(Tasigur, the Golden FangTasigur, the Golden Fang | Art by Chris Rahn)

Every choice alters the path of fateEvery choice alters the path of fate

Hey, everyone! We're gearing up for the release of Tarkir: Dragonstorm (TDM) here on EDHREC, which releases on April 11.

Last time on Back to Basics, I looked back at the most played cards from the first Tarkir set, Khans of Tarkir. Today, let's find out what the top 10 cards are from that block's second, small set, Fate Reforged!

10. Outpost SiegeOutpost Siege - 55,875 decks

I love Outpost SiegeOutpost Siege because both options can be great at certain times, even in a deck that normally strongly prefers one half of the card. For example, this card appears most often in decks led by Krenko, Mob BossKrenko, Mob Boss, likely because it can help win the game with its Dragons "ping ability."

Still, there will be times when your mono red deck needs to see more cards, so Khans will come in handy. Likewise, Faldorn, Dread Wolf HeraldFaldorn, Dread Wolf Herald and Prosper, Tome-BoundProsper, Tome-Bound will run this card primarily for Khans because the "impulse draw" effect works well with these commanders, but a Sacrifice-themed Prosper deck will love having access to another Blood ArtistBlood Artist effect.

9. Sage's ReverieSage's Reverie - 57,205 decks

This is a really interesting card I don't have much experience with, even though I play lots of formats and though I am familiar with Aura-themed decks in both Limited and Constructed.

In Pioneer or Historic, for example, Sage's ReverieSage's Reverie is too expensive at four mana to merit inclusion in what are most often low to the ground, aggressive Aura decks. But, that's why EDH is so awesome.

You can run a deck led by Eriette of the Charmed AppleEriette of the Charmed Apple, Light-Paws, Emperor's VoiceLight-Paws, Emperor's Voice, Uril, the MiststalkerUril, the Miststalker, among others, and just go to town by playing this on an already-suited-up creature and drawing a ton of cards.

In Light-Paws, it can be an especially wonderful combo with Mantle of the AncientsMantle of the Ancients, letting you fetch it Reverie from your library and power up the draw effect by returning a bunch of other Auras from the graveyard.

You might win the game after casting it, but I just really wanted to emphasize the card draw aspect of that play, because I love drawing cards!

8. Crux of FateCrux of Fate - 61,949 decks

Board sweepers are incredible tools to have access to in Commander, especially when they are also Plague WindPlague Winds some of the time! Crux of FateCrux of Fate is an easy inclusion in Dragon kindred decks, simply because they it keeps your stuff alive while getting rid of most of the other creatures in play.

In a multiplayer game, even if an opponent also has Dragons, you'll still likely get a ton of value from from the card. It's also worth noting that Crux can act as a precision strike against an opposing Dragon.

It's also not a bad card to run as a basic sweeper in black decks that aren't running white for all the best options like FarewellFarewell and Wrath of GodWrath of God.

7. Dark DealDark Deal - 64,107 decks

I get pretty excited when I see uncommons on these top 10 lists, because printing strong cards at lower rarities makes Magic more accessible a lot of the time. I qualified that last sentence, because a lot of popular uncommons can be pretty pricey, especially when they see play in other formats like Legacy.

In any case, Dark DealDark Deal is a very powerful tool in decks that care about discarding cards. A lot of decks do that, especially Nekusar, the MindrazerNekusar, the Mindrazer, which almost cracks the top 10 most played commanders based on EDHREC data.

Deal also makes for devastating combos with Tergrid, God of FrightTergrid, God of Fright, Tinybones, Bauble BurglarTinybones, Bauble Burglar, and Sheoldred, the ApocalypseSheoldred, the Apocalypse.

Dark Deal is also part of a pretty redundant package of cards in Grixis colors () that includes classic card WindfallWindfall, Whispering MadnessWhispering Madness, and creatures Jace's ArchivistJace's Archivist and Magus of the WheelMagus of the Wheel. Any opportunity to go off with Waste NotWaste Not sounds good to me!

6. Atarka, World RenderAtarka, World Render - 61,858 decks, 3,940 as commander

While a lot of the most powerful Dragon decks are going to be multicolor with commanders like The Ur-DragonThe Ur-Dragon and TiamatTiamat, seven-mana Atarka is a reasonably popular choice for a still-potent red-green Dragons build that wants to be ramping out hasty monsters, often with potent attack effects.

Seven mana is a lot, even in EDH, but Atarka plays the role of finisher, giving your Drakuseth, Maw of FlamesDrakuseth, Maw of Flames or Mordant DragonMordant Dragon — among a ton of other examples — double strike.

You also have access to copious amounts of ramp. Aside from format staples like CultivateCultivate, Kodama's ReachKodama's Reach, and Sakura-Tribe ElderSakura-Tribe Elder, you also have kindred enablers like Dragonspeaker ShamanDragonspeaker Shaman and Dragonlord's ServantDragonlord's Servant.

And, of course, you can run Atarka as a finisher in your 99 in pretty much any Dragon deck, because most of them touch Gruul colors and can power out seven-drops with ease.

5. Temur Battle RageTemur Battle Rage - 66,854 decks

This a sweet and powerful aggressive card, and a common to boot! TBR slots right into various red — and often Izzet () or Boros () — decks that play a lot of creatures with prowess and other abilities that trigger off spells being cast. Alejandro Fuentes has a nice article up on Commander's Herald featuring a budget Balmor, Battlemage Captain deck.

Balmor is certainly one of the best homes for Battle Rage, but don't sleep on Feather, the RedeemedFeather, the Redeemed and Zada, Hedron GrinderZada, Hedron Grinder as well! Bria, Riptide RogueBria, Riptide Rogue and Veyran, Voice of DualityVeyran, Voice of Duality are also good Spellslinger options in Izzet for this type of aggressive, one-shot plan.

4. Ugin, the Spirit DragonUgin, the Spirit Dragon 75,958 decks

From a cheap, aggressive spell, we move to a devastating eight-drop that also does a Plague Wind impression and warranted inclusion in DougY's Too-Specific Top 10 list on one-sided board wipes.

That's because Ugin tends to see play in colorless decks often led by Eldrazi like Zhulodok, Void GorgerZhulodok, Void Gorger, Kozilek, the Great DistortionKozilek, the Great Distortion, and Ulalek, Fused AtrocityUlalek, Fused Atrocity where you're almost always going to keep your side of the board safe with their -X ability.

Another way to build a deck where Ugin will shine is to simply play a bunch of expensive monsters. The aforementioned Dragons deck accomplishes that pretty well, but so can multicolor decks like Esika, God of the TreeEsika, God of the Tree and Atraxa, Praetors' VoiceAtraxa, Praetors' Voice.

The latter commander also has great synergy with planeswalkers, which also go great with Carth the LionCarth the Lion and Commodore GuffCommodore Guff. Ugin's sweeper ability, while not the only thing the card does, is so powerful, so it makes sense trying to get the most out of it and playing ways to activate it more consistently.

For those wanting to have fun with the -10, Vorinclex, Monstrous RaiderVorinclex, Monstrous Raider is a wonderful option.

3. Temur SabertoothTemur Sabertooth - 85,218 decks

This 4/3 Cat shows up in EDH decks as an important piece in many infinite combos, most of which only ask for green cards.

As you can see from this Commander Spellbook combo, Elf kindred is a popular setting for the Sabertooth, where Selvala, Heart of the WildsSelvala, Heart of the Wilds and Marwyn, the NurturerMarwyn, the Nurturer can help ramp you up to assembling the combo. Selvala even joins in with combos of her own!

2. Shamanic RevelationShamanic Revelation - 225,264 decks

The second most played card from FRF sees play in about 3x as many decks as number three. I don't think that really says much about the power level of Fate Reforged, but it does speak to the potential of Shamanic RevelationShamanic Revelation to swing games in your favor.

It's most helpful in tokens decks that may or may not focus on certain creature types, including Lathril, Blade of the ElvesLathril, Blade of the Elves, Rin and Seri, Inseparable, and Chatterfang, Squirrel GeneralChatterfang, Squirrel General. Jetmir, Nexus of RevelsJetmir, Nexus of Revels, meanwhile, is a great option for when you're not feeling too kindred.

It's probably best to run it alongside other green card advantage effects, which often key off creatures anyway. I'm talking Beast WhispererBeast Whisperer, Toski, Bearer of SecretsToski, Bearer of Secrets, and Regal ForceRegal Force.

Which options you run will definitely depend on how many creatures that make tokens are in your deck, versus spells that create tokens. Don't forget your recursion, too, usually in the form of Eternal WitnessEternal Witness!

1. Reality ShiftReality Shift - 240,259 decks

This instant's standing as the most played FRF card is very much influenced by the fact that many blue decks can struggle for unconditional removal spell options, especially if they don't play black or white as well.

Shift joins PongifyPongify and Rapid HybridizationRapid Hybridization as removal spells with drawbacks that aren't too devastating in EDH, and that's a pretty nuclear family of cards.

In a Temur () deck, you can run some red burn spells that deal with small threats, while Chaos WarpChaos Warp and Beast WithinBeast Within deal with bigger things.

It's far from the wealth of options that black decks have access to, but spending one or two mana to deal with something that leaves them with a 3/3 or a 2/2 Manifest really isn't that big of a deal.

Few truly live in the momentFew truly live in the moment

And that's FRF in the books! I think I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Monastery MentorMonastery Mentor ranks just outside the top 10 in 11th place, while personal favorite Soulfire Grand MasterSoulfire Grand Master languishes much lower on the list. Join me next time as I finish up the original Tarkir block with Dragons of Tarkir!

Nick Price