Ultra Budget Brews - Talrand, Sky Summoner

Archetune Up - I'll Have a Blue Christmas WITH You

Conditions Allow - Chisei, Heart of Oceans

Uncommonders - Death By Pingers!

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive" href="#" target="_blank">Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.vargasni.com/">Randy Vargas</a>)</h6>
<h1>A Quick, Clean Kill</h1>
<p>They cannot keep us apart, beloved Commander faithful! No matter what they do, no matter what they say, I will always come back to you! For our love is not ordinary: it is quite...UNCOMMON!</p>
<p>Bad introductory jokes aside, welcome to this week's edition of <em>Uncommonders</em>, the series that explores underappreciated commanders printed at the uncommon level. I am going to preface this article with a bit of a revelation. Often with this series, I will stare blankly at the <em>Uncommonder</em> I am going to write about and pick up little details, make a list of possible deck ideas or archetypes, and eventually pick one or two for the article and run with it. This week was not that easy. I struggled to find a good, unique way to build this deck. In the end, I decided to buckle down and say that if I could not make it super unique or "out there", I would simply build it to the commander's strength to the best of my ability in an effort to make the deck as mean as possible. Naturally, I expect you to be curious which uncommon legendary creature we are looking at today, so without further ado, today we are talking about...</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive"></div></div></p>
<p>Before we talk about the deck and the cards in it, I do want to point out some of the ideas I looked into and ultimately was dissatisfied with. First, I wanted to build a more aggressive deck and looked up all the blue and colorless creatures that had a toughness of 1 but a power of 2 or more. This would mean that the creatures would be able to slip by with Tetsuko's ability but deal more damage than creatures with low toughness normally do. Unfortunately, for this idea, the two top cards Scryfall gave me were <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snapcaster Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Snapcaster Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Metallic Mimic" href="#" target="_blank">Metallic Mimic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which turned me off the idea almost immediately. While looking at this list, I did notice a number of Faeries, some of which were Wizards and some of which were Rogues, and I considered some kind of tribal theme, either with Faeries or Rogues, but those searches did not inspire me much, either. They were especially lackluster when adding the requirement to have either power or toughness equal to 1, so I toyed around with another couple of ideas (there are sadly not enough Ninjas with power or toughness equal to 1 in mono-blue) and threw up my hands thinking "fine, I will just have to be the meanest person at the table with this!"</p>
<p>When thinking about "what is the meanest thing to do with unblockable, small creatures in mono-blue" I eventually settled on what Tetsuko already does very well:</p>
<p><em>Infect.</em></p>
<p>That may sound crazy, as there are only six creatures with the <em>Infect</em> ability in mono-blue with power or toughness equal to 1. However, four of those creatures are artifacts, and blue is pretty good at making duplicates of their creatures and their artifacts, so I decided to double down on my idea and <em>Infect</em> the table out. Also, blue is one half of the normal color combination that deals with counter manipulation, so <em>Proliferate</em> shenanigans are not hard to come by for the deck. One poison counter can quickly become fatal in most scenarios, so all we need to do is get the party started with these smaller creatures.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">A Pinprick of Poison</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plague Myr"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Viral Drake"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ichorclaw Myr"></div></div></p>
<p>In addition to the three cards shown above, the other three main <em>Infect</em> cards are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necropede" href="#" target="_blank">Necropede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Digester" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Digester</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There are other <em>Infect</em> sources in the deck and some with interesting roles to play (like recursion on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpse Cur" href="#" target="_blank">Corpse Cur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the sometimes-creature <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inkmoth Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Inkmoth Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) but I want to focus on some of the other supportive cards for our endgame of infecting the entire table.</p>
<p>With <em>War of the Spark</em>, blue got some interesting new cards for <em>Infect</em> wins with new sources of <em>Proliferate</em>. Naturally, these cards were intended to pump up Standard-legal planeswalkers, but I'll take a win where I can find one! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guildpact Informant" href="#" target="_blank">Guildpact Informant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> feels like a variant of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrummingbird" href="#" target="_blank">Thrummingbird</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flux Channeler" href="#" target="_blank">Flux Channeler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can get out of control quickly if we have some card advantage cantrips or just a grip filled with counterspells. Speaking of cantrips, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Contentious Plan" href="#" target="_blank">Contentious Plan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun new inclusion. Finally, the new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Bastion" href="#" target="_blank">Karn&#039;s Bastion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a repeatable effect similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viral Drake" href="#" target="_blank">Viral Drake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Of all these new cards, the one I struggled the most with did not come from <em>War of the Spark</em> but from <em>Modern Horizons</em>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Truth and Justice" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Truth and Justice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a continuation of the iconic 'Sword of X and Y' cycle and helps get us where we want to be. Unfortunately, there are two major drawbacks to the card with our strategy. For starters, we normally do not want to put +1/+1 counters on our creatures because we need to keep either their power or toughness low enough for Tetsuko to help them remain unblockable. Second, the Sword itself gives the creature holding it +2/+2, meaning even if we put it on a 1/1 body, it definitely is not going to remain unblockable as a 3/3. In the end, I decided to include the Sword because we simply needed more <em>Proliferate</em> abilities, and hopefully the added protection the sword provides can assist with keeping the creature difficult to block. Even if the Sword-wielding creature only hits once or twice, it will also work as a diversionary target, making our opponents want to get rid of it and maybe ignoring some of our other pieces on the table.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Colorless and Deadly</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Contagion Engine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krark-Clan Ironworks"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Retriever"></div></div></p>
<p>I have recently reignited my love for artifact decks, having built a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teshar, Ancestor&#039;s Apostle" href="#" target="_blank">Teshar, Ancestor&#039;s Apostle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck for my 3DH streams. Noticing that four of our six main <em>Infect</em> cards are artifacts and that some of our main synergy pieces were also artifacts (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Contagion Clasp" href="#" target="_blank">Contagion Clasp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Contagion Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Contagion Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), I decided to dive into some colorless shenanigans to round out the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krark-Clan Ironworks" href="#" target="_blank">Krark-Clan Ironworks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been dropping in price since the Modern ban and is basically a better <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for our deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin, the Ineffable" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin, the Ineffable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes many of our artifacts free. I like the idea of having recursion options for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meteor Golem" href="#" target="_blank">Meteor Golem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to strengthen our removal suite for things like artifacts and enchantments. Thopters and Myrs mostly come in the forms of 1/1 bodies, so <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sharding Sphinx" href="#" target="_blank">Sharding Sphinx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a walking army in the making, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sai, Master Thopterist" href="#" target="_blank">Sai, Master Thopterist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can get that army started just by casting some artifacts.</p>
<p>With all of this synergy, we are going to need to support it with as much ramp as blue can manage, card advantage galore, some Wraths and removal, to ultimately get a list that looks like this:</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Tainted Blade of Umezawa" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*1 Blighted Agent
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Core Prowler
*1 Corpse Cur
*1 Eternal of Harsh Truths
*1 Flux Channeler
*1 Guildpact Informant
*1 Ichorclaw Myr
*1 Junk Diver
*1 Meteor Golem
*1 Mist-Syndicate Naga
*1 Mistblade Shinobi
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Necropede
*1 Neurok Commando
*1 Nimble Obstructionist
*1 Phyrexian Digester
*1 Pilgrim&#039;s Eye
*1 Plague Myr
*1 Sai, Master Thopterist
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Scroll Thief
*1 Sharding Sphinx
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Tandem Lookout
*1 Thrumming Bird
*1 Tribute Mage
*1 Trophy Mage
*1 Viral Drake
[/Creature]
[Artifact]
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Blinkmoth Urn
*1 Contagion Clasp
*1 Contagion Engine
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirrorworks
*1 Ovalchase Dragster
*1 Sapphire Medallion
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Truth and Justice
*1 Throne of Geth
[/Artifact]
[Instant]
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Disallow
*1 Pongify
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Swan Song
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*1 Contentious Plan
*1 Notorious Throng
*1 Saheeli&#039;s Artistry
*1 Stolen Identity
*1 Tezzeret&#039;s Gambit
[/Sorcery]
[Enchantment]
*1 Coastal Piracy
*1 Inexorable Tide
[/Enchantment]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Tezzeret the Seeker
*1 Ugin the Ineffable
[/Planeswalker]
[Land]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Desert of the Mindful
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Inkmoth Nexus
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*23 Island
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Remote Isle
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Strip Mine
[/Land]"></span></div><br />
</p>
<hr />
<p>The last article about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boris Devilboon" href="#" target="_blank">Boris Devilboon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was a little on the unorthodox side, even for me. I have to admit, I was slightly worried about how it would be received by you, the readers, breaking so far away from the commander and those printed abilities to do something as janky as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana&#039;s Contract" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana&#039;s Contract</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Still, there were some cool comments, like this one by regular commenter Cyberium! They wrote:</p>
<blockquote><p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Choice of Damnations" href="#" target="_blank">Choice of Damnations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is oddly fitting here. In addition to chaotic effects, I love forcing opponent to make a decision, that's something a demon would do.<br />
Slightly off topic: Given the new expansion is Throne of Eldraine, with a royalty-ish feel, perhaps the Round Table deck could be revisited.</p></blockquote>
<p>I cannot begin to tell you how many of the decks I make for EDHREC articles are listed in the "go back and update now that new, cool cards have come out since writing those articles" mental list I keep! Actually, maybe I can: almost all of them! Honestly, I am the kind of deck brewer that is never truly satisfied with a deck. <em>Wizards of the Coast </em>comes out with so many new awesome cards in each set, I find it impossible to ever stop tweaking and tuning decks, trying to hit that sweet spot where they feel perfect. I even look back at my favorite, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and constantly think about adjustments to make the deck faster, more consistent and meaner.</p>
<p>Of course, if you like how mean I can be when tossing cardboard around a kitchen table (or sometimes online) then make sure you are <a href="https://www.twitter.com/DM_Cross">following me on Twitter</a> to talk about all things <em>Magic: the Gathering</em>! You can also join the public <a href="https://discord.gg/CrNHmTE">Praetor Magic Discord server</a> to talk to me there daily, not to mention see our awesome gameplay videos on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/praetormagic">YouTube channel</a>! We also have a podcast called Reflections of the Council; new episodes are posted every Thursday after we record them on YouTube at 9 PM EST, so search "Praetor Magic" or "Reflections of the Council" on your favorite podcast platform to find us! And until next time, remember...</p>
<p>Drop bombs and <em>Infect</em> the table!</p>


Uncommonders - Umezawa's Tainted Blade

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evermind" href="#" target="_blank">Evermind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&amp;artist=[%22Matt%20Thompson%22]">Matt Thompson</a>)</h6>
<h1>Deckbuilding Postbellum</h1>
<p>Hello everyone, and welcome back to another edition of <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>, where I highlight the most hyper-underplayed cards in EDH. For today's article, we're going to take a look at one of the new commanders from <em>War of the Spark</em>. First, however, I should discuss my policy when digesting a new set.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-33747 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Spaghetti-Policy-Always-Sunny.gif" alt="" width="325" height="183" /></p>
<p>During each spoiler season, I keep an eye out for the missing pieces to complete decks on my "wish list." These are cards or commanders that will complete a deck idea I have and make it a legitimate build instead of just a sorry attempt at a deck. I mean, my decks are already full of jank, but at least it's cohesive jank. The hype gets especially heavy for me when tribal themes are spoiled, as a bunch of these ideas are founded in creature types. Anyway, when preview season for <em>War of the Spark</em> began, I had my eye out for any of these missing pieces, ready to pounce.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was the first such piece to emerge, but I'm saving that deck for two weeks from now. The second meatball to roll out of <em>WAR</em> was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Kefnet" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Kefnet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="God-Eternal Kefnet"></div></div>
<p>My goodness, this commander is wonderful! He plays so well with blue's spellslinger tendencies, especially if you can control the rate of card draw. Additionally, he's very hard to get rid of, slipping back into the library if removed. I knew this birdie would be a popular commander and would likely get paired up with the plethora of extra-turn spells that always crop up whenever folks talk about great blue cards. However, I saw him commanding a different kind of spellslinger deck.</p>
<hr />
<h2>On Top of Spaghetti / All Covered with Cheese...</h2>
<p>The deck I'm talking about is Arcane and Spirit tribal. From all the way back in <em>Kamigawa</em> block, these two themes go hand-in-hand. The <em>Splice onto Arcane</em> cards work especially well with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Kefnet" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Kefnet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as you can splice cards onto the copy generated by Kefnet, including the actual card you copied. For example, let's say I draw <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dampen Thought" href="#" target="_blank">Dampen Thought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (105 decks on EDHREC) and reveal it using Kefnet's ability. I get a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dampen Thought" href="#" target="_blank">Dampen Thought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that I can cast while the real one goes to my hand. I want to splice the real <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dampen Thought" href="#" target="_blank">Dampen Thought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in my hand onto the copy, so I reveal it (again), and then pay the full cost of the spell, reduced by two generic mana (the last bit of Kefnet's ability), which makes it UU to mill eight cards while losing no card advantage. The next time I draw an Arcane spell, I can splice <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dampen Thought" href="#" target="_blank">Dampen Thought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> onto the copy again with no card loss.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dampen Thought"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Consuming Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lifted by Clouds"></div></div>
<p>Now, I would love to get into each and every underplayed Arcane card, both those that splice and those that can be spliced upon. But nearly every blue card of this spell type is underplayed, so instead I'm going to hit some highlights. There isn't really a clear theme among the effects caused by these Arcane cards, and as the mechanic only appeared in <em>Kamigawa</em> block, there isn't a huge pool to draw from. But one common theme that I've seen is that these spells tend to target creatures a lot! As such, despite being a spellslinger deck devoid of pump spells, the main win condition becomes combat.</p>
<p>Some Arcane spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consuming Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Consuming Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (142 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychic Puppetry" href="#" target="_blank">Psychic Puppetry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (80 decks), can be used to remove blockers and clear a path. Others, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lifted by Clouds" href="#" target="_blank">Lifted by Clouds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Veil of Secrecy" href="#" target="_blank">Veil of Secrecy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (158 decks), provide evasion to your creatures to get those attacks through (<a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/forgotten-harvest-block-party-with-virtus-and-gorm/">Virtus and Gorm</a> from two weeks ago would be so proud). And if a more permanent form of removal is required, I've got <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dismiss into Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Dismiss into Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the deck to make all that targeting magic lethal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reweave" href="#" target="_blank">Reweave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in 270 decks, also gives some great spot removal for any kind of permanent on its own, assuming you keep on casting/splicing it.</p>
<hr />
<h2>I Lost My Poor Meatball / When Somebody Sneezed</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teller of Tales"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudhoof Kirin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Unspeakable"></div></div>
<p>In addition to providing Arcane spells, <em>Kamigawa</em> block also brought us a series of Spirits that care about them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teller of Tales" href="#" target="_blank">Teller of Tales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (53 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian of Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian of Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (35 decks) are both a continuation of the themes above, removing blockers or providing evasion whenever a Spirit or Arcane spell is cast. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiri-Onna" href="#" target="_blank">Kiri-Onna</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in 122 decks, can help clear the field with bounce effects and can be repeatably cast. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quillmane Baku" href="#" target="_blank">Quillmane Baku</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides even more tapping shenanigans, while only seeing play in 33 decks.</p>
<p>An alternative wincon in this deck is mill, though it's the more difficult option. The presence of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dampen Thought" href="#" target="_blank">Dampen Thought</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is bolstered by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudhoof Kirin" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudhoof Kirin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, found in only 138 decks. Given the card draw in the deck, and the duplication of spells thanks to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Kefnet" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Kefnet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, all these abilities should be triggering regularly.</p>
<p>The uber-mono-blue Spirit from the same block, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Unspeakable" href="#" target="_blank">The Unspeakable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, also makes the deck, despite only being in 206 decklists. This also includes the three spells that help summon him directly out of the deck: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reach Through Mists" href="#" target="_blank">Reach Through Mists</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peer Through Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Peer Through Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sift Through Sands" href="#" target="_blank">Sift Through Sands</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Given the amount of library manipulation and draw in this deck, I expect the alternate summoning route to be a regular occurrence.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lantern Spirit"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soulsworn Spirit"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Supreme Phantom"></div></div>
<p>As the modern <em>Magic</em> player knows, not all great Spirits come from Kamigawa. The plane of Innistrad has supplied its fair share of Spirit spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lantern Spirit" href="#" target="_blank">Lantern Spirit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is currently only in 45 decks, but it fits into the theme of wanting to repeatedly cast Spirit spells, and its self-bounce can pay off big in this deck. When its cost is reduced thanks to a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Incubator" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Incubator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this card can be a real all-star!</p>
<p>Since we're playing Spirits repeatedly, we might as well throw in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nebelgast Herald" href="#" target="_blank">Nebelgast Herald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (190 decks). Again, we have a phantasm that helps tap down opposing creatures that gets better as we play more and more Spirit spells. Tapping down a creature isn't the same as a full neutralization, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soulsworn Spirit" href="#" target="_blank">Soulsworn Spirit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide that option while keeping to our theme. It's a wonder that it only sees play in 75 decks.</p>
<p>Finally, we have the true Spirit tribal cards: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battleground Geist" href="#" target="_blank">Battleground Geist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Supreme Phantom" href="#" target="_blank">Supreme Phantom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This duo will help pump our team, making sure that our attacks count for more. Given its fairly weak power level overall, this deck is going to win primarily on tempo and explosive turns, and these cards are going to play a big role in keeping up the pressure. They're in 194 and 133 decks, respectively.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at the final deck, shall we?</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Splicey Meatballs" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div><br />
[Commander]<br />
*1 God-Eternal Kefnet<br />
[/Commander]<br />
[Creatures]<br />
*1 Mausoleum Wanderer<br />
*1 Departed Deckhand<br />
*1 Ghost-Lit Warder<br />
*1 Guardian of Solitude<br />
*1 Kaijin of the Vanishing Touch<br />
*1 Mindshrieker<br />
*1 Rattlechains<br />
*1 Supreme Phantom<br />
*1 Callous Deceiver<br />
*1 Drift of Phantasms<br />
*1 Lantern Spirit<br />
*1 Latch Seeker<br />
*1 Nebelgast Herald<br />
*1 Niblis of the Breath<br />
*1 Soulsworn Spirit<br />
*1 Battleground Geist<br />
*1 Cloudhoof Kirin<br />
*1 Kiri-Onna<br />
*1 Quillmane Baku<br />
*1 Soul Seizer<br />
*1 Sturmgeist<br />
*1 Teller of Tales<br />
*1 Keiga, the Tide Star<br />
*1 Sire of the Storm<br />
*1 The Unspeakable<br />
[/Creatures]<br />
[Instants]<br />
*1 Evermind<br />
*1 Reach Through Mists<br />
*1 Consuming Vortex<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Dampen Thought<br />
*1 Disrupting Shoal<br />
*1 Peer Through Depths<br />
*1 Psychic Puppetry<br />
*1 Stream of Consciousness<br />
*1 Veil of Secrecy<br />
*1 Lifted by Clouds<br />
*1 Murmurs from Beyond<br />
*1 Sift Through Sands<br />
*1 Toils of Night and Day<br />
*1 Shifting Borders<br />
*1 Reweave<br />
[/Instants]<br />
[Sorceries]<br />
*1 Eye of Nowhere<br />
*1 Ideas Unbound<br />
*1 Eerie Procession<br />
*1 Heed the Mists<br />
*1 Petals of Insight<br />
*1 Ribbons of the Reikai<br />
[/Sorceries]<br />
[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Library of Leng<br />
*1 Sensei's Divining Top<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Baku Altar<br />
*1 Long-Forgotten Gohei<br />
*1 Urza's Incubator<br />
*1 Lux Cannon<br />
*1 Primal Amulet<br />
*1 Gilded Lotus<br />
[/Artifacts]<br />
[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon<br />
*1 Rhystic Study<br />
*1 Jace's Sanctum<br />
*1 Future Sight<br />
*1 The Mirari Conjecture<br />
*1 Dismiss into Dream<br />
[/Enchantments]<br />
[Planeswalkers]<br />
*1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor<br />
[/Planeswalkers]<br />
[Lands]<br />
*1 Desert of the Mindful<br />
*1 Evolving Wilds<br />
*1 Halimar Depths<br />
*26 Island<br />
*1 Lonely Sandbar<br />
*1 Moonring Island<br />
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx<br />
*1 Remote Isle<br />
*1 Soldevi Excavations<br />
*1 Teferi's Isle<br />
*1 Terramorphic Expanse<br />
[/Lands]<br />
[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>Time to Roll Out!</h2>
<p>That about does it for this edition of <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>. If you have any questions, comments, or snide remarks, you can find me in the comments section below. I'll be down there to talk about how I keep building Spirit tribal or how <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evermind" href="#" target="_blank">Evermind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would make a really great name for a band. Let me know about the decks on your wish list that are just waiting for a missing card or commander to become a reality, or any hyper-underplayed cards you'd like to see featured on this series in the future. In the meantime, I'll be working out the kinks in this little red-green number that's all set to abuse <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. See you later!</p>


Forgotten Harvest - Splicey Meatballs

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive" href="#" target="_blank">Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/vargasni">Randy Vargas</a>)</h6>
<h1>Blocking is for Chumps</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to another installment of <i>Strategic Planning,</i> a column where we goldfish a commander's EDHREC Average Decklist to get a better sense of what works and what doesn’t before brewing them ourselves.</p>
<p>The commander we’ll be building around today is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive" href="#" target="_blank">Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a mono-blue legend from <em>Dominaria</em>, and the 23<sup>rd</sup> most popular mono-blue commander, with 165 decks at the time of this writing. Let’s take a look at what we’re working with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive"></div></div>
<p>Two mana is easily manageable, even in a color as starved for efficient ramp as mono-blue. We can reasonably count on having our commander available early and often, making a focused build that abuses Tetsuko’s ability much less risky.</p>
<p>She has a powerful build-around unblockability, her 1/3 stats allow it to affect her herself as well. The fact that Tetsuko’s ability affects power <em>or</em> toughness allows us much more versatility. We can emphasize creatures with 1 power and useful on-hit effects, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cephallid Constable" href="#" target="_blank">Cephallid Constable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and we can also use creatures with 1 toughness and higher power, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ovalchase Dragster" href="#" target="_blank">Ovalchase Dragster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to push more damage through.</p>
<hr />
<h3><u>The Average List:</u></h3>
<p>The EDHREC average list for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive" href="#" target="_blank">Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is as follows:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tetsuko, Average Fugitive" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blighted Agent
*1 Cephalid Constable
*1 Chasm Skulker
*1 Daring Saboteur
*1 Eternal of Harsh Truths
*1 Gateway Sneak
*1 Illusory Ambusher
*1 Jhessian Thief
*1 Looter il-Kor
*1 Master of Waves
*1 Mindshrieker
*1 Mistblade Shinobi
*1 Neurok Commando
*1 Nightveil Sprite
*1 Nimble Obstructionist
*1 Phyrexian Digester
*1 Plague Myr
*1 Raven Guild Master
*1 Riptide Entrancer
*1 Riptide Pilferer
*1 Rootwater Thief
*1 Scroll Thief
*1 Siren Stormtamer
*1 Skyship Plunderer
*1 Surrakar Spellblade
*1 Tandem Lookout
*1 Thrummingbird
*1 Wharf Infiltrator
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Aetherspouts
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Devious Cover-Up
*1 Negate
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Swan Song
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Arm with Aether
*1 Curse of the Swine
*1 Knowledge Exploitation
*1 Notorious Throng
*1 Stolen Identity
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Captain&#039;s Claws
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Loxodon Warhammer
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Ovalchase Dragster
*1 Quietus Spike
*1 Rogue&#039;s Gloves
*1 Sapphire Medallion
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Umezawa&#039;s Jitte
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Coastal Piracy
*1 Military Intelligence
*1 Psychic Corrosion
*1 Sigil of Sleep
*1 Thopter Spy Network
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Desert of the Mindful
*1 Faerie Conclave
*1 Halimar Depths
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*29 Island
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<p>This list has an average CMC of 2.69 and a retail price of $150.17 through TCGplayer. Let's take it for a spin!</p>
<hr />
<h2><b>Tests Results and Fine Tuning:</b></h2>
<h3><b>1. Getting the engine running</b></h3>
<p>Tetsuko’s cheap cost and the density of cheap creatures with powerful on-hit triggers in the average list meant that many opening hands allowed us to start drawing cards from creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Neurok Commando" href="#" target="_blank">Neurok Commando</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> early in the game. Opening hands with an on-hit damage effect (and enough lands to cast it) were by far the most reliable, and the snowballing effect of our extra draws often drew us even more on-combat effects. In other words, we could simultaneously develop an impressive board state while maintaining a full hand of cards throughout the early game. Given how powerful this was in testing, and to maximize the power of our card draw creatures, we’ll make sure to include an even higher density of them in our final build, with some new additions like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deepfathom Skulker" href="#" target="_blank">Deepfathom Skulker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coastal Piracy" href="#" target="_blank">Coastal Piracy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tandem Lookout" href="#" target="_blank">Tandem Lookout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, making sure we draw fistfuls of cards every time we turn our creatures sideways.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rogue’s Gloves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tandem Lookout"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bident of Thassa"></div></div>
<p>Another powerful effect that was often able to generate value in the first few turns came in the form of our 1-power or 1-toughness creatures with on-hit disruption effects. Creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riptide Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Riptide Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mistblade Shinobi" href="#" target="_blank">Mistblade Shinobi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help to ensure none of our opponents get too explosive a start, and creature theft on combat damage like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thalakos Deceiver" href="#" target="_blank">Thalakos Deceiver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riptide Entrancer" href="#" target="_blank">Riptide Entrancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help us defend ourselves from counterattack by stealing beefy creatures, or sabotage our opponents strategies by stealing a commander. Enchantments that add this disruption are helpful too, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigil of Sleep" href="#" target="_blank">Sigil of Sleep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, so they'll definitely make the final build.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cephalid Constable"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Riptide Entrancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigil of Sleep"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3><b>2. Keeping the engine running</b></h3>
<p>Though the average list was reliably able to construct a card advantage engine from its opening hand, simulated board wipes and to a lesser extent targeted removal hit us hard and were sometimes difficult to recover from. To ensure the creatures we stick on the field will generate as much value as possible while they’re out, we’ll be including a suite of Equipment that can turn even a single unblockable weenie into a must-answer threat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quietus Spike"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Umezawa’s Jitte"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodforged Battle-Axe"></div></div>
<p>Some of the strongest performers from our Equipment suite are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fireshrieker" href="#" target="_blank">Fireshrieker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which allows us to double up on any of our combat damage triggers, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quietus Spike" href="#" target="_blank">Quietus Spike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which allows any of our weenies to do a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Virtus the Veiled" href="#" target="_blank">Virtus the Veiled</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> impression, and the self-copying <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodforged Battle-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodforged Battle-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which we can use to buff the power of our 1-toughness creatures without them losing unblockability. We’ll also include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whispersilk Cloak" href="#" target="_blank">Whispersilk Cloak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to provide protection for key creatures, and to ensure we can still attack with at least one unblockable creature if our commander is offline. To ensure we have access to these Equipment, we’ll also include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trinket Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Trinket Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trophy Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Trophy Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadeye Quartermaster" href="#" target="_blank">Deadeye Quartermaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our final brew. Trinket Mage also comes with the added utility of being able to fetch <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meekstone" href="#" target="_blank">Meekstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an effect that misses nearly every creature we’re running while causing serious problems for our opponents.</p>
<p>Given our commander, one of the most versatile and flavorful Equipment we could run is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umezawa’s Jitte" href="#" target="_blank">Umezawa’s Jitte</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It can stockpile charge counters to buff our equipped creature, snipe down our opponents' utility creatures, or in a pinch, bolster our own life totals.</p>
<p>Another effect made much more powerful by Tetsuko’s unblockability is <i>Cipher</i>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stolen Identity" href="#" target="_blank">Stolen Identity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to either copy our own creatures for even more damage triggers or fashion ourselves a copy of the biggest threat on the board. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hidden Strings" href="#" target="_blank">Hidden Strings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can tap down our opponents' problematic permanents or provide pseudo ramp in blue by untapping our own lands or mana rocks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stolen Identity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hidden Strings"></div></div>
<hr />
<h3><b>3. Closing out the game</b></h3>
<p>While the two or three combat damage dealt to our opponents every turn does start to add up faster than you’d expect, in a four player format where victory via combat requires us to do 120 points of damage across the table, combat damage isn’t a particularly viable win condition unless we’re able to prey on opponents who’ve already taken large chunks of damage from other sources. Since we can’t count on that, we’re going to steer into the infamous <i>Infect</i> mechanic to finish our opponents off before they have time to stop us. Since our commander turns every <em>Infect</em> creature with 1 power or toughness into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we have a good number of options, and we’ll be running most of them in our final brew.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blighted Agent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Digester"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Viral Drake"></div></div>
<p>These creatures have the added bonus of being excellent candidates for our Equipment suite; an <em>Infect</em> creature with double strike from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fireshrieker" href="#" target="_blank">Fireshrieker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a power boost from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodforged Battleaxe" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodforged Battleaxe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umezawa’s Jitte" href="#" target="_blank">Umezawa’s Jitte</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> puts our opponents on a very short clock.</p>
<hr />
<h2><b>Our final results:</b></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tetsuko’s Infectious Good Mood" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blighted Agent
*1 Cephalid Constable
*1 Chasm Skulker
*1 Deadeye Quartermaster
*1 Deepfathom Skulker
*1 Eternal of Harsh Truths
*1 Gateway Sneak
*1 Ichorclaw Myr
*1 Looter il-Kor
*1 Marchesa’s Infiltrator
*1 Mistblade Shinobi
*1 Necropede
*1 Neurok Commando
*1 Ophidian
*1 Phyrexian Digester
*1 Plague Myr
*1 Riptide Pilferer
*1 Scroll Thief
*1 Silver Myr
*1 Siren Stormtamer
*1 Surrakar Spellblade
*1 Tandem Lookout
*1 Thalakos Deceiver
*1 Thrummingbird
*1 Trinket Mage
*1 Viral Drake
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Counterspell
*1 Dissolve
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Sinister Sabotage
*1 Spell Swindle
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Arm with Aether
*1 Curse of the Swine
*1 Hidden Strings
*1 Notorious Throng
*1 Rite of Replication
*1 Stolen Identity
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Explorer&#039;s Scope
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Meekstone
*1 Mind stone
*1 Ovalchase Dragster
*1 Quietus Spike
*1 Rogue&#039;s Gloves
*1 Sapphire Medallion
*1 Sky Diamond
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Umezawa&#039;s Jitte
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Coastal Piracy
*1 Curiosity
*1 Sigil of Sleep
*1 Thopter Spy Network
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Jace, Cunning Castaway
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Coral Atoll
*1 Desert of the Mindful
*27 Island
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Remote Isle
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Terrain Generator
*1 Throne of the High City
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>At an average CMC of 2.66 and a TCGPlayer retail price of $138.48, we’ve cut down a bit on our mana cost and how much money we’ll have to spend to achieve our dream of losing all our friends with mono-blue <em>Infect</em> aggro.</p>
<p>While goldfishing our revised brew I was pleased with the added consistency our Equipment tutors added to our threat production. Also of note, our higher density of <em>Infect</em> creatures increased our chances of being able to suit one up and swing in with it before our opponents realized how much trouble they’re in. Don’t expect to swing in for five unblockable <em>Infect</em> damage by turn 6 without cementing yourself as the archenemy of the table for the rest of the game - that's inadvisable unless you think you can finish the other three players in short order - but with careful planning and threat assessment, we can find our opponents in a moment of weakness and use Tetsuko to sneak ourselves to victory.</p>
<p>That’s it for this week! Please let me know in the comments if you think there’s anything I missed or if there’s a particular commander you’d like to see on a future installment of <i>Strategic Planning!</i></p>


Strategic Planning - Mono Blue Aggro

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigiled Starfish" href="#" target="_blank">Sigiled Starfish</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.originalmagicart.store/collections/nils-hamm">Nils Hamm</a>)</h6>
<h1>Krakens on Horseback with Swords</h1>
<p>Welcome back, everyone, to another iteration of <em>Forgotten Harvest,</em> the article series where I highlight cards in 300 decks or less on EDHREC. This week will be all about sticking to a challenging deckbuilding restriction, and the underplayed cards that can look great with those restrictions in mind. I'm also super-excited, because this means I can talk about my most favorite deck ever!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30586" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/giphy-2.gif" alt="" width="500" height="349" /></p>
<p>Travel back with me to the year 2015. It's a Saturday morning around 10:00 AM. Past-Kyle has popped into his local gaming store, <em>Gabi's Olympic Cards and Comics</em> in Olympia, WA, to take in the goings-on. He has a reputation at the store for adoring the jankiest builds, and for hunting through box after box for a copy of some obscure card that he looked up on Gatherer the other night. Scott, the gentleman tending the <em>Magic</em> counter, brings up his latest Commander build for sale at the store, called <em>Water Polo</em>. The premise of the deck hearkens back to a previous conversation about how much fun it would be to put Equipment on creatures that obviously wouldn't be able to use the item, like putting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion&#039;s Helm" href="#" target="_blank">Champion&#039;s Helm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stillmoon Cavalier" href="#" target="_blank">Stillmoon Cavalier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This lead to thoughts of an Octopus wielding a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loxodon Warhammer" href="#" target="_blank">Loxodon Warhammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> while riding on horseback, and thus the deck was born. After a quick peek at the contents, Kyle decides <em>Water Polo</em> will be coming home with him.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loxodon Warhammer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lorthos, the Tidemaker"></div></div>
<p>I've spent the last 4 years improving, tweaking, and "fancifying" the deck. When <em>Kaladesh</em> introduced Vehicles, they were quickly slotted in. When I finally landed a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, the Mind Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it was an immediate add. All the while, I've held true to three rules:</p>
<ol>
<li><em>Water Polo</em> must be about Krakens on horseback with swords. There must always exist the themes of big sea creatures and Equipment in the deck.</li>
<li><em>Water Polo</em> isn't a control deck. I can't run a bunch of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> variants. Some removal is okay, but always keep the deck about Rule #1.</li>
<li>With the exception of it's general, <em>Water Polo</em> can't have anthropomorphic creatures. No Humans, no Merfolk, no Pirates, no Spirits. Every creature in the 99 must look ridiculous when equipped, or on horseback, or crewing a Vehicle.</li>
</ol>
<p>Rule #3 is the big challenge. I've had to make some very interesting design choices in order to keep Merfolk out and still manage a decent mana curve. We'll get more into that later, but first I should get into some of the heavy-hitters in the deck.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Denizens of the Deep</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sun Quan, Lord of Wu"></div></div>
<p>Commanding the <em>Water Polo</em> team is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sun Quan, Lord of Wu" href="#" target="_blank">Sun Quan, Lord of Wu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I grant him a special exception on the anthropomorphic rule, as he is the only way I can get all my sea creatures on horseback. While this is primarily there for the gimmick, it also greatly affects my choice of which big bubble-blasting beasts to include in the 99. In Commander, <em>Horsemanship</em> essentially keeps my creatures from being blocked in all instances, so already-unblockable creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deep-Sea Kraken" href="#" target="_blank">Deep-Sea Kraken</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrapdiver Serpent" href="#" target="_blank">Scrapdiver Serpent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tidal Kraken" href="#" target="_blank">Tidal Kraken</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are no longer necessary. It also makes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormsurge Kraken" href="#" target="_blank">Stormsurge Kraken</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> far worse than normal, hence its exclusion from the list.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tromokratis" href="#" target="_blank">Tromokratis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> technically falls into that category as well, but it has proven to be an excellent opportunity to take advantage of opponents' misplays. Those on the other side of the table have been so focused on making sure they have a way to stop this big'un that they avoid the red zone or hold off on activated abilities.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Blue Beasties" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Draining Whelk<br />
*1 Shipbreaker Kraken<br />
*1 Aethersquall Ancient<br />
*1 Colossal Whale<br />
*1 Fleet Swallower<br />
*1 Scourge of Fleets<br />
*1 Tromokratis<br />
*1 Elder Deep-Fiend<br />
*1 Kederekt Leviathan<br />
*1 Lorthos, the Tidemaker<br />
*1 Stormtide Leviathan<br />
*1 Inkwell Leviathan<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>
<hr />
<h2>Swords and Hammers and Boots, Oh My!</h2>
<p>I want to make sure my <em>Water Polo</em> crew has only the best polo equipment, so a good chunk of the deck is filled with the best attachable artifacts I could find. This also serves a second purpose of helping to drop the mana curve. It isn't enough on its own, which is why there are plenty of mana rocks to help.</p>
<p>Equipment generally serve one of three purposes: protect the team, do something great when attacking, or provide help when blocking. There's not much need for additional pump or making my creatures unblockable, but keeping something alive with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Plate" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Plate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is more along the lines of what the deck needs. The same is true of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> untapping lands. The Vehicles work better with the smaller sea creatures, and potentially offer something on their own, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivator&#039;s Caravan" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivator&#039;s Caravan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Quartermastery" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Basilisk Collar<br />
*1 Lightning Greaves<br />
*1 Sword of the Animist<br />
*1 Umezawa's Jitte<br />
*1 Cultivator's Caravan<br />
*1 Darksteel Plate<br />
*1 Loxodon Warhammer<br />
*1 Strata Scythe<br />
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine<br />
*1 Sword of Fire and Ice<br />
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow<br />
*1 Conqueror's Galleon<br />
*1 Fleetwheel Cruiser<br />
*1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>
<hr />
<h2>Those in Under 300 Leagues</h2>
<p>The cards mentioned above are classics of the genre, but the deck is also full to brimming with underused cards that show up in less than 300 decks on EDHREC. Let's see what gems lurk beneath the depths.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giant Oyster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sand Squid"></div></div>
<p>One of the critical pieces this deck struggles with is removal. There's plenty of bounce from the Leviathans above, and from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whelming Wave" href="#" target="_blank">Whelming Wave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but repeatable removal is lacking. Offering some support with this, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giant Oyster" href="#" target="_blank">Giant Oyster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (174 decks) can help tap down a problem creature and slowly crush it to death. Another creature tapper is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sand Squid" href="#" target="_blank">Sand Squid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an oft-forgotten gem from <em>Mercadian Masques</em>, only appearing in 105 decks. It fills a similar role, just without the -1/-1 counters, trading them for a 2/2 body capable of crewing a Vehicle, not to mention the very relevant <em>Islandwalk,</em> given the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormtide Leviathan" href="#" target="_blank">Stormtide Leviathan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the deck.</p>
<p>These creatures not only aid in removal, but they meet the non-anthropomorphic requirement and drop the mana curve slightly. I've found these cards to be just powerful enough to provide removal without drawing the ire of the table. I've never had either removed before getting to use them at least once, and usually they stick around far longer. There's also nothing like throwing some Equipment on either of them and swinging in with a bizarre Jitte-wielding Oyster.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spiny Starfish"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chambered Nautilus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dandan"></div></div>
<p>Talk about weird abilities in blue! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spiny Starfish" href="#" target="_blank">Spiny Starfish</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Alliances</em> is one of the hard-to-find aquatic regenerators. Not only that, it also makes baby starfish when the regeneration triggers! What a kooky three-drop that slots perfectly into the sea creatures theme. Found in 121 decks on EDHREC, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spiny Starfish" href="#" target="_blank">Spiny Starfish</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides some excellent hard-to-remove defense while the deck ramps up to dropping its first Kraken.</p>
<p>Another three-drop helping out in the early game is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chambered Nautilus" href="#" target="_blank">Chambered Nautilus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With its "when blocked" trigger, this mollusk is an excellent target for Equipment. When the Nautilus is holding a sword, it becomes a lot harder to just let it on through. It's only seeing play in 10 decks right now, but I think that number could be much higher.</p>
<p>I expect to get <em>so</em> much grief for including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dandan" href="#" target="_blank">Dandan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a Commander deck, but hear me out: it's a cheap sea creature, it's a threatening blocker, and it can <em>Crew</em> any Vehicle in the deck. Somehow, it sees play in 42 decks right now. Honestly, I think that number is high, likely due to some <em>Islandhome</em>-themed builds. In this specific instance, I've had trouble finding something as effective as this two-drop, especially since I'm not running any Merfolk or Wizards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kraken&#039;s Eye"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Decree"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Homarid Spawning Bed"></div></div>
<p>One of this deck's (many) faults is difficulty recovering in the late game. To help keep life totals from dipping too low, I've included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kraken&#039;s Eye" href="#" target="_blank">Kraken&#039;s Eye</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. All of these life-gaining artifacts tend not to see much play, with the Eye only included in 245 decklists. As a bonus, I get some life from other players' blue spells as well. The only hard part is remembering the trigger.</p>
<p>Another weakness for this deck is facing down flyers. Luckily, the world enchantment <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Decree" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Decree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helps out a bunch! Sure, lots of sea creatures will end up losing their <em>Islandwalk</em>, but the ability isn't very relevant when they already have <em>Horsemanship</em>. I especially like dropping this right after <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormtide Leviathan" href="#" target="_blank">Stormtide Leviathan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> hits the battlefield. The break from combat can be a big help, and serves as a political play as well.</p>
<p>Finally, I've found it necessary to prepare for spot removal against the big Leviathans. Blue doesn't offer much in the way of recursion, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Homarid Spawning Bed" href="#" target="_blank">Homarid Spawning Bed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does offer something before the beastie hits the bin. The Camarid tokens it generates function as great chump blockers, or can be used to <em>Crew</em> vehicles. While it's only in 165 decks, I think this is a great option for most blue/black reanimator builds.</p>
<p>Let's have a look at the full list:</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Water Polo" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></p>
<p>[Commander]<br />
*1 Sun Quan, Lord of Wu<br />
[/Commander]</p>
<p>[Creatures]<br />
*1 Dandan<br />
*1 Sigiled Starfish<br />
*1 Chambered Nautilus<br />
*1 Chasm Skulker<br />
*1 Guard Gomazoa<br />
*1 Man-o'-War<br />
*1 Spiny Starfish<br />
*1 Giant Oyster<br />
*1 Reef Worm<br />
*1 Sand Squid<br />
*1 Draining Whelk<br />
*1 Shipbreaker Kraken<br />
*1 Aethersquall Ancient<br />
*1 Colossal Whale<br />
*1 Fleet Swallower<br />
*1 Scourge of Fleets<br />
*1 Tromokratis<br />
*1 Elder Deep-Fiend<br />
*1 Kederekt Leviathan<br />
*1 Lorthos, the Tidemaker<br />
*1 Stormtide Leviathan<br />
*1 Inkwell Leviathan<br />
[/Creatures]</p>
<p>[Instants]<br />
*1 Spell Burst<br />
*1 Cyclonic Rift<br />
*1 Reality Shift<br />
[/Instants]</p>
<p>[Sorceries]<br />
*1 Whelming Wave<br />
*1 Inundate<br />
[/Sorceries]</p>
<p>[Artifacts]<br />
*1 Basilisk Collar<br />
*1 Bident of Thassa<br />
*1 Sol Ring<br />
*1 Kraken's Eye<br />
*1 Lightning Greaves<br />
*1 Sky Diamond<br />
*1 Sword of the Animist<br />
*1 Umezawa's Jitte<br />
*1 Crawlspace<br />
*1 Cultivator's Caravan<br />
*1 Darksteel Plate<br />
*1 Extraplanar Lens<br />
*1 Loxodon Warhammer<br />
*1 Proteus Staff<br />
*1 Strata Scythe<br />
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine<br />
*1 Sword of Fire and Ice<br />
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow<br />
*1 Conqueror's Galleon<br />
*1 Fleetwheel Cruiser<br />
*1 Quicksilver Amulet<br />
*1 Thran Dynamo<br />
*1 Gilded Lotus<br />
*1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship<br />
[/Artifacts]</p>
<p>[Enchantments]<br />
*1 Quest for Ula's Temple<br />
*1 Homarid Spawning Bed<br />
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon<br />
*1 Propaganda<br />
*1 Rhystic Study<br />
*1 Mystic Decree<br />
*1 Treachery<br />
[/Enchantments]</p>
<p>[Planeswalkers]<br />
*1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor<br />
*1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets<br />
*1 Tezzeret the Seeker<br />
[/Planeswalkers]</p>
<p>[Lands]<br />
*1 Academy Ruins<br />
*1 Ancient Tomb<br />
*1 Coral Atoll<br />
*1 Darksteel Citadel<br />
*1 Evolving Wilds<br />
*1 Halimar Depths<br />
*1 Haunted Fengraf<br />
*21 Island<br />
*1 Lonely Sandbar<br />
*1 Mage-Ring Network<br />
*1 Myriad Landscape<br />
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx<br />
*1 Remote Isle<br />
*1 Seat of the Synod<br />
*1 Soldevi Excavations<br />
*1 Teferi's Isle<br />
*1 Temple of the False God<br />
*1 Tolaria West<br />
[/Lands]</p>
<p>[/Deck]</p>

<hr />
<h2>The Tide's Going Out</h2>
<p>Well, that's about it for this time on <em>Forgotten Harvest</em>. Got a question, comment, or snide remark? Leave it for me in the comments. What are some interesting restrictions you've used when building a deck? Are there any neglected cards in 300 decks or less on EDHREC that you'd like to see featured? Or maybe there's a less-than-popular deck idea that you'd like to see fleshed out, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis" href="#" target="_blank">Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enchantress or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muldrotha, the Gravetide" href="#" target="_blank">Muldrotha, the Gravetide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Voltron. Let me hear all about it below!</p>


Forgotten Harvest – Water Polo

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep" href="#" target="_blank">Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/rutkowski">Greg Rutkowski</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Good morning, EDHREC! I’m Bernardo Melibeu and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual cards, effectively changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up in front of your own face is half the fun.</p>
<p>In this article we'll take a look at the splashiest card of <em>Dominaria:</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep" href="#" target="_blank">Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slinn Voda, The Rising Deep"></div></div>
<p><strong>Kicker 1U</strong></p>
<p><strong>When Slinn Voda enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, return all creatures to their owners' hands except for Merfolk, Krakens, Leviathans, Octopuses, and Serpents.</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>10 mana for a situational <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evacuation" href="#" target="_blank">Evacuation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect and a 8/8 body is not something very attractive, especially in a non-green commander.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Release to the Wind" href="#" target="_blank">Release to the Wind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a wonderful card to have in combination with this commander, because recasting Slinn Voda from exile lets us choose to pay the kicker cost again to reuse the ETB effect.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>Bouncing tons of creatures is made more competitive if we add in wheels. Not only will a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect refill our hand after we drop tons of mana rocks into play, but all enemy creatures we bounced will be thrown away, dealing with those issues more permanently.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>A Voltron secondary win condition is worth looking at, since our commander has 8 power and an ETB that clears blockers out of the way.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p>With that in mind, let’s head to Slinn Voda’s EDHREC page and see how it’s usually built:</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-30227" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Slinn-Voda-Sig.png" alt="" width="878" height="428" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-30228" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Slinn-Voda-top.png" alt="" width="879" height="416" /></p>
<p>As we can see, on one side we have big ocean baddies, and on the other we have a few control elements and ramp. It's not a surprise that this is a pretty casual commander, which means it's our job to experiment and make it even crazier!</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>After some thinking, I saw that we wouldn't be able to utilize Slinn Voda's ETB in a control shell. 10 mana is just too much. Instead of focusing on the defensive side of this ability, how about taking a look on the possible offensive applications? In Commander, we prioritize having creatures with strong ETB effects, because we know that in a multiplayer setting it's very easy for them to get destroyed, and we want to get value out of our creatures right away before they potentially disappear. As a result, having ways to abuse those ETB effects by bouncing them back to our hand and replaying them might be a viable game plan, with the right support.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Panharmonicon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conjurer&#039;s Closet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Naban, Dean of Iteration"></div></div>
<p>Being mono-blue is a setback, as our creatures aren't as powerful as those found in other colors. Luckily, it also gives us the opportunity to build from a tribe that is on point with our gameplan: Wizards. Wizards as a tribe loves ETB support. In fact, there are 2 commanders that synergize with ETB Wizard effects: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naban, Dean of Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Naban, Dean of Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Wizards also help us draw cards and control the board, meaning that we won't need to waste many slots with non-synergistic spells.</p>
<p>Let's get to our creature suite, as they're the whole point of this build. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sage of Epityr" href="#" target="_blank">Sage of Epityr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omenspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Omenspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and similar effects might seem weak at first, but don't let them fool you their ability to brush off early aggro while helping us find the cards we need. That can be extremely important in the earlier stages of the game. The second group are the closest thing to spot removal that we're gonna get: cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Adept</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Separatist Voidmage" href="#" target="_blank">Separatist Voidmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These cards tend to snowball pretty fast with the right support. Finally, there're some cards that aren't ETB value, but not playing them would be a mistake. These include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azami, Lady of Scrolls" href="#" target="_blank">Azami, Lady of Scrolls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Galecaster Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Galecaster Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riptide Director" href="#" target="_blank">Riptide Director</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>ETB creatures means we need ETB support. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naban, Dean of Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Naban, Dean of Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are auto-includes, since they do exactly what we want. We also have some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erratic Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Erratic Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-type cards that serve double duty as a permanent tax to our opponents and a way to bounce our own creatures for repeated value. Bear in mind that this is very mana intensive, but our deck is built with that knowledge. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a cheaper way to do the same effect, but we lose the flexibility of being able to remove threats from the board and to freely block creatures. There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paradoxical Outcome" href="#" target="_blank">Paradoxical Outcome</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a one-shot effect that pairs extremely well with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to become a powerful draw engine.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Venser, Shaper Savant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aven Fogbringer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aether Adept"></div></div>
<p>Once we have our engine established, we need to be able to end the game. Slinn Voda can rid our opposition of the ability to block, allowing our creatures to deal damage unimpeded. Power-ups like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Memorial" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Memorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coat of Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Coat of Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will help tremendously in this regard. That plan does require some setup, so when all else fails, we can also just hit people with a giant fish; Slinn Voda can off people in three attacks, which ain't all that bad.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Slinn Voda Wizards" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]Slinn Voda, The Rising Deep[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Sage of Epityr
*Siren Stormtamer
*Naban, Dean of Iteration
*Omenspeaker
*Stern Proctor
*Stonybrook Banneret
*Vedalken Aethermage
*Aether Adept
*Champion of Wits
*Exclusion Mage
*Merchant of Secrets
*Patron Wizard
*Portal Mage
*Sage of Fables
*Sea Gate Oracle
*Silumgar Sorcerer
*Temporal Adept
*Trophy Mage
*Watertrap Weaver
*Archaeomancer
*Aven Fogbringer
*Glen Elendra Archmage
*Master of Waves
*Riptide Director
*Separatist Voidmage
*Sower of Temptation
*Tempest Caller
*Venser, Shaper Savant
*Azami, Lady of Scrolls
*Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
*Archetype of Imagination
*Galecaster Colossus
[/Creature]

[Instant]
*Arcane Denial
*Counterspell
*Cyclonic Rift
*Negate
*Paradoxical Outcome
[/Instant]
[Enchantment]
*As Foretold
*Equilibrium
*Kindred Discovery
[/Enchantment]

[Artifact]
*Everflowing Chalice
*Sol Ring
*Coldsteel Heart
*Fellwar Stone
*Mind Stone
*Sapphire Medallion
*Sky Diamond
*Cloudstone Curio
*Commander&#039;s Sphere
*Crystal Shard
*Extraplanar Lens
*Semblance Anvil
*Worn Powerstone
*Dragon Throne of Tarkir
*Erratic Portal
*Panharmonicon
*Coat of Arms
*Conjurer&#039;s Closet
*Cryptic Gateway
*Gauntlet of Power
*Gilded Lotus
*Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
*Caged Sun
*Akroma&#039;s Memorial
[/Artifact]
[Land]
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*Myriad Landscape
*Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*Riptide Laboratory
*Scavenger Grounds
*Arch of Orazca
*28 Island
[/Land]"></span></div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div></div>
<hr />
<div>This is a very mana-intensive build. We need mana to play our commander to bounce enemy armies and replay our creatures for extra value, and because of that, having good mana acceleration is very important. We have 9 mana rocks, 3 cost reducers, 3 mana doublers, and 2 ways of cheating things into play for free. Even though we need lots of mana, it doesn't take all that much time to actually get there, since in the mid game we can start replaying our creatures for added value.</div>
<div></div>
<div><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cryptic Gateway"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="As Foretold"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Caged Sun"></div></div></div>
<div></div>
<div>Since we get a lot of value from our creatures, there're some areas that this list is lacking, such as card draw and instant-speed interaction. That means two things. First, we can't waste cards. Our card advantage comes from repeating our creatures' effects over and over. This is powerful, but if they're removed permanently by a board wipe, we lose a lot of fuel in our engine. Second, since we have less interaction on other players' turns than a normal blue deck, we may need to do some politicking to make sure we don't get run over by a big threat.</div>
<hr />
<div>
<h2>Methodology</h2>
</div>
<p>Our early game is basically dropping lands, playing rocks, and getting value from our creatures. We need to be careful to not over-commit and get blown away by a board wipe, but we can't afford to slow down so much that we never get our engine started. There're some things we can do that can help with this problem, such as holding mana for a counterspells (or bluffing them) and bouncing our own creatures with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Adept</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>By the mid game we should have found some sort of way to abuse our creatures, be it fast mana to play our commander or some bounce engine like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erratic Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Erratic Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is where we start to go crazy. Mana is still a constraint until we hit a mana doubler or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptic Gateway" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptic Gateway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. By this point, since we need to have our engine going, we should consider playing counterspells only defensively.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma&#039;s Memorial"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon Throne of Tarkir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coat of Arms"></div></div>
<p>The late game is where we get degenerate. Looping Venser is not going to make you any friends at the table. By this point we need to take 2-3 creatures and an anthem effect to help us pick some players off. It's very easy to have free attacks with our commander, so the threat of Slinn Voda can be used to help out when making deals (#politics).</p>
<hr />
<h1>Epic Results</h1>
<p>Mono-color tribal can be hard to build, especially in a color that doesn't really support creatures all that well. There are a few adjustments that could be made to the list above to season to your personal taste.</p>
<p>One theme that could've been explored is copying creatures, such as with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Replication" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Replication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cackling Counterpart" href="#" target="_blank">Cackling Counterpart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They don't interact favorably with ounce effects, but we can't deny their value. Another direction that this deck could've gone is simply to abandon the Wizards. Just plain value creatures, 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="Solemn Simulacrum" href="#" target="_blank">Solemn Simulacrum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, I still think that investing in the tribe is overall better, as there are more payoffs.</p>
<div class="blog-post">
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think about Slinn Voda Wizard Tribal? Please fell free to leave any suggestions in the comments section. Do you have any questions about the list? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know!</p>
</div>


mono blue