<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knuckles the Echidna" href="#" target="_blank">Knuckles the Echidna</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.tylerwalpole.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler Walpole</a></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another deck tech; I'm <a href="http://linktr.ee/commandzoe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Command Zoe</a>. This time we're going to be looking at one of the new commanders from the <em>Sonic Secret Lair</em>, Knuckles the Echidna! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Knuckles is a fan favorite character from the original Sega Genesis games; he was a rival of Sonic before teaming up with him in a later installment. I'm excited to show you this list I brewed up, but first let's take a look at him</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knuckles the Echidna"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Get it? He's the keeper of the Master Emerald, so he cares about rocks!<br />
Anyway, that's why I'm running Mox Emerald in here — that's cool right?</em></p>
<h3>What Does Knuckles the Echidna Do?</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Knuckles is a straightforward but incredibly powerful commander. He has three keywords that work well with each other, he grants all his controller's creatures the ability to create Treasure tokens upon dealing combat damage to a player, and then he has an upkeep trigger that wins the game with thirty artifacts. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The idea of the design is to have him hit the board and immediately generate two Treasures using a combination of haste and double strike, with trample on there to guarantee he doesn't get chump-blocked. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With only two power, he's not dealing a ton of damage, but that doesn't matter because the goal is to win Treasure tokens on the upkeep trigger.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are three other mono-red commanders that care about Treasure tokens: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, the Hoardmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, the Hoardmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both Magdas come with some sort of payoff for those Treasures, but none of them are quite as powerful as "win the game". </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Knuckles probably wont be able to reach the high-highs of Brazen Outlaw, which is a cEDH deck, but he is a fun card with a very powerful effect, which would be perfect for any of brackets 2, 3, or 4.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This Knuckles deck is going to be within Bracket 3. It technically has three extra turn spells in cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Fortune" href="#" target="_blank">Final Fortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it can't chain them. They're only in the deck to be able to trigger Knuckles' upkeep-ability immediately.</span></p>
<h2>Key Cards for Knuckles the Echidna</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The main win condition in this deck is quite obviously Knuckles' second ability, so we want to rush up to twenty-nine total permanents on the board then cast both key card of the deck: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mycosynth Lattice" href="#" target="_blank">Mycosynth Lattice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following that up with an extra turn spell will allow an instant win off of Knuckles when the turn rolls over to the next upkeep. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to these, two keys to the deck are the tutors to get them out. Everything else is there to push the board to thirty permanents.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Final Fortune"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warrior&#039;s Oath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Last Chance"></div></div><br />
<em>This is still technically bracket two because I'm not-<br />
What are you all doing with those torches and pitchforks?</em></p>
<p>To help get there the deck has <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckless Handling" href="#" target="_blank">Reckless Handling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inventors&#039; Fair" href="#" target="_blank">Inventors&#039; Fair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can be used in conjunction with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trash for Treasure" href="#" target="_blank">Trash for Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or either of Daretti's cards to get the Mycosynth Lattice out.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Matron" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Matron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can play a game of telephone to get it out by searching for the Engineer first. It can also snag a Grenzo, Havoc Raiser in case more permanents are needed but none are in hand.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daretti, Scrap Savant"></div></div><br />
<em>Both flavors work! Trade your Treasures for permanents that make more Treasures!<br />
</em></p>
<p>Instant board state cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brass&#039;s Bounty" href="#" target="_blank">Brass&#039;s Bounty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can be extremely useful at making the final push to thirty cards.</p>
<p>Playing it along with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can go for infinite by snagging Lattice plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clock of Omens" href="#" target="_blank">Clock of Omens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Tap the Magda plus a Treasure to untap the Magda. Make a new Treasure, and use it infinitely. Then just sacrifice 5 Treasures at a time to spit the entire deck's permanents onto the battlefield, then finally win by sacrificing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anger" href="#" target="_blank">Anger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to a sac outlet and attacking with everything.</p>
<h2>How Does This Knuckles the Echidna Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>Getting to thirty permanents can be difficult, so there are some tricks to make a lot all at once.</p>
<p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krark-Clan Ironworks" href="#" target="_blank">Krark-Clan Ironworks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of Totentanz" href="#" target="_blank">Song of Totentanz</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hell to Pay" href="#" target="_blank">Hell to Pay</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, each artifact sacrificed will turn into two new permanents, effectively doubling the number on the board if there is a Lattice out.</p>
<p>There are a few other ways to do the same that take more set up, like adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xorn" href="#" target="_blank">Xorn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure Vault" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure Vault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to KCI, or using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goldspan Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Goldspan Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the Treasure-doubler.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Copper Dragon"></div></div><br />
<em>I just need to roll a 16 or better, but I don't have advantage...</em></p>
<p>In terms of alternate win conditions, there's only one, since the commander comes with its own "win the game" ability. However, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellkite Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Hellkite Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is strictly better in terms of how many permanents are needed, so it goes in the ninety-nine. Needing one third the number of permanents is too good to give up, and the theft ability is nothing to write off either.</p>
<h2>Knuckles the Echidna Commander Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Echidna Echinacea" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Knuckles the Echidna
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Ancient Copper Dragon
*1 Anger
*1 Bonehoard Dracosaur
*1 Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer
*1 Glóin, Dwarf Emissary
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Goblin Matron
*1 Goblin Welder
*1 Goldlust Triad
*1 Goldspan Dragon
*1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
*1 Hellkite Tyrant
*1 Magda, Brazen Outlaw
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
*1 Treasure Nabber
*1 Xorn
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Final Fortune
*1 Seething Song
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Brass&#039;s Bounty
*1 Hell to Pay
*1 Hit the Mother Lode
*1 Last Chance
*1 Reckless Handling
*1 Scrap Mastery
*1 Song of Totentanz
*1 Strike It Rich
*1 Trash for Treasure
*1 Warrior&#039;s Oath
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Clock of Omens
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Liquimetal Torque
*1 Lotus Petal
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mycosynth Lattice
*1 Phial of Galadriel
*1 Planar Atlas
*1 Prismatic Lens
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Star Compass
*1 The Reaver Cleaver
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Descent into Avernus
*1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki
*1 Guild Artisan
*1 Spiteful Banditry
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Chandra, Spark Hunter
*1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
*1 Karn, Scion of Urza
*1 Koth, Fire of Resistance
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Fomori Vault
*1 Fountainport
*1 Great Furnace
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*1 Mines of Moria
*19 Mountain
*1 Power Depot
*1 Scene of the Crime
*1 Sunken Citadel
*1 The Mycosynth Gardens
*1 Treasure Vault
*1 Urza&#039;s Cave
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to read this deck tech on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knuckles the Echidna" href="#" target="_blank">Knuckles the Echidna</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I think he's quite a strong commander and has a lot of potential for upgrade into the Bracket 4 arena.</p>
<p>I had a lot of fun playing it; Treasures are a blast, and getting the win off of the extra turn felt incredible. I hope you get to give it a try yourself because it is such a blast to pilot. If you like making Treasures and scraping out value you will love this deck.</p>
<p>If you missed it make sure you check out my last <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/mog-moogle-warrior-commander-deck-tech">deck tech</a> on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mog, Moogle Warrior" href="#" target="_blank">Mog, Moogle Warrior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and be sure to follow me on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/commandzoe">twitch</a> where you can find me playing this deck sometimes.</p>


Knuckles the Echidna Commander Deck Tech

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Tifa Lockhart, <em>Final Fantasy VII: Remake</em> key art | copyright Square Enix</h6>
<p><a href="https://x.com/finalfantasyvii/status/1918561418821157133">According to a tweet by Square Enix</a>, today is an extra special day for <em>Final Fantasy VII</em> fans. Tifa Lockhart's birthday comes with the arrival of two new spoilers for the upcoming <em>Final Fantasy</em> set.</p>
<h2>New Tifa Lockhart and Borderless Character Cards</h2>
<p>The two spoilers come in the standard print and Borderless Character treatments for the card Tifa, Martial Artist.</p>
<h3>Standard</h3>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifa.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-150190" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifa-819x1024.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="625" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifa-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifa-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifa-768x960.jpeg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifa.jpeg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></a></p>
<h3>Borderless Character Art</h3>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifas.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-150191" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifas-819x1024.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="625" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifas-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifas-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifas-768x960.jpeg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tifas.jpeg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></a></p>
<p>The tweet mentions that the Borderless Character art can only be found in Collector Boosters, many of which are already commanding prices above $100 a pack or $600+ a box on retail sites. This is no surprise, as <em>Final Fantasy</em> is already the best selling MTG set of all time, just a little over a month before its official release date.</p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="Ib2keLyZMU"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-best-selling-mtg-set-before-official-release-date/">Final Fantasy is the Best-Selling MTG Set Before Official Release Date</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Final Fantasy is the Best-Selling MTG Set Before Official Release Date&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-best-selling-mtg-set-before-official-release-date/embed/#?secret=UeXScNSykj#?secret=Ib2keLyZMU" data-secret="Ib2keLyZMU" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<h2>When does the Final Fantasy x MTG set release?</h2>
<p>Worldwide release of the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set is expected on June 13, with previews to begin at PAX East on May 10th. Itching to brew with <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin"><em>Final Fantasy</em> cards</a> that have been revealed? <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-commander-deck-techs">Check out our deck techs, updated as articles and spoilers</a> continue to arrive before release date.</p>
<p>Stay tuned for EDHREC's boots on the ground coverage of the preview panel and MTG event recap!</p>


Final Fantasy MTG Spoiler Reveals Tifa Lockhart Cards

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lara Croft, Tomb Raider" href="#" target="_blank">Lara Croft, Tomb Raider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.gregstaples.com/">Greg Staples</a></h6>
<h1>The Beginning of the Journey</h1>
<p>Hi, I’m Owain, and I’m here with the first article of what I’ll call <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>. The missive is simple: To make decks using only cards printed (and reprinted) into Universes Beyond (henceforth known as UB). But, first, a bit about me.</p>
<p>I’m one of those fabled MTG Boomers that people tend to hear about. <em>Magic</em> first came into my life around <em>Invasion</em> block. I’ve been fairly on and off until 2011, when the first Commander precons came out, and I’ve been playing since.</p>
<p>As for my decision to fully embrace UB cards? I was once just like most when <em>The Walking Dead</em> lair came out: In complete opposition. It’s been several years since then, and my opinions on UB have gradually shifted.</p>
<p>My journey to get to the point of embracing the product line was long. I never thought I'd get to where I am now.</p>
<p>However, if you go and assemble UB-only decks, but still appreciate all the in-universe stuff has to offer, have a balance of both. Going all-in on UB made going back through in-universe cards quite a jarring experience.</p>
<p>With that piece of advice out of the way, let’s jump right into the next section without further delay.</p>
<h1>Our Commander</h1>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lara Croft, Tomb Raider"></div></div><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p>Lara Croft is the main protagonist of the <em>Tomb Raider</em> franchise. She goes to find legendary and dangerous artifacts while thwarting those who seek them for villainous purposes. However, this particular version is based on the 2013 <em>Tomb Raider</em> game (and its sequels), known as the Survivor Timeline. Now we have the basic lore on our commander, but what about the card?</p>
<p>Looking at it tells us what we need to do: Get legendary artifacts and legendary lands into the graveyard, then play them after attacking. That Treasure token you get from the raid trigger will come in handy for this.</p>
<p>However, it’s worth noting that Lara can pull from <em>any</em> graveyard, and not just your own. So, whether you want to mill everyone or see something that your opponents played, she will see those, too. That said, though, you’ll be looking through your own stuff.</p>
<p>The worst case scenario is that you simply get a treasure token, and that’s not a bad thing. Even then, we're going to need to navigate what choices will be part of our 99.</p>
<h1>Raiding the Tombs</h1>
<p>There’s two ways you could build Lara: Load up with Equipment and bonk someone for 21 damage, or just accrue value. However, we’re using only UB cards here, so our pickings are slimmer. Chances are that you’ll end up doing a mix of the two because of this.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Excalibur, Sword of Eden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="RMS Titanic"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, we have equipment like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (42,928 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Totec’s Spear; 17,9724 decks) that make Lara big enough to win.</p>
<p>Additionally, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bessie, the Doctor’s Roadster" href="#" target="_blank">Bessie, the Doctor’s Roadster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4,638 decks), which allows her to get through unblocked.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Spear of Leonidas" href="#" target="_blank">The Spear of Leonidas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (15,368 decks) is a nice Swiss-Army knife in this deck: You could give double strike, get a legendary blocker, or it can do am impression of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faithless Looting" href="#" target="_blank">Faithless Looting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which you can use to fill your graveyard with targets for Lara’s attack trigger.</p>
<p>Moreover, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overpowering Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Overpowering Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (29,233 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seize the Day" href="#" target="_blank">Seize the Day</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Round Two; 59,481 decks) let us get extra combat steps, getting more cards to cast, and even taking opponents out of the game.</p>
<p>On the other hand, we have stuff that helps accrue value over time. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,545 and 23,151 decks respectively) allow us to cast historic cards from the top of our library.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="RMS Titanic" href="#" target="_blank">RMS Titanic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9,918 decks) can be looped with Lara to gain a boatload of Treasures while also hitting like a truck. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="ED-E, Lonesome Eyebot" href="#" target="_blank">ED-E, Lonesome Eyebot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do something similar, but can draw us cards over time.</p>
<p>Just take care how you attack the longer it sticks around, so you can get more quest counters. Consequently, there's a central theme that works with both of the above themes.</p>
<h1>Of Tomb Exploring and History</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Surtr, Fiery Jötun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heroes&#039; Podium"></div></div>
<p>Because a lot of the deck contains Historic cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surtr, Fiery Jötun" href="#" target="_blank">Surtr, Fiery Jötun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be slinging <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>s left, right, and center. I’m surprised the card doesn’t see more play than the 233 decks it’s in.</p>
<p>Every time I’ve cast the card, it’s been a major threat on the board. Do not sleep on Surtr if you’re running a lot of Historic cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroes’ Podium" href="#" target="_blank">Heroes’ Podium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (38,037 decks) is a wincon with all the legendary creatures in the deck, but can also dig for a new creature to cast, too. In short, you might say the average Lara Croft deck is a Historic deck at its heart.</p>
<p>In either of the above paths you take, you’ll need ways to ditch legendary artifacts and lands so Lara can mark them.</p>
<p>Firstly, we have a range of ways to achieve this, from popular options like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathartic Reunion" href="#" target="_blank">Cathartic Reunion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to obscure ones like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nyssa of Traken" href="#" target="_blank">Nyssa of Traken</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4,583 decks), who will get you cards and tap down blockers while you attack.</p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wreck and Rebuild" href="#" target="_blank">Wreck and Rebuild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,779 decks) gives us a choice at either removing a troublesome artifact or enchantment or can mill five of our cards, ramping us and having targets for Lara set up. Importantly, it has Flashback, so you can use the card twice.</p>
<p>Importantly, it's natural for UB-Only decks to have a Historic theme to some extent because UB sets tend to be filled to the brim with legendary creatures, artifacts, or otherwise. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delighted Halfling" href="#" target="_blank">Delighted Halfling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (254,292 decks) shine in decks that capitalize on this because you’ll often tap to make a mana that’ll make your next legendary creature uncounterable. The Historic cards will be tough to ignore, and I wouldn’t even try doing so. It’s basically an overarching theme.</p>
<h1>The Treasure at the End</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Project Beyond-Venturing Forth" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Lara Croft, Tomb Raider
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Exotic Orchard
*6 Forest
*1 Frontier Bivouac
*1 Frostboil Snarl
*1 Game Trail
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*6 Island
*6 Mountain
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Trenzalore Clocktower
*1 Vineglimmer Snarl
[/Lands]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ace&#039;s Baseball Bat
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bessie, the Doctor&#039;s Roadster
*1 Bow of Nylea
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Five Hundred Year Diary
*1 Heroes&#039; Podium
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
*1 RMS Titanic
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Staff of Eden, Vault&#039;s Key
*1 The Animus
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Adric, Mathematical Genius
*1 Arwen, Weaver of Hope
*1 Assassin Den
*1 Curie, Emergent Intelligence
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Displaced Dinosaurs
*1 ED-E, Lonesome Eyebot
*1 Evie Frye
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Ian the Reckless
*1 Iron Man, Titan of Innovation
*1 Jamie McCrimmon
*1 K-9, Mark I
*1 Karvanista, Loyal Lupari // Lupari Shield
*1 Legolas Greenleaf
*1 Nardole, Resourceful Cyborg
*1 Nyssa of Traken
*1 Old One Eye
*1 Osgood, Operation Double
*1 Strax, Sontaran Nurse
*1 Surtr, Fiery Jötun
*1 The Fourth Doctor
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Anger of the Gods
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Cultivate
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Hull Breach
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Traverse Eternity
*1 Wreck and Rebuild
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Bombadil&#039;s Song
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Counterflux
*1 Cyber Conversion
*1 Desynchronization
*1 Entish Restoration
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Legolas&#039;s Quick Reflexes
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Rhystic Study
*1 Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h1>Studying the Spoils</h1>
<p>Certainly, there’s a number of Historic cards that work well here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Traverse Eternity" href="#" target="_blank">Traverse Eternity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,501 decks) draws lots of cards, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desynchronization" href="#" target="_blank">Desynchronization</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (26,035 decks) is oftentimes a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that doesn’t bounce your opponents’ commanders, but our board state remain largely untouched.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Traverse Eternity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Desynchronization"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclonic Rift"></div></div>
<p>I threw in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Staff of Eden, Vault’s Key" href="#" target="_blank">Staff of Eden, Vault’s Key</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,428 decks) for the likelihood that we actually get something out of our opponents’ graveyards, but your chances at getting something are going to be low. That said, when it goes off, it's going to draw cards. Hopefully, there'll be similar effects within the UB card pool in the long run.</p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adric, Mathematical Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Adric, Mathematical Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9,009 decks) can copy triggers (including Lara’s) and, in a pinch, make the ultimate sacrifice to counter an ability that would cause a problem.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gimli of the Glittering Caves" href="#" target="_blank">Gimli of the Glittering Caves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (300 decks) hits hard with double strike and enough pumps, but also net us Treasures in the process.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legolas Greenleaf" href="#" target="_blank">Legolas Greenleaf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (coming in at an unsurprising 39 decks) is similar: Reach instead of double strike, same pump ability, but instead of Treasure, he gives us a card. Not to mention he has evasion, which is unfortunately situational. See if you can get both of them out on the battlefield at once for a flavor win.</p>
<p>Moreover, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jamie McCrimmon" href="#" target="_blank">Jamie McCrimmon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (3,145 decks), with enough historic spells, can become a game-ending threat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iron Man, Titan of Innovation" href="#" target="_blank">Iron Man, Titan of Innovation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does an identical Lara impression because of his attack trigger, which allows us to pod away an artifact for a new one.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gimli of the Glittering Caves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Legolas Greenleaf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jamie McCrimmon"></div></div>
<p>You could stack the trigger to resolve his ability first, sending a legendary artifact into your graveyard. After that, exile it with a discovery counter with Lara’s trigger, so then you can cast it later.</p>
<h1>The Journey Home</h1>
<p>In conclusion, the usage of UB cards alone is a deckbuilding restriction that I hear seldom about. There's many staples reprinted (or reskinned, in some cases) with the UB border, and there's new cards that are worth taking a look, even the overshadowed ones.</p>
<p>Don't be afraid to mix and match IPs. As wacky and ridiculous it sounds, I find it lets my imagination wonder.</p>
<p>Firstly, what would Lara do if she found <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? How would <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iron Man, Titan of Innovation" href="#" target="_blank">Iron Man, Titan of Innovation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> interact with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? In short, it's little "what ifs" like these that can form a story of their own. However, that's using only UB printings and cards came naturally, even for me.</p>
<p>Using only UB cards required some nurturing on my part, and I'm sure it'll be the same with you. I was having each IP be their own deck before I warmed up to the idea of mixing them.</p>
<p>Even now, UB is a very polarizing subject, and that will not change for the foreseeable future. I’ve heard stories of people giving others bad experiences simply because they chose to run UB cards, basically gatekeeping. I won’t drag this out, but let’s be respectful of their choices and not ruin their fun.</p>
<p>That being said, I always look forward to see what fun and unique designs come out of UB sets. Consequently, it’s always exciting when new cards come out, so we can have more options for our decks. In addition, we learn more about the characters, places, and events behind the cards, and that's half the fun.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments what you think of the commander and the deck. You may certainly find a card that you can use in your decks.</p>
<p>Until next time, go above and beyond your games.</p>


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