<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| Art by <a href="http://www.ericdeschamps.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eric Deschamps</a> | <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slash, Reptile Rampager" href="#" target="_blank">Slash, Reptile Rampager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.andrewkmar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrew Mar</a></em></span></p>
<p><em>Magic</em>'s <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mtg-news-and-set-reviews/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em></a> set will introduce a plethora of new turtle-bound legendary creatures to the game<em>,</em> with one of particular interest to red mages who enjoy stacking up tons of creatures on the battlefield: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slash, Reptile Rampager" href="#" target="_blank">Slash, Reptile Rampager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Of course, there’s already a notable commander option that plays a similar role with an identical line of text (related to dealing two damage to each opponent when a creature enters under your control), the God enchantment creature dating all the way back to 2013’s <em>Theros</em>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>But while Slash might be the shiny new toy on the scene, does it do the job better than the God of going wide in red? Read on to explore the pros and cons of each, as well as which one is the better option for your next Commander deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Purphoros, God of the Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slash, Reptile Rampager"></div></div>
<h2>Purphoros Vs. Slash</h2>
<p>The main goal of playing either a Slash or Purphoros deck is piling up as many creatures on your side of the battlefield as quickly as possible in order to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shock" href="#" target="_blank">Shock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the table for two damage per body entering.</p>
<p>As such, token generation is wonderful fuel for either card. ETB loops can also be effective strategies. There are also plenty of combo options involving either of these cards, like this beauty involving the Izzet-colored (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Locust God" href="#" target="_blank">The Locust God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>:</p>
<div id="366-1089-1339" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="366-1089-1339" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22The%20Locust%20God%22%2C%22Curiosity%22%2C%22Purphoros%2C%20God%20of%20the%20Forge%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Near-infinite%20damage%22%2C%22Infinite%20card%20draw%22%2C%22Near-infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20draw%20triggers%22%2C%22Near-infinite%20creature%20tokens%20with%20haste%22%5D&id=366-1089-1339&color=UR&extraRequirementCount=2"></script></div>
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<h3>Mana Cost</h3>
<p>First off: Mana cost. Slash already comes in with a huge handicap of costing one more mana than Purphoros (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> vs. <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>). While Commander games usually take a few turns to get going as players set up their game plan, ramp mana, or play various mana rocks, that one-mana difference may end up being the deciding factor between playing the original pinging God or the new Turtle pinger.</p>
<h3>"Are You a God?"</h3>
<p>Seeing as Purphoros is a God, it boasts the indestructible keyword, which gives it built-in protection that Slash simply can’t compete with. Furthermore, the enchantment creature does not become a creature (a 7/6 creature, no less) until your devotion to red is five or more.</p>
<p>While that might sound like a drawback, in actuality it can serve as another layer of protection, as there are <em>far </em>more ways to remove creatures than there are ways to remove enchantments – especially in the Commander format.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Slash is simply a Mutant Berserker Turtle (admittedly, an amazing creature type line) with no kind of evasion/protection – meaning that it does, indeed, die to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Despite that, because the <em>TMNT </em>set is jammed full of Turtles and Mutants (as the name might slightly imply), Slash gains myriad synergies with various other reptiles found in that set and other sets throughout <em>Magic</em>’s history.</p>
<h3>Pumping Creatures Vs. Making Creatures</h3>
<p>The main difference between the two creatures, of course, is their abilities – beyond the identical pinging text. While Purphoros delivers a +1/+0 boost to all of your creatures for a fairly pricey <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Slash actually aids your primary game plan by producing a 2/2 Mutant creature token whenever you attack with it.</p>
<p>But does that single triggered ability outweigh all of the pros that Purphoros delivers? Honestly, probably not.</p>
<p>While delivering a 2/2 body each attack isn’t nothing, the entirety of your deck will be geared towards getting as many bodies onto the battlefield as quickly as possible – making that line of text only slightly more impactful than amusing flavor text.</p>
<p>Also, the built-in protection of Purphoros's indestructibility means it can only get hit by exile effects or Edict-style spells (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheoldred&#039;s Edict" href="#" target="_blank">Sheoldred&#039;s Edict</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chainer&#039;s Edict" href="#" target="_blank">Chainer&#039;s Edict</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Innocent Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Innocent Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, etc.) – something that Slash absolutely can’t claim to contain.</p>
<p>Ultimately, if you’re looking for a theme deck leader, Slash can certainly be a fun one, but as the leader of a mono-red “pinging/burn” Commander deck, Purphoros, God of the Forge should remain the number one option.</p>
<p>Of course, that doesn’t mean that Slash wouldn’t be a beloved part of the 99 alongside other notable pinging triggers based on creatures entering, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warleader&#039;s Call" href="#" target="_blank">Warleader&#039;s Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weftstalker Ardent" href="#" target="_blank">Weftstalker Ardent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Gatekeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Gatekeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shocking Sharpshooter" href="#" target="_blank">Shocking Sharpshooter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agate Instigator" href="#" target="_blank">Agate Instigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, alongside classics like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impact Tremors" href="#" target="_blank">Impact Tremors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pandemonium" href="#" target="_blank">Pandemonium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>Choosing Purphoros, God of the Forge</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Purphoros, God of the Forge"></div></div>
<p>While both Slash and Purphoros would slot nicely into the 99 of any number of token-producing “go-wide” decks, such as Naya (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) builds with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baylen, the Haymaker" href="#" target="_blank">Baylen, the Haymaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jetmir, Nexus of Revels" href="#" target="_blank">Jetmir, Nexus of Revels</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jinnie Fay, Jetmir&#039;s Second" href="#" target="_blank">Jinnie Fay, Jetmir&#039;s Second</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> leading the charge, your decision of choosing Purphoros over Slash as your commander should revolve around the choices below.</p>
<h3>Quick Decision Check</h3>
<p>Are you playing in a more casual pod?</p>
<p>Is your deck more comb<em>o</em>-oriented or comb<em>at</em>-oriented?</p>
<p>Does your pod lack exile effects, edicts, and exiling board wipes?</p>
<p>If the answer to all three is “yes,” Purphoros is likely your best bet.</p>
<p>Because Purphoros is an iconic creature and generally pricey to obtain (average value around $26 across all printings), veteran Commander and cEDH players are more likely to know – and fear – Purphoros in a more competitive environment. Casual players might be more likely to simply be having a good time, meaning that you might be able to chain together tons of creatures out of nowhere for the win.</p>
<p>If you’re hoping to attack with your commander to aid your strategy, Purphoros is likely not the right choice for your deck. Sure, its activated ability can win the game out of nowhere, but one of the main boons of playing Purphoros is that you can immediately gain the ETB static effect with little chance of it being removed, due to indestructibility and the devotion clause.</p>
<p>Purphoros has a lot going for it, and it’s clearly held up as one of the preeminent threats in Commander due to its lofty price point and thunderously powerful effect.</p>
<p>But when is Slash the better option?</p>
<h2>Choosing Slash, Reptile Rampager</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slash, Reptile Rampager"></div></div>
<p>Much like selecting Purphoros has its benefits, you must ask yourself the following questions before deciding to move forward with Slash in your Commander deck.</p>
<h3>Quick Decision Check</h3>
<p>Does your pod play heavy exile effects, edict effects, or enchantment board wipes?</p>
<p>Do you expect your commander to survive until your first combat step?</p>
<p>Are you playing a themed Turtle/Mutant deck?</p>
<p>Slash works well as part of a shell (pun intended) that revolves around chaining together combat steps so you can abuse the Turtle’s attack trigger, which automatically pings all your foes for two.</p>
<p>Though Purphoros boasts superior staying power, that attack trigger is juicy, and it’s worth building around in the right environment and right deck – such as a more casual setting in which players are simply enjoying the game or testing out theme decks (like one built solely around Turtles or Mutants).</p>
<h2>Preferred Decks</h2>
<p>While both of these legends perform admirably in the commander slot, they also slide perfectly into other shells, such as:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Norin the Wary"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer"></div></div>
<p><strong><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></strong> – arguably the best mono-red mass token creator (as well as the <a href="https://commandersherald.com/15-best-goblin-cards-for-commander/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Goblin card for Commander</a>), if you run Krenko as your commander, it makes perfect sense to include either Purphoros or Slash in your 99 (or both, if you have space).</p>
<p><strong><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Norin the Wary" href="#" target="_blank">Norin the Wary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></strong> – the constant flickering from Norin means that you’ll always be pinging your foes for two damage a turn while playing Purphoros and/or Slash.</p>
<p><strong><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer" href="#" target="_blank">Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></strong> – for more budget builds, this uncommon commander tutors up either Slash or Purphoros to ensure you won’t be without your pinging engine for too long. Also, Naya colors are brilliant when it comes to delivering tons of bodies to the battlefield on your side.</p>
<h2>So, Which Card Is Better?</h2>
<p>Ultimately, the decision is yours, but Purphoros is a time-honored token strategy enabler with impressive stats and multiple layers of built-in protection. While Slash might be a neat card to build around for a Turtle or Mutant theme deck, the God from <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Theros_(plane)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Theros</a> is still the preferred option, either as the leader of a mono-red ETB pinging deck, or as part of the 99.</p>
<p>But, hey, if you have room, why not throw them both in? It’s always good to have duplicative effects when playing Commander. Beyond that, you’ll be hitting your foes for four damage per ETB – not bad at all!</p>
<h2>Let the Bodies Hit the Floor</h2>
<p>No matter whether you’re choosing Purphoros or Slash (or both), make sure you’ve got plenty of disposable bodies or tokens cluttering up the battlefield, as not only do they help fuel both creatures’ triggered abilities, they will also threaten your foes as part of go-wide strategies.</p>
<p>Either way, you’re in for a good time… and your opponents are not.</p>


Is Slash, Reptile Rampager As Good As Purphoros, God of the Forge?

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tannuk, Steadfast Second|EOE|296" href="#" target="_blank">Tannuk, Steadfast Second</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by Pascal Blanché</em></p>
<p>Coming fresh out the gates of <em>Edge of Eternities</em> a brand new mono-red commander by the name of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tannuk, Steadfast Second" href="#" target="_blank">Tannuk, Steadfast Second</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been making waves among EDH players. Why you ask? To understand that, you have to understand what came before him, because whilst Tannuk might seem like a completely original design showing off <em>EOE</em>'s brand new warp mechanic, he's actually just a new version of a card that's been around since 2020.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tannuk, Steadfast Second"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded"></div></div>
<p>Both legendary creatures effectively offer the same thing. For <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. you can cheat out a red or artifact creature from your hand for a single turn and also have it gain haste from your legend's static ability. At the end of the turn, it'll go away.</p>
<p>That's a pretty easy thing to exploit, allowing you to find some of the nastiest enters triggers in the game with exorbitant costs and take advantage of them for just three mana, but there are some very subtle and important differences between how these two cards deliver on that promise.</p>
<h3>So Which is Better?</h3>
<p>So the question that remains is which of these two legends should helm a deck with this specific strategy? Is Tannuk just a power-crept version of his predecessor? Or a mere imitation of Purphoros's raw unbridled power?</p>
<p>To find out we're going to take a look at some of the niche differences between these two cards and how they'll shape your deck building process (and the play patterns of your deck) should you choose to veer to one side or another. Either way, we have a super powerful ability on our hands: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sneak Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Sneak Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the command zone is nothing to be sniffed at. However, which of the two will give us that extra edge to clinch a victory at your next game night?</p>
<h2>Tannuk is Cheaper</h2>
<p>Let's get the obvious one out of the way: Tannuk is a whole one mana cheaper to cast than Purphoros. That's a whole extra turn quicker to start your shenanigans. A whole one less mana you'll need to recast him after he's spot removed. And a whole extra mana you can instead spend on his activated ability if you intend to cast and then activate him on the same turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fork"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wyll&#039;s Reversal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Untimely Malfunction"></div></div>
<p>It's not the flashiest differential, but it's an incredibly important one. Mana costs make or break cards in TCGs of all descriptions, and the extra speed Tannuk can offer your deck over Purph will allow players to take on much more aggressive play patterns. Even if you cast Tannuk a later turn, each mana you don't spend can then be held up for protection spells or anti-counter tech, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wyll&#039;s Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Wyll&#039;s Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>Cast Over Put</h2>
<p>This is the biggest difference for me. The crucial way in which Purphoros and Tannuk differ is that, when you spend your three mana in a Purph deck, you're "putting" a card from your hand onto the battlefield. Tannuk's warp ability gives your cards an alternate casting cost. With Tannuk, you're casting a spell; with Purph, you're activating an ability.</p>
<p>That might not seem like a huge difference at first glance, especially if you're new to the game, but the differences can be pretty staggering. Unfortunately, this also means it's difficult to decide a clear "better" option out of the two. Either one has tactical advantages over the other in myriad ways. Let's break down some of the big ones.</p>
<h3>Instant vs. Sorcery Speed</h3>
<p>The ability to do anything at instant speed (on another person's turn, in response to a spell, etc.) is a massive upgrade to only being able to cast them onto an empty stack in your main phase. Because Purphoros's ability doesn't have you cast the creatures it cheats out, and because it doesn't specify otherwise, you can drop down your creature spells at instant speed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terror of Mount Velus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inferno Titan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worldgorger Dragon"></div></div>
<p>That means you can use creature spells as instant-speed removal, surprise blockers, or combat tricks. As Tannuk asks you to actually cast your spells with an alternate cost, they're still creature spells that have to resolve at sorcery speed. Meanwhile, Purph can flash in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldgorger Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Worldgorger Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in response to a board wipe and protect his entire board. That's a huge deal.</p>
<h3>Dodging Counterspells</h3>
<p>The other benefit of Purphoros dumping his nasty creatures down via an activated ability is that he can dodge anything that would usually interact with his creatures whilst they're on the stack. Tannuk's casts can still be foiled by a regular <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> just like any other creature spell, but Purphoros's activated ability is only susceptible to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stifle" href="#" target="_blank">Stifle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-like effects.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Counterspell"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stifle"></div></div>
<p>The other benefit of an interaction like this is that, when a creature spell gets countered, it goes to your graveyard. If Purph's activated ability is countered, then your card never left your hand in the first place. You don't even need to reveal what creature card you're targeting with the ability, so players will just have to hope for the best that their Stifle is worth it.</p>
<h3>Introducing Cast Triggers</h3>
<p>To push the needle back into Tannuk's direction however, there are actually a lot of benefits that come with having to cast your spells as well. Purphoros grants you access to some truly horrid enters triggers, but Tannuk widens the pool even more by introducing cheap cast triggers as well.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myojin of Infinite Rage"></div></div>
<p>A lot of scary things in <em>Magic </em>are balanced by making sure that a spell was actually cast before giving you its ability. Take the absolutely terrifying <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myojin of Infinite Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Myojin of Infinite Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example: pretty useless in a Purph deck but absolutely wild in Tannuk. Three-mana mono-red <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armageddon" href="#" target="_blank">Armageddon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> anyone?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maelstrom Colossus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stormscale Scion"></div></div>
<p>Not to mention that two of the most busted casting triggers in the history of the game are now available to you in cascade and storm. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maelstrom Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Maelstrom Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormscale Scion" href="#" target="_blank">Stormscale Scion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> aren't going to provide much for a Purph deck. In Tannuk, they're some incredible free value or a crazy payoff for a big turn respectively.</p>
<h3>Make it Thrifty</h3>
<p>As Tannuk is actually casting his spells, you also have the option to reduce the amount of mana you're spending for each of these creature cheats. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruby Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Ruby Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hazoret&#039;s Monument" href="#" target="_blank">Hazoret&#039;s Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the board means every creature spell in your hand basically costs a single red pip.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ruby Medallion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hazoret&#039;s Monument"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Semblance Anvil"></div></div>
<h2>Tannuk Can Cast Any Artifact</h2>
<p>Speaking of artifacts, another one of the absolutely massive differences between these two commanders lies in a single word in Purphoros's rules text. Whilst Tannuk's ability can cheat in any red creature and any artifact card, Purph only has access to artifact <em>creatures. </em>That's a big old addition to the card pool should you choose Tannuk. If you've played a single round of Commander, I'm sure you're aware of all the crazy game changing artifacts in the <em>Magic</em>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nexus of Becoming"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spine of Ish Sah"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Extinguisher Battleship"></div></div>
<p>Horrible things, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spine of Ish Sah" href="#" target="_blank">Spine of Ish Sah</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, combined with an artifact sac outlet and some cost-reducers can see you doing ridiculous amounts of damage to your opponents' boards. If you're building something a little more combo-focused, there's also plenty of expensive mana rocks that help you go mana positive for explosive turns.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chromatic Orrery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Throne of Eldraine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Radiant Lotus"></div></div>
<h2>Warp and Warp Again</h2>
<p>One of the other benefits of warping your powerful enter triggers cards is that you have one round of recursion built in. Whilst Purphoros will force you to sacrifice your creatures at the beginning of your next end step, the warp ability has them go into exile instead, and just like cards that are on an Adventure, you can cast them on later turns and get your cast and enters triggers all over again.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Passionate Archaeologist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild-Magic Sorcerer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nalfeshnee"></div></div>
<p>Now, of course, you will have to actually be able to afford the cards this time, but there's plenty of neat tricks you can now pull as those cards are in exile. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild-Magic Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Wild-Magic Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nalfeshnee" href="#" target="_blank">Nalfeshnee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will add some extra value that should justify some of the extra investment if you feel like playing a longer game.</p>
<h3>Exile is a Tricky One</h3>
<p>One thing to note, however, is that it's a lot easier to recur something that's in your graveyard than it is to get it back out of exile. Once one of your cards is in exile, it's basically only coming back out if you cast it. As Purphoros will be sacrificing on end of turn instead you'll find it much easier to get multiple triggers off of your big bombs.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feldon of the Third Path"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trading Post"></div></div>
<p>Artifacts can be put back into your hand with something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trading Post" href="#" target="_blank">Trading Post</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and creatures can get multiple hits after Purphoros has finished with them with and a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feldon of the Third Path" href="#" target="_blank">Feldon of the Third Path</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. To get that synergy in a Tunnak deck, you'll need some kind of sacrifice outlet to stop your creatures falling into exile.</p>
<p>Not to mention that Purphoros can also enjoy any death triggers his creatures may have as well as their entering abilities.</p>
<h2>You Can Go Your Own Way</h2>
<p>I hope this deep dive has helped you pick apart the differences from these two very fun commanders. It's tough to say which one is ultimately "the better card" as a lot of their trade offs can also be specifically built around. There's still some key differences we didn't even touch on; I didn't even mention that Purph is indestructible!</p>
<p>But the differences are also pretty interesting, and it's been fun to lay them all out! Heck, maybe you even learned something about the nuances of card design.</p>
<p>If you're looking to put Tannuk together you can find some additional help from one of the suggested articles below, but regardless, I'll see you on the next edition of <em>The Monolith</em> where every other week it's mono, mono, mono.</p>
<p></p>
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