<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa, Martial Artist|fic|206" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa, Martial Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CRobert+Cornelius%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robert Cornelius</a></em></p>
<p>Hello and welcome back to <em>Archetypes of Imagination</em>, the series where we build decks based on popular Commander archetypes. We'll use Scryfall's tagging system and EDHREC's Tag pages to build around a new theme each week. Today we're building a deck focused on sneaking creatures onto the battlefield, with <em>Final Fantasy</em>'s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa, Martial Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa, Martial Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Scryfall has a really cool way of categorizing cards, where each card has specific labels attached to it for later reference. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springbloom Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Springbloom Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the ramp tag and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Druid of Purification" href="#" target="_blank">Druid of Purification</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the removal tag. EDHREC's tag system is really cool too, letting users see popular cards associated with a given strategy. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rogue&#039;s Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Rogue&#039;s Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great in voltron decks and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hydroid Krasis" href="#" target="_blank">Hydroid Krasis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great in X spell decks. These tagging systems are great ways to get inspiration for certain deck archetypes, and I often start there when it's time for me to build a new deck.</p>
<p>Let's get brewing!</p>
<h2>What Does Tifa, Martial Artist Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa, Martial Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is sure to be one of the most popular commanders from the upcoming <em>Final Fantasy</em> release. Costing just four mana, she lets us get up to three extra combats per turn when a sufficiently big creature hits one of our opponents. Luckily, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> decks have access to a lot of creatures with power seven or greater. So, this deck will aim to land Tifa early, sneak in a few big creatures, and swing with them to allow for extra combat steps galore.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tifa, Martial Artist"></div></div>
<p><em>Magic</em> usually requires players to pay mana for their spells, but we'll be doing all we can to skirt around that requirement. Some effects let us cast spells for free while others let us put permanents directly onto the battlefield, and we'll be taking advantage of both in this deck. While every color's got a few ways to cheat mana costs, the Naya color combination of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> has a ton of these effects at its disposal. But, we want something to do with all the big creatures that we'll be cheating onto the battlefield. So, to that end, we'll be using Tifa to swing in for damage multiple times.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for a Sneak Commander Deck</h2>
<h3>Ways to Sneak Creatures Out</h3>
<p>There's tons of ways to cheat creatures onto the battlefield here, starting with the classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sneak Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Sneak Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Although we need to sacrifice whatever creature we put onto the board with it, we'll hopefully have swung in for damage with that creature several times already. We don't really mind needing to sacrifice one of our big Eldrazi if we've already gotten to attack with it four times. There's also some ways to get creatures onto the battlefield permanently, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eladamri, Korvecdal" href="#" target="_blank">Eladamri, Korvecdal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oviya, Automech Artisan" href="#" target="_blank">Oviya, Automech Artisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These cards are fantastic, providing us with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Piper" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Piper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> variants with significant amounts of upside (card advantage and team-wide trample respectively).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sneak Attack"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eladamri, Korvecdal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oviya, Automech Artisan"></div></div>
<p>There's several more ways to sneak creatures in, so I'll just hit upon a few of my favorites. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smuggler&#039;s Surprise" href="#" target="_blank">Smuggler&#039;s Surprise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can put two creatures onto the battlefield for just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, while also providing well-costed board protection and card advantage–all at instant speed! There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This big Dinosaur is both a great card to sneak onto the board, and a way to sneak other creatures in. Rounding out the highlights of this group is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama of the East Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama of the East Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Because we'll be putting so many high mana value permanents onto the battlefield, this card will really shine here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smuggler&#039;s Surprise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kodama of the East Tree"></div></div>
<h3>The Best Creatures to Sneak Out</h3>
<p>I've talked a lot about how we're going to sneak creatures onto the battlefield. So, let's talk about what scary monsters we'll actually be putting onto our battlefield free of charge.</p>
<p>One of my favorites is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Conqueror" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Conqueror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I love this card for two main reasons. First, it's got seven power, meaning that it'll help our commander give us extra combat steps. Second, it's got a good chance to provide us with another big creature off the top of our library with its enters trigger. And, given all the extra combat steps we'll be taking, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giant Adephage" href="#" target="_blank">Giant Adephage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will quickly provide an insurmountable Insect army. Although this card may seem a little bit battlecruiser-ish, its seven base power and powerful combat damage trigger make it a solid choice for this deck. I also really like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kogla, the Titan Ape" href="#" target="_blank">Kogla, the Titan Ape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> here. It's a big body that provides removal upon entering the battlefield and upon attacking, and can even protect Tifa in a pinch.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etali, Primal Conqueror"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giant Adephage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kogla, the Titan Ape"></div></div>
<p>There's a few more creatures I want to talk about. We already spoke about New Etali, but let's take a moment to appreciate Old Etali. Although <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is definitively less powerful than some others in the deck, we'll really be able to run away with the game if we can string together multiple attack with this Dinosaur in one turn. I also wanted to talk about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trumpeting Carnosaur" href="#" target="_blank">Trumpeting Carnosaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which feels purpose-built for this deck. It's got seven power, a super strong enters trigger, and can even be used as a removal spell if we really need it. This card is just amazing, and I've found myself super happy to draw it in playtesting.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etali, Primal Storm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trumpeting Carnosaur"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Old Gnawbone"></div></div>
<p>Last but not least, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Old Gnawbone" href="#" target="_blank">Old Gnawbone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> feels great when we're attacking multiple times per turn, and really takes advantage of all the high power creatures we'll be going to combat with.</p>
<h2>Tifa, Martial Artist Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>And now, here's the full decklist:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Archetypes of Imagination - Tifa, Martial Artist" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Tifa, Martial Artist
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Agonasaur Rex
*1 Ancient Gold Dragon
*1 Apex Altisaur
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Blightsteel Colossus
*1 Boreal Druid
*1 Champion of Rhonas
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Disciple of Freyalise // Garden of Freyalise
*1 Eladamri, Korvecdal
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Elvish Piper
*1 Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Fanatic of Rhonas
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Ghalta and Mavren
*1 Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant
*1 Giant Adephage
*1 Ilharg, the Raze-Boar
*1 Ilysian Caryatid
*1 Kodama of the East Tree
*1 Kogla and Yidaro
*1 Kogla, the Titan Ape
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Old Gnawbone
*1 Oviya, Automech Artisan
*1 Paladin Elizabeth Taggerdy
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Selvala, Heart of the Wilds
*1 Sire of Seven Deaths
*1 Terastodon
*1 Terror of the Peaks
*1 Titan of Industry
*1 Torsten, Founder of Benalia
*1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets
*1 Trumpeting Carnosaur
*1 Winota, Joiner of Forces
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Doors of Durin
*1 Monster Manual // Zoological Study
*1 The Great Henge
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Annie Joins Up
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Sneak Attack
*1 Tribute to the World Tree
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bridgeworks Battle // Tanglespan Bridgeworks
*1 Last March of the Ents
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Selvala&#039;s Stampede
*1 Stump Stomp // Burnwillow Clearing
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Archdruid&#039;s Charm
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Collective Resistance
*1 Get Lost
*1 Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold
*1 Nature&#039;s Claim
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Surprise
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Through the Breach
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Brushland
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fire-Lit Thicket
*6 Forest
*1 Hushwood Verge
*1 Jetmir&#039;s Garden
*1 Karplusan Forest
*6 Mountain
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*6 Plains
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Rugged Prairie
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Spire Garden
*1 Sunbillow Verge
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Thornspire Verge
*1 Wooded Bastion
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quarrel&#039;s End" href="#" target="_blank">Quarrel&#039;s End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Thanks for reading about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa, Martial Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa, Martial Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this week's <em>Archetypes</em> article! As always, I've got a few more cards I want to spotlight. This deck is full of high power creatures, and there's a few more ways that we can make the most of them. Among those are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Last March of the Ents" href="#" target="_blank">Last March of the Ents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rishkar&#039;s Expertise" href="#" target="_blank">Rishkar&#039;s Expertise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, both of which will routinely draw us a fresh seven cards and allow even more mana-cost cheating. There's also a few mana creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilysian Caryatid" href="#" target="_blank">Ilysian Caryatid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fanatic of Rhonas" href="#" target="_blank">Fanatic of Rhonas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can provide us with extra acceleration once we've gotten a sufficiently big guy on the board.</p>
<p>Lastly, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghalta and Mavren" href="#" target="_blank">Ghalta and Mavren</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terror of the Peaks" href="#" target="_blank">Terror of the Peaks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make sure that our large creatures provide us even more advantage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Last March of the Ents"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rishkar&#039;s Expertise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghalta and Mavren"></div></div>
<p>There's a few more cards that really shine here, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion of Rhonas" href="#" target="_blank">Champion of Rhonas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Although this creature asks that we exert it if we'd like to cheat a creature onto the battlefield, our commander lets us untap it multiple times per turn (meaning that we can cheat multiple creatures per turn onto the battlefield). I also really like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala, Heart of the Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala, Heart of the Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I know, it's shocking to hear that this card is good in a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>-based creature deck. But because we'll usually have the biggest creatures at the table, Selvala will provide tons of mana and card advantage for just three mana.</p>
<p>And there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This 6/6 creature lets us sneak in creatures and reuse their enters effects while also being extremely hard to kill permanently. I love this card, and I'm glad it's got a place in this deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Champion of Rhonas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selvala, Heart of the Wilds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar"></div></div>
<p>Thanks once again for reading! For those of you who are interested, here are some of the Scryfall searches I used to write this article:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28otag%3Asneak+or+otag%3Asneak-creature+or+otag%3Asneak-permanent%29+commander%3Anaya+legal%3Aedh+order%3Aedhrec&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ways to sneak creatures onto the battlefield</a></li>
<li><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=t%3Acreature+pow%3E%3D7+commander%3Anaya+legal%3Aedh+order%3Aedhrec&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Big creatures to sneak onto the battlefield</a></li>
<li><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=otag%3Apower-matters+commander%3Anaya+legal%3Aedh+order%3Aedhrec&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ways to get value from having big creatures on the battlefield</a></li>
</ul>


sneak

How to Make a Sneak Commander Deck, With Tifa, Martial Artist