<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://danscottart.format.com/#11">Dan Scott</a>)</h6>
<h1>The Best Insignia...</h1>
<p>When you've built over a dozen different Commander decks, you begin to fall into a groove. The familiar has served you well in the past, so you stick with it in the future. This tendency towards the familiar is why the Signets remain a giant in the Commander format. These no-nonsense dual-colored mana rocks have been around for over 15 years and will be around for 15 more.</p>
<p>But another common symptom of having played Commander for so long is that the familiar can become boring. How many times have you cast a Signet on Turn 2? How many times do you wish for something <em>different? </em>In today's <em>Staple Remover</em>, I'm hoping to fulfill that wish by saving you from a few hours of Scryfall hunting.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Izzet Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Orzhov Signet"></div></div>
<p>Few cards fulfill their role as elegantly as the Signets. At two mana, each of them ramps us by one mana by producing two colors of mana (with the exception of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), creating a perfect curve that allows you to cast a four-mana spell on turn three. However, although they've set the standard, they aren't alone on the podium and your deck may prefer some other contenders to run in place of or alongside the Signets.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Outside the Box</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Talisman of Indulgence"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Star Compass"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pillar of Origins"></div></div>
<p>Here, we can see the less 'creative' replacements for the Signets. These retain the exclusive purpose of the Signets, but go about it in a slightly different way. The Talismans, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talisman of Indulgence" href="#" target="_blank">Talisman of Indulgence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are the most notable of these. They create both colorless mana and colored mana (at the cost of 1 life for the latter). This extra cost can be a benefit, though. Certain decks, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willowdusk, Essence Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Willowdusk, Essence Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greven, Predator Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Greven, Predator Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can make use of the life loss.</p>
<p>Oddly enough, though, there are still some alternatives that are lesser-known in this category. These alternatives pull their weight when a low budget might exclude some other picks, although sometimes having fewer printings can harm them from a budget perspective. The Diamonds (such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marble Diamond" href="#" target="_blank">Marble Diamond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Star Compass" href="#" target="_blank">Star Compass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pillar of Origins" href="#" target="_blank">Pillar of Origins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are some good examples.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Grey Matter</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mind Stone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liquimetal Torque"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Millikin"></div></div>
<p>The main benefit of the Signets is that they are reasonably good at providing the color of mana you need, when you need it. However, many decks, including mono-colored decks and dual-colored decks, manage just fine without that benefit. In those decks, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian Idol" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian Idol</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all-stars when you need them, and on the more expensive side, we also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought Vessel" href="#" target="_blank">Thought Vessel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liquimetal Torque" href="#" target="_blank">Liquimetal Torque</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a brand-new card that has similar (although more narrow) benefits compared to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The few decks that do care about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liquimetal Torque" href="#" target="_blank">Liquimetal Torque</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s second ability can make fantastic use of it for combos, powering up removal pieces such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abrade" href="#" target="_blank">Abrade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, artifact synergy, and even saving you extra mana in decks helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memnarch" href="#" target="_blank">Memnarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Our final two-drop mana rocks stretch the definition of "rock" - they are artifacts, but they're also creatures, meaning they suffer from the same pitfalls as existing mana dorks, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Llanowar Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Llanowar Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They compensate for this with some fantastic utility, though, such as filling the graveyard with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Millikin" href="#" target="_blank">Millikin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in graveyard-based decks, dealing extra <em>Infect</em> damage with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plague Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Plague Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or getting extra lands with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Walking Atlas" href="#" target="_blank">Walking Atlas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Bits and Baubles</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Springleaf Drum"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thran Turbine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thought Vessel"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springleaf Drum" href="#" target="_blank">Springleaf Drum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a lot going for it: it's one less mana than the Signets, it's better at color fixing, and it even has some sweet art. It does have an extra cost of an extra creature to tap, though, which can be difficult for some decks in the early game. Token decks and decks with low-cost commanders, though, take no issue with this requirement. Some decks, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kalamax, the Stormsire" href="#" target="_blank">Kalamax, the Stormsire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emmara, Soul of the Accord" href="#" target="_blank">Emmara, Soul of the Accord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, even prefer it!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thran Turbine" href="#" target="_blank">Thran Turbine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes that a step further by being mana positive, but it also has a steeper requirement. Anybody familiar with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Food Chain" href="#" target="_blank">Food Chain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> knows that restrictions on what you can spend your mana on is a huge pain, but that doesn't make either of these cards weak; if your commander has an activated ability that costs generic mana, or you have a good amount of permanents in your deck that do, then this card is invaluable. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhys the Redeemed" href="#" target="_blank">Rhys the Redeemed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves to see it.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought Vessel" href="#" target="_blank">Thought Vessel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is unique in that the advantage that it gives isn't nearly as much of a proactive one, but it is an advantage nonetheless. Often, it can simply take a load off of your mind so you can avoid having to drag out the game during the cleanup step. Other times, it can ensure that you have all the answers you could possibly need when you need them. Of course, if you don't draw enough cards for it to matter, or if you <em>prefer</em> to discard cards, then it's useless, but for those of us who love to have a hand full of cards, it's a solid (and now much more affordable) choice!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Watching the Dials Tick Up</h2>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/efrem-palacios-plaguemry.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-67474 size-full" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/efrem-palacios-plaguemry.jpg" alt="" width="812" height="600" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/efrem-palacios-plaguemry.jpg 812w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/efrem-palacios-plaguemry-300x222.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/efrem-palacios-plaguemry-768x567.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 812px) 100vw, 812px" /></a></p>
<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plague Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Plague Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/artwork/2vPBv">Efrem Palacios</a>)</h6>
<p>One of my favorite synergies, both with mana rocks and artifacts in general, is with counters. Among my favorite decks is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which I like to build around these synergies and utilize them to their full potential with cards such as <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> - and you might be able to do the same with other commanders such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vorel of the Hull Clade" href="#" target="_blank">Vorel of the Hull Clade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Everflowing Chalice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cryptic Trilobite"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plague Myr"></div></div>
<p>Of course, we have to mention the classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Everflowing Chalice" href="#" target="_blank">Everflowing Chalice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It, like the Signets, ramps you by half as much mana as you pay into it, but it also scales based on how much mana you put into it. Of course, the scales could be artificially weighted in your favor, should you be able to increase the number of charge counters on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Everflowing Chalice" href="#" target="_blank">Everflowing Chalice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Because of this unique ability, it manages to remain relevant even in the late game.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptic Trilobite" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptic Trilobite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is much closer to the "aesthetic and mechanical rebel" side of the Signet alignment chart, but I think it brings enough to the table to warrant a mention regardless. In decks that want to activate abilities quickly and repeatedly, it gives you a pretty sizeable boost on its own. Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Everflowing Chalice" href="#" target="_blank">Everflowing Chalice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, that boost can be utilized to great effect. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghave, Guru of Spores" href="#" target="_blank">Ghave, Guru of Spores</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in particular loves this card, as he (unsurprisingly) manages to combo with it, as does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marath, Will of the Wild" href="#" target="_blank">Marath, Will of the Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and several other strong commanders. You can find many of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptic Trilobite" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptic Trilobite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combos <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=Cryptic%20Trilobite">here</a>.</p>
<p>Finally, we have the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plague Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Plague Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This little monster fits into a surprisingly large number of decks: +1/+1 counter decks (which tend to like mana dorks quite a bit) can use it as a finisher, while <em>Proliferate</em> decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetor&#039;s Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Praetor&#039;s Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can use it to wreak havoc wherever it goes. Not only that, but there are a lot of surprisingly good Myr for a variety of different scenarios: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coretapper" href="#" target="_blank">Coretapper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for charge counter manipulation, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shimmer Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Shimmer Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for reactive Artifacts decks, the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cycle for mana, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Palladium Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Palladium Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for even <em>more</em> mana. Altogether, they can be powered up by a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Matrix" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Matrix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (or they can just look cute on your battlefield)!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kurkesh, Onakke Visionary" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Aetherworks Marvel
*1 Basalt Monolith
*1 Blinkmoth Urn
*1 Brittle Effigy
*1 Chaos Wand
*1 Clock of Omens
*1 Contagion Clasp
*1 Contagion Engine
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Darksteel Forge
*1 Darksteel Reactor
*1 Empowered Autogenerator
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Gemstone Array
*1 Gonti&#039;s Aether Heart
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Liquimetal Coating
*1 Liquimetal Torque
*1 Lux Cannon
*1 Manifold Key
*1 Mimic Vat
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirage Mirror
*1 Mirrorworks
*1 Mycosynth Lattice
*1 Mystic Forge
*1 Oracle&#039;s Vault
*1 Planar Bridge
*1 Pyramid of the Pantheon
*1 Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Strionic Resonator
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Throne of Geth
*1 Unwinding Clock
*1 Vedalken Orrery
*1 Voltaic Key
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Bosh, Iron Golem
*1 Cogwork Assembler
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Goblin Welder
*1 Hangarback Walker
*1 Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*1 Kuldotha Forgemaster
*1 Plague Myr
*1 Shimmer Myr
*1 Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer
*1 Cryptic Trilobite
*1 Voltaic Servant
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Comet Storm
*1 Lightning Bolt
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Aether Hub
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Great Furnace
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*32 Mountain
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>What are your favorite mana rocks? How many do you run in a deck? How do they synergize in unique ways? As always, I'd love to hear about it in the comments, and thanks for reading!</p>


Staple Remover – Signets

Ranking Every Mana Rock with EDHREC – Part 9: Do Hedrons Dream of Eldrazi Sheep?

Mind Bend - The Ghost of Commander Past

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cunning Sparkmage" href="#" target="_blank">Cunning Sparkmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.waynereynolds.com/">Wayne Reynolds</a>)</h6>
<h1><strong>The Last Cookout of Summer</strong></h1>
<p>Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania</em>. In this article series we build mono-colored decks as a way to explore ramp and draw packages that are synergistic with our particular deck’s strategy, and challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie.</p>
<p>I’ve been impressed by quite a few of the non-white mono-colored commander options from <em>Throne of Eldraine</em>, and I plan on tackling a few of them in the coming months in a subseries: <em>Monomania Takes on Eldraine</em>. Today, let’s fire up the grill. Summer is over, but the weather is still right for a barbecue.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Torbran, Thane of Red Fell"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>My experience watching and playing EDH in the last month has revealed an unprecedented proclivity for life total manipulation. Between all of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greven, Predator Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Greven, Predator Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks on the loose, it seems more common than ever for players to sit at 15 life without worry. This is the perfect time for a commander like Torbran to turn up the heat and make these players sweat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyrohemia"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>While burn strategies have never scaled well to EDH, Torbran changes the calculus on previously unplayable damage-based spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyrohemia" href="#" target="_blank">Pyrohemia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is being included in 72% of Torbran lists on EDHREC, and it perfectly illustrates why this commander is appealing: sources that persistently deal small amounts of chip damage are incredible with our commander. Every time we activate Pyrohemia’s ability, we’re tripling the amount of damage that it deals. And because Torbran has four health and only affects our opponents, we can activate Pyrohemia three times every turn without killing him. That adds up to nine damage to each of our opponents and their creatures for three mana every turn. The key to Torbran’s power is how he breaks symmetry: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamebreak" href="#" target="_blank">Flamebreak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slagstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Slagstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can clear a board while leaving our general on the field. If we cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electrickery" href="#" target="_blank">Electrickery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with our commander and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repercussion" href="#" target="_blank">Repercussion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the board, not only will Electrickery deal 3 damage to each creature our opponents control, but it will also deal 5 damage to our opponents for each creature dealt damage this way.</p>
<p>There is a multitude of possibilities with Torbran: small goblins suddenly become potent attackers, blockers, and threats to our opponents’ life totals, so we could fill our deck with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mogg Fanatic" href="#" target="_blank">Mogg Fanatic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Siege-Gang Commander" href="#" target="_blank">Siege-Gang Commander</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impact Tremors" href="#" target="_blank">Impact Tremors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There are also a suite of effects in red that tax our opponents with damage such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harsh Mentor" href="#" target="_blank">Harsh Mentor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Immolation Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Immolation Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zo-zu the Punisher" href="#" target="_blank">Zo-zu the Punisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I personally decided to make this something of a sequel to my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashling the Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Ashling the Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/monomania-nuclear-codes/">deck</a> previously featured on Monomania. While these decks share a central theme, new cards and Torbran's particular qualities actually make them significantly different. If all goes according to plan, we’ll be slinging spells and putting our opponents on a rotisserie.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Fire Up the Grill</strong></h2>
<p>This deck has a very low curve, topping off at six mana. As such, our ramp package should be focused on small, early-game jumps. Our goal with this ramp strategy is to cast our commander consistently on turn three. We’re running six ramp effects that cost two or less.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coldsteel Heart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ruby Medallion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Star Compass"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Here we have three of these ramp effects—each of them cost two mana and will allow us to cast our commander on turn three. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruby Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Ruby Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the clear haymaker in our style of deck. With all of our rummage effects and low-cost spells, we'll be able to cast multiple spells a turn and net the discount on all of them. Once we get our deck’s engine online, this cost reduction will stack and permit us to capitalize on explosive turns.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Amulet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyromancer’s Goggles"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>These cards need no introduction, I'm sure — they're both powerhouses in EDH. Any one-color deck with a high quantity of spells wants these two cards. Both grant some sort of ramp and allow us to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> our spells. This can lead to more burn or enhanced draw with rummaging effects.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Keep the Heat On</h2>
<p>Now let’s examine how we’re going to squeeze card advantage out of this mono-red shell. We’re focused here on wheeling and looting. We aren’t emphasizing overall hand size, we're emphasizing keeping a well-constructed grip.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bag of Holding"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glint-Horn Buccaneer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reforge the Soul"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Up first, we have a set of effects that capitalize on rummaging. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bag of Holding" href="#" target="_blank">Bag of Holding</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has quickly become one of my favorite colorless card advantage effects for mono-colored decks. In this deck in particular, where we will be discarding at a high frequency, we can quickly juice Bag of Holding’s last ability. It is a surprisingly potent draw effect that outclasses most others. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glint-Horn Buccaneer" href="#" target="_blank">Glint-Horn Buccaneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will allow us to rummage, and is itself a payoff for rummage effects. If we cast the always stellar <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reforge the Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Reforge the Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with the Buccaneer and our commander on the battlefield, we can hit our opponents for nine, twelve, fifteen, or more damage in one go.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrill of Possibility"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathartic Reunion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magmatic Insight"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As I covered in my article on Ashling, cards that rummage are extremely good in Spellslinger strategies that run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. For anybody who hasn’t yet heard about this particular interaction, if we fork a rummage spell that causes us to discard as an additional cost, the copy will not cause us to discard. Just as we don’t have to pay the mana cost of a copy, we also don’t have to pay any additional costs, we only copy the spell after all costs have been paid.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Needle Drop"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shake the Foundations"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Finally, we have two cards that cycle themselves when we cast them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Needle Drop" href="#" target="_blank">Needle Drop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful card in our deck; for one mana, we can <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> something <em>and</em> draw a card. It’s no secret that Lightning Bolt isn’t very good in EDH, but stapling "draw a card" onto it swings the needle just enough. This card is an innocuous inclusion, but it has such a low opportunity cost that it absolutely deserves a spot in our deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shake the Foundations" href="#" target="_blank">Shake the Foundations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> scales well here, as well. Dealing three to all of our opponents’ creatures wouldn’t be powerful enough to warrant an inclusion in this list, but because it replaces itself, it should perform well for us clearing not only tokens but early-game creatures as well.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>The Deck</strong></h2>
<p>With all that set and sorted, let’s put the pieces together with a deck list. The name of the game is death by a thousand cuts. We want to keep chipping away at our opponents’ life totals until they’re cooked through evenly. Grab your spatula and, as per usual, season to taste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfuric Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flame Fusillade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karplusan Minotaur"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Among the other notable inclusions here we have a slew of effects to capitalize on Torbran’s damage amplification. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sulfuric Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Sulfuric Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a staple in Group Slug strategies, and it's an imperative inclusion here: it will drain our opponents for 1/10th of their starting life total every turn with our commander on the battlefield. What’s more, it'll shut down the lifegain strategies that try to pull out of reach. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flame Fusillade" href="#" target="_blank">Flame Fusillade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the resident sleeper of this deck. Currently, it only sees play in 61 decks registered on EDHREC, but with Torbran it has found its forever home. This card is an absolute house, transmogrifying all of our innocent permanents into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kamahl, Pit Fighter" href="#" target="_blank">Kamahl, Pit Fighter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If the game goes late, this spell will end the game in a flash.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karplusan Minotaur" href="#" target="_blank">Karplusan Minotaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun political tool in this deck. If we win a flip, we get to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the target of our choice. If we lose a flip, one of our opponents has to decide whether to point 1 damage in our direction, or 3 toward a scarier opponent. Any player that enjoys value will choose the latter. Karplusan Minotaur exemplifies a compelling nuance to this deck: the more we can split up damage, the more value we can squeeze out of Torbran's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inferno Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Inferno Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, gives us a choice to deal 5 damage to one target, 4 damage to one target and 2 to another, or 3 damage to three targets. This principle holds for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaws of Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Jaws of Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well. If we play Jaws with six <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mountain" href="#" target="_blank">Mountain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s on the battlefield, we could deal 8 damage to one target, 3 damage to six different targets, or any favorable combination in between. Be democratic—hit all of your friends and enemies equally to most effectively milk Torbran's ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cinder Pyromancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firebrand Archer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vulshok Sorcerer"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The backbone of this deck is a suite of creatures that slowly ping our opponents to death. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firebrand Archer" href="#" target="_blank">Firebrand Archer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guttersnipe" href="#" target="_blank">Guttersnipe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are powerful in <em>Storm</em> decks, but the rest of these cards cards are suboptimal when they only deal one damage. With our commander, however, they become much more potent; these cards are our most likely path to victory.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Char Broiled" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Electrostatic Field
*1 Firebrand Archer
*1 Thermo-Alchemist
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Cinder Pyromancer
*1 Cunning Sparkmage
*1 Glint-Horn Buccaneer
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Magus of the Wheel
*1 Rampaging Ferocidon
*1 Sin Prodder
*1 Vulshok Sorcerer
*1 Karplusan Minotaur
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Backdraft Hellkite
*1 Neheb, the Eternal
*1 Inferno Titan
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Chandra, Fire Artisan
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Elecktrickery
*1 Needle Drop
*1 Increasing Vengeance
*1 Price of Progress
*1 Reverberate
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Arcbond
*1 Shake the Foundations
*1 Volcanic Fallout
*1 Sulfurous Blast
*1 Wild Ricochet
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Wheel of Fate
*1 Magmatic Insight
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Mizzium Mortars
*1 Tormenting Voice
*1 Wild Guess
*1 Flamebreak
*1 Light Up the Stage
*1 Slagstorm
*1 Flame Fusillade
*1 Ignite the Future
*1 Past in Flames
*1 Reforge the Soul
*1 Jaws of Stone
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bag of Holding
*1 Basilisk Collar
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Star Compass
*1 Primal Amulet
*1 Pyromancer’s Goggles
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aria of Flame
*1 Repercussion
*1 Spellshock
*1 Sulfuric Vortex
*1 Aether Sting
*1 Burning Earth
*1 Manabarbs
*1 Pyrohemia
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Desert of the Fervent
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Ghitu Encampment
*29 Mountain
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Smoldering Crater
*1 Spinerock Knoll
*1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>A quick and important final note: every land in the history of Magic is colorless (the only exception being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dryad Arbor" href="#" target="_blank">Dryad Arbor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). While we are running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle" href="#" target="_blank">Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Torbran only increases damage from red sources you control, so Valakut will not benefit from this effect. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shivan Gorge" href="#" target="_blank">Shivan Gorge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is currently in 16% of Torbran decks on EDHREC and it seems underpowered here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghitu Encampment" href="#" target="_blank">Ghitu Encampment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on the other hand, turns into a potent blocker with Torbran, dealing 4 first strike damage as a red creature.</p>
<p>What do you think of Torbran? In what direction would you have taken this commander? Is Group Slug an appealing strategy to you? Sometimes, after a two-hour game, I know I like to play a live-fast, die-young deck so that everyone can get to bed on time. Let me know in the comments. Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


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