<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yes Man, Personal Securitron" href="#" target="_blank">Yes Man, Personal Securitron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CDan+Murayama+Scott%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dan Murayama Scott</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?<strong> This week, vibe check, please!</strong></p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a> Do us a favor a subscribe to us. We've got some fun stuff in the works and it would mean a lot to Michael, Morgan, and I if you did! Become a Bolcut and get into the Bolcast!</p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza, and I've got some cool news!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Call Forth the Tempest"></div></div>
<p>I'm a part of <a href="https://www.cascadecascade.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cascade Cascade</a> and my first piece came out last week. I'm really proud of it! 🙂</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
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<h2>SUBMISSION</h2>
<p><em>Dear Mike,</em></p>
<p><em>I'm a long-time reader and long-time hothead. I try to keep a cap on my temper, but I recently did something I never thought I'd ever do in a Commander game: I scooped on turn 3.</em></p>
<p><em>Here's what you should know. I have a deck I love to play helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yes Man, Personal Securitron" href="#" target="_blank">Yes Man, Personal Securitron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Humble Defector" href="#" target="_blank">Humble Defector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the command zone? Yes, please!). Usually, before I pass him off to another player, I ask the table, "Who would like to draw cards?" Here's the deal (and I think it's a fair deal), if I'm gonna pass you Yes Man, I want him back eventually. You can pass him along to anyone else who wants cards and accepts the deal, just try to make sure I get him back by my next turn. I've had this deck basically since the release of the Fallout set - usually everyone loves it. We pass him around the table and all draw cards. Eventually, people have drawn enough cards and stop taking the deal - but by then, he's got a fair number of quest counters and I can make an army of 1/1s - certainly powerful, but nothing game-breaking (and by then I’ve helped people draw answers). It doesn't win a ton but people enjoy playing against it and I love to play it so I can look past the low win rate. Unfortunately, I haven't played the deck at all as of late because of something that happened during a game that left me with a sour taste in my mouth.</em></p>
<p><em>A few weeks ago, I showed up at my LGS to meet up with a group of coworkers who get together a couple times a month for some Commander games. I showed up a little late and wasn't able to join a pod with my coworkers, but the nice thing about playing at an LGS is we can usually round off games with some strangers. I joined another game nearby with three people I'd never met who seemed friendly and were playing some interesting commanders I'd never seen before. For a game with strangers, I figured Yes Man was a safe bet. I let my opponents know what my deck does and we started the game.</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yes Man, Personal Securitron"></div></div>
<p><em>Thanks to a turn one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I'm able to untap with Yes Man on turn three. I ask the same question I've asked dozens of times, "who wants to draw some cards?" Well, something happened I've never seen before. My opponents (who clearly all know each other), look at each other and then basically say, "No thanks!". I'm sort of confused, so I reply, "Wait really? Nobody wants to draw?" They sort of shrug and explain that if they have to choose between drawing and completely shutting off my deck, they’re going to choose the latter. They agree among each other not to tap him at all.</em></p>
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<p><em>At this point, I’m feeling completely embarrassed. Sure, it is probably a mistake that my deck pretty much revolves around that play pattern, but it’s a fun and fair play pattern! I feel like it was rude that my opponents seemed to have worked this out before the game started and didn’t care to let me know that I wouldn’t be doing anything for the entire game. I basically told them if that’s how it was going to be, I was not going to watch them play without me for one-to-two hours and just scooped. I was so agitated, I didn’t even link back up with my friends and I left the game store.</em></p>
<p><em>Now, I’m contemplating deconstructing my favorite deck because I don't want to be reminded that it’s entirely up to my opponents whether it runs or not. I’m kind of feeling like I was silly to expect people to go along with my expected play pattern and that my crash out at the LGS was probably not justified.</em></p>
<p><em><strong>What do you think? Am I the Bolas? </strong></em></p>
</div>
<p><em>Thanks,</em></p>
<p><em>Dr. Diamond Randy</em></p>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summary Dismissal"></div></div>
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<h2>VERDICT</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>Dr. Randy, I loved this submission. I think it was such a gift and not just because I got to come up with your pseudonym. Thank you, Dr DR. It's also a gift because I get to tell you that there's no need to take apart a deck you like. Is the spark for it fully gone? You called it your favorite deck, I have to hope you've still got love for it and this experience didn't taint it irreversibly.</p>
<p>I think it's clear when someone rocks up with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yes Man, Personal Securitron" href="#" target="_blank">Yes Man, Personal Securitron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck what the intended vibe is. Everybody passes it around between each other and you're just asking for a bone every now and again. You just want people to pass Yes Man around because eventually, there's a chance you get a bunch of tokens and I'm guessing the <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/group-hug" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Group Hug</a> element gets a game on rails and that's pretty exciting. It's most definitely a game you need to buy into, which is why you have to hope the other players will give you their honesty.</p>
<p>Playing with your friends who know the deck and pass around Yes Man, they know it's not a threat because, like you said, it's not a big game-winner. If the time arises where they don't feel like playing against Yes Man, I'd think you'd be understanding and pick something else.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Homeward Path"></div></div>
<p>The fact that they let you put that on the table and then didn't buy in sucks big time. I understand where they're coming from if it's really about winning the game through your own deck and not giving an opponent an inch. Sure, fine, be competitive, but let me know before I pick this deck! Maybe! Just a thought!</p>
<p>This all comes down to the vibe check. Having a chat with people about the deck and getting their honest impressions is going to be important for this deck no matter what. It seems like you've got the chat down, but I'd recommend mentioning that if they aren't interested in playing into the fun of it, you can pull something else out.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Fall of Lord Konda"></div></div>
<p>I have to imagine you have the only absolutely perfect card for this deck in the 99 - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Homeward Path" href="#" target="_blank">Homeward Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - but I have to hope there's more to this deck so that it can hang a little, specifically for situations like these. But even if it doesn't, who cares? If you're in the game and nobody's playing into it, you're right, you can scoop. It's not the game you would have played if the conversation had signaled even a little hesitation and yet, the others aren't keen to play it. Oh, well. Leaving entirely, is less fun. I wish you'd checked in with one of your pals and talked it out with them, I'm sure you'd have gotten some support on this. This is a Rule Zero deck after all in the sense that you require the buy-in of your pod to really get anything out of it.</p>
<p>Gotta get better at the vibe check, but I don't think you're wrong for scooping.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path to Exile"></div></div>
<p>Thanks again!</p>


Am I the Bolas? - Yes Man, No Man

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triple Triad" href="#" target="_blank">Triple Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CBen+Wootten%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Wootten</a></em></p>
<hr />
<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?<strong> This week, a couple quickies!</strong></p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza and I'm gonna scry and surveil a lot more from now on.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planetarium of Wan Shi Tong"></div></div>
<p><i>I can see everything now and it's beautiful.</i></p>
<p>This week, a bunch of submissions that are a little short for a full article.</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
<hr />
<h2>SUBMISSION 1</h2>
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<p><em>Hello,</em></p>
<p><em>My friend - let's call him George - is a bit of a wild card/chaos player. When making deals he loves to look for loopholes and technicalities.</em></p>
<p><em>During a game of Commander while I was trying to make a deal that I won't attack him if he doesn't attack me he said "I won't attack you during the next turn." The next player in order goes then it's George's turn and he attacks me. He claims his exact words mean he would not attack me during the next players turn not "his" next turn.</em></p>
<p><em>I think I am 100% in the right and it was a silly loophole/ deal break. <strong>Am I the Bolas for feeling this way?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Thanks,</em><br />
<em>Ace</em></p>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deceit"></div></div>
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<h2>VERDICT 1</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>Hey, no! You're not wrong here! George intentionally deceived you and if you'd asked anybody reading this, they'd understand the intent of the deal being offered and yet George took advantage of semantics to essentially go back on a deal. Boo.</p>
<p>If you're going to make a deal, be as clear as you can be, for sure, but it's fair that in the safety of a pod among friends, some intentions and implications don't need spelling out. George took advantage of that and I think this is bad etiquette in Commander. Was he playing a character to embody his commander? Was there a real reason for this, forecasted in some way? No? Then I'm not going to be trusting any more of George's deals going forward.</p>
<p>Not the Bolas.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phenax, God of Deception"></div></div>
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<h2>SUBMISSION 2</h2>
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<p><em>Hello,</em></p>
<p><em>I play Commander every Tuesday with my three-to-four friends and a lot of the games end very similarly.</em></p>
<p><em>To be honest, I tend to win a lot of our games, though I do believe that comes from experience. I've been playing Magic for about ten years, whereas my friends have anywhere between two months to two years of experience. Oftentimes, it's my judgment and deckbuilding being a bit more informed than theirs.</em></p>
<p><em>My solution is nerfing my decks. What I have done with a lot of my decks is kept them more board-centric but what happens is I have a few mid-sized things that don't present huge problems. Then someone plays a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheoldred" href="#" target="_blank">Sheoldred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and everyone panics. They get targeted and, most times, my stuff is left alone.</em></p>
<p><em>Where I've had to adapt to keep my stuff relevant is running removal. I run a decent amount and a lot of it is value-oriented. Things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Druid of Purification" href="#" target="_blank">Druid of Purification</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Multi-targeted removal.</em></p>
<p><em>My most recent deck was a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feather, the Redeemed" href="#" target="_blank">Feather, the Redeemed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck designed around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> type cards. Games end up looking like a player playing a giant threat or two and me evoking a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudshift" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>ing it.</em></p>
<p><em>I worry I'm sucking the fun out of the games by always having an answer. I don't want my friends to think I'm just going to be no fun and remove any cool creatures. But I also don't want to throw and just let them have the big thing because it kind of feels insulting.</em></p>
<p><em><strong>Am I the Bolas?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Mace</em></p>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Solitude"></div></div>
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<h2>VERDICT 2</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story.</p>
<p>The first thing I'll mention is that I recommend you speak to your playgroup about this feeling you're having. If it's something they've noticed and hadn't spoken up about, then take that criticism and push further toward a solution. However, if they acknowledge they have no problem with the way you play and that it's your own perception, I recommend you find a way for yourself to enjoy the game while also reminding yourself that your playgroup has said there isn't an issue.</p>
<p>I would also recommend you invite them to provide feedback to you on your games and I think that would relieve some of the pressure you're putting on yourself.</p>
<p>If you find yourself controlling the table when your goal is not to control the table, then you have to hit the drawing board again. Of course, you need to run some removal, but if you're often the player who takes a win and you feel bad about it, you haven't nerfed things enough. Really get creative with how many bad cards you can play with - if this is the direction you'd like to go in, that is.</p>
<p>My other suggestion is a classic: Play a group hug deck. It sounds like you don't want to be the problem and you want people to have a good time. "But Mike, isn't a group hug deck a control deck by another name and isn't that more insidious?" Fair point, smart individual. I see where you're coming from.</p>
<p>It doesn't have to be that way though. It comes down to how you wish to pilot the deck and whether you'll get enjoyment out of the others succeeding rather than you "always having the answer."</p>
<p>In the end, if this doesn't sound good to you and you still find yourself dominating, then go for value over disruption. I know it means that your decks won't hum the same way, but if you cut a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sun Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Sun Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead, you've got a different situation. I don't think <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is at all close to being a Game Changer, but it's undoubtedly a very strong card, so much so that it's a Modern card. That whole cycle is bananas. So its inclusion raises the question of whether or not your nerfing has gone far enough.</p>
<p>Not the Bolas, but I encourage you to identify what your goal really is in this playgroup and then to build with that goal in mind fully.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ephemerate"></div></div>
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<h2>SUBMISSION 3</h2>
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<p><em>Hi Mike,</em></p>
<p><em>Love the podcast and the column. Something has been weighing on me for a couple of weeks and I wanted the very scientific and mathematical decision of The Bolcast.</em></p>
<p><em>I am a judge at couple different LGS locations - shocker, I know. Mostly after tournaments and prereleases, I sit down a play a game of Commander or two or ten. Depends on my family. My intent in playing is really to chill and unwind. I don't really care about winning. Usually, I am making people laugh and enjoy Magic.</em></p>
<p><em>One LGS is a little Spikier than the others. In fact, the owner, who I have beaten in Commander a few times, tells everyone to kill me first. He says this jokingly, but there are players who have also gotten beaten my me who do not take it as a joke.</em></p>
<p><em>A couple weeks back, a pod invited me to play and then targeted me down big time. After two games of this, I wanted to teach this pod a lesson of what happens when you bully a player. So I brought out a deck that wasn't nice. Was it cEDH? No. Was it higher power than what I normally play? Yes. I played without the kid gloves and you can expect what happened. This caused a bit a salt. </em></p>
<p><em><strong>Am I the Bolas in this situation?</strong> Judges are typically supposed to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, not <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Go for the Throat" href="#" target="_blank">Go for the Throat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I did apologize for causing friction but not for my actions. Would love to hear what you think about this.</em></p>
<p><em>Sincerely,</em><br />
<em>Judge Jay</em></p>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stump Stomp"></div></div>
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<h2>VERDICT 3</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. Thank you for your kind words about the podcast as well, I appreciate it.</p>
<p>As a steward of the game, being a judge, there's this added pressure to make sure you conduct yourself in a welcoming way. It also means that you'll be known to impart and dispense wisdom. The way in which you do this matters. I don't believe stomping a table after you've been targeted for several games is the way to go. I don't think reaching for a deck and thinking "This'll teach them a lesson" is really the way to go unless you're fighting fire with fire and someone has been pretty atrocious to the table and the overall vibe.</p>
<p>I believe strongly that this could be handled differently. You have a reputation at the LGS because of the owner and other people who've played against you.</p>
<p>It could be a conversation with the owner to say "Hey, I love this place, but when you outright tell people to target me, I just don't have that much fun and I've reined in my decks. I don't deserve this kind of target placed on me." Their reaction will be what it is and you have to be prepared for all those possibilities.</p>
<p>I think being fun, cool, and calm in the face of being focused on in your capacity at this LGS as a judge is pretty important. When targeted, you could plead a case and politic. You could ask to borrow someone else's deck so they know you're not playing anything too juiced for their own collection. But I don't think stomping a table because of this is the right move. It might come down to having a "work" LGS and a "play" LGS.</p>
<p>Bolas, I guess, but I think you'll be alright.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pacifism"></div></div>
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<h3>Read More:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="yXRaUuFpYX"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-tricky-treat/">Am I The Bolas? - Tricky Treat</a></p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="vJ9rKJw1Ym"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-now-get-outta-my-house/">Am I the Bolas? - Now, Get Outta My House</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Am I the Bolas? - Now, Get Outta My House&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-now-get-outta-my-house/embed/#?secret=4KDaawhvTP#?secret=vJ9rKJw1Ym" data-secret="vJ9rKJw1Ym" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="J3Fx5R9tbL"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-giving-up/">Am I The Bolas? - Giving Up</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Am I The Bolas? - Giving Up&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-giving-up/embed/#?secret=iYSP2nppTS#?secret=J3Fx5R9tbL" data-secret="J3Fx5R9tbL" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


Am I the Bolas? - Three Submissions in One!

<p>When I was a child watching my brothers play <em>Final Fantasy IX</em>, I was obsessed with the character of Zidane. Not only did I have long blonde hair, I also had a tail… Okay, one of those things was a lie (which one? You decide!). So when I first saw his card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zidane, Tantalus Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Zidane, Tantalus Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I loved how it captured his generous yet rambunctious nature.</p>
<p>Today we'll be looking at a fun direction to take this commander in: borrowing cards from other players, as well as gifting them some pieces that benefit you at the same time. My name is Tyler ‘Savesya’ Bucks, and with all that in mind, let’s take a look at fourteen cards for under $14 that will get you started on a brand new <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Final Fantasy</a></em> deck!</p>
<h2>Zidane, Tantalus Thief</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zidane, Tantalus Thief"></div></div>
<p>The first thought that came to mind when I saw <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zidane, Tantalus Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Zidane, Tantalus Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was his synergy with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Threaten" href="#" target="_blank">Threaten</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. Sure, I could fill this list with every version of that type of card, but that would be a little one-note. If you have a lot of those cards, throw them in this deck!</p>
<p>This list will showcase some interesting ways to steal your opponents' cards, whether it's one at a time or multiple all at once. We'll also look at a few spells that will “gift” cards to other players, so that you can get a Treasure in return. Finally, at the end of the list, I'll showcase two cards that represent a few tricky directions you can take this commander.</p>
<h3>Kari Zev's Expertise</h3>
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<p>Kicking things off with one of my favorite versions of a Threaten effect, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kari Zev&#039;s Expertise" href="#" target="_blank">Kari Zev&#039;s Expertise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Three mana is the going rate for stealing a creature for a turn, but adding the ability to cast a spell with mana value two or less for free is what sets this apart. Sure, you might only hit something like a Signet or cheap removal off of this, but that’s better than nothing when you consider you'll also get a Treasure once you return the creature you borrowed.</p>
<h3>Claim the Firstborn</h3>
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<p>Like I said at that start of this article, I won’t fill this list with too many Threaten effects, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Claim the Firstborn" href="#" target="_blank">Claim the Firstborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is too good not to include. One mana to take a creature with mana value three or less is incredibly powerful, especially in this deck, since you’ll get that mana back when you make that Treasure. You don’t always need to get the biggest thing from your opponents; as long as you’re stealing cards, Zidane will be happy!</p>
<h3>Captivating Crew</h3>
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<p>Say you have a lot of Treasure tokens sitting around, and nothing to dump them all into. That’s where a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captivating Crew" href="#" target="_blank">Captivating Crew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can truly shine. Four mana to steal one creature for a turn isn’t the greatest rate, but if you have the resources to swipe several creatures at a time, it could turn the game in your favor. Plus, at the end of your turn, you’ll make a Treasure for each creature you give back.</p>
<h3>Frenzied Fugue</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frenzied Fugue"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of four-mana theft spells, next up we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frenzied Fugue" href="#" target="_blank">Frenzied Fugue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When this enters, and at the beginning of your upkeep, you’re going to steal the enchanted permanent until end of turn. Since this is a repeatable way to take something and then give it back on each of your turns, it’ll be a nice little Treasure making engine. Also, don’t overlook the fact that you can steal any permanent with this card like lands or even planeswalkers.</p>
<h3>Call for Aid</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Call for Aid"></div></div>
<p>These next two cards will show off the power of stealing your opponents' things en masse. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call for Aid" href="#" target="_blank">Call for Aid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets you gain control of all the creatures target opponent controls, which is a major shift in your favor even though you can’t attack them that turn. Plus, once you give all those creatures back, you’ll be making a huge number of Treasure tokens, which can set you up for your endgame from there.</p>
<h3>Insurrection</h3>
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<p>Taking all the creatures from one player is great, but taking all the creatures on the battlefield is even better! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insurrection" href="#" target="_blank">Insurrection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the most expensive card on this list, and for good reason. Back in the early days of Commander, this card used to be a favorite win-con for many red decks. When paired with Zidane, this spell will make you a whole lot of Treasures when you give those creatures back to anyone who survived the onslaught. (Also see <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mob Rule" href="#" target="_blank">Mob Rule</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for another budget option.)</p>
<h3>Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos"></div></div>
<p>Moving on to the cards I’m titling “Gifts,” we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos" href="#" target="_blank">Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is a creature you can give away to each opponent on their turn, which has to attack, can’t attack you, and grows with counters. With this creature and your commander alone, you’ll be making three Treasures and forcing your opponents to whittle each others' life totals down in the process.</p>
<h3>Yes Man, Personal Securitron</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yes Man, Personal Securitron"></div></div>
<p>Up next is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yes Man, Personal Securitron" href="#" target="_blank">Yes Man, Personal Securitron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This deck can benefit from a little bit of politics, since you'll be handing out some value pieces during the game. Yes Man is a prime example of this, where you can make a deal with another player to give it back and forth to each other throughout the game. Drawing two cards and making a Treasure token is a nice combo. Plus, you could make a large amount of Soldier tokens when this creature leaves the battlefield.</p>
<h3>Coveted Jewel</h3>
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<p>Possibly the wackiest card on this list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coveted Jewel" href="#" target="_blank">Coveted Jewel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. For six mana you'll draw three cards and get a rock that taps for three mana; sounds like a good rate to me! However, if someone attacks you and you don't block all the attackers, they gain control of the Jewel. Luckily, your commander will make you a Treasure when that happens. Plus, since this deck’s main goal is to take creatures and attack with them, there’s a good chance you'd be able to swing right over and take the Jewel back on your next turn.</p>
<h3>Humble Defector</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Humble Defector"></div></div>
<p>I recently built a deck around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Jolly Balloon Man" href="#" target="_blank">The Jolly Balloon Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and got extremely excited to find a new home for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Humble Defector" href="#" target="_blank">Humble Defector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Drawing two cards just for tapping this creature is a great rate. However, you have to give it away once you do that. This is where incorporating some politics into your games will be the most beneficial, since you could just trade the Defector back and forth with the same player. Drawing two and creating a Treasure on each of your turns is the type of value that can help you close out games.</p>
<h3>Hithlain Rope</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hithlain Rope"></div></div>
<p>Our next card on the list offers some more possible card draw as well as land ramp, just for the small price of handing it over to the player to your right. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hithlain Rope" href="#" target="_blank">Hithlain Rope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives players two different options they can activate, which could help incentivize them to pass this card around the table, depending on what they need in that moment. The main drawback is that you have to pass it to your right, which means it'll take a little longer to get back to you. However, in this deck, giving it away once might be enough value for one game.</p>
<h3>Discerning Financier</h3>
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<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Discerning Financier" href="#" target="_blank">Discerning Financier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> raised my eyebrows when I first saw it in one of my <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/woe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wilds of Eldraine</a></em> boosters. Making you a Treasure if your opponents have more lands than you is nice to have around. The main star in this card’s text box comes from the fact that you can pass an opponent a Treasure to draw a card for three mana. If you have your commander out when you do that, you’ll be at parity with your Treasures, since you’ll make a new one just for handing it out. This is great for making deals with other players, since you're not going down in resources.</p>
<h3>Kazuul's Fury</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kazuul&#039;s Fury"></div></div>
<p>Our final two cards will highlight some of the ways you can take this deck, while still fitting in any build for this commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kazuul&#039;s Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Kazuul&#039;s Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> style effect that’s attached to a land on the backside, making it feel free to run. Sure, giving the cards you steal back to your opponents makes you lose those Treasures, but sometimes you want to just get a threat off the board entirely. This spell, and other cards like it, are definitely a direction to go if you’re looking to make this a meaner build.</p>
<h3>Cloudshift</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudshift"></div></div>
<p>Finally, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudshift" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can save one of your important creatures when you need it; but there’s something more sinister lurking behind this card. With the wording it has, when you exile a creature you've stolen, it comes back to play under your control, not its owner. Recent blink cards aren’t usually worded this way, so finding a few cards that let you steal something for the rest of the game could be extra tricky for your opponents to deal with.</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>So, there you have it, fourteen cards for under $14 to get you started on your very own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zidane, Tantalus Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Zidane, Tantalus Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. Let me know in the comments what cards you would include in the rest of the 99, and bonus points for telling me your favorite Threaten effect. You can check out the full list, as well as some cards that didn't make the cut, <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/13127458/zidane_cheerful_thief_pillow_fortteen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on my Archidekt!</a></p>
<h3>A Fancy Fifteenth - Slicer, Hired Muscle</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slicer, Hired Muscle"></div></div>
<p>If you liked the playstyle of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos" href="#" target="_blank">Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, then you might also enjoy his more expensive cousin <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slicer, Hired Muscle" href="#" target="_blank">Slicer, Hired Muscle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While it’s not the most essential inclusion for this deck, if you have some more funds set aside while you're building, then give this <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/bot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transformer</a> a chance!</p>


Zidane, Tantalus Thief | Stealing Your Friends' Cards on a Budget

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vazi, Keen Negotiator" href="#" target="_blank">Vazi, Keen Negotiator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Illustrated by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/parodi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">José Parodi</a></em></p>
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<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?</p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below, one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza and I'm never going to play <em>Final Fantasy</em>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stiltzkin, Moogle Merchant"></div></div>
<p><em>But I will die for this lil' angel. Nobody tell me anything devastating!</em></p>
<p>This week, building to your taste or your playgroup's?</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
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<h2>HELLO, MIKE</h2>
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<p><em>I’m a long time reader, first time writer, and I absolutely LOVE the column and podcast! Your advice has helped me puzzle through so many difficult situations on game night, and I’m really grateful for that.</em></p>
<p><em>This situation isn’t so much about gameplay, but more about some tension between me and my friends about deckbuilding.</em></p>
<p><em>One of the things I enjoy most about four-player Commander is the politics and deal-making aspect. I like to play this up by building decks with interactive strategies or play styles. When I say interactive, I mean the decks encourage table talk and decision making. I’m not running more removal or board wipes or anything like that. As an example, my favorite deck is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vazi, Keen Negotiator" href="#" target="_blank">Vazi, Keen Negotiator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> list centered around kingmaking then switching sides to rally the table against the archenemy. Additionally, I also like to build decks that I think are are underrepresented in the playgroup, to see how people react and to foster more creative deckbuilding (this comes up later).</em></p>
<p><em>Most of my friends tolerate and enjoy playing against my decks, but one friend doesn’t seem to like many of my decks, especially the more interactive ones. Their decks are built in a more traditional battlecruiser style, and even though they’re able to withstand interaction and board wipes pretty well, this player will still lean towards targeting me if I’m playing an interactive deck. They usually express their discontent at the start of the game by asking me to play another deck, telling me to play another deck, or switching to a stronger deck, even if my deck isn’t that powerful. This is a strong pattern, and as someone who tracks their decks’ wins and losses, I’ve noticed a correlation with a deck’s win rate and it’s interactivity.</em></p>
<p><em>The Bolas situation happened a couple days ago, when I decided to start brewing a stax deck. It’s not that I’m a naturally hateful person, I’m just interested to see how the group reacts. When I called this friend up to tell them about it, they obviously got upset, which I don’t blame them for. However, after that they started talking about how they’re going to build a targeted land destruction deck aimed only at my stax deck, and how they’re going to constantly try to deny it resources every time they play against it.</em></p>
<p><em>I don’t play to win and I want the table to have a good time. However, the games I enjoy the most involve more player interaction than average, and more interaction than this friend likes. So far, none of the other players in our playgroup have complained about my decks, and one other friend has also talked about how some of their more interactive decks (they just built a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadpool, Trading Card" href="#" target="_blank">Deadpool, Trading Card</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> control deck based on sacrificing and reanimating Deadpool over and over) have received similar hate from the same friend.</em></p>
<p><em>The question is this: <strong>Am I the Bolas for pushing the playgroup in new directions with my different and interactive decks?</strong> And what’s a good solution to solve the tension in our playgroup? We’re all just trying to have a good time, after all.</em></p>
<p><em>Thanks,</em></p>
<p><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kellan, Inquisitive Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Kellan, Inquisitive Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></em></p>
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<h2>HOWDY, RAVEN!</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>Kellan, thank you so much for the kind words. I'm glad the column has helped you navigate some tricky situations! That's always been the goal so to have somebody just outright tell me warms my heart. Thank you for that.</p>
<p>Your submission's super interesting. It's easy to see this one from both sides. If I were someone who didn't want to play socially interactive games but rather focused on deck building to battlecruise to a win with technical threat assessment, I wouldn't love to see you coming to the table. I'd get pretty salty if every experience I had with my friends playing <em>Magic</em> resulted in the perfect play being tipped over by somebody striking a deal. Every time? Oof. Once in a while? That's <em>Magic</em>, baby! As much as I like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vazi, Keen Negotiator" href="#" target="_blank">Vazi, Keen Negotiator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the way it can warp a game like group hug can be a little taxing on some strategies.</p>
<p>Side note, I think of Vazi as Vazi Keen as if that's their name. As if it's Vazi Keen, Negotiator and not <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vazi, Keen Negotiator" href="#" target="_blank">Vazi, Keen Negotiator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Like I'd say "Hey, Vazi Keen!" if we were friends. And then they'd be like "what'd you call me?" and I'd sheepishly repeat it before they corrected me. Whatever, no big deal!</p>
<p>That said, one of the defining features of Commander is its multiplayer nature, and therefore the inevitability of table talk. I love politics at the table. I love getting to decide whether I'm in the mood for a deal or to shut it down. I get to express myself in Commander and part of that extends to being able to be flexible in my approach to politics and table talk.</p>
<p>I also think that part of my responsibility as someone who's part of a regular playgroup is to do anything you can to make sure you're invited back. Yes, you can be the most active person in a playgroup, you still need to be invited back, whether explicitly or implicitly. If somebody in your playgroup finds out you'll be there and they sigh dejectedly, then maybe there's some air to clear here. That's why I personally like that you called your friend and discussed your plans to build a stax deck (not inherently Bolas behavior, but close). I like that he made his feelings clear.</p>
<p>It seems that this player doesn't like how hard you're going into the politics and table talk. If somebody asks me not to play a particular deck, that's an opening to a discussion. "Why do you not want me to play this deck?" It seems like he'll have no problem telling you why.</p>
<p>I think you aren't the Bolas for wanting to build decks that push the group to explore different deckbuilding styles. If people are into it, that's great! If they're interested in moving with that meta, that's awesome. It seems, however, you've got one person who is less into it and if you can throw him a bone now and then, that'd probably go a long way. Have something straightforward, maybe borrow one of his decks.</p>
<p>Compromise. Don't do it to the extent where you lose your flame for the game, but most definitely recognize that you're in the driver's seat here. Your friend likes you enough to keep playing with you guys and to be honest in his reactions. That's good friendship. Open communication! Lots to celebrate! Nurture that friendship by showing him that he's heard and his feelings mean something to you. He pulls out a deck to hold his own against yours so that he can play the way he wants to while you play the way you want to. Meeting him on his level from time to time will go a long way, I promise (as far as I can promise anything).</p>
<p>Not the Bolas, but some improvements are definitely within reach.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hokori, Dust Drinker"></div></div>


Am I The Bolas? - Highly Interactive Politics

Rally the Ancestors - Build an Azorius Mill Deck

EDH Political Science – Lifesaving Information

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steam Vents" href="#" target="_blank">Steam Vents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.robalexander.com/">Rob Alexander</a>)</h6>
<h1>Safety Valve</h1>
<p>Welcome to <em>EDH Political Science</em>! This series is where politics, warfare, history, and the data of EDHREC all inform us how to adjust our deck design and gameplay decisions to fit this multiplayer format.</p>
<p>The government sits within a sealed capsule on top of a growing inferno of political pressure. Every day we see headlines featuring grave failure by the hands of leaders that we expected to help. Regardless of political leaning or geographic location, you are undoubtedly frustrated by something happening in the political landscape. We either need to quell the fire or we will split at the seams, breaking the whole system.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Steam Vents"></div></div>
<p>There is a solution. Closed systems are designed to not split at the seams. Pressurized boilers and governments have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steam Vents" href="#" target="_blank">Steam Vents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or, more accurately, “safety valves”. These devices are built-in insurance to prevent system collapse. A system without these cannot function properly without serious risk. One of the best parts about multiplayer games, like EDH, is that they too have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steam Vents" href="#" target="_blank">Steam Vents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The late political scientist Lucius Barker developed the idea that the United States Supreme Court is a political safety valve for the government. They can handle sensitive minutiae that Congress cannot. This safety valve analogy has been attributed to a great number of systems within government. Organizations that provide outlets of resistance are safety valves, like the Better Business Bureau’s ability to resolve conflict between consumers and companies. Also, the First Amendment does plenty for granting pressure releases when other places cannot. In the words of Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, “[F]ear breeds hate… hate menaces stable government… the path of safety lies in the opportunity to discuss freely supposed grievances and proposed remedies; and the fitting remedy for evil counsels is good ones.” Sounds an awful lot like George Lucas was a Supreme Court buff. I wouldn’t doubt it if Brandeis hid a lightsaber under his robe, too.</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/louis-brandeis-lightsaber.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-52647 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/louis-brandeis-lightsaber-300x244.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="244" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/louis-brandeis-lightsaber-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/louis-brandeis-lightsaber.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>
<hr />
<p>Safety valves are placed throughout the game of <em>Magic: the Gathering</em> to give players a chance to battle against what otherwise could be oppressive mechanics or playstyles. A seven-card hand limit is a safety valve against heavy control or combo strategies. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boil" href="#" target="_blank">Boil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Acid Rain" href="#" target="_blank">Acid Rain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were placed into the game to ensure that there were ways to fight oppressive playstyles in enemy segments of the color pie. These safety valves didn’t always work well, but early <em>Magic</em> sets printed these in such quantity that it became easy to find a way to fight back against anything, but not everything at once.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boil"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Acid Rain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Circle of Protection Red"></div></div>
<p>Multiplayer, itself, is a safety valve. The more players at the table, the less likely it is that any one person can take over the game. EDH also has a safety valve card: your commander. You almost always have access to play your commander. What’s most fun about EDH is that eventually everyone will either peter out or succumb to the pressure of the game and burst at the seams. Let’s talk a bit about the best ways to utilize these safety valves.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Playing to Safety Valve Tactics</h2>
<p>Games of EDH may often stagnate at some point. They can reach a standstill with few spells cast and fewer attacks made. Often, players are worried about crackback or future retaliation, and for good reason. After being disadvantaged by targeted removal, clawing your way back can feel insurmountable. You want to keep on top of managing the pressure, but retribution is menacing. Three ways you can adjust your play to take advantage of these safety valves include using your right to free speech, maintaining your defenses, and knowing when to switch gears.</p>
<p>Facing down political pressure can be difficult, but you have your voice and your actions. Attacks and removal speak louder than words, but you need balance. No one thing can solve all the problems. You have to have multiple tools available at your disposal. Normalize in-game banter and logical decision-making. When you’re attacking in with an early <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Electromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Electromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into an empty board, make sure your voice is heard. Tell them you’re keeping the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erebos, God of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Erebos, God of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> player from using their life as resource later. If the others at the table understand your logic early in the game, it will keep them from questioning you later in the game. You can feel like you have more room to speak up about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a problem across the table. Giving yourself the freedom to talk and convince others of your rationale is, like the First Amendment, the most important safety valve. Your word is sacred. The more you cultivate your voice as one of reason and honesty, the more you can use it to make thoughtful observations for others.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Electromancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Erebos, God of the Dead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skullclamp"></div></div>
<p>Defense is better than offense. Now, dedicated readers may notice that this is the part of the article where I mention how you should be attacking more. However, due to the mechanics of the game, defenders get to choose where damage is dealt, and, assuming that your defenders survive, you’re dealing that damage without leaving yourself vulnerable to others. That is a huge advantage. Know when to use it. If the table is getting heated, please stay back. Move against the grain. You’re not going to be doing yourself any favors by throwing gas on the fire of a pressurized situation.</p>
<p>Parity is any moment of relative peace. That peace is precarious and ethereal. It will burst at the seams suddenly and often without warning. If that parity is not clearly giving you the largest advantage at the table, then you need to be doing everything in your power to find your advantage in the situation. With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grismold, the Dreadsower" href="#" target="_blank">Grismold, the Dreadsower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as we will detail more later, parity may come up plenty, but you're always looking for your way out. Use your available resources, including your opponents, to break up parity. Make a move with the resources that you have to disadvantage the person. Yes, attacks and removal may not be profitable, but if someone else is gaining from you not attacking, then you need to make a stink about it. If that’s not in your available resources, find out what you can do.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Building with Safety Valves</h2>
<p>Back <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/lets-brawl-breaking-parity/">when I wrote about the Brawl format</a>, one big point that I had was that you needed parity-breakers. These are the tools that you need to have at your disposal to keep a game from getting away from you. If you are at parity, like we discussed earlier, or if pressure is mounting, you have about a one-in-four chance of being the one to break the parity. Important parity-breakers include, but are certainly not limited to, the following: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects, planeswalkers, and mass removal.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can turn a bad situation into a great situation. However, sometimes I would rather see basic land ten turns into the game than [my el]Overrun[/el]. Building your deck with a couple of outs to bad situations is a good idea. Any list can run <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 most colors have something to pump the team. If you’re using card draw and removal with creatures attached, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reclamation Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Reclamation Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and you should be), then you can be setting yourself up to dominate with one lucky top deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overrun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reclamation Sage"></div></div>
<p>Planeswalkers are contentious. Plenty of people denote the worst-case scenario when discussing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner" href="#" target="_blank">Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dack Fayden" href="#" target="_blank">Dack Fayden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and they should. You don’t want to play cards that sometimes fail. Worst-case scenarios are rare in my experience, and planeswalkers almost always break up gameplay. Of course, you want to be running the high-impact planeswalkers; almost every ‘walker that costs five or more does something huge on entering. Even in the case that they’re dealt with immediately, it still cost your opponent something to do so. An attack at your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the air still leaves you with creatures on the ground and that opponent more vulnerable. Similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects, don’t play many, but play some planeswalkers and play the important ones.</p>
<p>Appropriate removal can be difficult to find, especially when it almost always leaves you at a disadvantage compared to three other players. For this reason, mass removal becomes important. This is not to say that you should always just run more <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style removal spells. What can be just as important is running effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyroclasm" href="#" target="_blank">Pyroclasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golden Demise" href="#" target="_blank">Golden Demise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These partial mass removal spells can be used early to halt a quick start, and they can also be used later to make a powerful turn with removal followed by a threat. Higher-costed targeted mass removal, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Casualties of War" href="#" target="_blank">Casualties of War</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can be used to turn the tides of battle in a more significant way than anyone would have guessed. That is, if included sparingly.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Grismold Control" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Grismold, the Dreadsower
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Den Protector
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Winding Constrictor
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Corpsejack Menace
*1 Species Specialist
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Vigor
*1 Grave Titan
*1 Craterhoof Behemoth
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Tainted Strike
*1 Bile Blight
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Beast Within
*1 Krosan Grip
*1 Sudden Spoiling
*1 Curious Herd
*1 Dark Bargain
*1 Deadly Rollick
*1 Hatred
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
*1 Windgrace&#039;s Judgment
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Cultivate
*1 Golden Demise
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Witch&#039;s Vengeance
*1 Circuitous Route
*1 Massacre
*1 Migration Path
*1 Triumph of the Hordes
*1 Dark Petition
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Casualties of War
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Seasons Past
*1 Decree of Pain
*1 Find // Finality
*1 Black Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Gaze of Granite
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Retribution of the Ancients
*1 Bitterblossom
*1 Attrition
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Mind Slash
*1 Song of the Dryads
*1 Deathreap Ritual
*1 Parallel Lives
*1 Doubling Season
*1 Moldervine Reclamation
*1 Primal Vigor
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Garruk Relentless
*1 Garruk Wildspeaker
*1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
*1 Garruk, Cursed Huntsman
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Blighted Woodland
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Bonders&#039; Enclave
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Foul Orchard
*11 Forest
*1 Golgari Guildgate
*1 Hissing Quagmire
*1 Labyrinth of Skophos
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Temple of Malady
*13 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>This Grismold list is unlike the standard one you'll find on EDHREC. You are looking to go tall, like normal, with options to go wide or drain the table with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion of Remembrance" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion of Remembrance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, it does not use enchantments like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Virulent Plague" href="#" target="_blank">Virulent Plague</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to grow Grismold. It’s all about control. Granting the other players threat-means (see my <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/edh-political-science-political-positions/">previous articles</a> for more information on Political Position Theory) buys you valuable time while granting you an important resource that you can pull the trigger on at any time. You will be pumping out more tokens than the other players with <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>-effects while holding onto sorcery and instant removal, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bile Blight" href="#" target="_blank">Bile Blight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to shift positions at your whim.</p>
<p>This list gives plenty of safety valves. Our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triumph of the Hordes" href="#" target="_blank">Triumph of the Hordes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and "tall" cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hatred" href="#" target="_blank">Hatred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are important to swinging a losing game in our favor. We get plenty of ways to remove threats big, small, and difficult-to-handle. We ideally can take on any situation and outlast any anyone with our card advantage engine of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seasons Past" href="#" target="_blank">Seasons Past</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Petition" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Petition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triumph of the Hordes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hatred"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Season&#039;s Past"></div></div>
<p>Lucius Barker's work within the civil rights community is as important today as it was thirty and fifty years ago. Understanding your right to protest is crucial to keeping that system from bursting at the seams. Support those who need your help the most, and continue to voice yourself when injustice is seen. This advice can be taken to the game table, the city streets, local town halls, and it's great advice for life generally.</p>


commander politics