<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obeka, Splitter of Seconds" href="#" target="_blank">Obeka, Splitter of Seconds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://www.ryanpancoast.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Pancoast</a></em></p>
<p><em>Magic: The Gathering</em> is a game that thrives on unknown information. A big spell you've been holding onto since the start of the game finally coming down when everyone is tapped out is huge. Instant-speed, unknown effects reign supreme. It gives the caster the ability to plan for low interaction points. That's what make cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deflecting Swat" href="#" target="_blank">Deflecting Swat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Rollick" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Rollick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fierce Guardianship" href="#" target="_blank">Fierce Guardianship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> so good. Being able to withhold the ability to interact without having a tell is massive. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boseiju, Who Endures" href="#" target="_blank">Boseiju, Who Endures</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are super useful because they're low cost, hard to interact with, and can come out of nowhere.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deflecting Swat"></div></div>
<p>The fabric of <em>Magic</em> surrounds how much an opponent knows about how your deck works. It's a game where you have to give away information when you build up a synergistic board state. Known information and unknown information play a huge role on how players take their turn. In CEDH, it's a known fact that decks that go against the meta, that have a unique gimmick, can win at high-power consistent tables because players don't understand the interaction points of the off-meta deck. It's hard to anticipate what will be threatening. Meta breaking is unknown information, which gives you an edge.</p>
<p>With this in consideration, I want to talk about this effect on certain legendary creatures in Commander. I like to call them "Telegraphed Strategies." There are some commanders that display their strategy so clearly that it makes them easier to understand how to deal with. Well, mostly.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obeka, Splitter of Seconds" href="#" target="_blank">Obeka, Splitter of Seconds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obeka, Splitter of Seconds"></div></div>
<h3>The Stats</h3>
<p>I'll start with the card that sparked this idea in me. I wanted to build this deck so bad when it came out; upkeep triggers getting support is interesting! She reads: "Whenever <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obeka, Splitter of Seconds" href="#" target="_blank">Obeka, Splitter of Seconds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deals combat damage to a player, you get that many additional upkeep steps after this one." Obeka starts as a 2/5 with menace - evasion built onto her and toughness to protect her in combat. She costs <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" 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> so if things are perfect you can get her out on turn three at the earliest.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Court of Ambition"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Court of Ire"></div></div>
<p>The Court card cycle is very good with her. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Court of Ire" href="#" target="_blank">Court of Ire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Court of Ambition" href="#" target="_blank">Court of Ambition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are win-cons. Dealing seven damage to a player on your upkeep if you're the monarch over and over for each damage is back breaking. That's 21 damage if you're the monarch at the start of your turn and the two damage that comes built on Obeka. That's insane value. It's even more insane when looking at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Court of Ambition" href="#" target="_blank">Court of Ambition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, because each player loses six life and discards two card. You could potentially empty everyone's hand and deal 18 damage if you're the monarch at the start of your turn or buff Obeka even a little bit.</p>
<h3>The Struggle</h3>
<p>It's an incredible strategy. When she first came out, everyone was playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obeka, Splitter of Seconds" href="#" target="_blank">Obeka, Splitter of Seconds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not so much now, though. Yeah, people tend to move on in this hobby, but I have a more insidious hypothesis. It's because Obeka's strategy makes her a tough commander to win with.</p>
<p>Hear me out. It takes a turn after Obeka comes out to attack. Typically she doesn't come out until turn four so she attacks on turn five. If you really push yourself with mana rocks you might be able to guarantee her attacking on turn four. Her menace makes her able to evade one blocker, and it's likely on turn five someone only has one blocker. Hopefully you see something like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ring of Valkas" href="#" target="_blank">Ring of Valkas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to have an upkeep trigger for her to utilize the turn she attacks. The curve for the Courts don't jive with her. It's possible to play Court of Ire the turn after she comes out and just get the additional upkeep triggers while you're still the monarch.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ring of Valkas"></div></div>
<p>Here's the rub: it's clear to players when Obeka is threatening and when she's not. That's mostly open knowledge. She has to build up her board incrementally and then she has to hit someone to get the triggers. She has to connect. People will have blockers by the time she can do some real damage. No one is going to let her connect. Chump blockers or even good creatures will be thrown in front of her to avoid a 6/9 Obeka from connecting with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Court of Ambition" href="#" target="_blank">Court of Ambition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out. It's that or lose.</p>
<p>This makes it tough for Obeka players to sneak into a win. Combat damage triggers are especially hard because there are a lot of decisions opponents can make to stop you from getting the trigger. Giving your opponent options is always a bad thing. When we play <em>Magic</em>, we want to trap our opponents into our win. It's hard to do that if they can see everything we're up to. They'll save removal for Obeka during combat or block her. Something like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Rollick" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Rollick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could blow out any Obeka player.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadly Rollick"></div></div>
<p>There are some workarounds, like going with an evasion Voltron strategy to guarantee hits - like with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aqueous Form" href="#" target="_blank">Aqueous Form</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example. But then that takes away from the upkeep triggers we could put out, but it might be worth it.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm, Force of Nature" href="#" target="_blank">Storm, Force of Nature</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm, Force of Nature"></div></div>
<h3>The Stats</h3>
<p>This commander has a similar struggle. It's an incredible strategy. She has flying and vigilance - so good evasion and blocking capability - and costs <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" 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>. She reads: "Whenever Storm deals combat damage to a player, the next instant or sorcery spell you cast this turn has storm. (When you cast it, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.)"</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brainstorm"></div></div>
<p>With Storm on board and five potential mana, you can cast a few cantrips before going to combat, like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ponder" href="#" target="_blank">Ponder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The likelihood someone has a flying blocker is low, but the upper bound of what she can do is insane. Her evasion is better than Obeka's because flying is harder to deal with than menace; some decks just don't run a ton of flyers. So after damage, casting a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and getting three lands on board and three in hand is really good for the next turn. Later on, after a few Talismans are played, she could deal combat damage and cast a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nexus of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Nexus of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and get three extra turns.</p>
<h3>The Struggle</h3>
<p>Storm is different than Obeka in this regard because the spell that the player is building up to is the unknown information. The buildup to that spell, however, is the open knowledge. Players can see a storm count of four and understand that no matter what the spell is after combat, Storm has to be blocked or removed. She's an interesting and powerful card, so players will start to catch on. She can't be allowed to stay on board and, especially, connect on that turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kaalia of the Vast"></div></div>
<p>Every time she's recast, it gives every opponent a turn circle to prepare, to look for removal. The ceiling of her ability is high but if she can't stick on board, the deck is likely filled with value that probably costs very little or too much to cast. It becomes this on-sight commander removal situation that we see with decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We know that Kaalia has to be removed or she'll have the possibility to one-shot a player. Storm's value engine is so good, it can accrue so much in a turn, making it impossible to surmount, so she has to be removed.</p>
<p>Some workarounds to this could be playing combat trick cards to build up the storm count before damage, dealing a little more commander damage, while giving a lower interaction point on opponents, but if they have the removal, they'll likely play it then anyway.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anikthea, Hand of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Anikthea, Hand of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>It has to be noted that this observation about telegraphed strategy doesn't neatly say that if you reveal information, you'll get removed out of the game. Anikthea is an exception. She's even more telegraphed in strategy, but still is often very threatening to play against and can consistently come back.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anikthea, Hand of Erebos"></div></div>
<h3>The Stats</h3>
<p>She a 4/4 with menace that costs <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-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. She has evasion, which is huge for combat triggers. The thing is that Anikthea is a little more to cast than the other commanders I've mentioned. She's in green so she can likely get out by turn three. She reads: "Other enchantment creatures you control have menace. Whenever Anikthea enters the battlefield or attacks, exile up to one target non-Aura enchantment card from your graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of that card, except it's a 3/3 black Zombie creature in addition to its other types."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doubling Season"></div></div>
<p>She has a much more telegraphed effect than the other two commanders I've mentioned. Before she's cast, we can see what's in the graveyard for her to reanimate. It might be advantageous to stop her. And she gets her trigger for entering <em>and</em> attacking. If you give her haste you can do it twice in a turn, which is immediately better than the other commander effects I've mentioned, but it's value the turn you cast her. <em>And</em> it's not a damage trigger. Anikthea just has to attack to get the effect. She doesn't have to survive or connect.</p>
<h3>The Success</h3>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anikthea, Hand of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Anikthea, Hand of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can shoot out a ton of value on a turn, so opponents will have the counter her when she's cast. Creature spells are notoriously harder to counter in decks that splash in counter magic, often needing <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. Obviously a well timed board wipe will set her back, but even removing the enchantments she has on board isn't great because she can reanimate them. A <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in grave and a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mondrak, Glory Dominus" href="#" target="_blank">Mondrak, Glory Dominus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anointed Procession" href="#" target="_blank">Anointed Procession</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on board with an Anikthea coming onto the battlefield is going to make way more tokens than you can handle. <em>And</em> it will only grow exponentially.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anointed Procession"></div></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Even though Anikthea shows her capability in her grave, she's able to wriggle a way to wins while Storm or Obeka struggle to do this. I'll put this up to you as a community to help me better understand this: What are your experiences with these decks? I try to explore what makes some of these decks successful and others not, but I need more data, more experience. Send me your thoughts <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strixhavendropout.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@strixhavendropout at Blue Sky</a>.</p>


Telegraphed Strategies and Why They're Difficult in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em>MagicCon | Image courtesy of Wizards of the Coast/ReedPop</em></p>
<p>Welcome back to <em>How To Be New</em>, where I give advice for new Commander players by a new Commander player. But I'll be honest, I'm not sure how long I'll be able to carry that tag. Because I did pull an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at a prerelease and it feels like a real turning point. It calls to me to do crimes I never would have even considered when I was first learning to play Commander. But now I've seen the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hullbreaker Horror" href="#" target="_blank">Hullbreaker Horror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and I'm... well... I'm afraid I won't be able to look away...</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Lord High Artificer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hullbreaker Horror"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malevolent Whispers"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>So, You Wanna Go to MagicCon?</h2>
<p>MagicCon is in Las Vegas this weekend. As a <em>Magic</em> player, you might reasonably want to go. But as a new player, I'm sure you probably have some unanswered questions: What can I expect at a MagicCon? Will people play Commander with me? What's the percentage chance that someone will see me misplay, yell, "Hey! They're too <em>new</em> to be here!" and then a group of 30-80 people will lift me up, carry me outside, and dump me onto the street?</p>
<p>These are all extremely natural questions for you to have. They're all questions I had before my first MagicCon earlier this year. So let me share my story and some friendly advice to help answer these questions and more.</p>
<p>Some time around last December, I became aware that MagicCon would be taking place in February in Chicago. I happen to live in Chicago, so I had a relatively low barrier to entry. But still, it felt like such a big leap.</p>
<p>I've been going to board game conventions for years without any worry, but one specifically for <em>Magic</em>? Would they expect me to know things about <em>Magic</em>? Would they expect me to be <em>good</em> at it??</p>
<p>These questions plagued me. I was still going to FLGS Commander Nights mostly, and at that time didn't really have a regular rotation of players I liked to play with, so I didn't have any friends I could ask about it. Information online was somewhat scant.</p>
<p>But eventually the temptation of a "free" Collector Booster of <em>Aetherdrift</em> was enough for me to buy a weekend pass (Collector Boosters have always seemed too expensive to justify buying them on their own, which makes them a perfect incentive to buy a $150 convention ticket).</p>
<p>So, on that extremely cold Friday in February I made the trek down to the McCormick Place Convention Center. Over my weekend there, I got answers to many of my questions. Let me pass those answers along to you, so you can focus on more important questions like, "I shouldn't get a <em>Final Fantasy</em> Collector Booster... right?" and "What if I just cut like one or two lands from this deck?"</p>
<h2>What Is There to Do at Magiccon?</h2>
<p>There are quite a few things to do at MagicCon, to be sure. There are panels, events, and probably some other things too. But mostly what I spent my time doing was playing Commander at the free play tables. There's an ocean of free play tables with different sections allocated to different play experiences (casual vs. competitive, for example).</p>
<p>They also have volunteers there to connect people with open games, so you can just see one of them and they'll broadcast to the area to find you a table with an opening. It's really an excellent setting, and they do amazing work for the number of people who are playing there.</p>
<p>As with all public <em>Magic</em> experiences, your mileage will vary based on the other players in your pod. If you have any friends to go with, that's certainly helpful, but not required. And if you're not meshing with your pod, just leave the table after your game, go somewhere to have a snack or a drink, and then come back and find a new pod to play with.</p>
<p>"There's plenty of fish in the sea" has never been more true in a Commander setting than it is here.</p>
<h2>Ok, Cool. Is There Anything Else to Do?</h2>
<p>I'll be honest with you, based on my first experience, it seems like by and large the answer is no.</p>
<p>I spent a little time wandering the show floor. But if you've been to the show floor at other gaming conventions, like Gen Con or Origins, you'll get a very different vibe at MagicCon.</p>
<p>Since there's only one game here, there's not row after row of booths demoing different games. Instead, there's a few vendors you might expect, like Dragon Shield and Ultra PRO selling relatively expensive sleeves, deck boxes, playmats, etc.</p>
<p>There are also some areas set up by different card dealers, setting appointments to buy and sell cards from people who seem to be serious collectors.</p>
<p>Those places felt literally above my paygrade, and even when I did work myself up to try and sell a <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> I'd picked up to get a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the usual trick of standing around and looking like you'd like to speak with someone didn't work.</p>
<p>It very much seemed like they had more important business to conduct than to give their time for my meager trade offer, so I ended up just leaving.</p>
<p>I will give a quick aside to say that a local arcade had brought a few of the brand new <em>Dungeons and Dragons</em> pinball machines to the show floor for folks to play. And seeing as pinball is another one of my nerdy vices of choice (look for the initials SKA on a pinball machine near you) I did spend some time on those.</p>
<p>But I wouldn't expect that to be a regular feature.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Expropriate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Split Decision"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Valeyard"></div></div>
<p>There's also a huge line for official show merch. This is true seemingly at all times of day and on every day of the con. I can't imagine wanting any of the things they were selling bad enough to brave that queue. Especially when I could head downstairs and drop <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Expropriate" href="#" target="_blank">Expropriate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on a table of unsuspecting strangers, and then copy it, so that I end up taking 15 turns in a row.<strong>*</strong></p>
<p>I also want to say that if meeting artists and getting their cards signed is your jam, this is very much the place for you. There are also some meet and greets and the chance to say hi to some of your favorite content creators. Unfortunately, Spice8Rack didn't attend this one, so I couldn't get them to sign my newly acquired <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Grenade" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Grenade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Maybe next time.</p>
<p><strong>*</strong>It was this incident, and the bad vibes that came after it, that finally made me take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Expropriate" href="#" target="_blank">Expropriate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out of my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Valeyard" href="#" target="_blank">The Valeyard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. I simply couldn't be trusted with that sort of power.<strong>**</strong></p>
<p><strong>**</strong>Ok, but also, those guys definitely could've, and should've, just conceded. Plus, then one of those guys got out a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxrill, the Corrosive" href="#" target="_blank">Toxrill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, so you tell me who the real villain is here.</p>
<h2>You Mentioned Events Before. Should I Try to Do Those?</h2>
<p>Yes! The other thing I spent most of my time on was events. There are all sorts of events running through the weekend. And above all else, my best advice is to look for events that seem like the most fun to you. Because the odds are that you'll meet people at those events who are the most like you. And people who are alike are more likely to get along.</p>
<p>Overall, low pressure events seem to bring in the most friendly, easygoing players. For example, the two events I participated in were a Precon Chaos event and an event put on by Brian David Gilbert and Ify Nwadiwe (with special guest Ally Beardsley!) with a light D&amp;D/Umm, Actually theming.</p>
<p>The PreCon Chaos event was first. They sit you at a table, have people come by and drop off a random PreCon for you to open, sleeve, and play with. And that's it! No deckbuilding, no hard decisions, only vibes!</p>
<p>And the vibes were amazing at those tables. Nobody had their ego hinging on how they did in this event. Everyone got the same number of prize tickets (tickets you'll get from events which you can turn into any number of packs and other merch). It was all just for fun.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brash Taunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidisi, Brood Tyrant"></div></div>
<p>It didn't hurt that I got the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser" href="#" target="_blank">Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> precon and immediately fell in love (turns out I'm a sucker for roleplaying the act of accusing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sliver Queen" href="#" target="_blank">Sliver Queen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of a heinous murder, and also am head over heels for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of my favorite lil bois in all of <em>Magic</em>).</p>
<p>One of the last events of the weekend was the Umm, Actually event, and it was packed with my kind of nerds.</p>
<p>I put together a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidisi, Brood Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Sidisi, Brood Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck and had a wonderful time. There was one other player who removed my Commander somewhere around five or six times in a single game, which I didn't love. But I did knock him out of the game in retaliation, which honestly felt great.</p>
<p>Another great thing about these events is that the people at your table can easily turn into people to start pods with in the play area later in the weekend. Just strike up a little conversation around the table and suddenly you're planning to meet up at the tables around lunchtime tomorrow to compare <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/landfall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Landfall decks</a>.</p>
<p>And if you're lucky, those people will then turn into friends who you play with outside of the con! It's like combo-ing off, but with human companionship. And I highly recommend it.</p>
<h2>Will I Have Fun?</h2>
<p>Well, it sort of depends on you. MagicCon isn't going to be spoon fed to you. You'll have to take an effort to find a game for yourself, to sign up for events you'll enjoy, to hopefully make new friends. But these things are absolutely achievable. And if you enjoy playing <em>Magic</em>, you can very easily find yourself having a blast at MagicCon. I know I did.</p>
<p>Lastly, I did want to shout out the excellent people from EDHREC who I got to meet up with at MagicCon. They're extremely kind people. I even lucked into an in-person <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/mike-carrozza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Am I the Bolas</a> when I was playing a game with Mike where I happened to knock a stranger out of the game relatively early and they got fairly salty about it (and it even turned out that I wasn't the Bolas in the situation, which was a huge relief).</p>
<p>If you get the chance to meet any of them at a MagicCon, absolutely take it. They're uniformly wonderful.</p>
<h2>Any Last Tips?</h2>
<p>Yes, I do have a few. In no particular order.</p>
<ul>
<li>Bring a waterbottle. In Chicago, the water coolers were somewhat few and far between, and often empty, so you'll want to stock up when you see an opportunity.</li>
<li>Bring snacks. They're welcome around any Commander table. And as their owner, by extension, you'll be welcomed too.</li>
<li>Don't bring all of your decks. Go with fewer than you'd bring to your regular Commander night. That backpack gets heavy as you lug it around all day. Do yourself a favor and drop a couple fringe decks. You can bring them tomorrow if you really want.</li>
<li>Have Rule Zero conversations. You're playing with strangers. Talk about the things your deck can do.</li>
<li>Leave extra space in your bag for decks, cards, and merch you'll acquire throughout the weekend.</li>
<li>Go to MagicCon. Just go for it. You'll be happy that you did.</li>
</ul>


How To Be New at MagicCon

Final Fantasy Deck Tech: Jenova, Ancient Calamity

Brewing Terra, Magical Adept for cEDH

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In conjunction with the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), Wizards of the Coast is releasing a new <em>Secret Lair</em> drop on Monday, June 16th! Dubbed <em>Nuestra Magia</em>, this new drop launches at 9 AM Pacific (or Noon Eastern). This drop benefits NALAC and is print-to-demand! What's inside? Let's take a look!</p>
<h2><em>Secret Lair x NALAC: Nuestra Magia</em> Base Details</h2>
<p>We <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/upcoming-secret-lair-to-raise-money-for-latino-org">covered this drop almost two weeks ago</a> when Wizards of the Coast announced it. <em>Secret Lair x NALAC: Nuestra Magia</em> contains the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>"La abuela, siempre generosa", a reskin of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tireless Provisioner" href="#" target="_blank">Tireless Provisioner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>"La abundancia de Yucahú", a reskin of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Library" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Library</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>"Pastor de Selva", a reskin of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Greenwarden" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Greenwarden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>"La danza del pueblo", a reskin of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Expressive Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Expressive Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>"La Madre Tierra", a reskin of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xenagos, God of Revels" href="#" target="_blank">Xenagos, God of Revels</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>"Chancla relámpagos", a reskin of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>a Food token</li>
<li>a Treasure token</li>
</ul>
<p>This drop will launch at a price of $39.99 for nonfoil and $49.99 for a foil iteration (<em>please note that this is a $10 increase from what was originally</em> announced). 50% of the proceeds will go towards NALAC. As mentioned above, this <em>Secret Lair</em> drop launches Monday, June 16th and is print-to-demand, but the drop will be live until July 13th.</p>
<h2><em>Nuestra Magia</em> Card Gallery</h2>
<p>This beautiful and reverent <em>Secret Lair</em> drop's art was directed by <a href="https://www.ovidiocartagena.com/"><strong>Ovidio Cartagena</strong></a>, a longtime Art Director for <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> and Creative Lead on multiple <em>Magic</em> sets. These card images are ultimately credited to Wizards of the Coast:</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-Tireless-Provisioner.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156416" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-Tireless-Provisioner.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-Tireless-Provisioner.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-Tireless-Provisioner-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/02-Sylvan-Library.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156417" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/02-Sylvan-Library.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/02-Sylvan-Library.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/02-Sylvan-Library-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/03-Ancient-Greenwarden.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156418" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/03-Ancient-Greenwarden.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/03-Ancient-Greenwarden.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/03-Ancient-Greenwarden-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/04-Expressive-Iteration.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156419" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/04-Expressive-Iteration.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/04-Expressive-Iteration.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/04-Expressive-Iteration-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/05-Xenagos-God-of-Revels.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156420" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/05-Xenagos-God-of-Revels.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/05-Xenagos-God-of-Revels.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/05-Xenagos-God-of-Revels-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/06-Lightning-Greaves.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156421" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/06-Lightning-Greaves.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/06-Lightning-Greaves.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/06-Lightning-Greaves-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/07-Sol-Ring.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156422" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/07-Sol-Ring.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/07-Sol-Ring.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/07-Sol-Ring-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/08-Food-token.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156423" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/08-Food-token.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/08-Food-token.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/08-Food-token-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09-Treasure-token.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156424" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09-Treasure-token.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09-Treasure-token.jpg 672w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09-Treasure-token-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></a></p>
<p>The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) is the nation's premier nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development, and cultivation of the Latino arts field. For more information about NALAC and its programs, or to support our work in advancing Latinx arts and culture, please visit <a href="http://www.nalac.org/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.nalac.org</a>.</p>
<p>Are you excited for this new <em>Secret Lair</em> benefiting NALAC? Do you want any of the cards in particular? Sound off below!</p>


Secret Lair X Nuestra Magia Drop Launches Monday, June 16th

<p>Day Two of the FlyQuest Duel Land charity event Day Two has wrapped! Check out the embed below <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/flyquest?utm_source=edhrec">or go to FlyQuest's Twitch channel</a> to watch the stream and see who will take it all to win a cash prize and $5,000 to the charity of their choice!</p>
<p>We're starting with a Commander Showmatch with EDHRECast's Joey Shultz! Then, the Bracket Stage will showcase the remaining teams into the finals.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="FlyQuest Duel Land Presented by Archidekt - Final Fantasy 2HG ft. Jimmy Wong, Atrioc &amp; more" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o8tbKRzXFUo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><a href="https://archidekt.com/u/FlyQuest?utm_source=edhrec">Decklists will be added on FlyQuest's dedicated Archidekt account</a> as they're updated with Sealed pools as well as player decklists!</p>
<p>We'll see you tomorrow for a recap of this weekend's events!</p>


Archidekt x FlyQuest Duel Land Charity Event Day Two

<p>The Duel Land Charity Livestream event has ended and Day Two is nearly upon us! Read on to see what happened today:</p>
<p>Check out the Youtube embed below to watch or <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/flyquest">head to the FlyQuest Twitch</a> to get in on the Final Fantasy 2-Headed-Giant action!</p>
<p>Here's who you'll see from the player roster below <em>(update: Rachel Weeks is no longer on the player roster)</em>:</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-156135" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-300x169.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-768x432.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="FlyQuest Duel Land Presented by Archidekt - Final Fantasy 2HG ft. Jimmy Wong, Atrioc &amp; more" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T5JkCdHGL_s?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h3>Decklists for Final Fantasy 2HG Sealed</h3>
<p>The first batch of decks are LIVE on Archidekt and will be updated continuously at the link below:</p>
<p><a href="https://archidekt.com/u/FlyQuest">2-Headed-Giant Sealed Decklists</a></p>
<p>Be sure to grab some fresh popcorn, hop in chat on the EDHRECast Youtube or FlyQuest Twitch and let us know your favorite parts of the stream! And <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/archidekt-x-flyquest-duel-land-event-begins-june-14th">check out the rest of this weekend's schedule</a>!</p>


Archidekt x FlyQuest Duel Land Charity Event Day One

Brewing Terra, Magical Adept With Universes Beyond Cards

<p>Mark your calendars, <em>Final Fantasy</em> fans! <a href="https://archidekt.com/flyquest?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Archidekt is teaming up with FlyQuest</a>, a multi-title American esports organization, to host the epic celebrity Duel Land event!</p>
<p>Duel Land is a streaming charity and <em>Final Fantasy</em> prerelease tournament hosted by <a href="https://x.com/FlyQuest">FlyQuest</a>, featuring sixteen well-known names from the <em>Magic</em> and esports worlds.</p>
<p>These titans of their respective gaming universes will clash head-to-head from Saturday, June 14th (tomorrow) through June 15th, for $5,000 to go to the charity of the winning team's choice.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Introducing Duel Land: A Celebrity Magic: The Gathering Tournament" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2B7-O30WSwI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h2>Who's Hosting the Event?</h2>
<p><a href="https://archidekt.com/flyquest?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brought to you by Archidekt</a>, Duel Land will be hosted by <em>Magic</em> personality <strong>Brian Kibler</strong> and esports veteran <strong>Travis Gafford</strong>. The event seeks to put sixteen creators into eight teams of two for this 2-day 2HG competition.</p>
<p>Each team shall consist of a <em>Magic</em> player and an esports player. The format? <em>Final Fantasy</em> 2-Headed Giant Sealed.</p>
<p>Your favorite MTG and esports personalities will also be showcasing some of Archidekt's coolest collection and deckbuilding features to check out on stream as you brew up your own <em>Final Fantasy</em> decks.</p>
<h3>What Does the Event Schedule Look Like?</h3>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-155176 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png" alt="flyquest event schedule" width="512" height="236" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png 512w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule-300x138.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p>
<p><strong>On Day One</strong>, the competing teams will be put into two groups to compete. Those players are in the image below!</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-156135" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players.jpg" alt="The sixteen Duel Land competitors" width="994" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players.jpg 1920w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-300x169.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-768x432.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Duel-Land-players-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 994px) 100vw, 994px" /></a></p>
<p>The top two teams from each group will face each other on <strong>Day Two</strong> for the title, and $5,000 to go to the charity of their choice.</p>
<p>You can also<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/EDHRECast?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> expect to see the EDHRECast</a> at the event for a Commander Showmatch on Day Two!</p>
<p><strong>Day Three</strong> also promises epic action on the Bracket stage!</p>
<h2>Where Can I Watch?</h2>
<p>The Duel Land charity event will be streaming LIVE on <strong>June 14th and 15th</strong>!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/FLYQUEST?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Be sure to bookmark the FlyQuest Twitch page</a> and get notifications for match start times.</p>
<p>For more information on this prestigious for-charity event, you can also visit <a href="https://flyquest.gg/pages/duelland?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FlyQuest's dedicated event page</a>.</p>
<p>Which celebrities and MTG personalities do you think will head up this epic charity prerelease event?</p>
<p><a href="http://twitch.tv/flyquest">Stay tuned for this event</a>, starting tomorrow!</p>


Archidekt x FlyQuest Duel Land Event Begins June 14th

<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quina, Qu Gourmet" href="#" target="_blank">Quina, Qu Gourmet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by Artist <a href="https://www.artstation.com/fajareka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fajareka Setiawan</a></span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello hello! With </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">'s </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Final Fantasy</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> set releases today (June 13th), and I wanted to talk about one of the coolest commanders from this set: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quina, Qu Gourmet" href="#" target="_blank">Quina, Qu Gourmet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>-based token decks are a tried and true strategy, and Quina provides a fun way to create extra tokens in the command zone. Let's get brewing, and flood the board with Frogs!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quina, Qu Gourmet"></div></div></span></p>
<h2>What Does Quina, Qu Gourmet Do?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Quina gives us an extra 1/1 Frog creature token. And, 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>, Quina lets us sacrifice a Frog to put a +1/+1 counter on Quina. While the ability to sacrifice our Frogs is cool, we'll mostly focus on that first ability, making tokens in small batches so that our commander can get as close to doubling our token production as possible. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's a few other mono-green token commanders that we can draw inspiration from. According to </span><a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tokens/mono-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">EDHREC's tag system</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, some popular decks for this strategy center around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrin Took" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrin Took</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Freyalise, Llanowar&#039;s Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Freyalise, Llanowar&#039;s Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaheira, Friend of the Forest" href="#" target="_blank">Jaheira, Friend of the Forest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Each of these commanders provides something unique to a token deck, like extra token production, card advantage, or mana advantage, and we'll make sure that each of them find a slot in the 99 of this deck. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I want to focus particularly on the card advantage that Freyalise, and other similar cards, provide. Being green means that we usually won't have a problem making tons of mana. I'd like to make sure that we've got places to spend that mana, and that'll be key to this deck's success.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peregrin Took"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Freyalise, Llanowar&#039;s Fury"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jaheira, Friend of the Forest"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This deck will aim to build up a huge board of tokens, from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Food" href="#" target="_blank">Food</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clue" href="#" target="_blank">Clue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, before turning those tokens sideways in combat. We'll seek to get Quina out quickly, then leverage its abilities to drown our opponents in a sea of 1/1s. Then, once our board is wide enough, we'll use an overrun effect to ensure that just one attack can end the game. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, the game plan is pretty simple: </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quina, Qu Gourmet" href="#" target="_blank">Quina, Qu Gourmet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as early in the game as possible, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Make as many creature tokens as possible,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then turn those creature tokens into a victory through combat.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quina, Qu Gourmet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overrun"></div></div></span></p>
<h2>Key Cards for Quina, Qu Gourmet</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The best cards in this deck are those that make tokens repeatedly. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gala Greeters" href="#" target="_blank">Gala Greeters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, can make us a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> every turn (meaning that our commander will net us an additional Frog too). Plus, its other modes - gaining life or +1/+1 counters - are super useful too. One of my favorite cards is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chittering Dispatcher" href="#" target="_blank">Chittering Dispatcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can net us up to four extra tokens from our commander per turn (one from the myriad tokens, and up to three more when those myriad tokens leave the battlefield). And, because we'll be making so many tokens, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sandstorm Salvager" href="#" target="_blank">Sandstorm Salvager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fantastic fit here. This Human Artificer makes a token when it enters the battlefield, and can buff our board of tokens to be huge if it's left alone long enough.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gala Greeters"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chittering Dispatcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sandstorm Salvager"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let's talk about how we can take advantage of our very full battlefield of tokens. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enduring Vitality" href="#" target="_blank">Enduring Vitality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaheira, Friend of the Forest" href="#" target="_blank">Jaheira, Friend of the Forest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can turn a board full of Frogs into a ton of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. And, a classic in the Commander format, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Essence Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Essence Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will put in some serious work here with pumping our life total. Lastly, rounding out the cards that take advantage of our wide board state is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Anthem" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Anthem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This enchantment will provide card selection and a small anthem for our whole team, two extremely powerful effects for token decks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Enduring Vitality"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Essence Warden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sylvan Anthem"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Final Fantasy</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> season for us </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> players, so let's talk about the new cards that have found their way into this deck. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Earth Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">The Earth Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great artifact, providing cost reduction and even more +1/+1 counters on our creatures. Because our commander lets us sacrifice Frogs to gain counters, this card is a perfect fit here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphere Grid" href="#" target="_blank">Sphere Grid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works extremely well with our wide board of creatures, letting them grow whenever they deal combat damage and providing some powerful keyword abilities to boot. And lastly, my favorite </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Final Fantasy</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> card in this deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Origins" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Origins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We get card advantage, mana advantage, and even a mini-overrun. I love cards that fill multiple roles in decklists, and this new card does just that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Earth Crystal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphere Grid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Esper Origins"></div></div></span></p>
<h2>How Does This Deck Win?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once we've got a big board of creatures, we need a few ways to go over the top and actually win the game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse" href="#" target="_blank">Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide a huge power and toughness buff to our board, while also making a few extra tokens as the game goes on. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion of Lambholt" href="#" target="_blank">Champion of Lambholt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can get huge over the course of a game, making all of our creatures nigh unblockable. And, of course, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic win-con in green decks, letting us swing in for huge damage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Champion of Lambholt"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Craterhoof Behemoth"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are two more win-cons here: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Get a Leg Up" href="#" target="_blank">Get a Leg Up</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nissa, Ascended Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Nissa, Ascended Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Get a Leg Up" href="#" target="_blank">Get a Leg Up</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may seem like an ordinary combat trick, it can be lethal if we've got one unblocked creature on a board full of tokens. And Nissa is an amazing card that does so much for the deck; it can produce tokens, remove our opponents' pesky permanents, and even end the game with its ultimate ability.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Get a Leg Up"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nissa, Ascended Animist"></div></div></span></p>
<h2>Quina, Qu Gourmet Commander Deck List</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Building a Quina, Qu Gourmet Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Quina, Qu Gourmet
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Animation Module
*1 Chitterspitter
*1 Emerald Medallion
*1 Esika&#039;s Chariot
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Skullclamp
*1 The Earth Crystal
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Bridgeworks Battle // Tanglespan Bridgeworks
*1 Chatterstorm
*1 Esper Origins // Summon: Esper Maduin
*1 Ezuri&#039;s Predation
*1 For the Common Good
*1 Shamanic Revelation
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 City of Death
*1 Cryptolith Rite
*1 Doubling Season
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
*1 Parallel Lives
*1 Primal Vigor
*1 Sphere Grid
*1 Sylvan Anthem
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Archdruid&#039;s Charm
*1 Beast Within
*1 Collective Resistance
*1 Defend the Rider
*1 Druid&#039;s Deliverance
*1 Get a Leg Up
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Nature&#039;s Claim
*1 Overprotect
*1 Second Harvest
*1 Tyvar&#039;s Stand
*1 Wrap in Vigor
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Arasta of the Endless Web
*1 Arbor Elf
*1 Augur of Autumn
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Chittering Dispatcher
*1 Circle of Dreams Druid
*1 Clifftop Lookout
*1 Craterhoof Behemoth
*1 Disciple of Freyalise // Garden of Freyalise
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Enduring Vitality
*1 Essence Warden
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Gala Greeters
*1 Gilded Goose
*1 Haywire Mite
*1 Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
*1 Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Peregrin Took
*1 Prosperous Innkeeper
*1 Regal Force
*1 Sandstorm Salvager
*1 Scute Swarm
*1 Silverback Elder
*1 Somberwald Beastmaster
*1 Tendershoot Dryad
*1 Tireless Provisioner
*1 Valley Mightcaller
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Freyalise, Llanowar&#039;s Fury
*1 Nissa, Ascended Animist
*1 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*29 Forest
*1 Fountainport
*1 Khalni Garden
*1 Oakhollow Village
*1 The Shire
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This deck is a lot of fun, but it isn't necessarily the strongest strategy. It's got a few individually strong cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but being mono-green prohibits us from tutoring for those cards effectively. The deck also does quite poorly against board wipes. I've included cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrap in Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Wrap in Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to mitigate that risk, but it's still a notable weakness of the deck. This Quina, Qu Gourmet deck likely sits around Bracket 3, but could be improved with the inclusion of a few powerful <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changers</a>, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Survival of the Fittest" href="#" target="_blank">Survival of the Fittest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Vigor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrap in Vigor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Survival of the Fittest"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All that said, I'm quite happy with how this deck turned out. It's a lot of fun to leverage all the card advantage and mana acceleration that green token decks have access to, and it's even more fun to cover our battlefield in Frogs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let me know your thoughts on this deck, and on MTG x FF, in the comments below! I'll see you all soon for another deck tech.</span></p>


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