1 Tranquil Thicket
*12 Island
*12 Forest
[/Lands]"></div>
&nbsp;
<h2>But Wait, There's More!</h2>
I've always wanted to say that in this column. Our <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilder Bairn" href="#" target="_blank">Gilder Bairn</a> deck checks out at a clean $30.00, but this woldn't be a Pauper Commander Double Feature without double the deck! Moving right along, it's mono-white sacrifice, uh, self-mill, erm, Eldrazi tribal tokens, with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extricator of Sin" href="#" target="_blank">Extricator of Sin</a> / <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extricator of Flesh" href="#" target="_blank">Extricator of Flesh</a>?
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-5521 aligncenter" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/I009-03.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" />
Extricator of Sin // Extricator of Flesh art by Craig J. Spearing
&nbsp;
<h2>Yes, You Heard Me Right</h2>
Mono-white sacrifice self-mill Eldrazi tribal tokens. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extricator of Flesh" href="#" target="_blank">Extricator of Flesh</a> né Sin demonstrates another reason why I love Pauper Commander: there are so many uncommons with strategies that are both a.) interesting, and b.) nonexistent on the legendary creatures we use in Commander. Extricator asks a lot out of our deck, including things such as:
<ul>
<li>Permanents to sacrifice to its enter-the-battlefield (ETB) ability (to achieve Delirium).</li>
<li>Whatever self-mill effects we can muster (to achieve Delirium).</li>
<li>Creatures to sacrifice to its back side's tap ability.</li>
<li>Eldrazi to take advantage of being granted vigilance.</li>
<li>Methods of using our graveyard once Delirium is turned on.</li>
</ul>
There are regrettably (but understandably) few cards that can self-mill in mono-white: <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghoulcaller&#039;s Bell" href="#" target="_blank">Ghoulcaller&#039;s Bell</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shard of Broken Glass" href="#" target="_blank">Shard of Broken Glass</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shriekhorn" href="#" target="_blank">Shriekhorn</a>. I don't see this as too great a loss since we will get much more mileage out of sacrificing permanents, whether it's as a cost for a spell (e.g. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Purge" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Purge</a>) or to a permanent's own activation (e.g. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dispeller&#039;s Capsule" href="#" target="_blank">Dispeller&#039;s Capsule</a>).
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-5470 aligncenter" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/C009-03.jpg" alt="" width="709" height="330" />
Artifact and enchantment creatures live at a useful intersection, as they can be sacrificed to either side's ability, and when in your graveyard, they count as two card types towards Delirium. My personal favorites include <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Runed Servitor" href="#" target="_blank">Runed Servitor</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Sire" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Sire</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hopeful Eidolon" href="#" target="_blank">Hopeful Eidolon</a>. Some token producers like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Icatian Crier" href="#" target="_blank">Icatian Crier</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cenn&#039;s Enlistment" href="#" target="_blank">Cenn&#039;s Enlistment</a> pull a different kind of double-duty, by producing tokens to sacrifice to <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extricator of Flesh" href="#" target="_blank">Extricator of Flesh</a>, in a manner that helps <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extricator of Sin" href="#" target="_blank">Extricator of Sin</a> to transform.
Last but most certainly not least, I want to include a selection of big ole Eldrazi creatures. Cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ulamog&#039;s Crusher" href="#" target="_blank">Ulamog&#039;s Crusher</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruin Processor" href="#" target="_blank">Ruin Processor</a> are among the largest creatures available to us in Pauper Commander; giving them vigilance is icing on the cake.
&nbsp;
<h2>Checking Out - Extricator of Sin</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Extricator of Sin PDH" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
Extricator of Sin
Extricator of Flesh
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Anointer Priest
*1 Auriok Replica
*1 Cathodion
*1 Desperate Sentry
*1 Doomed Traveler
*1 Eldrazi Devastator
*1 Filigree Crawler
*1 Gold Myr
*1 Hand of Emrakul
*1 Harvestguard Alseids
*1 Hedron Crawler
*1 Hopeful Eidolon
*1 Icatian Crier
*1 Kor Cartographer
*1 Kozilek&#039;s Channeler
*1 Kozilek&#039;s Pathfinder
*1 Myr Moonvessel
*1 Myr Sire
*1 Nyxborn Shieldmate
*1 Observant Alseid
*1 Perilous Myr
*1 Pilgrim&#039;s Eye
*1 Ruin Processor
*1 Runed Servitor
*1 Soldier Replica
*1 Ulamog&#039;s Crusher
*1 Unruly Mob
*1 Warden of Geometries
*1 Workshop Assistant
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Dispeller&#039;s Capsule
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Ghoulcaller&#039;s Bell
*1 Herbal Poultice
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Implement of Improvement
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mycosynth Wellspring
*1 Origin Spellbomb
*1 Seer&#039;s Lantern
*1 Shard of Broken Glass
*1 Sylvok Lifestaff
*1 Terrarion
*1 Tormod&#039;s Crypt
*1 Universal Solvent
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bound in Silence
*1 Fanatical Devotion
*1 Lunarch Mantle
*1 Seal of Cleansing
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Eyes in the Skies
*1 Frantic Salvage
*1 Raise the Alarm
*1 Rootborn Defenses
*1 Scour from Existence
*1 Shields of Velis Vel
*1 Trostani&#039;s Judgment
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Angelic Purge
*1 Cenn&#039;s Enlistment
*1 Remember the Fallen
*1 Triplicate Spirits
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Bant Panorama
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Drifting Meadow
*1 Esper Panorama
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Haunted Fengraf
*1 Naya Panorama
*1 Quicksand
*1 Secluded Steppe
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Warped Landscape
*23 Plains
*2 Wastes
[/Lands]"></div>
<h2>No Skin Off My Back</h2>
And just like that, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extricator of Sin" href="#" target="_blank">Extricator of Sin</a> (and occasionally Flesh) checks out for $25.00 by TCG Mid pricing, with the potential to go even lower with cuts of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Den" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Den</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ash Barrens" href="#" target="_blank">Ash Barrens</a>. All told, both of today's decks could be constructed for $50.00 to $60.00 at most, but are likely to cost you far less. If you're jonesing to play Pauper Commander, try giving these or other decks a shot! Should you wish to discuss PDH decks or metagames with me, send me some characters on <a href="https://twitter.com/Walking_Atlas">Twitter</a>, drop an Ask on <a href="http://walkingatlas.tumblr.com">Tumblr</a>, hit me up on <a href="mailto:the.atlas.walks@gmail.com">high-speed snail mail</a> (a.k.a. email), or come by the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/PauperEDH/">Pauper EDH subreddit</a>. Until next we meet, enjoy your time browsing the Low Market.

Low Market – Pauper Commander Double Feature

<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrasios, Triton Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Thrasios, Triton Hero</a>. 
This guy.
I know plenty of Simic-loving players who would gladly use this guy as a backup partner, just for access to the blue green colors, and using him as a mana sink in the background behind whoever their actual favorite partner happens to be.
Is it possible to design a deck where this guy is not the backup, but is indeed the star?
Let's find out.
<h2>2 Converted Mana Cost</h2>
I like that a lot. Makes me want to throw in a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simic Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Simic Signet</a> just on principle.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5436" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/simic.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /> 
&nbsp;
<h2>Merfolk</h2>
Strong tribe.
We could pick another few favorite legendary merfolk and then pick a backup legendary partner that gives us access to all the colors we need. Maybe we aren't even going outside of blue and green so far. Then we could brew something tribal that has a common strategy within those legendary points.
Here's a conceptual merfolk tribal starter guide at <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes/merfolk">edhrec.com/tribes/merfolk</a>.
At 126 decks, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sygg, River Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Sygg, River Guide</a> is the most popular merfolk tribal commander by far, with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thada Adel, Acquisitor" href="#" target="_blank">Thada Adel, Acquisitor</a> next at only 8 decks. Note that these numbers are only counting decks that are considered to be "tribal", as <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes">edhrec.com/tribes</a> describes:
<blockquote>Decks are considered tribal if they have more than 12 creatures and at least 75% of them share a tribe.</blockquote>
<h2>Merfolk Wizard</h2>
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5407" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sygg.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="310" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5409" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/jori-en.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></h2>
We notice that several of the aggregate favorite merfolk cards in Top Commanders, Signature Cards, Top Cards, and Creatures sections also happen to be wizards as well, so we could narrow down to be specifically merfolk wizard tribal if we really like smart fish.
Speaking of which, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sygg, River Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Sygg, River Guide</a> leads us towards something white/blue/green Bant. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jori En, Ruin Diver" href="#" target="_blank">Jori En, Ruin Diver</a> suggests a blue/green/red Temur direction. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prime Speaker Zegana" href="#" target="_blank">Prime Speaker Zegana</a> probably shows up to draw some cards. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talrand, Sky Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Talrand, Sky Summoner</a> is just hanging around in case you like counterspells.
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5410" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/zegana.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2636" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/talrand.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></h2>
&nbsp;
<h2>(Non-Merfolk) Wizard</h2>
Strong tribe.
Hey, I didn't say i was going to make a merfolk tribal deck, just that you could. If you wanted to. I don't.
Here's a conceptual wizard tribal starter guide at <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes/wizards">edhrec.com/tribes/wizards</a>.
There is much more variety of non-merfolk on the wizard page than there were non-wizards on the merfolk page. Both pages had a few <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Derevi, Empyrial Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Derevi, Empyrial Tactician</a> decks in the Top Commanders, and if a bird wizard is annoying enough on their own to command a merfolk tribal deck then there's that to consider.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5415" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/melek.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1324" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Yidris.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" />
Just to point out at this time, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Melek, Izzet Paragon" href="#" target="_blank">Melek, Izzet Paragon</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder" href="#" target="_blank">Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Momir Vig, Simic Visionary" href="#" target="_blank">Momir Vig, Simic Visionary</a> are all notable wizards who happen who care a bit more than most about the top card of their own library. Tuck that thought away and let's keep it for later...
Due to colors, including Jeleva and/or Yidris would require <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vial Smasher the Fierce" href="#" target="_blank">Vial Smasher the Fierce</a> to be the second partner, but in my heart, Vial is an honorary wizard already.
Remember that <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix" href="#" target="_blank">Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist</a> are all potential partners who also happen to be wizards if you want something specifically Sultai, Simic, or Temur wizard tribal.
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riptide Laboratory" href="#" target="_blank">Riptide Laboratory</a> because why not.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5430" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/jeleva.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="310" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5431" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/momir.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" />
&nbsp;
<h2>Activated ability that costs 4</h2>
We will perhaps need a bit more mana rocks and/or green land ramp than usual. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thran Dynamo" href="#" target="_blank">Thran Dynamo</a> effectively only costs 1 if you immediately tap it and use that mana. Thrasios doesn't need to tap, so we could sink as many chunks of 4 mana as we can spend. We can use this ability on an opponent's turn. But what are we buying?
<blockquote>Scry 1, then reveal the top card of your library.
If it's a land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped.
Otherwise, draw a card.</blockquote>
Hmmm... Wait a minute...
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5448" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/coiling.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3924" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/thrasios.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5449" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/nissa-steward.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /> 
&nbsp;
<h2>Scry 1</h2>
We can look at the top card of our library and if we don't like it we can put it on the bottom. Hey, remember those wizards who cared about the top card? This ability already makes each of them slightly better by either confirming a successful plan or avoiding a certain disaster in exchange for an uncertain fate.
Let's search around for other legendaries who scry.
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&amp;text=+[scry]&amp;type=+[%22Legendary%22]">Gatherer search: Text: scry, Type: Legendary</a>
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa, God of the Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa, God of the Sea</a> has 283 decks so far and there is a certain subtle aquatic theme among the 5 Kraken, 3 Leviathans, and a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whelming Wave" href="#" target="_blank">Whelming Wave</a> among the Signature and Top Cards, not to mention the Octopus, Squid Horror, and Whale to add some variety. I suppose Thrasios would be relevant to a larger sea creature tribal theme around merfolk.
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bontu the Glorified" href="#" target="_blank">Bontu the Glorified</a> at 26 decks so far is mono-black sacrifice-related cards, zombie tokens, eldrazi tokens, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitterblossom" href="#" target="_blank">Bitterblossom</a>. Ikra Shidiqi Golgari Merfolk tokens?
Only Thrasios and the Gods can see the future...
Oh, and Jace too, of course. And the latest Nissa.
Enough about planeswalkers.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5450" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/bontu.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5451" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/thassa.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="310" />
&nbsp;
<h2>Reveal the top card</h2>
Surprise! Now everybody knows what it is.
<h2>Tapped land</h2>
If you wanted a land, you kept the scry on top and you get a tapped land. 4 mana for a land! Yay!
If you didn't want a land, you sent the scry to the bottom and now have a roughly X in one hundred chance of revealing a land, where X is the number of lands you put in your deck. This is also known as "percent". Yes, I know it's not exactly X in one hundred. I said "roughly". The exact odds change with the number of lands in the library over the size of the library as it shrinks. If you want, you can count your lands in game that are played and in hand and in the graveyard and remember how many are thus still in the library and adjust the odds in real time to the mathematical model in your head thinning or thickening the land draw odds percentage as you ramp, flood, or stall, sure, or you could just approximate and say "36 percent" because you put 36 lands in your deck and it's easy to remember and you would rather actually enjoy playing the game. You're probably just going to round it to one in three in your head anyway. Maybe two in five if you're a hot shot.
Anyway, something to think about.
<h3>Landfall</h3>
Since you plan on getting more land than usual, maybe consider a landfall subtheme. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avenger of Zendikar" href="#" target="_blank">Avenger of Zendikar</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampaging Baloths" href="#" target="_blank">Rampaging Baloths</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roil Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Roil Elemental</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis, the Fallen" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis, the Fallen</a> can add some bite to your extra lands. Various fetch lands can be helpful for an extra trigger. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Courser of Kruphix" href="#" target="_blank">Courser of Kruphix</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oracle of Mul Daya" href="#" target="_blank">Oracle of Mul Daya</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Into the Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Into the Wilds</a> help thin the extra land and get to the extra card draw. Speaking of which...
<h2>Draw a card</h2>
If you reveal a non-land card, then you draw the card.
<h3>Miracle</h3>
Hey, remember that we can use the Thrasios ability on an opponent's turn? If it's the first card we drew on that opponent's turn, then if the card has miracle we can cast it at that time. Paying 5 and a blue to cast <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devastation Tide" href="#" target="_blank">Devastation Tide</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temporal Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Temporal Mastery</a> during an opponent's turn sounds appealing. Paying 5 and a red to <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reforge the Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Reforge the Soul</a> right after someone resolves their <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a> sounds mischievous. If we've been banking mana with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kruphix, God of Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Kruphix, God of Horizons</a> then we can play <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bonfire of the Damned" href="#" target="_blank">Bonfire of the Damned</a> for however much we have before someone else's combat. Scrying first makes miracle ever so slightly more likely to work in your favor.
&nbsp;
<h2>The Deck</h2>
If you count shaman, druids, and the occasional berserker as honorary wizards, then this deck is wizard tribal. Otherwise, it is not, but it's sort of close.
Did we make a deck that has Thrasios as the star? Probably not. Did we make a deck that has a win condition? Signs point to no. But hey... wizards (sort of)!
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Thrasios + Vials: Wizards?" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commanders]
Thrasios, Triton Hero
Vial Smasher the Fierce
[/Commanders]
[Creatures]
*1 Coiling Oracle
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Stonybrook Banneret
*1 Courser of Kruphix
*1 Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist
*1 Patron Wizard
*1 Yavimaya Elder
*1 Bloodbraid Elf
*1 Oracle of Mul Daya
*1 Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge
*1 Jori En, Ruin Diver
*1 Mizzix of the Izmagnus
*1 Riptide Director
*1 Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder
*1 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
*1 Docent of Perfection
*1 Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper
*1 Lich Lord of Unx
*1 Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
*1 Riku of Two Reflections
*1 Etherium-Horn Sorcerer
*1 Melek, Izzet Paragon
*1 Prime Speaker Zegana
*1 Wort, the Raidmother
*1 Kaervek the Merciless
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Mogg Salvage
*1 Submerge
*1 Into the Core
*1 Memory Plunder
*1 Curtains&#039; Call
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Hull Breach
*1 Anarchy
*1 Decimate
*1 Void
*1 Cultivate
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Skyshroud Claim
*1 Tempt with Discovery
*1 Calming Verse
*1 Temporal Mastery
*1 Devastation Tide
*1 Baral&#039;s Expertise
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Mizzix&#039;s Mastery
*1 Spelltwine
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Lantern of Insight
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Brain in a Jar
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Druidic Satchel
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Darksteel Ingot
*1 Thran Dynamo
*1 Pyromancer&#039;s Goggles
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Into the Wilds
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Nissa, Steward of Elements
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*1 Reflecting Pool
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Homeward Path
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Riptide Laboratory
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stomping Ground
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Woodland Cemetery
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*3 Swamp
*5 Island
*5 Forest
*5 Mountain
[/Lands]"></div>
&nbsp;
Next time: <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tymna the Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Tymna the Weaver</a>

Partner Focus — Thrasios, Triton Hero

Singleton Guild Wheel — Simic Edition

Hey Ezuri player, yeah you. You look like you're a little stalled out. Need some help? Ok, great; I've got a little offering you then.
What, you don't trust me? Ok then let me explain what this is all about. It's simple, really; I'm here to help you. And maybe, if we're ever sitting down together for a game, you’ll help me in return. In this series we'll be turning a critical eye to deck’s statistics here on EDHREC. Each offering will be comprised of two parts: the first segment will look at three cards listed as top or signature cards that I think should garner less attention than they are receiving; in the second part I'll offer suggestions for three cards that are being underplayed, or overlooked entirely. Finally we’ll tie it all back to a deck list to give some context to the new additions.
<a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/ezuri-claw-of-progress"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium aligncenter" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Ezuri,%20Claw%20of%20Progress&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></a>
For this first installment, we’re going to look at <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezuri, Claw of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Ezuri, Claw of Progress</a>. Ezuri has grown in popularity over the last week, rising to the 9th-most-submitted deck; a trend which I honestly am not surprised by. Ezuri has a lot to like; he's a powerful commander that can still fly under the radar of most casual tables. He lacks the groan-factor associated with the <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric" href="#" target="_blank">Edric</a>, "I'm going to take the next 6 turns now but who knows, I could whiff off these 9 cards I'm drawing so you should keep playing" decks. He also has the benefit of being a primarily creature-based deck, which gives him plausible deniability that the <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kruphix" href="#" target="_blank">Kruphix</a>, "I swear I'm not going to do anything with this 256 mana I have" player lacks.
So how do we start analyzing a popular commander like this? The important question you always have to ask yourself is, “why is this card in the deck?” it sounds so simple, but actually answering that question is where most people get it wrong. With popular commanders, popular cards get pushed to the top spots in the list, which in turn means more people are more likely to include them in their lists and so on and so forth without ever actually answering this basic question. The logic is, “well if 44% of people play this card, and it’s 40% more common in this deck than other decks, I should clearly be playing it”, which is obviously flawed. If you haven’t figured it out yet (or the statistics have changed) the first card I’m talking about is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Agent</a> This guy isn’t in the majority of Ezuri decks, but he’s drastically overplayed compared to <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/gu/">other Simic commanders</a>. But why? He doesn’t actually do anything for the deck. Sure he triggers Ezuri and carries counters, but so does Grizzly Bears. Sure he can kill people if you have enough experience counters and he survives long enough to hit them, but that’s a lot of ifs. The power of this deck is in playing all the value creatures, like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solemn Simulacrum" href="#" target="_blank">Solemn Simulacrum</a>, and still have the scaling to work its way through the late game. Blighted Agent not only fails to provide you with the same value as the other creatures in the deck, he also has the added downside of drawing unnecessary hate down on you from the rest of the table without being quick enough to kill people before that hate has a chance to manifest.
<a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/trygon-predator"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium aligncenter" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Trygon%20Predator&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></a>
Speaking of slow creatures, why are so many (64% at the time of writing) of you playing <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trygon Predator" href="#" target="_blank">Trygon Predator</a>? Sure it has the potential to blow up an artifact or enchantment, and it does trigger Ezuri, but as I’ve argued above, that’s not enough reason to play it in this deck. The card is incredibly slow; so slow that it often won’t deal with a threat before that threat has a chance to get out of hand. Later, when I make my offering to the deck, I’ll discuss a card that does do what we are looking to Trygon Predator to do. For now, let’s just say that I don’t like playing 3 mana do-nothings just to trigger Ezuri. This card is a perfect example of an effect that will come up a lot in this series which I will refer to as “precon syndrome”. This card was included in the original pre-constructed decks as a way to show new players that there are older cards out there that can provide benefits while being good counter carriers. That’s great, but as more players enter their precon decklists into the engine looking for suggestions a bias begins to build up towards the cards that are already part of that list. This doesn’t mean the card will belong in the final version of your deck. In fact, I’d argue that it’s a reason to be even more critical of its inclusion.
<a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/prime-speaker-zegana"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium aligncenter" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Prime%20Speaker%20Zegana&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></a>
Also in the "precon syndrome" category is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prime Speaker Zegana" href="#" target="_blank">Prime Speaker Zegana</a>. This card doesn’t even trigger Ezuri! It was put in the precons as an alternate general that interacts with counters because for whatever reason wizards didn’t want to put Vorel in. Their motives aside, I think this card is one of the least impactful options the deck can play. At 6 mana it is possible to draw tons of cards if you have a beefy creature in play, but I just don’t foresee this deck needing that in situations where you have all the parts together. If you’ve already got a huge creature in play, you’re doing just fine. The deck also should be running <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coastal Piracy" href="#" target="_blank">Coastal Piracy</a> effects since you’re already trying to get there in combat. Drawing a couple cards here and there off combat damage also puts much less of a target on your back which is good for this deck as we’re aiming for the long game.
<a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/reclamation-sage"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium aligncenter" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Reclamation%20Sage&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></a>
Now that we’ve made a little space in the deck I’d like to make you an offering. The first card I'd like to put forward is, what I feel is a no-brainer: <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reclamation Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Reclamation Sage</a>. It's so simple, but looking at the numbers, only 47% of people are playing it. Why isn't every single deck playing this card? It triggers Ezuri. It's cheap, both mana and dollar-wise. It deals with all of the problem artifacts and enchantments that would normally throw a wrench in our plans. What more do I need really need to say? This is the card that should replace Trygon Predator. They serve very similar functions, but while Trygon Predator needs to wait a turn before it can attack, giving our opponents a chance to react, this comes down and immediately does work. The fact that it lacks the evasion of Predator is more than made up for by the fact that it always hits its mark. Additionally making this an enters the battlefield ability pairs more nicely with the other creatures we already want to play in the deck, meaning that we can add more cards that take advantage of these abilities.
<a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/crystal-shard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium aligncenter" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Crystal%20Shard&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="310" /></a>
And we don’t have to look farther than my second card: <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Shard" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Shard</a>. This card can fill a lot of roles in this deck, and yet it doesn’t even show up on the site, which means less than 10% of people are playing it. Giving this deck a way to reset all the enters the battlefield creatures that we’re already playing is huge. Like Reclamation Sage, or how about Mulldrifter? Evoking it, then responding to the evoke trigger by bouncing it with Shard is a great way to build momentum without actually sacrificing resources. If that wasn't enough reason to include shard, it also allows you to save critical creatures from wrath effects; something which we can very much expect to see given our aggressive nature.
<a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/sylvan-safekeeper"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium aligncenter" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=Sylvan%20Safekeeper&amp;type=card&amp;.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></a>
Speaking of protection, the final card in this offering is all about that: <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Safekeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Safekeeper</a>. This is another card that doesn’t come up when you look at Ezuri, but I think it’s a very important effect to have. You see, for all his outward smiling, Ezuri is a pretty fragile elf, and our opponents are likely to take advantage of that. Some people (24%) have recognized this and are already running <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Asceticism" href="#" target="_blank">Asceticism</a>, which a fantastic card that can protect our whole team from multiple angles. It is also a fairly expensive card, and while I’m not going to pull punches with budget, I like the idea of getting a similar effect that has the added upsides of being less costly and also triggering Ezuri. The downside of losing a land to protect our main engine is very low, especially when you consider the number of times this will actually deter people from even making us pull that trigger, for fear of wasting their removal. Since the average converted mana cost of cards in the deck will be generally low, and being in green means we have access to all the best ramp to make up for a couple of lost lands means that the downside is very easily mitigated.
Here’s my take on a list that integrates this offering:
[cardlist] 
[Commander] 
1 Ezuri, Claw of Progress 
[/Commander] 
[Creature] 
1 Acidic Slime 
1 Bane of Progress 
1 Birds of Paradise 
1 Champion of Lambholt 
1 Chasm Skulker 
1 Coiling Oracle 
1 Cold-Eyed Selkie 
1 Deranged Hermit 
1 Edric, Spymaster of Trest 
1 Eternal Witness 
1 Fathom Mage 
1 Fertilid 
1 Forgotten Ancient 
1 Glen Elendra Archmage 
1 Gyre Sage 
1 Hangarback Walker 
1 Hooded Hydra 
1 Hornet Queen 
1 Kalonian Hydra 
1 Kaseto, Orochi Archmage 
1 Master Biomancer 
1 Mulldrifter 
1 Mycoloth 
1 Mystic Snake 
1 Pathbreaker Ibex 
1 Plaxcaster Frogling 
1 Quickling 
1 Reclamation Sage 
1 Sage of Hours 
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder 
1 Shardless Agent 
1 Skullwinder 
1 Solemn Simulacrum 
1 Sylvan Safekeeper 
1 Triskelion 
1 Wood Elves 
[/Creature] 
[Instant] 
1 Arachnogenesis 
1 Chord of Calling 
1 Collected Company 
1 Cyclonic Rift 
1 Inspiring Call 
[/Instant] 
[Sorcery] 
1 Aether Mutation 
1 Cultivate 
1 Green Sun's Zenith 
1 Kodama's Reach 
1 Overwhelming Stampede 
1 Rite of Replication 
[/Sorcery] 
[Artifact] 
1 Bident of Thassa 
1 Cloudstone Curio 
1 Crystal Shard 
1 Sol Ring 
[/Artifact] 
[Enchantment] 
1 Asceticism 
1 Awakening Zone 
1 Coastal Piracy 
1 Doubling Season 
1 Equilibrium 
1 Evolutionary Leap 
1 From Beyond 
1 Night Soil 
[/Enchantment] 
[Planeswalker] 
1 Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury 
1 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar 
[/Planeswalker] 
[Land] 
1 Breeding Pool 
1 Faerie Conclave 
19 Forest 
1 Foundry of the Consuls 
1 Hinterland Harbor 
9 Island 
1 Khalni Garden 
1 Lumbering Falls 
1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood 
1 Spawning Bed 
1 Yavimaya Coast 
1 Yavimaya Hollow 
[/Land] 
[/cardlist]
I’ve included many of the big hitters listed here on EDHREC. I’ve also put a few personal touches in there, something I think every deck should have. The enters the battlefield creatures take front stage, alongside a few additional ways to reuse them.
I’d like to hear your thoughts; this series is new, and will have a lot of room for reader interaction whether it be through suggesting decks, or discussing the source of particular statistic. So please, leave your comments in below, or reach out to me via email.

simic