Joel, Resolute Survivor // Abby, Merciless Soldier Creatureless Commander Deck

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Joel, Resolute Survivor" href="#" target="_blank">Joel, Resolute Survivor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by </em><a href="https://indusconcept.com/?ckattempt=1"><em>Yongjae Choi</em></a></p>
<p>The recent <em>Secret Lair x The Last of Us</em> reveals introduced a plethora of legends that can partner with one another. Ordinarily, I'm a really big fan of unique partner combinations. I love brewing weird decks with my beloved <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools" href="#" target="_blank">Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, I'm taking one of these new commanders and having him fly solo. In this deck tech, I'm going to take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Joel, Resolute Survivor" href="#" target="_blank">Joel, Resolute Survivor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and see how he fares on his own.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Joel, Resolute Survivor"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Joel, Resolute Survivor Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Joel, Resolute Survivor" href="#" target="_blank">Joel, Resolute Survivor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is five-mana 4/4 with menace. Once per turn, whenever a token creature his owner controls dies, Joel gets a +1/+1 counter and draws a card. He also partners with other Survivors, although I won't be taking advantage of that here.</p>
<p>Joel is very clearly designed to lead an aristocrats deck. He's looking to make tokens and sacrifice them, preferably at instant speed, to draw four cards and get four counters each turn cycle. The big questions a deckbuilder has to answer to build Joel is simple: "What kind of tokens am I making and how am I sacrificing them?" In my case, those two questions have the same answer. Meet my two favorite tokens.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eldrazi Spawn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eldrazi Scion"></div></div>
<p>Eldrazi Spawn and Scion tokens are perfect! They sacrifice themselves, no outside help from sacrifice outlets like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viscera Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Viscera Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> required! There aren't quite enough repeatable ways to create these tokens for me to get away with them being the only tokens this deck makes, but they certainly will be the centerpiece.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Joel, Resolute Survivor</h2>
<h3>Making Spawns and Scions</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="From Beyond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Awakening Zone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spawnbed Protector"></div></div>
<p>The best ways to create Eldrazi Spawns and Scions are the repeatable ones. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="From Beyond" href="#" target="_blank">From Beyond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awakening Zone" href="#" target="_blank">Awakening Zone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spawnbed Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Spawnbed Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all generate one token per turn. From Beyond doubles as a tutor that can find one of the most important pieces in the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basking Broodscale" href="#" target="_blank">Basking Broodscale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I'll go more in depth on <em>Magic</em>'s best Lizard in the win conditions section.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malevolent Rumble"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blisterpod"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warping Wail"></div></div>
<p>There are also a lot of one-off ways to make Eldrazi Spawn or Scion tokens. Spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malevolent Rumble" href="#" target="_blank">Malevolent Rumble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warping Wail" href="#" target="_blank">Warping Wail</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Growth Spasm" href="#" target="_blank">Growth Spasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are perfectly normal functional cards that wouldn't feel out of place in other decks; it just so happens that they are all capable of producing valuable tokens! Functional cards that also contribute to "doing the thing" are my favorite for cultivating a unique feeling for a deck, and <em>Battle for Zendikar</em> contributed a lot of cards to make that happen here.</p>
<h3>Other Tokens</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Springheart Nantuko"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chatterfang, Squirrel General"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tendershoot Dryad"></div></div>
<p>Sadly, for this deck to get the job done it will need to make a few tokens that aren't Eldrazi Spawns or Scions. However, all the other token-generators I've included are pretty sweet. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springheart Nantuko" href="#" target="_blank">Springheart Nantuko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make token copies of any creature, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chatterfang, Squirrel General" href="#" target="_blank">Chatterfang, Squirrel General</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> sends in Squirrels any time another token would be created, and Tendershoot Dryad provides four <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saproling" href="#" target="_blank">Saproling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s per turn cycle! To support these inferior tokens, sacrifice outlets like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viscera Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Viscera Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have been included since they can't sacrifice themselves.</p>
<h2>How Does This Joel, Resolute Survivor Deck Win the Game?</h2>
<h3>Broodscale Combos</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Basking Broodscale"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sadistic Glee"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blade of the Bloodchief"></div></div>
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<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basking Broodscale" href="#" target="_blank">Basking Broodscale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combos ran rampant in Pauper until my poor Lizard finally saw a ban; there, it was played alongside <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sadistic Glee" href="#" target="_blank">Sadistic Glee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make infinite colorless mana and an infinitely large Broodscale. In Modern, the same combo is being performed with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blade of the Bloodchief" href="#" target="_blank">Blade of the Bloodchief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Unfortunately, in Commander, one infinitely large creature doesn't actually win the game on the spot. However, when paired with a drain effect, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this combo can kill the table! I wouldn't classify this deck as an all-in Broodscale combo deck, but it is certainly the most reliable way this deck can close out a game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dictate of Erebos"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Privilege"></div></div>
<p>One perk of having a big, evasive commander is that it always provides a potential win condition in the command zone! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Privilege" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Privilege</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be used to keep Joel alive and attacking as his +1/+1 counters stack up, providing a pretty good source of inevitability. Paired with a removal engine, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dictate of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Dictate of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it should be very easy to keep opposing boards clear enough to get in the red zone with Joel each turn. It isn't fast and it isn't pretty, but it is a solid win condition to back up the deck's other combos.</p>
<h2>Joel, Resolute Survivor Commander Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Joel" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Joel, Resolute Survivor
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Arbor Elf
*1 Basking Broodscale
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Blisterpod
*1 Carrion Feeder
*1 Chatterfang, Squirrel General
*1 Chittering Dispatcher
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Dread Drone
*1 Eldrazi Repurposer
*1 Elves of Deep Shadow
*1 Fauna Shaman
*1 Glaring Fleshraker
*1 Morbid Opportunist
*1 Mycoloth
*1 Nest Invader
*1 Ophiomancer
*1 Scute Swarm
*1 Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER
*1 Smothering Abomination
*1 Spawnbed Protector
*1 Springheart Nantuko
*1 Tendershoot Dryad
*1 Vengeful Bloodwitch
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bala Ged Recovery
*1 Eaten Alive
*1 Green Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Growth Spasm
*1 Malevolent Rumble
*1 Reanimate
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Awakening Zone
*1 Dark Privilege
*1 Dictate of Erebos
*1 Doubling Season
*1 Earthcraft
*1 From Beyond
*1 Innkeeper&#039;s Talent
*1 Necrosynthesis
*1 Parallel Lives
*1 Sadistic Glee
*1 Squirrel Nest
*1 Utopia Sprawl
*1 Wild Growth
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Arachnogenesis
*1 Chord of Calling
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Fell the Profane
*1 Flare of Malice
*1 Grave Birthing
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Revitalizing Repast
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Safekeeping
*1 Warping Wail
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Blade of the Bloodchief
*1 Ghost Lantern
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Tarrian&#039;s Soulcleaver
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Blooming Marsh
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Command Tower
*6 Forest
*1 Grim Backwoods
*1 High Market
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Shifting Woodland
*1 Spawning Bed
*1 Strip Mine
*3 Swamp
*1 Twilight Mire
*1 Underground Mortuary
*1 Undergrowth Stadium
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Vernal Fen
*1 Wastewood Verge
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Finding a good bracket classification for this build of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Joel, Resolute Survivor" href="#" target="_blank">Joel, Resolute Survivor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is something I've been grappling with for a little while now. Obviously, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basking Broodscale" href="#" target="_blank">Basking Broodscale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sadistic Glee" href="#" target="_blank">Sadistic Glee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blade of the Bloodchief" href="#" target="_blank">Blade of the Bloodchief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <em>is</em> a two-card infinite combo. However, without a third piece, that combo doesn't exactly win the game or even do anything too productive. Additionally, this deck uses zero Game Changers and doesn't exactly have the most robust suite of tutors to make a game winning combo happen in the early turns without an extraordinarily fortunate opening hand. For that reason, I'd feel comfortable playing this deck at a Bracket 3 (Upgraded) table as long as I've cleared it with the table.</p>
<p>This issue really gets at the heart of how I apply the bracket system to my deckbuilding, though. I tend to put together my deck the way I want it, then try and figure out where it sits in the system rather than picking a bracket and going out of my way to fit within that bracket's guidelines. This works for me in particular because I have a regular playgroup and don't often have to negotiate what kind of game I'd like to play with people that are unfamiliar with me or with how I tend to play <em>Magic</em>.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basking Broodscale" href="#" target="_blank">Basking Broodscale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was the first card that popped into my head when I read Joel and I started with a higher-power build with more tutors and additional related combos. That build was more focused but significantly less fun to play. In the end, I scrapped that version and went with something that felt a little more satisfying. If someone else were to build this deck, I could make a reasonable case for either powering it up or down for the types of tables they play at.</p>
<p>Overall, I'm really excited about where I ended up with this deck and I'm looking forward to refining this idea once I have a paper copy of Joel to terrorize my friends with!</p>


the last of us

Joel, Resolute Survivor // Abby, Merciless Soldier Creatureless Commander Deck

Joel, Resolute Survivor Deck Tech