<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merciless Repurposing" href="#" target="_blank">Merciless Repurposing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/artur_nakhodkin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artur Nakhodkin</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome! <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/5-magic-characters-who-deserved-better-story-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When I last wrote about this subject</a>, many of my readers had a lot to say about characters who deserved better treatment within the <em>Magic</em> story. Well, I took in some of your feedback. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised that there were a handful more characters who deserve more than their fates.</p>
<p>Thankfully (or not, for their sakes), there's more than enough mistreated characters for another entry into what is now a two-part series. So let's explore that with five more characters who deserved better story treatment!</p>
<h2>#5. Davvol</h2>
<div id="attachment_161980" style="width: 1004px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Carnival-of-Souls.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-161980" class="wp-image-161980" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Carnival-of-Souls.jpg" alt="Carnival of Souls. Illustrated by Brian Snoddy. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast" width="994" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Carnival-of-Souls.jpg 1920w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Carnival-of-Souls-300x169.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Carnival-of-Souls-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Carnival-of-Souls-768x432.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Carnival-of-Souls-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 994px) 100vw, 994px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-161980" class="wp-caption-text">Carnival of Souls. Illustrated by Brian Snoddy. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</p></div>
<p>Davvol was the first Evincar of the artificial plane of Rath. He was the elder of a place known as Coracin. Whether this is a plane of existence or a village within another plane is unknown at this time. He was terminally ill and an exile from this place, however. Thus, when the Phyrexians came to Davvol looking for information, he spitefully, and willingly gave that information to them. In exchange, Davvol was partially compleated and became the overseer of the construction of Rath within the Blind Eternities.</p>
<p>During this time, Davvol conducted experiments on Rath and adjacent Multiversal planes to figure out what would eventually be the Rathi overlay upon Dominaria, spurring the fabled Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria and the climax to the Weatherlight Saga. However, another Phyrexian killed Davvol in cold blood and stole his knowledge from him.</p>
<p>Davvol may have gotten it even worse when we look at the flavor text for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carnival of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Carnival of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>:</p>
<blockquote><p>“‘Davvol, blast those elves.’ ‘Davvol, transport those troops.’ No one cares that today is my birthday.”</p></blockquote>
<p>From other interactions, it seems that Phyrexians don't appear to care about trivialities such as birthdays. However, Davvol, only partly compleat, still did. What a torment to essentially be the ruler of an entire plane of existence, but to have ignored the trifle that is one's own birthday! It is for that reason that, perhaps only <em>half</em>-facetiously, I recognize Davvol as #5 on this list.</p>
<h2>#4. Lukka</h2>
<div id="attachment_161981" style="width: 1004px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Weaponize-the-Monsters.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-161981" class="wp-image-161981" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Weaponize-the-Monsters.jpg" alt="Weaponize the Monsters. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast" width="994" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Weaponize-the-Monsters.jpg 1920w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Weaponize-the-Monsters-300x169.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Weaponize-the-Monsters-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Weaponize-the-Monsters-768x432.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Weaponize-the-Monsters-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 994px) 100vw, 994px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-161981" class="wp-caption-text">Weaponize the Monsters. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</p></div>
<p>At #4 on this list is Lukka, a Planeswalker from Ikoria. From the very get-go, Lukka had a hard life. He was bullied from a young age, perhaps because he always felt like an outsider to the Ikorian populace. Eventually, Lukka learned how to bond with the predatory creatures of the plane. However, sadly, upon bonding with a patagia tiger called <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leori, Sparktouched Hunter" href="#" target="_blank">Leori</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the Drannith military exiled him and killed Leori. Lukka could not catch a break on Ikoria.</p>
<p>Lukka's outcast feelings are exacerbated when the man's Planeswalker spark ignites. Monsters immediately attack Lukka on another currently unknown plane. He shrugs off the attack after bonding with one of the beasts.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heartless Act"></div></div>
<p>Eventually, Lukka arrives on Arcavios, where he is captured by the Oriq, a group of cultists working under <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extus, Oriq Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Extus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an antagonizing force to the plane and also to the Strixhaven Academy. Lukka manages to flee. Again, no lucky break.</p>
<h3>Lukka's Compleation and Death</h3>
<p>When the Planeswalker <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivien Reid" href="#" target="_blank">Vivien Reid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> recruits Lukka to her cause to take down New Phyrexia internally, Lukka accepts and enters the Hunters' Maze with Nissa. Lukka is compleated when he underestimates his control over a Phyrexian Beast within the sphere and gets infected with glistening oil. Lukka later invades Ikoria, but dies a gruesome and painful death at the hands of Vivien and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vadrok, Apex of Thunder" href="#" target="_blank">Vadrok, Apex of Thunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vadrok, Apex of Thunder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vivien Reid"></div></div>
<p>Lukka invaded Ikoria as an ultimate amalgamation of biomass, acclimated by compleating many of Ikoria's monsters and incorporating their forms into himself. However, when Vadrok engulfs Lukka in its magical flames, nothing remains but the Planeswalker and his original Phyrexian bonded beast.</p>
<p>Lukka has lost everything by the time he dies, and it's largely fair for what he'd done. However, fate treated Lukka, as a character, so poorly throughout his life in the literature, that it hardly feels good for him to meet this fate.</p>
<h2>#3. Urabrask</h2>
<div id="attachment_161982" style="width: 771px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Urabrask-Heretic-Praetor-Variant-MtG-Art.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-161982" class="wp-image-161982" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Urabrask-Heretic-Praetor-Variant-MtG-Art.jpg" alt="Urabrask, Heretic Praetor. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast" width="761" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Urabrask-Heretic-Praetor-Variant-MtG-Art.jpg 1200w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Urabrask-Heretic-Praetor-Variant-MtG-Art-300x221.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Urabrask-Heretic-Praetor-Variant-MtG-Art-1024x753.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Urabrask-Heretic-Praetor-Variant-MtG-Art-768x564.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 761px) 100vw, 761px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-161982" class="wp-caption-text">Urabrask, Heretic Praetor. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</p></div>
<p>At #3 on our list is the New Phyexian Praetor called Urabrask. Urabrask, as a character, was a reclusive, enigmatic figure. I distinctly recall many speculating, myself included, that Urabrask was the result of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirari" href="#" target="_blank">Mirari</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doubly fusing with Slobad's and Bosh's corpses in the Furnace Layer of the reformed New Phyrexian Mirrodin. When this proved not to be the case, I will admit that I was surprised by it.</p>
<p>Urabrask's views about the Nornian perspective on freedom outcast the red Praetor. As you can see in the first image of this very article, Urabrask's dissenting views caused his undoing. He was ripped limb from limb, his bio-mechanical parts repurposed as spare scrap.</p>
<p>It feels like there are a <em>lot</em> of red characters in the <em>Magic</em> story that get mistreated and deserve so much better than they get. Thankfully for red, Urabrask is the last red-aligned character I'm going to list in this article. On to pick #2!</p>
<h2>#2. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Garruk Wildspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Garruk Wildspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div id="attachment_161983" style="width: 1930px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/In-Garruks-Wake.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-161983" class="wp-image-161983 size-full" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/In-Garruks-Wake.jpg" alt="In Garruk's Wake. Illustrated by Chase Stone. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/In-Garruks-Wake.jpg 1920w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/In-Garruks-Wake-300x169.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/In-Garruks-Wake-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/In-Garruks-Wake-768x432.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/In-Garruks-Wake-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-161983" class="wp-caption-text">In Garruk's Wake. Illustrated by Chase Stone. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</p></div>
<p>My penultimate choice within this article is the Planeswalker known as Garruk. From very early post-Mending comics, some depict Garruk's origins as a child whose Planeswalker spark ignited quite early, sending him from one unknown homeplane (though many speculate it to be Dominaria) to another. This may have stunted Garruk's development. Garruk then grew up relatively feral, living alongside the many beasts he found.</p>
<p>Eventually, Garruk would take up hunting game for noble means, using the meat for food, the pelts for warmth, and the rest with respect in other ways. But, in time, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana Vess" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana Vess</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cursed Garruk inexplicably to be afflicted with a malady that only murder would seem to satiate.</p>
<p>Garruk became a serial hunter of Planeswalkers. Even during <em>War of the Spark</em>, the mad Draconic Planeswalker <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nicol Bolas" href="#" target="_blank">Nicol Bolas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> made sure that Garruk could not hear his beacon. That beacon attracted every other Planeswalker to Ravnica; to summon Garruk would provide him with a safari's worth of game, so to speak, which would, in turn, ruin Bolas's plans to steal their sparks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Interplanar Beacon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Elderspell"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Despark"></div></div>
<p>For a while, Garruk didn't get a lot of story representation. This changed during <em>Throne of Eldraine</em>, wherein Oko frees him of Liliana's curse but makes Garruk subservient to Oko in turn. As a fae-cursed Planeswalker, Oko mistreated Garruk, who Oko refers to many times as his literal pet. There's a degree of humiliation here that Garruk probably doesn't deserve either, but my beef is more with the egregious amount of curses Garruk has had to withstand.</p>
<h3>Garruk's Poor Story Characterization</h3>
<p>It also doesn't exactly help that in certain cards, the art characterizes Garruk in a way that is unbefitting of a game for ages 13+. Triumph of Ferocity was a mistake, artwise (and thus I'm not adding a link to said art). Many players seem to look at that card with the mindset that it depicts an undue sort of violence. I agree, though it probably wasn't the artist's intent. To spare those who are dealing with trauma stemming from similar violence, I'm not including that art here.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> slightly compounded the issue by giving Garruk an extended sabbatical from the <em>Magic</em> Gatewatch saga.</p>
<p>With that, the article is almost at a close. Which character in the <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> story is my #1 pick for most deserving of a better fate?</p>
<h2>#1. Dyfed</h2>
<div id="attachment_161979" style="width: 1261px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tumblr_0ed5643f1c6a3ccdff84a0588bbe2c36_bb39a605_1280.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-161979" class="wp-image-161979" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tumblr_0ed5643f1c6a3ccdff84a0588bbe2c36_bb39a605_1280.jpg" alt="Horizon Boughs. Illustrated by Jean-Sebastien Rossbach. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast" width="1251" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tumblr_0ed5643f1c6a3ccdff84a0588bbe2c36_bb39a605_1280.jpg 1000w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tumblr_0ed5643f1c6a3ccdff84a0588bbe2c36_bb39a605_1280-300x134.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tumblr_0ed5643f1c6a3ccdff84a0588bbe2c36_bb39a605_1280-768x343.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1251px) 100vw, 1251px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-161979" class="wp-caption-text">Horizon Boughs. Illustrated by Jean-Sebastien Rossbach. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</p></div>
<p>Potentially the oldest character in our timeline for this series, Dyfed was a character who, naively, showed the Thran healer known as Yawgmoth a great number of other planes of existence. Pyrulea was one of the planes she showed to the ambitious future ruler of Phyrexia. This plane only has two confirmed representations in cards: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Horizon Boughs" href="#" target="_blank">Horizon Boughs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a plane from <em>Planechase</em>, and the original art for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Horizon Canopy" href="#" target="_blank">Horizon Canopy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>As for Dyfed, she has no representation whatsoever. The novel she features in, <em>The Thran</em>, is scarcely represented in any cards in the first place, save for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician" href="#" target="_blank">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glacian, Powerstone Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Glacian, Powerstone Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rebbec, Architect of Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Rebbec, Architect of Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But this isn't about them, so much as it is about Dyfed's missing card. She's very much absent from <em>Magic</em>'s card-centric canon.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glacian, Powerstone Engineer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rebbec, Architect of Ascension"></div></div>
<h3>Dyfed's Unfortunate Fate</h3>
<p>When we think about Dyfed in the storyline, however, things get even worse for this early-canon Planeswalker. Yawgmoth lobotomized Dyfed upon her return to Phyrexia, preventing her from planeswalking away. And then, Yawgmoth's followers do something arguably worse: they vivisect Dyfed's body. Yawgmoth, looking for some physical organ that houses a Planeswalker's spark, cannot retrieve it from Dyfed. Eventually, Rebbec saves Dyfed from a fate worse than death by killing the Phyrexian priests doing the vile deed, allowing Dyfed to finally pass away.</p>
<p>When I, as a reader, consider the cruel end to Dyfed's life, I wince at the idea of lobotomy and vivisection. This, paired with the guild Dyfed must feel for allowing Yawgmoth to see that planes beyond Dominaria exist, is a painful consideration. That's why I've put Dyfed as my #1 pick in this article.</p>
<p>I can't necessarily compare her pain with that of Squee, whom we covered in the previous article. However, Dyfed has a fairly good case for her being <em>even more</em> tortured.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>As a closing statement, I find that there are plenty of other <em>Magic</em> characters that are undeserving of their fate, their bad writing, or other factors that afflict their characterization in the form. However, for other characters to truly shine, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em>'s creative team will always have to make some sacrifices.</p>
<p>Perhaps, in the end, it's only right that ten or so characters are shunted to the sidelines or treated worse than others. Time will tell if any of the characters I've mentioned in either article will get justice in any way. Hopefully, they will! It's a matter of time, in many ways.</p>
<p>In the meantime, how do you feel about this list? Are there still any characters within <em>Magic</em>'s extensive story that you feel got the short end of the stick? Alternatively, what about characters that got it <em>too well</em>? Sound off below!</p>


5 More Magic Characters Who Deserved Better in the Story

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded|avr|161" href="#" target="_blank">Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | <a href="https://www.artstation.com/bugmeyer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peter Mohrbacher</a></em></p>
<p>Let's face the facts: <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>'s story is vast and colorful. Great heroes abound in every single part of the story. Like in other forms of media, such as on television, on film, or in comics, <em>Magic</em> has so many important, interesting, and powerful characters shaping its multiversal destiny.</p>
<p>However, for every Gerrard, Jace, or Elesh Norn, there's also a Zagorka, a Sash, and a Feroz. I won't be covering these characters today in particular; instead I'm writing about five characters in the <em>Magic</em> storylines who deserved better writing in many ways.</p>
<p>This list may be brief, potentially due to the number of really cool fan favorites in the game. However, the impacted characters, whether fan favorites or not, matter to many <em>Magic</em> fans. I hope I can do them a bit of justice here. Let's begin!</p>
<h2>#5. Tibalt of Nephalia</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded|AVR|161"></div></div>
<p>A character that I - edgy, young, and still in college - immediately thought was a true paragon of badassery, was Tibalt, the half-devil of Nephalia. Obviously, I'd never wish to emulate his sadism or anything; I just really liked his backstory notes.</p>
<p>It's not like he had much else going for him since his original card from <em>Avacyn Restored</em> was decidedly trash. I thought his art, done by the acclaimed artist and illustrator Pete Mohrbacher, was really interesting as well. Tibalt had a ton going for him everywhere but mechanically.</p>
<p>This initial mechanical flop of a planeswalker card ultimately turned Tibalt into a memetic joke for years, all the way up until <em>Kaldheim</em>, where he got an awesome card... Except his side of it was more-or-less on the rear face of <em>another</em> character's card. Yes, Tibalt disguised himself as <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valki, God of Lies" href="#" target="_blank">Valki, God of Lies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but Valki exists somewhere in the Kaldheim mythos, so it's a bit unfair.</p>
<h3>Tibalt's Unceremonious Death</h3>
<p>Fast forward a bit to <em>Phyrexia: All Will Be One</em>. By this point, Elesh Norn has compleated Tibalt fully and recruited him to her side. We only got a single card showing Tibalt in this new form, and it was the one where he just... <em>dies</em>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tyvar&#039;s Stand"></div></div>
<p>Now, <em>is that really fair</em>?</p>
<p>This, ultimately, is why Tibalt deserved better. There's absolutely nothing to do here with his toxic demeanor or actions. We all know Tibalt is a complete bastich, to co-opt from DC Comics a little bit. But if nothing else, we at least deserved to have a card fully depicting Phyrexian Tibalt, and not just as a story beat alone.</p>
<h2>#4. Dack Fayden of Fiora</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dack Fayden"></div></div>
<p>One of the more suave characters in the <em>Magic</em> story was Dack Fayden of the plane of Fiora. As the self-proclaimed "greatest thief in the multiverse," Dack stole the hearts of so many fans of <em>Magic</em>'s <em>IDW</em> Comics series.</p>
<p>Many cards came with <em>IDW</em>'s comics, mostly showcasing Dack in some way. They were usually images of the comics' covers. These were truly cool promos. However, due to the way <em>IDW</em> and <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> collaborated on this comic run, Dack couldn't be portrayed beyond the comic promos, and one planeswalker card bearing his likeness (as well as a few non-planeswalker cards with his image on them).</p>
<h3>IDW's Legal Story Kerfuffle</h3>
<p>Because of the legal issues, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> had to find a way to unceremoniously kill Dack Fayden off - permanently. That's why he died in the trailer for <em>War of the Spark</em>. The trailer was so interesting, but it truly hurt to see Dack get got.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="War of the Spark Official Trailer – Magic: The Gathering" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b5W9t62t10I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>There's a glaring issue with his death in <em>War of the Spark</em>, however. <em>WAR</em> had a ton of Planeswalkers get cameos in cards. But outside of that trailer, as beautifully done as it was, Dack received a resounding tally of <em>zero</em> representation in <em>WAR</em>.</p>
<p><em>Wizards of the Coast</em> could have acted a little closer to the vest and not assigned IDW to write a comic with a main character original to anywhere but <em>Wizards</em>. If they had, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation regarding Dack Fayden's unnecessary demise. However, Dack absolutely deserved far better than he got. As Linkin Park wrote and as emoted in the trailer for <em>WAR</em>, Dack "tried so hard and got so far / But in the end, it doesn't even matter."</p>
<h2>#3. Jeska of Otaria</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeska, Thrice Reborn"></div></div>
<p>The <em>Odyssey</em> and <em>Onslaught</em> book trilogies are, to this day, some of my favorite <em>Magic</em> stories. Kamahl's triumph against so many adversaries and odds felt to me to be truly Herculean. But the Pardic barbarian-turned-Krosan druid suffered a lot in his social relationships.</p>
<p>For the main example, take Jeska, his younger sister and the third character who deserved better. The mad dementia caster Braids corrupted her into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phage the Untouchable" href="#" target="_blank">Phage the Untouchable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and turned her into a vessel of the Numena Kuberr. The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Patriarch" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Patriarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> then, most unfortunately, had relations with Jeska-as-Phage, siring Kuberr.</p>
<p>To make matters worse, after Phage birthed Kuberr, she was later killed by her own brother. Kamahl just can't catch a break, huh?</p>
<h3>Jeska-as-Karona</h3>
<p>However, as Jeska was killed, Kamahl also slew <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma, Angel of Wrath" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma, Angel of Wrath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the same fell swoop. Furthermore, Zagorka, a character whom we never saw on a single card, was also caught in the cleaving. The death of these three prominent female characters (in the story, anyway) caused Jeska to be reborn a second time into Karona, the false goddess of magic on Dominaria.</p>
<p>Karona then, at some point, departed Dominaria, taking with her much of the magic she heralded. This inevitably catalyzed the temporal crisis of <em>Time Spiral</em>'s block, although readers wouldn't have known it at the time. When she returned, Kamahl had to slay Karona again, with the assistance of the three Numena Kuberr, Averru, and Lowallyn. She returned, as Jeska, but the other two women did not.</p>
<h3>The Temporal Crisis</h3>
<p>Later, during the aforementioned temporal crisis, the black-aligned Planeswalker Leshrac took control of Jeska and forced her to seal many of the rifts and take their power in. Part of this was done by forcing Jeska to embrace her past as Phage. For Jeska to relive the atrocities she committed as a corrupted version of herself must have been <em>awful</em>.</p>
<p>And finally, when the last rift was sealed and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mending of Dominaria" href="#" target="_blank">The Mending of Dominaria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> occurred at last, Jeska died. Happy ending? I think <em>not</em>.</p>
<p>To that end, Jeska could have been treated way more by writers than just as a puppet to multiple evil forces. She could have been more than a one-note false goddess of magic. And above all, more than just a damsel in extreme distress.</p>
<p>A lot of her time as a Planeswalker was spent mentored by Karn, but then again, a majority of it is only done "off-screen." Jeska certainly deserved better than any of that from a writing standpoint.</p>
<h2>#2. Ixidor of Otaria</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ixidor, Reality Sculptor"></div></div>
<p>Otarian characters really received no love from their writers. Ixidor, an illusionist and later the embodiment of the Numena Lowallyn, was a successful pit fighter in the Cabal City pits on Otaria. He had great debts to the Cabal, however. His fighting partner and love of his life, Nivea, was killed by Phage, forcing Ixidor into exile as he could not pay his debts any longer.</p>
<p>In an Otarian desert, he learned how to make manifest his illusions, making them into real things. This was due to Lowallyn's influence on his abilities, although Ixidor was a great illusionist in his own right.</p>
<p>With this newfound power, he created Akroma, whom he fashioned into the image of Nivea. Phage later maimed Akroma, and Ixidor gave her jaguar legs.</p>
<p>Eventually, Ixidor was eaten by an Otarian deathwurm and later found still alive (albeit barely) by Kamahl. Akroma, who Ixidor believed was his magnum opus, was already absorbed into Karona by this time. Kamahl led Ixidor out of the deathwurm, and the two, alongside Kuberr and Averru, ultimately vanquished Karona.</p>
<p>The Numena Lowallyn, manifested within Ixidor, perished in this final confrontation alongside his brothers.</p>
<h3>Despair in Other Timelines</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Null Profusion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma, Angel of Fury"></div></div>
<p>Unfortunately, Ixidor's despair manifested in a large, destructive way in many timelines. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma, Angel of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma, Angel of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one example. No matter what timeline it took place in, Nivea's death was potentially a nexus event in the <em>Magic</em> story canon.</p>
<p>Akroma, while her own being, was also an extension of Ixidor's pain and grief in losing his lover, Nivea. She was hellbent on avenging Nivea and Ixidor. For Akroma to die surely took a huge toll on Ixidor, who had to see his lover die twice, in essence. Nobody deserves that, and for Ixidor to be such a neat character idea and suffer that much is a tragedy.</p>
<h2>#1. Squee</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Squee, Goblin Nabob"></div></div>
<p>The short synopsis of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squee, Goblin Nabob" href="#" target="_blank">Squee, Goblin Nabob</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the skyship <em>Weatherlight</em>'s cabin boy-turned-immortal, is just that. Yawgmoth the Ineffable granted Squee immortality so that Crovax and Ertai could torment the Goblin forever without fear of killing him and ending their fun.</p>
<p>There's much more to this story, however. As such, I've enlisted the help of <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/hobbesq.bolasgang.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hobbes</a>, a content creator, Goblin aficionado, and advocate of the <a href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23BetterDaysMTG" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#BetterDaysMTG</a> movement on social media. Here is what Hobbes had to say about this tragically underutilized character:</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Oh Squee, my poor beautiful mess of a Goblin. Squee is very interesting to me as someone who I think was largely seen as comedic relief for so long that him actually getting the story that he deserved literally took 20 years. He is a character who, like most early Goblins, filled the role of comedic relief. Just look in all the flavor texts he appears on! And yet, his story is actually pretty tragic; that beautiful, loyal Goblin experienced torture for information, and was essentially turned into an object to be killed, over and over.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Squee was a member of the Weatherlight crew as the cabin boy. He proved to be loyal to the crew, and quite adept at getting them out of trouble (and he was a surprisingly good shot). During the Phyrexian Invasion, Squee was captured by the Phyrexians and granted immortality by Yawgmoth. Yawgmoth literally did this so that he could be killed over and over again by Ertai and Crovax (as depicted in the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Tyranny" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Tyranny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Tyranny"></div></div></p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">However, this backfired and allowed Squee to accidentally kill Ertai. Squee remained immortal.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And then, we got no story for Squee for roughly 20 years. The wildest part about this is that we even returned to Dominaria in 2018, and he was given a card showing that he was still immortal, and still around. But, he did not feature in the story at all. Even when the <em>Weatherlight</em> came back, crew and all, the cabin boy was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slimefoot, the Stowaway" href="#" target="_blank">Slimefoot, the Stowaway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There were 12 stories for that set and he did not make a single appearance (which made having a card for him even more baffling). I was known for ranting about this for way too many years. Anytime Dominaria as a plane was mentioned, I would talk about how Squee was done dirty. I felt that with <em>Dominaria</em> the set, in particular, he had so much cool potential. Here you have a member of a species known for their short lifespan, who was now immortal, not a Planeswalker, and still living on Dominaria.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slimefoot, the Stowaway"></div></div></p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">But here's the thing: in 2022, with <em>Dominaria United</em>, we finally got the side story of Squee and his immortality. Seriously, <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/magic-story/death-and-salvation-2022-08-16" target="_blank" rel="noopener">go read that story by Dan Sheehan</a>, it’s haunting, it’s beautiful, and it ends up with Squee giving up his immortality as a choice after Ertai had returned and attempted to turn Squee into a Phyrexian. We then had him present for the fight against the Phyrexians, in a sweet team-up with Slimefoot (cabin boys of the <em>Weatherlight</em> rise up!). And now… we again know nothing other than the fact that he is now mortal. I fear it could be another 20 years before we get his full story.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slimefoot and Squee"></div></div></p>
<p dir="ltr">I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment. Hobbes knows his Goblins from toe to tip, and he's a great authority on the matter, especially regarding Squee. Hopefully, it <em>doesn't </em>take two decades before we get more literature surrounding this esteemed Goblin character.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2>
<p>All in all, there were plenty of other characters to look at who were also written in a way that did them dirty. So now, I'd like to open the floor to you, dear readers. What <em>Magic: The Gathering </em>characters do you believe deserved better in the story? Sound off below!</p>


5 Magic Characters Who Deserved Better Story Treatment

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/pascalquidault">Pascal Quidault</a></h6>
<h1>Weird Science!</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Assaultron Dominator"></div></div>
<p>Welcome back lone wanderers, couriers, chosen ones and sole survivors to the last article in our Fallout Lore series. I’m Joshua, also known as PrinceofBieltan on the internet and I’ll be your guide to the final deck in the <em>Universes Beyond:</em> <em>Fallout</em> release… Science!</p>
<p>If this is your first time seeing an article like this, I have good news, there are three more for you to enjoy based on the precon decks! You can read those as you like:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-lore-of-fallout-hail-caesar/?utm_source=edhrec&amp;utm_medium=article_preview">Hail, Caesar</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-lore-of-universes-beyond-fallout-scrappy-survivors/">Scrappy Survivors</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-lore-of-fallout-mutant-menace/?utm_source=edhrec&amp;utm_medium=article_preview">Mutant Menace</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Many <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> players like to upgrade their decks with cards from Universes Beyond sets while remaining at loss for what the card actually is, or the meaning it evokes. This series aims to illuminate you on what the world of <em>Fallout</em> is like, so let’s not waste energy and dive in.</p>
<p>Technology is one of the key cornerstones of the <em>Fallout</em> setting, set in a timeline divergent from our own and characterized by atomic futurism. There’s signature technology like the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pip-Boy 3000" href="#" target="_blank">Pip-Boy 3000</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mister Gutsy" href="#" target="_blank">Mister Gutsy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> robot and the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nuka-Nuke Launcher" href="#" target="_blank">Nuka-Nuke Launcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from the previous decks we’ve looked at. With Science! We’ll be exploring some of the finest minds of the setting, taking a look at what humanity actually did with all that atomic power they invented.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pip-Boy 3000"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mister Gutsy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nuka-Nuke Launcher"></div></div>
<p>It’s worth noting here that with the Science! Preconstructed Commander deck we have our first dedicated energy deck for commanders. This is exciting enough, it’s a mechanic that we haven’t seen for around eight years since the days of <em>Kaladesh</em> and <em>Aether Revolt</em>. You’ll find a lot of these cards do fun things with energy and this is a wonderful way for the mechanic to be reintroduced to Commander before it’s return in the upcoming <em>Modern Horizons 3</em>.</p>
<h2>More like RADison Li</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dr. Madison Li"></div></div>
<p>Let’s kick things off with our face commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Madison Li" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Madison Li</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the legendary creature who helms this deck, she’s a little more subtle than the backup commander we’ll get to it later. Madison appears first in the game <em>Fallout 3</em>, as someone integral to the growth of the player character. She’s a brilliant multidisciplinary scientist, with the noble endeavor of making the Capital Wasteland, the game’s setting safer for all those who live within it. She aims to do this through Project Purity, a scientific undertaking spanning decades with the eventual aim of providing renewable clean water to the citizens of the wasteland.</p>
<p>Madison’s intellect and dedication are integral to the success of the survivors and factions like the Brotherhood of Steel, who she aligns herself with for a time. Her time working with the Brotherhood of Steel is spent on something big. Reviving and repairing an old piece of pre-war technology that could be the turning point in the Brotherhood of Steel’s battle for the freedom of the Capital Wasteland. With that, let’s move on to our backup commander and the fruit of Madison’s labor.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Struggle for Project Purity"></div></div>
<h2>For Democracy!</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liberty Prime, Recharged"></div></div>
<p>If I had a nickel for every time Wizards of the Coast had put out a Commander deck with an awesome robot backup commander then I’d have two nickels (though, it’s strange that it’s happened twice). Joining the ranks of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shorikai, Genesis Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Shorikai, Genesis Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as backup commanders who are very likely to see more play than the face commander on rule of cool, we introduce <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a creation of the United States army constructed in the days before the Great War that created the <em>Fallout</em> setting. Discovered in the years following the nuclear fallout below the Pentagon by the Brotherhood of Steel, this awesome weapon of destruction became the patriotic labor of the Brotherhood for many years; its power systems damaged in the years following the Great War. The ultimate collaboration between the Brotherhood of Steel and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Madison Li" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Madison Li</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> resulted in Liberty Prime’s power issues remedied and the unit once again able to deploy in battle against the Brotherhood’s sworn enemies, the Enclave.</p>
<p>Once we know the story of how <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> came to be, the card makes much more sense. While this robot towers above many buildings in game it requires colossal amounts of energy to power. You’ll spend a lot of time amassing the energy required to power up this behemoth before you take full advantage of it during your games. Once you do manage to start up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, your enemies will crumble before the forces of democracy. Which is non negotiable by the way.</p>
<h2>Respect Your Elders</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elder Owyn Lyons"></div></div>
<p>Owyn Lyons sits at the head of the East Coast Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel during the time of <em>Fallout 3</em>. Lyons was tasked with scouring the Capital Wasteland for advanced technology left behind by the United States army that could have survived the nuclear fallout. There’s no surprise that his card is focused around the acquisition of technology allowing you to return artifacts from your graveyard to your hand whenever he enters the battlefield or dies.</p>
<p>Lyons’ discovery of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and cooperation with Madison Li make him a key piece in the Fallout story and the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Struggle for Project Purity" href="#" target="_blank">Struggle for Project Purity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>I Am Iron Man</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="T-45 Power Armor"></div></div>
<p>The Brotherhood of Steel are one of the main factions appearing at least partially in every <em>Fallout</em> game. They are an order of knights who follow a strict heraldry and teachings of a codex (If I had a nickel for every <em>Universes Beyond</em> IP faction who… alright, you get my drift).</p>
<p>One of the most iconic pieces of <em>Fallout’s</em> design is Power Armor, with the T-45 model being perhaps the most famous. Unlike <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armory Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Armory Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> who are depicted wearing Power Armor aren’t robots. But like Liberty Prime these hulking suits require constant supplies of energy to power, as well as specialized training to move in. They turn the wearer into a nigh invincible human tank, capable of battling even the strongest super mutant. Power Armor is as much a part of <em>Fallout’s</em> branding as Vault Boy, and you’ll be able to get your hands on this epic Equipment within the Science! deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Armory Paladin"></div></div>
<p>Considering the energy it will take to power it, it’s quite unlikely this will be a card you’ll be splashing into all your decks. It’s a cool card that’s filled with history though, and historic technology is exactly what the Brotherhood of Steel are about.</p>
<h2>Slick Valentine</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nick Valentine, Private Eye"></div></div>
<p>Detective Nick Valentine would fit right in on the plane of Ravnica it seems, now that everyone in <em>Murders at Karlov Manor</em> has become a detective (He’s even got the hat). Where you’re more likely to see Nick Valentine is in the game<em> Fallout 4</em> where he operates out of his own detective agency in the heart of the Commonwealth, Diamond City.</p>
<p>Nick is one of the companions that can accompany the player character in the game, and he can be quite an integral one in some sections. He’s a Synth as well as a detective, and the autonomy and life of Synths is very central to the story of<em> Fallout 4</em>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Synth Infiltrator"></div></div>
<p>With his slick talking and old-school noir vibes, Nick became a favorite amongst players and we think he’ll do the same in commander. His slick spy moves can only be blocked by other artifact creatures, perfect for getting by unnoticed if you’re attacking the right player.</p>
<p>Each other artifact creature dying leaves behind a Clue, allowing you to piece together pieces of the puzzle and gain knowledge through card advantage. Much like the mysteries Nick can solve in the video game, though we’re going to keep the plot of <em>Fallout 4</em> a mystery ourselves should this article series have enticed you to check out the video games (Which, we’d absolutely recommend by the way).</p>
<h2>This is Galaxy News Radio, Signing Out.</h2>
<p>It’s been a huge undertaking, talking about the <em>Fallout</em> Commander decks we've covered plenty of legendary characters and iconic Equipment, but that's still not all. There’s still plenty more that makes the <em>Fallout</em> set awesome. There’ll be some more content on our site where you’ll get to learn all the more about perks, vaults and bobbleheads but this is where our coverage of some of the key players and themes of the <em>Fallout</em> setting comes to a close.</p>
<p>We’d like to learn from you too though, did you learn a thing or two reading this series? Did it help you understand and become more keen to look at <em>Universes Beyond</em> products? As the face of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> changes it looks like we should have more and more <em>Universes Beyond</em> as time goes on. The flavor of <em>Magic</em> will forever be in flux it seems.</p>
<p>Aside from exposure to new universes you might enjoy, there are a lot more benefits to be had. With <em>Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings</em> selling record numbers for Hasbro, we can assume that a lot of new players picked up <em>Magic</em> for the first time and that translates to a lot of new faces down at the local game store.</p>
<p>If you’d like to share your thoughts on <em>Universes Beyond</em>, please do so in the comments below. If this was the first article you read, do go back and take a look at some of the others. If you want to discuss ghouls, super mutants or Nuka Cola you can do so with me on <a href="https://twitter.com/PrinceofBielTan">Twitter</a> here and on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe0BZvcpmLomA-z0FLjqM8A">Youtube</a> here.</p>
<p>I’ll see you in the next universe, where we’ll likely be trading in our Nuka-Nuke Launchers for Hidden Blades. We’ll never stop playing cards and having fun though. Take care.</p>


The Lore of Fallout: Science!

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/lukacs/">Chuck Lukacs</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each aspect that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background attention. This time around I’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polukranos, Unchained" href="#" target="_blank">Polukranos, Unchained</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Polukranos, Unchained"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Polukranos, known as the World Eater, fell to Theros from its celestial lair during the battle between Purphoros and Heliod, where he was quickly sealed under the Nessian Forest. Elspeth was tasked by Heliod to defeat the Hydra, who had recently escaped its stasis and was ravaging the land. Polukranos was defeated and, in death, was locked away in the Underworld. As we see in his recent depiction, however, Polukranos is back, freed from his chains and angrier than ever.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heliod, God of the Sun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosName.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45677 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosName.jpg" alt="" width="289" height="65" /></a></p>
<p>Polukranos loosely translates from Greek to "many heads." More accurately, it means "many helmets," but I think we know what <em>Wizards</em> was going for. An apt name for a Hydra, and a good direction to go for the deck, but more on that later.</p>
<p>Chains seem to be a large trope in <em>Theros Beyond Death</em>. Looking through the creatures, specifically those with <em>Escape</em>, the majority have some element of chains hanging from them. The imagery of chains, especially in conjunction with their attachment to manacles, gives the underworld a much stronger prison feel than it previously had in my mind.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosCost.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45676 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosCost.jpg" alt="" width="87" height="58" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Black:</strong> Amorality and pragmatism; no waste, no qualms, and no feelings.</p>
<p><strong>Green:</strong> Survival of the fittest, pure and simple. What lives will die.</p>
<p><strong>Golgari (green/black): </strong>The colors of the graveyard, rot, and necromancy. As we explored in <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/lore-seeker-creepy-kraul-y/">my last article</a>, the Golgari are interested in recycling. Specifically, the Golgari necromancers make use of the dead, bringing back others to do their bidding for them. In the case of Polukranos, he is his own necromantic master.</p>
<p>I initially wanted to avoid doing creatures of the same color identity back-to-back in this series, but I made an exception because this black-green deck is going to use the graveyard in a very different way than the previous installment. In order to fuel our commander, this is a self-mill deck, so we're going to see a lot of cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stitcher&#039;s Supplier" href="#" target="_blank">Stitcher&#039;s Supplier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that actively put cards in the graveyard, not to revive them like Meren, but to exile them and keep Polukranos around.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hermit Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Satyr Wayfinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nyx Weaver"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosArt.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45675 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosArt.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="325" /></a></p>
<p>As we can see, the head that was destroyed in the battle with Elspeth has regenerated in the underworld into two new heads, zombified, discolored, and horrible. It's interesting to me that Polukranos still has faces. <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/lore-seeker-murder-king-fury-road/">When we explored Theros last</a> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tymaret, the Murder King" href="#" target="_blank">Tymaret, the Murder King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we discovered that the Zombies in the underworld lose their faces, adopting clay masks created in the underworld to hide their disfigurement and then replaced with the gold ones forged when they escape and become Returned. We also see Elspeth exempt from this mutation; likely her spark protected her (we also see her with a gold mask presumably still in the underworld, but I'll leave that rant for another day.)</p>
<p>Does this mean Polukranos has the power of a planeswalker, or are the rules just different for beasts of his nature? We will likely never know, but it does seem like a missed opportunity to put some rad gold Hydra masks on him.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosType.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45679 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosType.jpg" alt="" width="455" height="67" /></a></p>
<p>The Hydra originated from Greek mythology in the tale of Heracles (most commonly known as Hercules, the Roman adaptation). Heracles was tasked with a set of labors to redeem himself for prior actions. The Hydra was destroyed with the help of an ally and, more importantly, a golden sword that the goddess Athena bestowed upon him.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Godsend"></div></div>
<p>As a Greek-themed set, we can see a lot of the tropes of this story adapted in to <em>Magic</em>. Elspeth acts as Heracles, having been given a weapon from a God (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Godsend" href="#" target="_blank">Godsend</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) and tasked with defeating the Hydra. The biggest difference between <em>MTG</em> Hydras and those in Greek myths is their amphibious nature; the Lernaean Hydra of myth lived in a lake. We see a lot of large beasts in the water, like Leviathans, so I'm guessing they didn't want to add another big creature to blue's roster.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosRules.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45678 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosRules.jpg" alt="" width="461" height="255" /></a></p>
<p>Removing all six heads from the beast kills it, sending it to the underworld once more. We are going to imagine each head as a +1/+1 counter for the remainder our discussion here. Since the Hydra will create a new head for each removed, the fact that Polukranos comes back with twelve heads (counters) is extremely flavorful. This rationale falls apart when we get to his ability when being dealt damage removes counters, but does not regenerate heads on its own.</p>
<p>Let's introduce Polukranos to his new best friend: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The way replacement effects work is beneficial to us in this case, so instead of losing the counters, Polukranos will gain that many heads. Problem solved!</p>
<p>I want Polukranos to recreate that scene in the Disney version of Hercules. I want so many heads on this beast that they take up the entire sky.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/hydraHeads.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-45904 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/hydraHeads.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="325" /></a></p>
<p>How do we accomplish this? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpsejack Menace" href="#" target="_blank">Corpsejack Menace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are the key pieces. With one in play, Polukranos enters with 12 from a normal casting or 24 with <em>Escape</em>. With both on the field, the fun really begins, giving us 24 heads from a normal cast or 48 with <em>Escape</em>. That's more like it!</p>
<p>Now, there are a few other options to add additional counters to creatures, but because these are really only interacting with the commander and not any other cards in the deck, two will be plenty.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doubling Season"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Corpsejack Menace"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><em>Theros Beyond Death</em> introduced a new style of basic land: the Nyx basics (or the Pokelands.) I am not a fan of these, whether for this deck or any other. The only place I think I would consider them is in a deck helmed by one of the Therosian Gods or in an enchantress deck. For this particular deck, I was having a hard time nailing down exactly what type of basic fits, but I decided to take this as an opportunity to talk about some of my favorite basics. These two were both done by my favorite <em>Magic</em> artist, <a href="http://www.johnavonart.com/">John Avon</a>. I love the saturation and depth of these two pieces, and the old border looks more like dirt, perfect to fill our graveyard with.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosBasics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-46170 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polukranosBasics.jpg" alt="" width="520" height="311" /></a></p>
<p>This deck is running a shockingly low number of lands, but we have a work around that I learned from the <a href="https://www.commandersbrew.com/">Commanders Brew</a> podcast. The idea in question is to lower the land count and instead run a bunch of those single-mana spells that tutor for a land, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lay of the Land" href="#" target="_blank">Lay of the Land</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Traverse the Ulvenwald" href="#" target="_blank">Traverse the Ulvenwald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The reason we want these here is to fill our graveyard with the instants/sorceries that only exist to find the land we need. Because Polukranos doesn't care what type of card is in the graveyard and simply wants a larger number of cards in there, we can use these to both fix our mana and fill the graveyard. It's a neat trick that I have wanted to incorporate in a meaningful way for some time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Second Labor" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Polukranos, Unchained
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Walking Ballista
*1 Deathrite Shaman
*1 Stitcher&#039;s Supplier
*1 Bloodghast
*1 Glowspore Shaman
*1 Hermit Druid
*1 Lotleth Troll
*1 Millikin
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Satyr Wayfinder
*1 Nyx Weaver
*1 Prowling Serpopard
*1 Splinterfright
*1 Springbloom Druid
*1 Stinkweed Imp
*1 Acolyte of Affliction
*1 Brawn
*1 Corpsejack Menace
*1 Erebos, God of the Dead
*1 Polukranos, World Eater
*1 World Shaper
*1 Cavalier of Thorns
*1 Doom Whisperer
*1 Underrealm Lich
*1 Nemesis of Mortals
*1 Vigor
*1 Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
*1 Ghoultree
*1 Molderhulk
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Horizon Spellbomb
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Altar of Dementia
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Perpetual Timepiece
*1 Talisman of Resilience
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Ancient Stirrings
*1 Attune with Aether
*1 Caravan Vigil
*1 Lay of the Land
*1 Traverse the Ulvenwald
*1 Dread Summons
*1 Mulch
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Ransack the Lab
*1 Regrowth
*1 Sylvan Scrying
*1 Winding Way
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Damnation
*1 Increasing Ambition
*1 Traverse the Outlands
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Decree of Pain
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Veil of Summer
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Corpse Churn
*1 Evolution Charm
*1 Grapple with the Past
*1 Grisly Salvage
*1 Beast Within
*1 Harrow
*1 Moonlight Bargain
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Crop Sigil
*1 Vessel of Nascency
*1 Greater Good
*1 Doubling Season
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Blooming Marsh
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*9 Forest
*1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Mana Confluence
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*6 Swamp
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>If you're a fan of big creatures and a deck full of two-for-ones, this is the build for you. I'm very intrigued by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polukranos Unchained" href="#" target="_blank">Polukranos Unchained</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That which at first looks like just a big creature leads to some interesting deckbuilding decisions. A big thanks to Tom, EDHREC's resident Greek expert, for giving me some insight into the name of Polukranos and some other general tidbits for this article.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - The Hydra

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mausoleum Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Mausoleum Secrets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.adampaquettemtg.com/2018/12/10/mausoleum-secrets">Adam Paquette</a> )</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each aspect that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background attention. This time around I’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Mazirek, now dead, was a Golgari death priest from the plane of Ravnica. He was a powerful necromancer and the leader of the Kraul, an insectoid race that dwells in the undercity. Mazirek's power swells simply from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death&#039;s Presence" href="#" target="_blank">proximity to death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He temporarily allied with Vraska to overthrow the previous Golgari guild leader, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Jarad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the undead Elf lich, so Vraska could take control. Soon after this change in leadership, Mazirek allied himself with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nicol Bolas" href="#" target="_blank">Nicol Bolas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which eventually lead to his demise at the hands of one of his own creations.</p>
<p>His most notable claim to fame is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Erstwhile" href="#" target="_blank">raising the Erstwhile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the lead-up to <em>War of the Spark</em>. The Erstwhile are a dead faction of Devkarin Elves, laid to rest in a deep mausoleum long ago. The most powerful of these undead Elves is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storrev, Devkarin Lich" href="#" target="_blank">Storrev, Devkarin Lich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who became the de facto leader of the Erstwhile. Though the Erstwhile could not disobey a direct order from Mazirek, Storrev (with assistance from Vraska and motivated by his anger at being enslaved) tricked Mazirek into the trap that killed him.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Awaken the Erstwhile"></div></div>
<p>Awaken the Erstwhile is the primary build-around for the deck; it's a symmetrical effect, so we're going to look for ways to break the symmetry by keeping fewer cards in our opponents' hands. When possible, we're looking for discard outlets that are repeatable and that rely on sacrificing creatures to interact favorably with Mazirek's ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Therapist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sadistic Hypnotist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mind Slash"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekName.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-43348 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekName.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="89" /></a></p>
<p>The title of Priest carries a connotation of religious affiliation; they're figures that possesses the authority to perform rites and administer sacraments. The rites of the Golgari Swarm are likely sacrificial in nature. Though not from Ravnica, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whisper, Blood Liturgist" href="#" target="_blank">Whisper, Blood Liturgist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> illustrates the exact flavor we're looking for here; a liturgist, a practitioner of religious worship, whose particular brand of worship involves sacrifice. Her flavor text puts it best: <em>"Look how they beg for the knife!" </em>These are the kind of devout followers Mazirek needs for his church of death.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whisper, Blood Liturgist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodghast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vindictive Lich"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekCost.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-43345 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekCost.jpg" alt="" width="151" height="110" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Black:</strong> Amorality and pragmatism; no waste, no qualms, and no feelings.</p>
<p><strong>Green:</strong> Survival of the fittest, pure and simple. What lives will die.</p>
<p><strong>Golgari (green/black):</strong> The colors of the graveyard, rot, and necromancy. The Golgari appreciate the natural cycle more than anyone else; what dies can and will be brought back and re-purposed it <em>will</em> live once more.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekArt.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-43367 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekArt.jpg" alt="" width="572" height="418" /></a></p>
<h6 style="text-align: center;">(Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/artwork/KRlEG">Mathias Kollros</a>)</h6>
<p>Decay and rot are the Golgari way. Mazirek has transformed his section of the undercity into a fungus-ridden hive, perfect for necromantic experimentation. Kraul are an alien race to begin with, but it seems that Mazirek has intensified the dissimilarity by adopting some plantlike qualities. Perhaps this comes from self-experimentation? Perhaps this is not his first body, and the betrayal of Storrev was not the first time he has died. Whether the ground around him regrew his body or he grew a clone from the loam, something is very off. Nevertheless, this is a strong indicator of his power, and another direction for the deck to travel down. Golgari is very graveyard-focused, and it would be an incredible handicap to avoid abusing it. With the amount we want to sacrifice creatures, we'll need just as many ways to get them back as we can find.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sheoldred, Whispering One"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reanimate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Living Death"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekType.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-43350 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekType.jpg" alt="" width="622" height="86" /></a></p>
<p>The Kraul are the insect humanoids we have only seen on Ravnica. They identify largely with the Golgari, but exclusively so affiliated; some instead choose to remain unaligned. The rest of the guilds of Ravnica generally avoid the Kraul, and the Kraul rarely attempt to venture to the surface. It is this not-so-subtle mutual avoidance that pushes them into the arms of the Golgari Swarm.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golgari Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golgari Locket"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekRules_2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-43362 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekRules_2.jpg" alt="" width="620" height="200" /></a></p>
<p>True to his story blurb, Mazirek makes himself and his followers more powerful by simply witnessing death. It is very possible to knock people out with Commander damage, but it'll be a grind. We're going to be more reliant on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Pact" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Pact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-like effects to control the board and slowly accrue value, letting the counters propagate and accumulate naturally. There are easy cuts that could be made to some of the flavor inclusions, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mausoleum Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Mausoleum Secrets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for classic Mazirek cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hardened Scales" href="#" target="_blank">Hardened Scales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winding Constrictor" href="#" target="_blank">Winding Constrictor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; these I would recommend trying to squeeze into your builds.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Pact"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dictate of Erebos"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Winding Constrictor"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Flavor Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekFlavor.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-43346 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekFlavor.jpg" alt="" width="529" height="99" /></a></p>
<p>Mazirek did a lot for the Kraul, regardless of how corrupt or evil he was. He was their leader because they wanted him to be, not because he asked for it. We know on a meta level that Mazirek was evil; he sided with Bolas in the end and raised and enslaved the Erstwhile. Was he evil when he was placed in the position of death priest, or did his power overtake and corrupt him? I don't think we'll ever get an answer, but I'd like to believe the latter.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><em>"Power tends to corrupt;<br />
absolute power corrupts absolutely"<br />
-Lord Acton</em></h3>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekBasics.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-43428 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazirekBasics.png" alt="" width="530" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>Whenever I build a deck around a character from Ravnica, I have a hard time finding better basic lands to use than the Guild Kit basics, and this deck is no exception. They're specially-made to represent the guild, and they even have a watermark of the guild symbol.</p>
<p>This build has a lot in common with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nath of the Gilt-Leaf" href="#" target="_blank">Nath of the Gilt-Leaf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck: discard for profit and work towards an advantageous opportunity to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Erstwhile" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Erstwhile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I took a lot of inspiration from the EDHREC pages for <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/nath-of-the-gilt-leaf">Nath</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/meren-of-clan-nel-toth">Meren</a>, and <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/mazirek-kraul-death-priest">Mazirek</a>. I find that searching through similar decks, even if their only similarity is that they share the same colors, doing so helps to more quickly find the high-impact cards. I ignored the Elf tribal cards on Nath's page and instead focused on the discard synergies, Meren's page provided aristocrats synergies, and Mazirek's page featured primarily counter synergies (which I mostly ignored) but also had sacrifice synergies. The biggest discovery came from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wave of Vitriol" href="#" target="_blank">Wave of Vitriol</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and its interaction with Mazirek. This is a fantastic way to get through a pillowfort player's defenses while simultaneously adding an immense amount of power to the board, whether we lose a lot or not. I included a few more nonbasic lands in the list because we want to sacrifice them and replace them with the wave. Really, it acts like an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Golgari Swarm" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Hangarback Walker
*1 Cabal Therapist
*1 Caustic Caterpillar
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Bloodghast
*1 Burglar Rat
*1 Gyre Sage
*1 Miasmic Mummy
*1 Rotting Rats
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Fleshbag Marauder
*1 Ophiomancer
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Plaguecrafter
*1 Springbloom Druid
*1 Undercity Informer
*1 Weaponcraft Enthusiast
*1 Meren of Clan Nel Toth
*1 Rankle, Master of Pranks
*1 Vindictive Lich
*1 Whisper, Blood Liturgist
*1 Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder
*1 God-Eternal Bontu
*1 Nath of the Gilt-Leaf
*1 Sadistic Hypnotist
*1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
*1 The Haunt of Hightower
*1 Abhorrent Overlord
*1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
*1 Myojin of Night&#039;s Reach
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Spawning Pit
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Golgari Locket
*1 Eldrazi Monument
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Reanimate
*1 Dark Deal
*1 Eldritch Evolution
*1 Victimize
*1 Pir&#039;s Whim
*1 Awaken the Erstwhile
*1 Living Death
*1 Wave of Vitriol
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Mausoleum Secrets
[/Instants]
[Enchantment]
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Waste Not
*1 Mind Slash
*1 Necromancy
*1 Pernicious Deed
*1 Grave Pact
*1 Tombstone Stairwell
*1 Dictate of Erebos
*1 Death&#039;s Presence
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Vraska, Golgari Queen
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Blast Zone
*1 Blighted Woodland
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Field of Ruin
*10 Forest
*1 Golgari Guildgate
*1 Golgari Rot Farm
*1 High Market
*1 Memorial to Folly
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Petrified Field
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*1 Strip Mine
*11 Swamp
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>Overall I think Nath would make a more effective commander for this deck, but the flavor is what it's all about! If you enjoy the list, I would check Mazirek out. This was yet another reader suggestion, and I'm always on the lookout for more, so let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>
<p>Thank you for reading!</p>


Lore Seeker - Creepy Kraul-y

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rooftop Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Rooftop Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://stankoillustration.com/">John Stanko</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I'll guide you through each aspect that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background attention. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus"></div></div>
<p>When talking about Ludevic, it's nearly impossible to avoid his ultimate creation, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus" href="#" target="_blank">Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and because they both have <em>Partner</em>, the deck we build will have both of them as its commanders.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Ludevic of Ulm is a reclusive necro-alchemist that lives in Havengul on the plane of Innistrad. In his necro-alchemical pursuits, he aims for more than simply the creation of Skaabs. Instead, Ludevic aims to understand the horror his creations inspire. Some think that Ludevic's consumption of potions and inhalation of toxic vapors has left him no choice but to abandon his experiments, leaving him to devote his sizable intellect to the problem of making himself and his business partners filthy rich. He has taken Geralf Cecani under his wing, training him in the arts of necro-alchemy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stitcher Geralf"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicName.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42166 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicName.jpg" alt="" width="449" height="90" /></a></p>
<p>A necro-alchemist is a wizard that harnesses the energy of Geists to fuel crazed technological inventions. Effectively, they achieve necromancy through alchemical means. Also known as "skaberen," these wizards hone the craft of creating frankensteinian monstrosities known as Skaabs. Skaabs are blue-aligned Zombies that frequently interact with the graveyard, either through putting cards there from the top of the library, or requiring creatures (corpses) to be exiled from your graveyard. Using up dead bodies to craft a Skaab evokes images of a crazed scientist in a lab coat standing over a piecemeal behemoth abomination, periodically illuminated by blindingly bright arcs of electricity, and we can see through various cards in the game that Ludevic's protégé, Geralf, is following in his mentor's footsteps.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Geralf&#039;s Masterpiece"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicCost.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42163 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicCost.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="83" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Blue: </strong>Intelligence is king; a Wizard must accumulate as much knowledge as possible. Blue is controlled and calculated.</p>
<p><strong>Red: </strong>Impulsive and rash, red is the wild inventor. Exploring an idea only as long as it holds their attention.</p>
<p><strong>Izzet (blue/red): </strong> Leaping from one ill-conceived experiment to another, an Izzet mage is able to spend much time studying, but will abandon fruitless pursuits for more promising experiments. Blue and red embody the mad scientist moving from one obsessive project to the next.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicType.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42168 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicType.jpg" alt="" width="624" height="89" /></a></p>
<p>Ludevic is <em>Magic: the Gathering</em>'s Dr. Frankenstein. Unlike that unfortunate would-be giver of life, however, Ludevic is enthralled by his creation and loves the horror Kraum brings to the denizens of Havengul. Instead of running away from the meat golem, Ludevic studies it.</p>
<p>A simple way to build the deck would be as a Zombie tribal deck. The colors of Ludevic don't line up with the primary color of the Zombie tribe (black), and though Ludevic does create monstrosities, he is truly obsessed with the horror he can inflict. The primary path to victory for this deck is a bit of a cobbled together monstrosity itself. Mill, resource denial, and punisher themes all come together here to form a rather annoying deck that, oddly enough, functions a bit like a Group Hug deck. The card that best showcases this idea is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fevered Visions" href="#" target="_blank">Fevered Visions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fevered Visions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfuric Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Copper Tablet"></div></div>
<p>It functions similarly to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but asks for a bit in return. This is exactly how we want Ludevic to function. <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pair with Ludevic to fuel our own Fevered Visions.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicRules.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42167 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicRules.jpg" alt="" width="625" height="286" /></a></p>
<p>Ludevic is a somewhat political commander. Using his ability to point aggression elsewhere is a good way to keep your life total higher than your opponents'. However, I want to trigger this for other people; I want people to have so many cards in their hands that they feel inclined to decline the draw. As mentioned before, using cards like <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will automatically trigger Ludevic on each of your opponents' turns.</p>
<p>With Ludevic filling the hand, we have access to a few extra options to deal continual damage to our opponents that rely upon the number of cards in hand.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Give Em the Clamps" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Clamps!]
Viseling
Black Vise
Ebony Owl Netsuke
Thumbscrews
Iron Maiden
Misers&#039; Cage
[/Clamps!]"></span></div>
<hr />
<h2>Flavor Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicFlavor.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42164 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicFlavor.jpg" alt="" width="582" height="104" /></a></p>
<p>When selecting corpses for experimentation, those with large, healthy brains make the most excellent servants. If he is feeling particularly generous, Ludevic will take those less naturally gifted and give them some lessons. In <em>Magic</em>, a thought in one's mind is represented by a card in hand. With Ludevic's ability, we're hoping to load up everyone's hand with as many cards as possible; let's get those brains nice and fat, ready for the harvest.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brain in a Jar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Folio of Fancies"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forced Fruition"></div></div>
<p>The next step in our gameplan is to limit our opponents' ability to take advantage of their bounty. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Laboratory" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Laboratory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damping Sphere" href="#" target="_blank">Damping Sphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> limit the amount of spells cast each turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Maze" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Maze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Static Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Static Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all inhibit mana production. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forced Fruition" href="#" target="_blank">Forced Fruition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fits in this category as well because our opponent will never be able to empty their hands, which is the main goal of this group of cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Laboratory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Maze"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Static Orb"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicBasics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-42239 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ludevicBasics.jpg" alt="" width="530" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>The basic lands I've selected for Ludevic and Kraum are, appropriately, from the plane of Innistrad. The isolated tower on the water is the perfect quiet place to experiment while the small valley hamlet provides Kraum plenty of individuals to terrorize.</p>
<p>The deck has a very slim average converted mana cost, coming in just under three, and it boasts a healthy dose of card draw. These two factors make it run smoothly and consistently. It's fairly defenseless, aside from a few board wipes, so play them sparingly. People will absolutely get annoyed by a lot of the things this deck does, and aggression towards you is to be expected. Ultimately, the deck operates like a less-tuned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, but with loads of flavor.</p>
<p>No card costs over $20, and the deck as a whole sits around $250 if you were to assemble it yourself. The most surprising cost is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Tablet" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Tablet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which was once on the Reserved List pre-2002.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="IT LIVES!" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commanders]
*1 Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist
*1 Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus
[/Commanders]
[Creatures]
*1 Kami of the Crescent Moon
*1 Ludevic&#039;s Test Subject
*1 Chasm Skulker
*1 Gadwick, the Wizened
*1 Jace&#039;s Archivist
*1 Magus of the Wheel
*1 Dreamborn Muse
*1 Viseling
*1 Psychosis Crawler
*1 Stitcher Geralf
*1 Niv-Mizzet, Parun
*1 The Locust God
*1 Dragon Mage
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Tormod&#039;s Crypt
*1 Black Vise
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Anvil of Bogardan
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Brain in a Jar
*1 Copper Tablet
*1 Damping Sphere
*1 Ebony Owl Netsuke
*1 Folio of Fancies
*1 Howling Mine
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Thumbscrews
*1 Winter Orb
*1 Iron Maiden
*1 Misers&#039; Cage
*1 Static Orb
*1 Temple Bell
*1 Font of Mythos
*1 Skullcage
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Minds Aglow
*1 Preordain
*1 Prosperity
*1 Fascination
*1 Mana Vapors
*1 Skyscribing
*1 Day&#039;s Undoing
*1 Windfall
*1 Wash Out
*1 Reforge the Soul
*1 Echo of Eons
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Vision Skeins
*1 Words of Wisdom
*1 Evacuation
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Mana Maze
*1 Arcane Laboratory
*1 Dictate of Kruphix
*1 Fevered Visions
*1 Psychic Corrosion
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage
*1 Sulfuric Vortex
*1 Manabarbs
*1 Pyrohemia
*1 Dictate of the Twin Gods
*1 Forced Fruition
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Jace Beleren
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fiery Islet
*15 Island
*11 Mountain
*1 Riptide Laboratory
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Spirebluff Canal
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Temple of Epiphany
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>I hope I've fueled your mind for your next experiment. The data on EDHREC relating to <em>Partner</em> commanders is a little hazy, but <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/kraum-ludevics-opus-ludevic-necro-alchemist">Ludevic and Kraum</a> command only 114 decks together. This is likely due to the fact that the main reason to run <em>Partner</em> commanders is to add additional colors. Whatever the reason, the two actually work decently well together; if Ludevic is giving out extra cards, your opponents will have more spells to cast, triggering Kraum. This build capitalizes on the extra card draw in order to find the cards that finally hinder the ability to cast extra spells in a turn rather than to draw cards throughout the entire game.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - Weird Science

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trail of Mystery" href="#" target="_blank">Trail of Mystery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://raymondswanland.com/">Raymond Swanland</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each fragment that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background love. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roon of the Hidden Realm"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Roon of the Hidden Realm is a Rhox Soldier from an undisclosed plane who is believed to guard the gate to an ethereal world. He was brought up by a devout family, but was drawn towards warlike pursuits, against their wishes. Roon joined the Herald's Army, where he gained prowess in combat. Some time later, after years of battle, his company mistakenly slaughtered a number of innocents. As a result, he deserted the battalion and took to wandering in the wilderness, where he received a vision of the Hidden Realm, during which he was told he was the keeper of its secrets.</p>
<p>Roon then embarked on a pilgrimage to rally people to his cause. His compelling personality attracted many, and he became a prophet with legions of followers. Roon doesn't actively seek out conflict, but when he perceives a threat, he will eliminate it quickly and efficiently. For those who believe in him, he is a great guardian who will one day open the gate to eternal glory.</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonName.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41035 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonName.jpg" alt="" width="429" height="103" /></a></p>
<p>The Hidden Realm is an ethereal world, a plane between planes: the Blind Eternities. Planeswalkers traverse the space between planes in an instant and only get a glimpse of the great beyond. The Blind Eternities is represented by the use of the exile zone: it lies outside of the game, yet lies within the game.</p>
<p>This is the non-realm of the Eldrazi titans: Ulamog, Kozilek, and Emrakul. Since time immemorial they've ravaged and wasted entire planes to satiate their unlimited hunger. Trapped for a time, their release from their stone prison spelled horrific disaster for the denizens of Zendikar.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kozilek, Butcher of Truth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emrakul, the Aeons Torn"></div></div>
<p>The Eldrazi exist half as an idea and half as beings of great power, and their occupancy of the Blind Eternities all but seals their inclusion in our flavor-fueled Hidden Realm deck.</p>
<p>While we're definitely going to include the legal titans, the dynamic of this ethereal form provides the greater foundation of the deck. What other cards exist partially in spirit and partially in body? <em>Morph</em> and <em>Manifest</em> creatures. We'll delve into this more later.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/tokens.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41047 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/tokens.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="319" /></a></p>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonCost.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41033 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonCost.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="81" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Green: </strong>Tapping into the awesome power of nature, green relies on instinct and natural symbiosis while embracing the duality of nature as both orderly and chaotic.</p>
<p><strong>White: </strong>Order and law are to be obeyed before all else. White cares for the good of the many before the good of the few.</p>
<p><strong>Blue: </strong>Slow, methodical, and highly intelligent. Seeking opportunity, blue is a collection of resources and it advocates tinkering and creating the things needed for survival.</p>
<p><strong>Bant (green, white and blue): </strong>Colors of the honorable warrior. Soldiers in the shard of Bant worship order and think of the group before the individual. Individuals aligned with Bant on the plane of Alara are primarily aligned with white.</p>
<p>The philosophy of the honorable warrior fits most directly with white's ideals, so what do green and blue provide? Green supplies an appreciation for nature and the way in which disputes are handled in the wild. Blue provides a tactical mind and a plotting intelligence that guides the Soldiers of Bant toward success. Blue and green are an enemy color pairing, often struggling to blend their ideals together. With white in the mix, there is a definitive set of rules and laws to follow which makes Bant an incredibly dangerous adversary.</p>
<p>Roon came from a devout family that did not want war to be his life, and ultimately they had their way. He is still considered a warlord, but the tragedy in his past pushed him away from violence towards leadership. He has been tempered by the experience and follows a more strict ethos than he did as a frontline grunt.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonArt.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41032 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonArt.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="411" /></a></p>
<h6 style="text-align: center;">(Art by <a href="https://steveprescott.com/">Steve Prescott</a>)</h6>
<p>This heavily armored rhino-man is prepared for battle, as if he is calling for a charge, yet none of his followers are anywhere to be seen. The only thing around him is this dark ominous fog; is he conjuring some beast from the Hidden Realm? Perhaps he himself coalesced from the fog. The ethereal nature of his power is intriguing and lends itself to the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obscuring Aether" href="#" target="_blank">Obscuring Aether</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of<em> Morph</em> and <em>Manifest</em> creatures quite nicely.</p>
<p>The subtle nod to his color identity can be found in the gems inlaid in his pole-arm. This is my favorite piece of his artwork, something I did not notice until I had the enlarged image right in front of me. Roon is from a Commander set, the format we all love that pays more attention to color identity than any other format. It is one of the defining characteristics and fundamental restrictions that helps our format stand apart, and I wanted to give some extra credit to Mr. Steve Prescott for finding such a unique way to convey that aspect of the game in this legend's artwork.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonType.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41037 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonType.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="48" /></a></p>
<p>Though the story blurb states that the plane Roon calls home is unknown, Alara is the only plane we know of that contains Rhox, so it's logical to conclude that that's where he's from. Furthermore, the Rhox on Alara were only found in the Bant shard of the plane, before the Conflux, when everything got all jumbled up. As Roon is aligned to the colors of Bant, the signs that he is from Alara are too obvious to ignore.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonRules.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41036 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonRules.jpg" alt="" width="547" height="230" /></a></p>
<p>In this deck, we're going to try to take advantage of the face-down mechanics to cheat out large creatures. The primary enabler is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When exiled with Roon's ability, the <em>Manifest</em> or <em>Morph</em> creature will re-enter the battlefield face-up. This can be a great way to cheat mana costs of expensive creatures.</p>
<p>There are now a number of cards that have a repeatable <em>Manifest</em> ability in Roon's colors: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whisperwood Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Whisperwood Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides board protection as well as <em>Manifest </em>creatures, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temur War Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Temur War Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> interacts very well with Roon's ability, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mastery of the Unseen" href="#" target="_blank">Mastery of the Unseen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides a mana sink and a touch of lifegain, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primordial Mist" href="#" target="_blank">Primordial Mist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enables utilization of stranded <em>Manifest</em> cards. The connecting thread of these cards is that they access the top card of the library. To choose the card that is <em>Manifested, </em>we can include a selection of top-deck manipulation cards, the highlights being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pondering Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Pondering Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll Rack" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll Rack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, the Mind Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll of Fate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primordial Mist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll Rack"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Flavor Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonFlavor.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41034 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonFlavor.jpg" alt="" width="545" height="67" /></a></p>
<p>We've already explored space manipulation, so it's time to explore time. What sort of time mage would Roon be if he didn't win with an infinite turn loop?</p>
<p>The three pieces we need are Roon, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Time Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a simple loop that needs a number of pieces to work, but it'll eventually win the game. That's boring, though! Let's bring some spice to the idea of time manipulation. <em>Suspend</em> is a mechanic that modifies the timing of spells, sending them to exile and ticking down towards their casting. It will not make a large appearance in the deck, but when given a choice between <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Search for Tomorrow" href="#" target="_blank">Search for Tomorrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we're going with the <em>Suspend</em> card.</p>
<p>Finally, I can't talk about time without touching on one of <em>Magic's</em> premiere time mages: Teferi. Though he himself will make no appearance in planeswalker form, I thought it fitting to include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as <em>Phasing</em> is yet another way to depict the ethereal nature of Roon's power.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Time Warp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Search for Tomorrow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi&#039;s Protection"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonBasics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41082 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/roonBasics.jpg" alt="" width="676" height="311" /></a></p>
<p>For this deck I've selected the full art basic lands from the original <em>Zendikar </em>set. The massive amount of raw mana on the plane of Zendikar drew the Eldrazi titans to it, and it has drawn me to it as well. The lands are vibrant and the art depicts unusual and alien formations, a perfect fit for this deck.</p>
<p>There's no way to sugar-coat this one - the deck is expensive. The initial idea revolves around the Eldrazi titans, which cost around $30 each, and with those as our starting place I threw any idea of having a budget-friendly deck out the window. There are two cards over $100 (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, the Mind Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusionary Mask" href="#" target="_blank">Illusionary Mask</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll Rack" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll Rack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes our third most expensive card slot, coming in around $60 and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Dreadnought" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Dreadnought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> falls just after it at $50. Filling it out with some fetch lands and tutors, the deck costs roughly $850 to assemble yourself, and that's being generous.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Illusionary Mask"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Dreadnought"></div></div>
<p>Why include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusionary Mask" href="#" target="_blank">Illusionary Mask</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Dreadnought" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Dreadnought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the first place? I'm glad you asked. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illusionary Mask" href="#" target="_blank">Illusionary Mask</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a strange card with a lot of words, but basically it allows us the flexibility to play non-<em>Morph</em> creatures face-down. With the Mask, we're allowed to pay more for the card we play face-down, but we must pay at least the entire cost of the card, including colored mana. A lot of the time, this will actually provide a reduced cost to a <em>Morph</em> and still allows us to flip it over normally, or let the trigger of the Mask flip it.</p>
<p>The second trick involves the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Dreadnought" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Dreadnought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If we play the Dreadnought face-down with the Mask, we can flip it up on another turn to avoid the negative enters-the-battlefield ability. This works with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as well, by putting the Dreadnought face-down and flipping it up after it has entered. This particular synergy does not play nicely with Roon's ability to flip face-down creatures, though, so be careful.</p>
<p>Is this combo worth $200? Probably not, but we're doing it anyway!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Hidden Realm" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Roon of the Hidden Realm
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Phyrexian Dreadnought
*1 Ainok Survivalist
*1 Den Protector
*1 Icefeather Aven
*1 Kadena&#039;s Silencer
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Stratus Dancer
*1 Voidmage Apprentice
*1 Willbender
*1 Echo Tracer
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Flickerwisp
*1 Jeskai Infiltrator
*1 Nantuko Vigilante
*1 Chromeshell Crab
*1 Ixidor, Reality Sculptor
*1 Pondering Mage
*1 Riftwing Cloudskate
*1 Vesuvan Shapeshifter
*1 Whisperwood Elemental
*1 Brine Elemental
*1 Deadeye Navigator
*1 Quicksilver Dragon
*1 Root Elemental
*1 Temur War Shaman
*1 Thousand Winds
*1 Apex Altisaur
*1 Deep-Sea Kraken
*1 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
*1 Kozilek, the Great Distortion
*1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
*1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
*1 Emrakul, the Promised End
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Illusionary Mask
*1 Scroll Rack
*1 Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary
*1 Scroll of Fate
*1 Thousand-Year Elixir
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Ponder
*1 Search for Tomorrow
*1 Supreme Verdict
*1 Time Warp
*1 Time Wipe
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Eladamri&#039;s Call
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Eerie Interlude
*1 Release to the Wind
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Land Tax
*1 Mastery of the Unseen
*1 Secret Plans
*1 Trail of Mystery
*1 Cloudform
*1 Lightform
*1 Primordial Mist
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Flooded Strand
*9 Forest
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*9 Island
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Nimbus Maze
*5 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>My closing thought to you, dear reader, is to please not assemble this deck. I make these things so you don't have to! But, if any of you do, please show me, because I would love to see it in action.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - The Hidden Realm

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhythm of the Wild" href="#" target="_blank">Rhythm of the Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.morano.pl/main.php">Tomasz Jedruszek</a> )</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each fragment that makes up a legendary creature and give them a little extra background love. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghired, Conclave Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Ghired, Conclave Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghired, Conclave Exile"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Ghired is from the plane of Ravnica and was initially aligned with the Selesnya Conclave. After witnessing the manifestation of the <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> leading up to Bolas' attempt to complete <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Elderspell" href="#" target="_blank">The Elderspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ritual, he shifted allegiance to the Gruul Clans. Ghired maintains a deep love and connection to animals and the magic of the Selesnya. He calls upon Boars, Rhinos, and other large beasts to aid his destruction.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar"></div></div>
<p>The recently-released <a href="https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/guildmasters-guide-ravnica">Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica</a> is an amazing resource for learning about Ravnican city life. It's the first place where guildless members of society are specifically mentioned. When looking at cards from Ravnica, it's easy to overlook the fact that not every member of society is affiliated with a guild. In fact, approximately 50% of the denizens of Ravnica maintain a life apart from guilds. The module guide also describes what it takes to transfer from one guild to another, an uncommon but not unheard of practice. If you're interested in learning more about Ravnica as a setting, I highly recommend checking it out. For those of you who also happen to play Dungeons and Dragons, there's also the upside of running a campaign in Ravnica with this book.<a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/d-d-gm-guide-ravnica-map-misc.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38634 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/d-d-gm-guide-ravnica-map-misc.jpg" alt="" width="233" height="350" /></a></p>
<p>Ghired went through a transformation while witnessing the glory of Ilharg, undergoing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Profound Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Profound Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> left him questioning both his own beliefs and the belief structure of the Selesnya Conclave, culminating in his exile. Let's look closely at each aspect of his card to give him a deck that befits this transformation.</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<hr />
<h2>Name:<a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredName.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38608 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredName.png" alt="" width="395" height="103" /></a></h2>
<p><strong>Exile:</strong> to expel and bar someone from their native country</p>
<p>The story blurb does not indicate that the speaker of the Selesnya Conclave had anything to do with Ghired leaving. His name, however, tells a different story: Ghired left of his own volition, uprooting his life and heading to the Rubblebelt, a discontinuous archipelago of reclaimed city, long since abandoned, left to be taken over by the flora and fauna of Ravnica. This is where the Gruul Clans call home. Each member of the Selesnya is closely connected with a Voda, a Dryad that leads the community and unites each member with the Worldsoul, a manifestation of nature itself whose current form is that of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Trostani, Selesnya&#039;s Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Abandoning the guild in order to serve a new god wounded the Worldsoul personally. Severing of the connection through any means other than those that are proper invites the punishment of banishment.</p>
<p>You might say that Ghired went on an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otherworldly Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Otherworldly Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card which not only represents his story but which also synergizes beautifully with his enter-the-battlefield ability. We'll be sure to include extra effects like this in our final build! <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>, Ghired's inspiration, also makes an appearance, and also synergizes nicely with these types of cards; if Ilharg puts a large creature into play and we flicker it with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otherworldly Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Otherworldly Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, that creature won't be returned to our hand at the end of the turn. As such, we'll look for a large suite of creatures that have a big impact on the board, preferably creating tokens or generating ramp.</p>
<p>Along these lines, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a centerpiece to generate massive amounts of value. Whenever we play a creature that comes in with a token, we're able to bounce the nontoken creature back to our hand, recast it, and so on. I discovered an accidental infinite loop using the Curio, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burning-Tree Emissary" href="#" target="_blank">Burning-Tree Emissary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flameshadow Conjuring" href="#" target="_blank">Flameshadow Conjuring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These three cards generate infinite red and green mana, as well as infinite Emissary tokens with haste. If you are somehow unable to attack, adding <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> to the loop can take care of that.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudstone Curio"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burning-Tree Emissary"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flameshadow Conjuring"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredCost.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38607 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredCost.png" alt="" width="175" height="84" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Red: </strong>Freedom of expression is of utmost importance.</p>
<p><strong>Green: </strong>Nature before all else. Darwinism at its finest.</p>
<p><strong>White: </strong>All for one, one for all. Utilitarianism's most extreme version.</p>
<p><strong>Selesnya </strong>(GW)<strong>: </strong>The Selesnya Conclave believes in a harmonious union of nature and civilization. Conclave members dream of embracing all of Ravnica in their "peaceful" union. Their growing army resists the ambition and destructive impulses of other guilds.</p>
<p><strong>Gruul </strong>(RG)<strong>: </strong>The Gruul Clans are the most out of place on Ravnica. They desire a fresh start and are eager to topple the established city in order to reclaim the land in the name of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Natural Order" href="#" target="_blank">Natural Order</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The two guilds share the color of green in their identity, so I assume Ghired's main affiliation is with green mana. A strong connection to nature is essential to him, which is realized through his ability to call upon the power of large green creatures. The deck is balanced heavily toward green to showcase his identity.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selesnya Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gruul Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Natural Order"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredArt.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38611 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredArt.png" alt="" width="571" height="417" /></a></p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">(Art by <a href="http://conceptartworld.com/news/guardians-galaxy-vol-2-concept-art-john-dickenson/">Yongjae Choi</a>)</h5>
<p>I love the way both guilds' garb comes together in this piece. Ghired understands the merit of quality armor, carrying a piece of the Selesnya with him at all times. The added horns and scavenged material really push the feel of Ghired's initiation to the Gruul clan, highlighted most by his bright red pants.</p>
<p>Less prominently displayed is the stampede of Rhinos behind him. I've seen a good amount of gameplay with this deck and can attest that there will indeed be a stampede of Rhinos trampling over your opponents. The Rhino token Ghired creates upon entering the battlefield is a fantastic target for <em>Populate,</em> and with constant access to him, you'll be guaranteed to see loads them. It's a good thing <em>WotC</em> supplied preconstructed deck buyers with plenty of tokens to represent his stampede. (This is sarcasm; for those unaware, the deck only came with a single Rhino token)</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredType.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38610 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredType.png" alt="" width="593" height="53" /></a></p>
<p>In a recent <a href="https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/187535331893/is-cleric-considered-a-spellcaster-type-are">Blogatog post from Mark Rosewater</a>, it was specified that each color now has a designated spellcasting creature type primarily linked to it.</p>
<ul>
<li>White - Cleric</li>
<li>Blue - Wizard</li>
<li>Black - Warlock</li>
<li>Red - Shaman</li>
<li>Green - Druid</li>
</ul>
<p>I find it strange that Ghired would be considered a Shaman then, given that it is primarily considered the red spellcaster type. As we explored with his mana cost, the guilds he has been aligned with are Selesnya and Gruul. The only color shared by the two is green, so given this new categorization I would have guessed Ghired would be a Druid. Just like with mechanics, though, I understand that it is not a hard and fast rule. Some iconic green-aligned Shaman creatures are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oracle of Mul Daya" href="#" target="_blank">Oracle of Mul Daya</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We'll make sure to give Ghired some other Shamans in his deck, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonmaster Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonmaster Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is both flavorful and powerful if we're able to duplicate those Dragon tokens!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredRules.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38609 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ghiredRules.png" alt="" width="594" height="299" /></a></p>
<p>As we explored earlier, the primary strategy of the deck is to utilize enter-the-battlefield abilities. However, there are some very effective cards that allow us to attack with ease, enabling Ghired's <em>Populate </em>trigger <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reconnaissance" href="#" target="_blank">Reconnaissance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can save any of our creatures from unprofitable attacks and, because of unintuitive timing in combat, lets us untap each creature that attacked after it has dealt damage, effectively giving our team vigilance. The other two enablers are less tricky: both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dolmen Gate" href="#" target="_blank">Dolmen Gate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iroas, God of Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Iroas, God of Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> prevent damage dealt to our attacking creatures. Iroas has additional benefit of giving our team menace. That's not his primary purpose here, but it doesn't hurt.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reconnaissance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dolmen Gate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Iroas, God of Victory"></div></div>
<p>My final recommendation for the combat-focused portion of the deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breath of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Breath of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: with this Aura attached to a Rhino token and Ghired on the board (and at least one opponent we can attack profitably), we can keep giving ourself extra combat steps.</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/basics.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-38653 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/basics.jpg" alt="" width="682" height="317" /></a></p>
<p>The guild kits released with the recent Ravnica sets gave us some very cool and highly thematic basic lands to use with this build. Ghired is now aligned with Gruul, so both red and green lands are going to be the Gruul basics, while the white influence of Selesnya can be represented by the plains.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the second most expensive card in the deck behind <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enlightened Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Enlightened Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which we're going to use to find the Curio. Cloudstone Curio is one of the most important cards in the deck, so that's an easy keep. A tutor can be replaced with consistent card draw, but what I like about this one is the ability to find either half of the combo as well as other important artifacts and enchantments, such as those that enable us to attack with impunity.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="A Journey to Value Town" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ghired, Conclave Exile
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Dragonmaster Outcast
*1 Elvish Reclaimer
*1 Burning-Tree Emissary
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage
*1 Draconic Disciple
*1 Eldrazi Displacer
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Selesnya Eulogist
*1 Wood Elves
*1 Bramble Sovereign
*1 Elvish Piper
*1 Iroas, God of Victory
*1 Temur Sabertooth
*1 Biogenic Ooze
*1 Ilharg, the Raze-Boar
*1 Militant Angel
*1 Thragtusk
*1 Wingmate Roc
*1 Armada Wurm
*1 Bane of Progress
*1 Avenger of Zendikar
*1 Krosan Tusker
*1 End-Raze Forerunners
*1 Decimator of the Provinces
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Dolmen Gate
*1 Gruul Signet
*1 Selesnya Signet
*1 Thaumatic Compass
*1 Cloudstone Curio
*1 Panharmonicon
*1 Conjurer&#039;s Closet
*1 Minion Reflector
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Farseek
*1 Ghired&#039;s Belligerence
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Entreat the Angels
*1 Decimate
*1 Natural Order
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Phyrexian Rebirth
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Profound Journey
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Otherworldly Journey
*1 Eerie Interlude
*1 Sylvan Reclamation
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Reconnaissance
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Boar Umbra
*1 Elemental Bond
*1 Fervor
*1 Rhythm of the Wild
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Breath of Fury
*1 Flameshadow Conjuring
*1 Parallel Lives
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Domri, Chaos Bringer
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Boros Guildgate
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Endless Sands
*8 Forest
*1 Gruul Guildgate
*1 Hall of Heliod&#039;s Generosity
*1 Homeward Path
*1 Jungle Shrine
*1 Mirrorpool
*4 Mountain
*6 Plains
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Selesnya Guildgate
*1 Sheltered Thicket
*1 Skarrg, the Rage Pits
*1 Sunpetal Grove
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>Ghired is a powerful commander that can be abused in a couple of ways. I believe pushing his ETB ability will yield stronger results, as attacking with your commander always comes with risks. Being so recent, it is hard to gauge what his <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/ghired-conclave-exile">EDHREC page</a> will look like in final builds, but I'm excited to see it.</p>
<p>What do you think about Ghired? What are your impressions on <em>Commander 2019</em> in general? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - An Exile's Path

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Protection of the Hekma" href="#" target="_blank">Protection of the Hekma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.ryanleeart.com/">Ryan Lee</a> )</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each fragment that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background love. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun" href="#" target="_blank">Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>Temmet was the unofficial tour guide in Naktamun for the Gatewatch. Temmet was the first to encounter the Gatewatch when they escaped the wastes on the plane of Amonkhet. Temmet grew suspicious of the Gatewatch, noting their clothing and mannerisms as foreign to his city and way of life. He answered their questions and eventually treated them to an audience with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oketra the True" href="#" target="_blank">Oketra the True</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the god of stability, order, and protection on Amonkhet. Temmet eventually confirmed that the members of the Gatewatch were not native to Amonkhet. Having discovered them in the embalming chambers, he attempted to have them restrained but ended up getting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Control" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Control</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>led by Jace.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oketra the True"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oketra&#039;s Monument"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jace, Cunning Castaway"></div></div>
<p>He was a minor character, especially in the shadow of Nicol Bolas's schemes. The plane of Amonkhet was based on ancient Egyptian history, Temmet on King Tutankhamen. King Tut was one of the shortest-lived Pharaoh's in ancient Egypt, so it's fitting that Temmet made very little impact on the story at large... but what impact did he have before his 15 seconds of fame?</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-36252 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/temName.jpg" alt="" width="507" height="84" /></p>
<p><strong>Vizier: </strong>title; highest official in ancient Egypt to serve the pharaoh, often appointed directly by the pharaoh.</p>
<p>Given this definition, it seems ol' King Tut went through a bit of a demotion in his translation to <em>MtG, </em>although when gods walk among their subjects, it should be expected. In Naktamun the viziers worked directly for the gods. Temmet is primarily the vizier of Oketra, but served other gods and their respective viziers. His position was one that was highly respected and revered.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vizier of Many Faces"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-36250 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/temCost.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="69" /></p>
<p><strong>White: </strong>White would be happiest in a utopian society where everyone shares and cooperates with one another.</p>
<p><strong>Blue: </strong>For blue, the purpose of life is to discover what you want and how to achieve it.</p>
<p>Temmet seemed well on his way to achieving the ultimate goal of a utopian society. He was in charge of the embalming process on Amonkhet, meaning he worked with the dead and performed many rituals. Amonkhet's natural magic brings the dead back to life as wild malevolent creatures. The cartouche system in the city harnessed the natural power of the plane and channeled it through a talisman. Attendant mummies put these cartouches on the dead in the embalming process, binding specific orders and tasks to the undead servants. If the denizens of a city are all indentured servants and programmed to cooperate, it makes a utopia easy! Temmet embodies form over function, utilitarianism to the utmost degree.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Embalmer&#039;s Tools"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cartouche of Solidarity"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-36255 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/temArt.jpg" alt="" width="571" height="418" /></p>
<p>King Tut was a very young and shortlived pharaoh in Egypt. In fact, he was mostly forgotten by the people of the time. He lived to around the age of 19, another correlation to Temmet, who is depicted to be around 16 years old. The story/legend of Tutankhamen rose in popularity only after his tomb was discovered: his chamber was mostly untouched by grave robbers, so the great number of artifacts and relics found gave the modern world a closer look at the ancient culture.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Desecrated Tomb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Treasure Trove"></div></div>
<p>For this reason, when assembling Temmet's flavor-filled deck, I am including a large sub-theme of artifacts and Treasure. It will be a good representation of the massive trove discovered in King Tut's burial chamber while supplying our deck with plenty of meat to fill out its bones. (Well, perhaps 'bones' is the wrong word... its wrappings?) This will be an artifact-heavy deck, including a few combos to finish off the game and grind out value. I also wanted to include a package of Trap cards as a nod to the classic trope of the booby-trapped tomb.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Traps and Treasure" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Combo Pieces]
*1 Teshar, Ancestor&#039;s Apostle
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Junk Diver
*1 Workshop Assistant
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Etherium Sculptor
[/Combo Pieces]
[Traditional Traps]
*1 Pit Trap
*1 Mindbreak Trap
*1 Arrow Volley Trap
*1 Whiplash Trap
[/Traditional Traps]
[Polymorph Traps]
*1 Pongify
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Swan Song
[/Polymorph Traps]"></span></div>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-36254 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/temType.jpg" alt="" width="592" height="54" /></p>
<p>Naktamun is governed much like a church, Temmet performing many duties similar to a priest. Another card that portrays someone performing the embalming ritual is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anointer Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Anointer Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which gives us a strategic direction for the deck. White likes gaining life and making a lot of small creatures, and if we're using lots of creatures in an artifact-heavy deck, we can take advantage of the abilities of one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teshar, Ancestor&#039;s Apostle" href="#" target="_blank">Teshar, Ancestor&#039;s Apostle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Timed correctly, Teshar can create some crazy infinite loops: by sacrificing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Retriever" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Retriever</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Junk Diver" href="#" target="_blank">Junk Diver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and/or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Workshop Assistant" href="#" target="_blank">Workshop Assistant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to a <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>, we can reclaim and cast these creatures an infinite number of times. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other cost-reducers can help guarantee the combo goes off smoothly. To join the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anointer Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Anointer Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we'll add the "Soul Sisters" like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Attendant" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Attendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to our deck, generating infinite life as a result of this loop. That, however, is just a buffer for us to search for our real win condition: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altar of the Brood" href="#" target="_blank">Altar of the Brood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will mill our enemies to death as our creatures flit in and out of play!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anointer Priest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Retriever"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Altar of the Brood"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-36253 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/temRules.jpg" alt="" width="584" height="295" /></p>
<p>This card may not look like it has flavor text, but the mechanic of <em>Embalm</em> says a lot on its own. From this reminder text, we know that Temmet dies and is revived with Amonkhet's magic. The <em>Embalm</em> ability makes him a really interesting commander too. When Temmet dies, we can choose to put him into the graveyard instead of the command zone, circumventing a bit of commander tax. When <em>Embalm</em> is activated, the card is then exiled, giving us an opportunity to put him back into the command zone. From there, he'll only cost two more mana to recast, even though it'll be the third time we have had his likeness on the field! First cast costs two mana, then <em>Embalm</em> for five, cast again for four, and <em>Embalm</em> for five once more... this cycle of casting keeps him on the board for a longer period of time at a cheaper cost to us. On top of that, if Temmet becomes a token, his beginning-of-combat trigger can target himself. (The <em>Embalmed</em> token does not deal commander damage, however.)</p>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<p>This deck is a strange combination of aggro and combo. In the early game, we'll create small tokens and use Temmet to get them through. In the mid game, we'll transition to more of a control deck. In the final stages of the game, we'll hopefully go off with Teshar. It's a weird spot to fill, so the best advice I can give is to spread the love. Attack everyone for little bits of damage; focus down Planeswalkers with your unblockable tokens, and gain some favor with the rest of the table until you have a chance to get to your combo. You will be playing pretty active rather than the usual reactivity of a deck in these colors.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="King Tut" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Artificer&#039;s Assistant
*1 Soul Warden
*1 Soul&#039;s Attendant
*1 Anointer Priest
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Myrsmith
*1 Riddlesmith
*1 Argivian Archaeologist
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Junk Diver
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Treasure Hunter
*1 Workshop Assistant
*1 Heliod, God of the Sun
*1 Teshar, Ancestor&#039;s Apostle
*1 Treasure Keeper
*1 Vedalken Archmage
*1 Vizier of Many Faces
*1 God-Eternal Oketra
*1 Stonehewer Giant
*1 Sun Titan
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Tormod&#039;s Crypt
*1 Altar of the Brood
*1 Flayer Husk
*1 Pyramid of the Pantheon
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Ancestral Blade
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Cogworker&#039;s Puzzleknot
*1 Embalmer&#039;s Tools
*1 Nim Deathmantle
*1 Pit Trap
*1 Shrine of Loyal Legions
*1 Sunset Pyramid
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Desecrated Tomb
*1 Gate to the Afterlife
*1 Oketra&#039;s Monument
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Batterskull
*1 Scytheclaw
*1 God-Pharaoh&#039;s Gift
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Curse of the Swine
*1 Wrath of God
*1 Phyrexian Rebirth
*1 Treasure Cruise
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Pongify
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Swan Song
*1 Lazotep Plating
*1 Mindbreak Trap
*1 Arrow Volley Trap
*1 Whiplash Trap
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Cartouche of Solidarity
*1 Legion&#039;s Landing
*1 Luminarch Ascension
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Thopter Spy Network
*1 Treasure Trove
*1 Mind Control
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Jace, Cunning Castaway
[/Planeswalker]
[Lands]
*1 Ancient Den
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Cradle of the Accursed
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*11 Island
*1 Moorland Haunt
*11 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Seat of the Synod
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>I hope you enjoyed this micro history lesson of an article. I certainly know more about ancient Egypt than I did before writing it. This deck will flood the battlefield with artifacts and generate a ton of value. Once the engine is established, the deck will be hard to stop, and the Traps will create some fantastic "Gotcha!" moments that will generate stories that you and your friends will remember for years.</p>
<p>That’s it for this week! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


Lore Seeker - A Pharaoh's Tomb

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arachnogenesis" href="#" target="_blank">Arachnogenesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.deviantart.com/algenpfleger">Johannes Voss</a>)</h6>
<h1>Prologue</h1>
<p>Hello and welcome to another installment of <em>Lore Seeker, </em>an article series devoted to the legendary creatures to whom <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> forgot to give a story. I’ll guide you through each fragment that makes up a legendary creature and finally give them a little extra background love. This time around we’ll be highlighting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thantis, the Warweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Thantis, the Warweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thantis, the Warweaver"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Story Circle</h1>
<p>A giant and malevolent spider who spins a monstrous web of burning mana across a vast forest, inciting rage in every creature that stumbles into its tangle. The fury of her prey feeds her own ferocity before she feasts on their corpses.</p>
<p>What is the influence of this spider on the forest where she spins her burning web? What is life like for the denizens of that very same forest? Tainted.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tainted Peak"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tainted Wood"></div></div>
<p>The monstrous web of mana creates an energy source for creatures and plants to feed off of, inciting rage and filling their hearts with hate. Beasts grow larger, humans grow sour, and the land grows lush with rot. Thantis sits atop the food chain of nasty critters and bog dwellers in her dank, humid swamp. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haze Frog" href="#" target="_blank">Haze Frog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, hags, and horrors fight for control of areas most saturated with the web's mana. There is an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overabundance" href="#" target="_blank">Overabundance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of mana in these locations, but it comes at a cost. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Manabarbs" href="#" target="_blank">Manabarbs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burning Earth" href="#" target="_blank">Burning Earth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are additional great representations of the Thantis's influence on the world.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haze Frog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hag Hedge-Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overabundance"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Card Analysis</h1>
<h2>Name:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-34739 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/thantis_name2.jpg" alt="" width="389" height="105" /></p>
<p><strong>Weave: </strong>interlace; contrive - to plan with ingenuity or form designs.</p>
<p>Her name implies a rather large intelligence. Was this creature born with that intelligence? Is it something she harnessed from the world around her? Was she herself tainted from the start? Or was she created by someone or something to serve a malicious purpose?</p>
<p>Thantis was once the familiar of a witch that lived in this forest, an intelligent hag that made deals and took what she wanted. The hag has died, but Thantis has carried on her master's work. Continually growing in size from constant feasting, her power has reached new heights and expanded her area of influence, whipping more creatures into a frenzy, drawing them to her, feasting on them, and growing more powerful, etc., etc.</p>
<p>For this reason,our final deck will include a Witch/Hag subtheme, and I've even given them their own familiars. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thunderscape Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Thunderscape Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works quite well as ramp (and is part of a familiar cycle you should probably take a look at). Additionally, boggy Frogs are <em>excellent </em>familiars, especially ones as deadly and powerful as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Gitrog Monster" href="#" target="_blank">The Gitrog Monster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderscape Familiar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Desecrator Hag"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Gitrog Monster"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Mana Cost//Color Identity:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-34740 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/thantis_cost.jpg" alt="" width="171" height="83" /></p>
<p><strong>Black: </strong>"Do what you want until someone more powerful stops you."</p>
<p><strong>Red: </strong>"Live life how you want, rules be damned!"</p>
<p><strong>Green: </strong>"Life is a cycle - what lives must die."</p>
<p>Jund is the color combination that embodies the most raw and brutal aspects of nature. Green makes creatures large, red makes them act with minimal foresight, and black makes them take power for power's sake. A high instinct to survive must be instilled in order to exist in Thantis's forest. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Survival of the Fittest" href="#" target="_blank">Survival of the Fittest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in its fiercest form. To embrace the feel of natural selection the majority of our removal is in the form of fight cards; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ulvenwald Tracker" href="#" target="_blank">Ulvenwald Tracker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nature&#039;s Way" href="#" target="_blank">Nature&#039;s Way</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are a couple versions of the effect we are looking for. And after the beasts fight, they <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feast on the Fallen" href="#" target="_blank">Feast on the Fallen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Survival of the Fittest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ulvenwald Tracker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feast on the Fallen"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Art:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-34734 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/thantis_art.jpg" alt="" width="430" height="316" /></p>
<p>Thantis is a creature that I do not want to mess with; she has all the warning signs of being horrifically dangerous, and her design is reminiscent of a Red Widow, also called the <em>Latrodectus Bishopi</em>, one of the most dangerous spiders on the planet. It boasts a neurotoxin in its venom that can cause permanent muscle spasms in its victims. Yippee!!</p>
<p>Luckily this spider is only located in central and southern parts of Florida, living primarily in Palmetto bushes.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-34972 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/palmetto.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></p>
<p>You know, these things that are everywhere in Florida? Yeah, they hang out in these... I'm never going to Florida. A bite from a Red Widow is rarely fatal, as they are too small to deliver more than 1/5th of a lethal dose to a human, but still.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Also, is something crawling on me...? Let's move on.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Type Line:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-34738 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/thantis_type.jpg" alt="" width="594" height="55" /></p>
<p>Tribal is a huge theme on EDHREC, and not only for Thantis: a large majority of the creatures I have written about have many tribe-related cards in their top cards. Thantis being the first legendary Spider with the colors to run all previous Spiders (minus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pale Recluse" href="#" target="_blank">Pale Recluse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), it makes sense that nearly every playable Spider makes an appearance on her <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/thantis-the-warweaver">EDHREC page</a>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Spider tribal doesn't have enough support yet to make a dedicated Spider deck. The best Spider-related card (and the only one we are running) is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arachnogenesis" href="#" target="_blank">Arachnogenesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It fits really well in this deck; combat is going to be a huge component of these games, and there are going to be plenty of times where we will be unable to block. This spell is perfect for Thantis and belongs in every one of her decks, which means that the 59% of Thantis players who aren't running it need to step their game up!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arachnogenesis"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Rules Text:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-34737 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/thantis_rules.jpg" alt="" width="446" height="174" /></p>
<p>I love the flavor in her abilities. Vigilance allows Thantis to block and attack with impunity, while reach ensures the she can block almost anything coming at you. She feeds off of the energy from attacking creatures, increasing her power and toughness. She also puts a definite clock on the game; forcing attacks will draw a lot of hate towards us, which is good for Thantis, but bad for our supple, soft bodies, so defense is going to be just as important as offense.</p>
<p>We're going to come at this from two angles: preventing combat damage, and encouraging combat between other players. As mentioned before, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arachnogenesis" href="#" target="_blank">Arachnogenesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fantastic Spider card, but it also helps with our plan of preventing damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Constant Mists" href="#" target="_blank">Constant Mists</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lull" href="#" target="_blank">Lull</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moment&#039;s Peace" href="#" target="_blank">Moment&#039;s Peace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fill out our protection package. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crown of Doom" href="#" target="_blank">Crown of Doom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="No Mercy" href="#" target="_blank">No Mercy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are going to have our opponents looking elsewhere for attacks, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disrupt Decorum" href="#" target="_blank">Disrupt Decorum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> leaves them with no other choice.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Constant Mists"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="No Mercy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disrupt Decorum"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Flavor Text:</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-34735 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/thantis_flavor.jpg" alt="" width="491" height="64" /></p>
<p>"Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble."<br />
<em> - Shakespeare's Macbeth; The Weird Sisters</em></p>
<p>Thantis's flavor text reminds me of a witch's brew, or the witch from Hansel and Gretel, luring unsuspecting victims and modifying their minds with one concoction or another. This line of thinking is what brought me to the sub-theme of Witches in the first place. It reminded me of the "combo" of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Festering Newt" href="#" target="_blank">Festering Newt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bogbrew Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Bogbrew Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bubbling Cauldron" href="#" target="_blank">Bubbling Cauldron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Without much tutor support, these three cards would be really hard to find, and even when they are together, the effects are pretty underwhelming. So unfortunately, these cards did not make the cut. Instead, I decided to go the route of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Accursed Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Accursed Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitterheart Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Bitterheart Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, using curses to hinder our opponents. I also found a gem of a removal spell for this deck in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Witch&#039;s Mist" href="#" target="_blank">Witch&#039;s Mist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which repeatedly destroys any creature that tries to block.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Accursed Witch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curse of Bloodletting"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Witch&#039;s Mist"></div></div>
<hr />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Deck</h1>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-34961 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/TBasics.jpg" alt="" width="687" height="317" /></p>
<p><em>Shadowmoor</em> has the perfect scenery for this deck. It's dark, misty, and overgrown. I can visualize Witches and Spiders living all over this place. *shivers*</p>
<p>The most expensive card in the deck by a long shot is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Survival of the Fittest" href="#" target="_blank">Survival of the Fittest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It is incredibly powerful and cannot be printed again. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fauna Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Fauna Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fine approximation of the effect and will do the job in a deck like this if you're looking to trim the budget. She also fits well flavorfuly as another forest-dwelling sorcerer.</p>
<p>This is a very slow deck. Take your time to set up and wait for a good handful of creatures to hit the battlefield before Thantis arrives. This is some true "battlecruiser" <em>Magic</em>, waiting until late in the game to throw down haymakers.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Companion for a Witch" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Thantis, the Warweaver
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Spore Frog
*1 Ulvenwald Tracker
*1 Hunted Horror
*1 Instigator
*1 Spiteflame Witch
*1 Tattermunge Witch
*1 Thunderscape Familiar
*1 Bog Witch
*1 Hag Hedge-Mage
*1 Maddening Imp
*1 Rhonas the Indomitable
*1 Accursed Witch
*1 Desecrator Hag
*1 Hunted Troll
*1 Bitterheart Witch
*1 Garna, the Bloodflame
*1 Haze Frog
*1 Hunted Dragon
*1 The Gitrog Monster
*1 Pathbreaker Ibex
*1 Sower of Discord
*1 Tsabo Tavoc
*1 Archfiend of Despair
*1 Stonehoof Chieftain
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Dolmen Gate
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Gruul Signet
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Coalition Relic
*1 Crown of Doom
*1 Jar of Eyeballs
*1 Cauldron of Souls
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Sylvan Offering
*1 Domri&#039;s Ambush
*1 Flesh // Blood
*1 Nature&#039;s Way
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Cultivate
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Disrupt Decorum
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Constant Mists
*1 Fall of the Hammer
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Lull
*1 Moment&#039;s Peace
*1 Arachnogenesis
*1 Sudden Spoiling
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Survival of the Fittest
*1 Feast on the Fallen
*1 Overabundance
*1 Witch&#039;s Mist
*1 Burning Earth
*1 Defense of the Heart
*1 Endless Whispers
*1 Manabarbs
*1 No Mercy
*1 Curse of Bloodletting
*1 Curse of Death&#039;s Hold
*1 Lost in the Woods
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Forbidden Orchard
*10 Forest
*1 Mana Confluence
*6 Mountain
*1 Mountain Valley
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Rocky Tar Pit
*1 Savage Lands
*1 Sheltered Thicket
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*6 Swamp
*1 Swarmyard
*1 Tainted Peak
*1 Tainted Wood
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h1>Epilogue</h1>
<p>This deck went through more iterations than I usually do for <em>Lore Seeker</em>. I have been fascinated by the idea of a combat-focused deck, but making it five colors with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami" href="#" target="_blank">O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the general. You get access to more tools, and I think by adding colors you are able to hone in on the very specific disadvantage that Thantis forces upon you. There are also a larger number of defensive cards available to you in blue and white that prevent people from attacking you. I think a deck like that is what will more likely be seen from Thantis, as attack and combat triggers are all over her page. Even so, I think this version of Thantis would be a lot of fun to pilot. I can't imagine it will win many games, but it will make a serious impact on those games by spinning a sinister web.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! As always, let me know which legendary characters you’d like to see get the story spotlight in the future!</p>


vorthos