Toph, the First MetalbenderToph, the First Metalbender | Art by Eilene Cherie

Welcome to Too-Specific Top 10, where if there isn’t a category to rank our pet card at the top of, we’ll just make one up! (Did you know that SabotenderSabotender is the only permanent with landfall that can deal damage to opponents for less than three mana?)

So, did you think there was a new cEDH commander among that small list of Avatar: The Last Airbender spoilers we got last week? Because at first glance, I didn't.

If you experience the constant firehose of spoilers the way I do, Toph, the First MetalbenderToph, the First Metalbender was pretty easy to slide right by. "Okay, okay, Naya Toph that shows us what earthbending does... what's next?"

It wasn't until I visited the r/CompetitiveEDH subreddit later that day that I saw there was buzz about Toph, and well-deserved, at that. I don't know if I just didn't read the first ability on her card, or if I simply didn't realize on first read how big a deal it is, but Toph makes your nontoken artifacts into lands.

That's an ability that's never existed in the history of Magic, and creates all sorts of new avenues for silly combos that we've never seen before.

I wouldn't be surprised if more combo cards have been found since writing, but the first to be realized was the low-hanging fruit that already has a place in cEDH: Candelabra of TawnosCandelabra of Tawnos. For those that don't play cEDH, and aren't aware of the current trend that is Cradle Farming, let me explain.

There are entire decks in cEDH essentially dedicated to landing a Gaea's CradleGaea's Cradle as soon as possible, and then pumping all of that mana into Thrasios, Triton HeroThrasios, Triton Hero to find a way to make it into infinite mana to draw your whole deck and win with Thassa's OracleThassa's Oracle.

Those decks, by and large, play Candelabra of TawnosCandelabra of Tawnos, because it's a way to untap your Cradle. Which is already good enough on its own, before you get into what Candelabra does with Toph, i.e., go immediately infinite.

In short, if you can land a Candelabra of TawnosCandelabra of Tawnos and either a land or an artifact that taps for three or more mana, then you can untap that land and Candelabra indefinitely with Toph in play. Why? Because Candelabra itself is considered a land, and can therefore untap itself. (For clarity, though it doesn't appear on the Antiquities printing of Candelabra, part of the cost of activating is tapping it.)

Here's where we run into an issue, though. For Cradle Farming decks, your job would be done here. You made infinite mana, you're now drawing your entire deck - good job, good game. With Toph, however, your job is only half done, as you now have to figure out what to do with that infinite mana with a commander that doesn't have a mana sink and doesn't draw cards. Which means that we're now talking about a four-card combo, and I've lost interest.

The next combo found was Manascape RefractorManascape Refractor. Put simply, the amount of combos this card is going to generate with Toph, the First MetalbenderToph, the First Metalbender is probably lengthy enough that it's going to be a job for Commander Spellbook, rather than myself. The ones that most people have found so far, though, are essentially pairing up any artifacts with a mana sink untap ability with any artifacts or lands that make a lot of mana.

This ends up being more or less the same as Candelabra. Throw down a Scorched RuinsScorched Ruins, tap it for four to untap your Manascape RefractorManascape Refractor with Staff of DominationStaff of Domination's ability, and you're off to the races with a simple rock that can tap and untap itself for infinite mana and then draw your whole deck.

We did it, guys; we found another four-card combo.

No, the actual combo that has me excited is Storm CauldronStorm Cauldron. Why? Well, because it creates a four-card combo, of course!

The difference here, however, is that this creates a four-card combo that goes off with what feels like half of your deck. While Storm CauldronStorm Cauldron is expensive, as soon as it lands in combination with your commander, you can immediately start bouncing any mana-positive rocks you have, as they're now lands. You can then replay them for free or with the mana they created, and have infinite mana.

But what else do you have with that process? That's right, infinite landfall, as your artifacts are lands when they enter the battlefield.

So, if we were to pursue that lane... What are the best Landfall cards you can get that will lead to you winning the game?

Top 10 Naya Landfall Cards That Don't Create Creature Tokens or Gain Life

Criteria: Naya cards that trigger upon a land entering the battlefield, resulting in any effect that isn't creating a creature token or gaining life. As is tradition, all results are ordered by EDHREC score.

10. Nissa, Resurgent AnimistNissa, Resurgent Animist

(Helms 1,391 Decks, Rank #1,075; 51,820 Inclusions, 1.69% of 3,057,493 Decks)

If you're going to loop a zero-cost artifact over and over again for a landfall trigger, you could do worse than the result being an extra mana with each loop. That means that even a non-mana rock can create infinite mana.

As for Nissa's second trigger, however, I looked into the options and the lines didn't wow me. There is a combo of just Elementals and Elves available in Shalai and HallarShalai and Hallar and War ElementalWar Elemental, but it comes with several caveats and features exclusively cards that are pursuing an entirely different game plan than what we're doing.

Instead, I think it's better to remove a couple of our extraneous Elves in Elvish Spirit GuideElvish Spirit Guide and Joiner AdeptJoiner Adept and throw in an Elemental that can provide a way to win the game once we've achieved infinite mana: Flamekin SpitfireFlamekin Spitfire.

9. Khalni Heart ExpeditionKhalni Heart Expedition

(56,656 Inclusions, 1.85% of 3,057,493 Decks)

If the lands came into play untapped here, there might be something worth looking into, but a card that doesn't do anything by itself that then has you wait a turn when you do actually get to do something? That's just not gonna cut it in a format where people are trying to win on turn two.

8. Emeria ShepherdEmeria Shepherd

(61,594 Inclusions, 2.02% of 3,052,033 Decks)

My first inclination on Emeria ShepherdEmeria Shepherd is similar, but I do have a little bit of pause. Seven mana is a steep cost, but with Toph in play, we can easily loop a few artifacts that can sacrifice themselves, as they'll trigger landfall each time we play them.

That may result in infinite mana with the likes of Lotus PetalLotus Petal or Lion's Eye DiamondLion's Eye Diamond, but more notably we could put our entire library into our graveyard with Grinding StationGrinding Station. That would get us to a well-known phenomenon in cEDH called "I have Underworld BreachUnderworld Breach and Sevinne's ReclamationSevinne's Reclamation in my graveyard, and I'm going to win the game now."

7. Valakut ExplorationValakut Exploration

(69,427 Inclusions, 2.14% of 3,244,268 Decks)

Well, if you were expecting us to be done with finding new combos with Toph, I hate to disappoint you. Those that are familiar with the "why is Bolas's CitadelBolas's Citadel on the Game Changers list" conversation will be familiar with the nonsense that is possible with Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top, and it turns out that with Top being a land, the same nonsense is possible with Valakut ExplorationValakut Exploration.

You still need a way to pay the one mana each loop to have it go infinite and draw your whole deck, but that's easily achievable with either cost reducers, cast triggers like Birgi, God of StorytellingBirgi, God of Storytelling, or landfall triggers like Nissa, Resurgent AnimistNissa, Resurgent Animist.

6. Mossborn HydraMossborn Hydra

(74,023 Inclusions, 4.18% of 1,769,761 Decks)

While I do think there is an avenue where Toph wins with her +1/+1 counter synergies, I'm not sure it's with a Hydra that could only kill one person at a time and will probably just eat a removal spell the first time it tries to do so.

5. Bristly Bill, Spine SowerBristly Bill, Spine Sower

(Helms 5,061 Decks, Rank #391; 83,881 Inclusions, 3.35% of 2,503,428 Decks)

Bristly BillBristly Bill, on the other hand, is a well-known outlet for infinitely large creatures, whether that be via infinite mana or infinite landfall. And while we're not focusing on Candelabra of TawnosCandelabra of Tawnos in our build, it's not like we're going to cut it completely. That means that there is a world where considering Bristly Bill is an option.

My problem with that option? It's likely that it doesn't actually win the game. Playing Bill into infinite mana is all well and good, but even with Toph adding a new creature to the board each end step, it's still likely that we don't have enough creatures without summoning sickness at any given time that them all being infinitely big will win the game.

More likely, you'll kill a player, and then pass turn into the next player who goes on to win the game.

4. Tireless TrackerTireless Tracker

(149,890 Inclusions, 4.90% of 3,057,493 Decks)

While Clues are great, and most of our infinite landfall shenanigans also result in infinite mana which we could use to crack them and draw our whole deck, I don't think that Tireless TrackerTireless Tracker is worth the three mana.

We can accomplish Sevinne's ReclamationSevinne's Reclamation wins with the likes of Dragon's Rage ChannelerDragon's Rage Channeler for cheaper, or with Icetill ExplorerIcetill Explorer for a card that contributes to our main game plan. That makes Tracker's three-mana-to-do-the-thing-in-one-specific-instance-only feel rather wanting.

3. Evolution SageEvolution Sage

(187,689 Inclusions, 6.14% of 3,057,493 Decks)

Like Bristly BillBristly Bill before it, Evolution SageEvolution Sage just doesn't add up to enough to deviate from our main game plan. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I'd probably pivot back to Candelabra of TawnosCandelabra of Tawnos and Manascape RefractorManascape Refractor before trying to split focus into +1/+1 counters.

2. Lotus CobraLotus Cobra

(226,359 Inclusions, 7.40% of 3,057,493 Decks)

Lotus CobraLotus Cobra doubles our chances of getting infinite mana with our main Storm CauldronStorm Cauldron combo, and also provides a means for Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top loops if you do manage to land a Valakut ExplorationValakut Exploration or a Mystic ForgeMystic Forge.

More importantly, however, at two mana it's just the best Landfall option available. Even if you're not looping artifacts over and over again for infinite, Lotus Cobra and a few fetches will absolutely add up to enough mana to do anything you need to, to say nothing of when your mana rocks become lands and add to the party.

1. Tireless ProvisionerTireless Provisioner

(3,367,756 Inclusions, 11.01% of 3,057,493 Decks)

Why have just two options for our nonsense when three are available, though? Tireless ProvisionerTireless Provisioner is unfortunately not another two-mana option, but it still stacks up nicely when compared to Nissa, as it provides Treasures instead of floating mana.

That means that if you're not ready to win the game just yet, you can have Treasures available during others' turns, providing mana for interaction like PyroblastPyroblast, SilenceSilence, and Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares.

While it's not the removal package we're used to with access to blue, it is enough that we might be able to live an extra turn and get to the win.

Honorable Mentions

We got more hits than not on our list, which is surprising when talking about cEDH. But wait! There's more!

There's an argument that one of the many Firebrand ArcherFirebrand Archers available would be better than SabotenderSabotender as a finisher, but contrary to popular belief, life totals do matter in cEDH. Whether it be NecropotenceNecropotence, Ad NauseamAd Nauseam, or Tymna the WeaverTymna the Weaver, black decks are constantly using their life total as a resource, so pinging away in the early and mid-game is absolutely beneficial.

With that in mind, throwing down a SabotenderSabotender early and feeding fetch lands to it is a slightly better play than relying on cast triggers that may be slowed down by the likes of Rhystic StudyRhystic Study, Mystic RemoraMystic Remora, or Stax effects. Combine all that with being able to search up our little cactus friend with the prevalent creature tutors in green to finish things out, and we're happy as a clam.

The far more useful landfall trigger that can still translate to a win, however? Well, that's Icetill ExplorerIcetill Explorer. Its a tad on the expensive side at four mana, but for this many relevant effects on the same card, the price is worth paying.

Playing an additional land is already decent with our Landfall focus, but not having to worry about running out of lands because we can replay fetches from our graveyard? That's already two effects that, when paired together, would have us considering. The third, however, is the icing on the cake. In the same way that Sabotender will straight-up kill opponents if you can get to a point where you can loop the casting of an artifact, Icetill ExplorerIcetill Explorer will win you the game as well... with extra steps.

Those extra steps? Milling your entire deck to then play a Sevinne's ReclamationSevinne's Reclamation with flashback for an Underworld BreachUnderworld Breach win, or simply plucking another of your final win-cons out of the graveyard with the same.

Speaking of final, however, how about we take a look at the final list?

Toph, the First Metalbender cEDH Deck List

The deck is a blast to play, and would absolutely be a breathe of fresh air at your local cEDH table. With that said, would I bring it to a tournament? No way.

With a little bit of refinement, I was able to get the deck to a place where it could kill on turn four or five consistently, with some crazy hands going off as early as turn two. Normally, that would be good enough. But normally, in Competitive EDH, you're playing blue.

With Naya's poor interaction package and complete inability to draw cards, this deck just cannot grind into the late- or even mid-game consistently. So while it's a fun distraction for your "casual" cEDH games, I wouldn't suggest it for something beyond that until it gets a lot more tech.

Nuts and Bolts

There always seems to be a bit of interest in how these lists are made (this seems like a good time to stress once again that they are based on EDHREC score, NOT my personal opinion…), and people are often surprised that I’m not using any special data or .json from EDHREC, but rather just muddling my way through with some Scryfall knowledge! For your enjoyment/research, here is this week’s Scryfall search.

What Do You Think?

And finally, what is your favorite Landfall card? Does it win you the game if you loop artifacts infinitely with Toph?

Let us know in the comments, and we'll see you at the Warhammer table with all that terrain.

Read More: