(Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher|Forrest Imel)

Introduction

From SliversSlivers to SerpentsSerpents, Magic is filled with all sorts of different creature types.

If you're determined enough you can build a deck focused on any kind of creatures that you want, no matter how niche.

Every once in a while, Wizards of the Coast print a brand new commander to support a creature type that they have never shown an interest in before. Baru, WurmspeakerBaru, Wurmspeaker gave Wurms some long-awaited love back in 2022, Gallia of the Endless DanceGallia of the Endless Dance did the same thing for Satyrs back in 2020.

Now Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher is looking to give cows a new lease on life. Unfortunately he's not had much luck with this, with only 495 decks to his name, as of 01/25/2025.

Let's see if we can turn Bruse Tarl'sBruse Tarl's luck around today by giving him a moment Under the Radar. We'll explore how he can help the Oxen of the multiverse come together to show just how beefy they really are.

Leading the Herd

Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher is a 4/3 Human Warrior that costs . When he enters play, and whenever he attacks, he exiles the top card of his controller's library.

If that card is a spell then it can be cast until the end of their next turn, if it's a land then he creates a 2/2 Ox token. Bruse TarlBruse Tarl also grants all of his controller's Oxen double strike.

Double strike is a fantastic keyword ability, it's much better than just a raw stat buff. The Oxen produced by this heroic herder can punch far above their weight, dishing out four damage with every attack.

The benefits of having double strike escalate even further if you can pump your board up with some anthem effects. The more powerful your cows become, the more useful double strike is.

It's not just the tokens generated by Bruse TarlBruse Tarl that he grants double strike, he benefits every Oxen you control.

You should aim to fill this deck with as many cows as you can to take advantage of this. There's not a huge pool of viable cows out there, but that's part of the appeal of decks like this.

You'll be running cards like Makindi OxMakindi Ox andPurphoros's EmissaryPurphoros's Emissary and having a great time while you do so. After all, where else would you put these cards if not right here?

Bruse Tarl'sBruse Tarl's ability to exile cards from the top of the deck is also very useful. Since it activates whenever he attacks, it's good to search for ways of ensuring that he can keep striking out at opponents as frequently as possible.

Cards that grant you additional combat phases like Great Train HeistGreat Train Heist, Grim Reaper's SprintGrim Reaper's Sprint, and Aggravated AssaultAggravated Assault are all really helpful. They ensure that you'll be able to beat everyone down with your Oxen army just that little bit more quickly.

Average Deck

The EDHREC average deck feature goes through all of the decks listed online for a commander and puts together a single unified list featuring the cards that appear most frequently.

You can think of it like a rancher herding all of their cows that are spread out grazing in the fields into a single barn. Currently, as of 01/25/2025, there are 495 Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher decks. Here is what the average list looks like...

This certainly looks like an Oxen typal deck. From Charging CinderhornCharging Cinderhorn to Bartered CowBartered Cow plenty of cattle have come together.

The only reason there aren't more in the deck is that there just aren't that many extra Oxen out there. Like many typal decks based around niche creature types, changelings are bumping up the numbers here a bit.

Cards like Bloodline PretenderBloodline Pretender, Mirror EntityMirror Entity, and Irregular CohortIrregular Cohort are technically Oxen so they will benefit from Bruse Tarl'sBruse Tarl's buffs. Taurean MaulerTaurean Mauler gets bonus points since it's already shaped like a cow.

Other than Oxen, this deck still has plenty going on. Commander Liara PortyrCommander Liara Portyr and Party ThrasherParty Thrasher both discount cards that you cast from exile, helping you take advantage of Bruse Tarl'sBruse Tarl's ability to exile his way through your deck.

There are also a huge number of anthem effects like Shared AnimosityShared Animosity, Rally the RanksRally the Ranks, and Adaptive AutomatonAdaptive Automaton to ensure that your cows are strong as they can be.

Players looking to put this deck together cheaply are in luck. None of Magic's Oxen are remotely costly cards.

Some of the cards in this particular list are a bit pricey though, so you can cut them if you want to make some savings. Sacred FoundrySacred Foundry and Caretaker's TalentCaretaker's Talent are the most expensive cards in the deck, typically costing just over $15.

Spectator SeatingSpectator Seating typically goes for about $10, while Teleportation CircleTeleportation Circle, Warleader's CallWarleader's Call, and Enduring InnocenceEnduring Innocence cost between $5-$10.

Now let's get our hands dirty, and start modifying the deck.

5 Cards to Keep

Restless BivouacRestless Bivouac

Restless Bivouac

Currently in 76% of decks.

There aren't very many Oxen out there. Fortunately, Restless BivouacRestless Bivouac lets you use one of your land slots to conceal a cow. This red/white tapland transforms into a 2/2 Ox for the cost of .

You use this land offensively to make the most of its ability to generate +1/+1 counters or defensively to throw an unexpected blocker into the path of oncoming attackers. Either way, the BivouacBivouac will benefit from Bruse TarlBruse Tarl granting it double strike.

Banner of KinshipBanner of Kinship

Banner of Kinship

Currently in <10% of decks.

While Banner of KinshipBanner of Kinship isn't currently in many Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher lists, its popularity is rising quickly. This is why the Average Deck algorithm has slotted it in here, and it's right to do so.

This deck has plenty of anthem effects, whether it's Adaptive AutomatonAdaptive Automaton, Rally the RanksRally the Ranks, or Warleader's CallWarleader's Call there are many methods of making your cows beefier.

At five mana, Banner of KinshipBanner of Kinship is pretty costly, but it has the potential to provide a stats bonus that is much bigger than any of its counterparts. Given that your commander grants all of your Oxen double strike, any power bonuses this card grants are effectively doubled, making this one banner you'll want to display proudly.

Holy CowHoly Cow

Holy Cow

Currently in 87% of decks.

Holy CowHoly Cow is one of the best Oxen available. This probably says more about the lack of competition than it does about the strength of Holy CowHoly Cow but it remains true nonetheless. Holy CowHoly Cow is a souped-up and colorshifted Wind DrakeWind Drake.

It has a decent, but not spectacular, enter the battlefield ability which can be activated during an opponent's turn due to flash. The fact that this card has flying is what makes it noteworthy.

The benefits of all of your anthem effects and other typal payoffs will turn Holy CowHoly Cow into a powerhouse that will soar over blockers on the ground to deliver a direct hit.

Warleader's CallWarleader's Call

Warleader's Call

Currently in 41% of decks.

Warleader's CallWarleader's Call is what you get if you combine Impact TremorsImpact Tremors and Glorious AnthemGlorious Anthem. Not only will all of your creatures be stronger, but they'll also damage each opponent as they enter play.

This is a very aggressive card, and it provides some much needed power for the deck. If you can get enough Oxen out quickly enough then you can really do some damage with this card.

Teleportation CircleTeleportation Circle

Teleportation Circle

Currently in 36% of decks.

Looking at this list you'll see several blink cards like Teleportation CircleTeleportation Circle, EphemerateEphemerate, and CloudshiftCloudshift. You may wonder what these cards are doing here.

Well Bruse Tarl'sBruse Tarl's ability activates whenever he enters play or attacks, so these cards are designed to flicker him in and out of play so that his ability can be activated multiple times.

This will either generate a small army of 2/2 cows, or it will provide you with a huge selection of cards to play, so either way it's worth it.

There are also a few other worthwhile ways that you can make use of this card. You can prevent your Arc RunnerArc Runner from sacrificing itself to its own ability, restore the charge counters on your Transmogrifying WandTransmogrifying Wand, and draw some cards using Ox of AgonasOx of Agonas.

5 Cards to Cut

Ox DroverOx Drover

Ox Drover

Currently in 47% of decks

While Ox DroverOx Drover does generate 2/4 Ox tokens, unfortunately, it puts them into play under an opponent's control. This isn't an Ox typal card at all, it's more of a recurring means of drawing cards.

Ox DroverOx Drover lets you draw when it enters play and whenever it attacks, in exchange for making a 2/4 Ox under an opponent's control.

Historically Boros (Red/White) is infamous for not being great at generating card advantage. With so many new draw effects in these colors now though like Esper SentinelEsper Sentinel, Trouble in PairsTrouble in Pairs, and Demand AnswersDemand Answers you should never need to rely on a card like this.

You could try and pull something off by combining this card with Coat of ArmsCoat of Arms, which would buff your Oxen and those controlled by your opponent equal to the number of cows in play. Since Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher grants your Oxen double strike you would likely still hold an edge.

This still isn't a great plan though, since the tokens that Ox DroverOx Drover generates are 2/4, while Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher makes 2/2s.

This means that even with double strike your cows are still tying with the enemy's. Generally, any plan that involves giving your opponents creatures and then making them more powerful is never going to work out too well.

Intangible VirtueIntangible Virtue

Intangible Virtue

Currently in 43% of decks.

We've already discussed how there are plenty of anthem effects in this deck, unfortunately Intangible VirtueIntangible Virtue virtue is the least useful of them all.

While it does provide vigilance, on top of its +1/+1 bonus, the fact that it only affects creature tokens seriously harms its viability.

The Oxen that are generated by Bruse Tarl'sBruse Tarl's effect are a big part of this deck's game plan, but this deck also has a lot of other cows that this effect totally misses.

All of the cows that are just regular creatures in your deck aren't virtuous enough to benefit from this effect, and that's a deal breaker in my book.

Yoked OxYoked Ox and Giant OxGiant Ox

Yoked Ox

Giant Ox

Yoked Ox is currently in 51% of decks.

Giant Ox is currently in 44% of decks.

While it does pain me to suggest cutting any cows, Yoked OxYoked Ox and Giant OxGiant Ox just aren't very useful. Even with double strike, a creature with 0-power still won't deal any damage.

There are also no vehicles in the deck for Giant OxGiant Ox to crew. Impostor of the Sixth PrideImpostor of the Sixth Pride isn't currently in the list and, given that it can deal 6 damage per attack with your commander in play, its stat lines are far more in line with the intended game plan.

Maybe there's a way to make these cows work by sliding in some vehicles for Giant OxGiant Ox to crew or using a card like Baldin, Century HerdmasterBaldin, Century Herdmaster to make their high toughness matter.

Either of these changes would, unfortunately, require making some pretty fundamental alterations to the composition of the deck.

Echoing AssaultEchoing Assault

Echoing Assault

Currently in 44% of decks.

Echoing AssaultEchoing Assault has a useful effect, but at five mana it's simply too pricey to be worth it. This card grants all of your creature tokens menace. Every time you attack, it also creates a 1/1 token which is a copy of an attacking creature that you control. That token is then sacrificed at the end of your turn.

If you want to make your creatures harder to block, there are much better options out there than this. Both Frontier WarmongerFrontier Warmonger, and Goblin War DrumsGoblin War Drums can grant all of your creatures (not just your tokens) menace for a lower cost.

This card's creature duplicating ability is here to make token copies of Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher which will repeat his enter the battlefield effect before dying due to the legend rule.

Again that's fine, but just not worth five mana. Go for Relentless AssaultRelentless Assault or Aggravated AssaultAggravated Assault, not Echoing AssaultEchoing Assault

5 Cards to Add

Swap either Inti or Laelia for Bulwark OxBulwark Ox

Bulwark OxBulwark Ox

Bulwark Ox

Currently in 0% of decks.

The only reason that this outstanding Ox isn't on the list is because it's brand new and players don't have access to it yet. Bulwark OxBulwark Ox will be released in Aetherdrift later this month. Strictly speaking, this card cares more about +1/+1 counters than it does about cows.

When Bulwark Ox is saddled (meaning that you need to tap a creature with at least 1 power) it gains the ability to put a +1/+1 counter on another creature you control when it attacks.

Bulwark OxBulwark Ox can then be sacrificed to grant all of your creatures with +1/+1 counters hexproof and indestructible, keeping them safe from any potential board wipes that might come their way.

There aren't a huge number of +1/+1 counter cards in this deck. Restless BivouacRestless Bivouac, Taurean MaulerTaurean Mauler,Bloodline PretenderBloodline Pretender, and Metallic MimicMetallic Mimic are about as far as it goes.

Nevertheless, We're not exactly spoiled for choice when it comes to cows, and if Pillarfield OxPillarfield Ox and Raging BullRaging Bull are here then Bulwark OxBulwark Ox more than deserves a place.

Laelia, the Blade ReforgedLaelia, the Blade Reforged

Laelia, the Blade Reforged

Currently in 31% of decks.

Laelia, the Blade ReforgedLaelia, the Blade Reforged isn't a cow, but she is a formidable fighter who can grow much bigger with a bit of help from Bruse TarlBruse Tarl.

Whenever a card is exiled from your library or graveyard, Laelia, the Blade ReforgedLaelia, the Blade Reforged gains a +1/+1 counter. LaeliaLaelia fuels herself, as she exiles a card from your library whenever she attacks.

Since Bruse TarlBruse Tarl also exiles cards by attacking, he'll help Laelia grow twice as quickly. If you can turn her into an Ox by using Maskwood NexusMaskwood Nexus then she'll also gain double strike.

Changeling BerserkerChangeling Berserker

Changeling Berserker

Currently in 8% of decks.

Changeling BerserkerChangeling Berserker is a card bearing the short-lived Champion mechanic. Essentially, when a card with Champion enters play, it exiles another one of its controller's creatures, that card then returns to play when the creature championing it dies.

I'm not recommending Changeling BerserkerChangeling Berserker because it has Champion though, I'm recommending it since it's a five power creature that is technically an Ox and thus gains double strike thanks to your commander.

Try to champion a card with a useful enter the battlefield ability like Irregular CohortIrregular Cohort, or Earth-Origin YakEarth-Origin Yak so that you can recur that ability when your Changeling BerserkerChangeling Berserker dies.

Legion LeadershipLegion Leadership

Legion Leadership

Currently in 19% of decks.

Dealing double damage is good, but dealing quadruple damage is always better. Legion LeadershipLegion Leadership doubles the power of a creature you control and grants it first strike.

Getting first strike may not matter, but if you double the strength of one of your creatures with double strike then your potential to deal big damage truly goes sky high.

Even in situations where this would impractical, Legion LeadershipLegion Leadership can just be played on its reverse side as a dual color tapland. A herd of cows might be slightly threatening, but a legion of them is a truly terrifying sight.

Archetype of AggressionArchetype of Aggression

Archetype of Aggression

Currently in 21% of decks.

This angry enchantment grants all of your creatures trample and removes that ability from all of your opponent's creatures. If you want to be evasive and get your double striking cows past blockers then there are few better cards out there than Archetype of AggressionArchetype of Aggression.

There are other effects similar to this, but Archetype of AggressionArchetype of Aggression is the best of these options. Some builds of this deck run Ferocity of the WildsFerocity of the Wilds.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend that card since it doesn't benefit Humans, meaning that it won't help all of the shapeshifters in the deck. Use this archetype to get angrier than a mad bull and trample over your opponents' defenses.

Conclusion

Bruse Tarl, Roving RancherBruse Tarl, Roving Rancher is exactly the sort of unsung commander that I made this series to celebrate. He takes an unloved creature type, provides a huge benefit for playing them, and helps all of the cow-loving card gamers out there unleash a bovine beatdown on their friends.

The best thing about Bruse TarlBruse Tarl is that he's only going to get better with time. As Magic marches on, more and more Oxen will get added to the game, meaning that this list will gradually get... Well maybe not fine tuned, or optimized but certainly stronger.

You're never going to see Bruse TarlBruse Tarl around a CEDH table, but that's okay. Commander isn't all about winning, it's about creating unique moments that you would never see in any other format. You want to create memories that will stick with you long after you've slid your deck back into its box.

I can guarantee that if you build up a massive cow stampede and send it charging at your opponents, whether they're able to stop it or it ends up overwhelming them, you and your playgroup will be talking about it for ages to come.

Ben Macready

Ben is a freelance writer from the UK. He's has been playing Magic since he was 8 years old, back when he thought Enormous Baloth was the best card in the game. You can find more Magic content from him on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iSANUGoKzdK6XgLyB1qLw