Singleton Shmingleton - Arachnoid Adaptation

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Commander Spotlight: Ureni of the Unwritten

Tarkir Dragonstorm - Set Review Blue/Jeskai

Archetypes of Imagination - Making a Card Draw Deck

Sultai Arisen Precon Guide - Tarkir: Dragonstorm

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Battle-Ready" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Battle-Ready</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/fajareka">Fajareka Setiawan</a></h6>
<h1>Entering the Smithy</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to another edition of <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>, where we take those <em>Universes Beyond </em>cards, and make decks with them (and them alone, mind!).</p>
<p>Today, we take a look at an infamous color pair with an infamous theme. If you guessed Equipment, you're correct. If you also guessed Bore-os...I mean Boros, that's right, too. We're looking into Boros Equipment this week.</p>
<p>Now, last week, I mentioned I had a surprise for you: We have two decks this time around, and there's a story behind that. I'll explain that later but, for now, let's get acquainted with the first of the two commanders, shall we?</p>
<h1>Armed for Battle</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eivor, Battle-Ready"></div></div>
<p>Eivor hails from the <em>Assassin's Creed</em> franchise, where the Assassins fight the Templars to keep them from acquiring powerful artifacts known as the Pieces of Eden to rule the world.</p>
<p>As for our commander herself, she's a Viking Shieldsmaiden (and a reincarnation of Odin) from Norway who partook in the Viking raids in what is now the UK during the 10th century C.E. Meanwhile, she also worked to take down the Templars's predecessors, the Order of the Ancients.</p>
<p>As for her card, you want to drop as much Equipment as you can, so she can deal some big damage with her attack trigger. In addition, it's also convenient that she has both vigilance and haste, so she can attack right away without leaving you open for a crackback.</p>
<p>However, like I said in the beginning, we have two decks to show off today. Consequently, I'm going to do things a little differently. So, we begin with list #1.</p>
<h1>The First Weapon</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Battle-Hardened" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Eivor, Battle-Ready
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*10 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*10 Plains
*1 Rustvale Bridge
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Wind-Scarred Crag
[/Lands]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Champion&#039;s Helm
*1 Commander&#039;s Plate
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Explorer&#039;s Scope
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Haystack
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Hidden Footblade
*1 Hookblade
*1 Junk Jet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Pip-Boy 3000
*1 Raven Clan War-Axe
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Silver Shroud Costume
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Armory Paladin
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Brotherhood Outcast
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Chaos Terminator Lord
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Humble Defector
*1 Jenny, Generated Anomaly
*1 Mister Gutsy
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Farewell
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Taunt from the Rampart
*1 Wake the Past
*1 What Must Be Done
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Battlefield Improvisation
*1 Bottle-Cap Blast
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Dispatch
*1 Flawless Maneuver
*1 Inventory Management
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Valorous Stance
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Forge Anew
*1 Wild Wasteland
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h1>Claiming the Treasure</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brotherhood Regalia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodforged Battle-Axe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inventory Management"></div></div>
<p>One thing before I go over the list. The second commander's in there somewhere, can you guess it without scrolling to the end?</p>
<p>This list comes with a number of cheap Equipment that'll help make Eivor a threat in more ways than one. At its heart (and it's also true with the second list), this is a Voltron list, where you bludgeon your opponents with commander damage to eliminate them. We have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodforged Battle-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodforged Battle-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (56,587 decks) that will only amass a lot of copies of itself with time. In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Regalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (76,160 decks) gives Eivor protection and evasion, so she can get through. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commander&#039;s Plate" href="#" target="_blank">Commander&#039;s Plate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion&#039;s Helm" href="#" target="_blank">Champion&#039;s Helm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (133,180 and 62,128 decks respectively) both give her protection (as she's going to be a removal magnet), and a buff to make her more lethal.</p>
<p>Moreover, we have Eivor's signature weapon(s) in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raven Clan War-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Raven Clan War-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (2,959 decks), which gives her a coveted keyword in trample. Further, if you cast it while Eivor's in your graveyard, you can get her back to your hand and save on the commander tax. We also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Totec's Spear; 191,168 decks) that provides even better utility, and give trample at the same time.</p>
<p>Likewise, we have non-Equipment that also help Eivor with her mission. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (75,754 decks) renders her indestructible alongside giving her a small buff. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Terminator Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Terminator Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6,582 decks) gives Eivor double strike when she's attacking. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bureau Headmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Bureau Headmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14,425 decks) makes Equipment cheaper to cast, and has you pay less to equip them to your creatures.</p>
<h1>A Voyage Through Time</h1>
<p>In summary, Eivor has much going for her, given that you can protect her while she's out. However, I do want to point out one card that was already spoiled, but is not in the list (nor the second one): <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a decidedly good option for the 99, or as the commander (I find a lot of these Boros Equipment legends to fit at the helm, so why not randomize which one before each game?).</p>
<p>I will be doing a write-up for him in the future, so this article will not be the last time we'll tackle Boros Equipment. If you wish to know why, it's because I'll be tackling <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well. I'll have a restriction for both, so at least Cloud's deck won't look like a repaint of this article.</p>
<p>Most importantly, we need to focus on the now, and work with what we have. That being said, let's go further back in time to our second decklist.</p>
<p>The story behind this list is that it was the list I was originally trying to build months ago, but I couldn't quite get there. However, it's been at the back of my brain for a while, and I want to try again. Without further adeu, behold (not the Tarkir mechanic):</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer"></div></div>
<h1>The Second Weapon</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Ancient Arsenal II" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kassandra, Eagle Bearer
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ace&#039;s Baseball Bat
*1 Andúril, Flame of the West
*1 Andúril, Narsil Reforged
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bilbo&#039;s Ring
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
*1 Crown of Gondor
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Glamdring
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sting, the Glinting Dagger
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Furycalm Snarl
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*9 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*9 Plains
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Thriving Bluff
*1 Thriving Heath
*1 War Room
[/Lands]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Monastery Raid
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Taunt from the Rampart
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Wake the Past
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Inventory Management
*1 Olórin&#039;s Searing Light
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Return to Dust
*1 Reverberate
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Valorous Stance
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Armory Paladin
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Bloodthirster
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Rohirrim Chargers
*1 Scourge of the Throne
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Stonehewer Giant
*1 Éowyn, Lady of Rohan
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Forge Anew
*1 Sigarda&#039;s Aid
*1 Vault 101: Birthday Party
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h1>The Odyssey</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Spear of Leonidas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes"></div></div>
<p>To begin, Kassandra, a descendant of King Leonidas I of Sparta is from the same franchise as Eivor, and was a mercenary during the Peleponnesian War.</p>
<p>She also worked to thwart the Cult of Kosmos (another predecessor to the Templars), and the Order of the Ancients. After she received the Staff of Hermes, she would go on to live for over 2, 400 years before relinquishing the Piece of Eden and passing away.</p>
<p>Her card puts greater emphasis on legendary Equipment. As a result, I tuned this list to center around that as best as I could. There are 16 legendary Equipment within the <em>Universes Beyond</em> card pool.</p>
<p>Two of them are black, thus outside out color identity. On the other hand, we're forced to run the rest to take full advantage of her second ability, which draws us cards when creatures connect.</p>
<p>Granted, they must be carrying legendary Equipment to count for her trigger. I could see <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glamdring" href="#" target="_blank">Glamdring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (19,555 decks) being the worst of these, since our instant/sorcery focus is minimal. On the bright side, we're likely to get more options down the road.</p>
<p>However, one of the best card in this list is undoubtedly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Spear of Leonidas" href="#" target="_blank">The Spear of Leonidas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (19,154 decks), which Kassandra conveniently tutors for when she comes in.</p>
<p>It's a great utility pieces that either gets us a blocker, lets us loot, or gives the equipped creature double strike. That last one is doubly important with our commander out, since two hits to your opponents means two cards drawn.</p>
<p>Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes" href="#" target="_blank">Caduceus, Staff of Hermes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (35, 380 decks) makes Kassandra bigger, and offers some good protection.</p>
<h1>The Other Pieces</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Excalibur, Sword of Eden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rohirrim Chargers"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Codsworth, Handy Helper"></div></div>
<p>Alongside the Spear, we have some good legendary Equipment lying around. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (53,820 decks) makes Kassandra a game-ending threat, especially if you give her double strike and evasion as well.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Andúril, Narsil Reforged" href="#" target="_blank">Andúril, Narsil Reforged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (36,589 decks) gives counters to all of our creatures, including our commander.</p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bilbo&#039;s Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Bilbo&#039;s Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,883 decks), like Brotherhood Regalia, protects and grants evasion to our commander (and whatever creature that's equipped it. More on that in a moment), but also gives us a card when we attack.</p>
<p>It's worth noting that we want to be going wide with our strategy to some degree. Consequently, that'll give us dig into our deck a little more.</p>
<p>That said, I included a few tutors to help ensure that you do that with Kassandra's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stonehewer Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Stonehewer Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (30,062 decks) is a bit on the slow side, but it does have vigilance, and thus can be used as a combat trick.</p>
<p>In a similar vein, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rohirrim Chargers" href="#" target="_blank">Rohirrim Chargers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (3,151 decks) guarantees us an Equipment that we can freely attach to it. Just note that it won't untap during your next turn when you do this.</p>
<p>Moreover, a few other noteworthy cards include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Codsworth, Handy Helper" href="#" target="_blank">Codsworth, Handy Helper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (38,639 decks), who, well, comes in handy. Protecting your commander, auto-equipping, and being a mana dork for Equipment? Don't mind if I do. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Éowyn, Lady of Rohan" href="#" target="_blank">Éowyn, Lady of Rohan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,821 decks) cheapens equip costs, like Bureau Headmaster before it.</p>
<p>Further, she also temporarily grants first strike and vigilance to an equipped creatures of your choice. Choose wisely, unless it's the aforementioned Rohirrim Chargers.</p>
<p>They're the perfect target for her ability. Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Taunt from the Rampart" href="#" target="_blank">Taunt from the Rampart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (40,744 decks) is a great finisher that also weathers your opponents down for a killing blow.</p>
<h1>Returning to the Present</h1>
<p>In conclusion, these two lists are different takes on a tried but true archetype in Commander. One wants you to dump Equipment on the board to deal damage, while the other needs you to use legendary Equipment.</p>
<p>However, Voltron is the ideal way to play with both decks. You could always add blue to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain America, First Avenger" href="#" target="_blank">Captain America, First Avenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you wished. I hear equipping him with Excalibur is very bonkers.</p>
<p>The <em>Assassin's Creed</em> release was maligned because of the notorious <em>Aftermath</em>-style release, where each pack came with half as many cards as ones from the average set.</p>
<p>On the other hand, there's a lot of cool designs and cards in there. I did it as an advent calendar last year, and assembled <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with the contents (and some extras). That particular Ezio is on the shortlist, so we can expect him in the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>Tune in next time when we delve into my most hated archetype, something beyond my wheelhouse. Until then, may your board be flooded with Equipment (if so, you'll seriously need some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inventory Management" href="#" target="_blank">Inventory Management</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Sheesh), and may they help you win.</p>


Beyond the Multiverse- Boros Equipment

Top 10 Double Strike Enablers

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serum Powder" href="#" target="_blank">Serum Powder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Illustrated by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMatt+Thompson%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Matt Thompson</a></h6>
<hr />
<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?</p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza and I'm making a smoothie!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dracogenesis"></div></div>
<p><em>I've got a big ol' blender!</em></p>
<p>This week, eh, let's pick another one.</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
<hr />
<h2>HELLO, MIKE</h2>
<p><em>Hey, Mike!</em></p>
<p><em>Love your column and think I might finally have a good one of my own.</em></p>
<p><em>For context we have a regular weekly playgroup, usually between seven and twelve of us with a variety of decks hovering around the "optimized casual" zone. Players range from relative newbies to Magic veterans, but we're all fairly invested/entrenched.</em></p>
<p><em>Recently The Command Zone had an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSNV6224cHg&amp;pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD">episode about updating their deck-building template</a>, fairly basic stuff but the land count section was very interesting. The point was made that even with lax mulligan house rules, it's a strategic disadvantage to play too few lands because you could be mulliganing for other things than just enough lands like ramp or synergy pieces. </em></p>
<p><em>I started the conversation with our group and it quickly came around to -</em><br />
<em>1) Several players in our group realized they should be playing a few more lands</em><br />
<em>2) Our mulligans might be a bit too lax or leading to some feelings that folks might be taking advantage</em></p>
<p><em>Essentially folks tend to take any number for free mulligans until they have a decent opener.</em><br />
<em>After pointing out at least one specific person for this behavior, I decided to push for using the actual mulligan rules going forward. Unfortunately, I think I might have ruffled a few feathers, but I also don't want to ruin the "EDH and chill" vibe we usually try to go for.</em></p>
<p><em>Is it fair to be a bit peeved that some folks might be getting away with better late game top decks by playing less lands and taking advantage of our easy-going mull rules, even if unintentionally? Or <strong>am I the Bolas for trying to tighten up our group's play and get folks to follow the actual rules even if it might sometimes lead to more non-games occasionally?</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Thanks!</em></p>
<p><em>Mulligary</em></p>
<div dir="auto"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Serum Powder"></div></div></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<hr />
<h2>HOWDY, MULLIGARY!</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>Also, what do you think of this new look? Here I am on EDHREC! Pretty cool!</p>
<p>I linked to the episode of The Command Zone video - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSNV6224cHg&amp;pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD">here it is again</a> - because I think they're correct. I've known Rachel a long time and frankly, when she says something I listen. I say Rachel even though it's the CZ team that made the video because Rachel is <em>very adamant</em> throughout the video to the point of feeling like she's trying to reach through your screen to tell you to please play more lands.</p>
<p>So, even as a staunch believer in the 36-land count, I've made changes to most of my decks from my current roster, bringing them up to 37 or 38 lands and, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/2tdbig/tifu_by_enraging_the_parents_of_my_girlfriend_by/">let me tell you</a>, it has made a difference. Is that confirmation bias talking? I can't be 100% sure, but I'll say that some decks that struggled are no longer struggling as much and that's good enough for me. So a big thank you to The Command Zone for the updated template.</p>
<p>I think this is an oddly more complicated entry in the Am I The Bolas? series. It seems pretty straightforward, right? "Hey, these are the rules, let's play by the rules." Sounds good, yeah? But instead, there's a twinge of mucking up "the fun".</p>
<p>On one hand, we're playing a game that has rules, we should play with those rules because that's just how you play games. You learn the rules and you operate within them to have your fun. House rules are a real wrench in the system and it should be noted that we're discussing an entire format that came from "house rules". I'm not saying it's time to try out a bunch of house rules, but rather that they can lead to interesting innovations in the game.</p>
<p>That said, I've never loved the "mulligan until you have a keepable seven" thing. Some house rules are interesting in that they allow for some newness in the game, like allowing any planeswalker to be your commander (like in Oathbreaker) or allowing some rule zero changes in the playgroup like allowing a deck helmed by an acorn <em>Unfinity</em> legend. Mulligan until you have a keepable seven does have an impact on deckbuilding, consciously or subconsciously.</p>
<p>When my old playgroup allowed mulling until finding a good seven, we got to a point where some players were running 32 or 33 lands and the pregame was just a lot of shuffling and waiting for one of us to be ready while the rest were good to go.</p>
<p>I think there's room for leeway. I think the mulligan rules in Commander can be particularly brutal since for every turn you take, your opponents collectively get three. So if you're also starting with four cards in hand, good luck! I think there should be some sort of penalty for needing to mulligan so much. Then there's the whole fun police element of enforcing the mulligan rules that come into play here. The real hurdle.</p>
<p>If you proposing that the group adhere to the rules didn't ruffle so many feathers, there wouldn't really be much of a story here. Just a good conversation, solid argument, your desired outcome. It's because members of your group are attached to the Keepable Seven Mulligan that your request is creating tension. Why does it create that tension though? EDH is a social format that ends up being more about the hang for some folks and the lax rules and environment are part of the point and the experience. For some people, tightening up is part of the fun.</p>
<p>Another thing I'd like to point out is that mulligans in one-on-one formats can make or break those games. In Commander, in a more relaxed environment, less so. Of course, if two players mull to five and two others have a full grip, with more players involved, you would hope that there are safeguards within the dynamic of the pod that would regulate itself. Although, my column is evidence enough that threat assessment isn't something everybody is great at.</p>
<p>So here's what I propose. There are 12 of you in the group, maybe there's something to discussing this per pod and seeing how people feel. Ask them to do it for a game and see if they notice a difference. Or you could try to come up with a mulligan you can all be on board with. Maybe it's regular mulligan rules but you can't go under five and then do a Keepable Five Mulligan. Maybe another thing that works for your playgroup.</p>
<p>How do you find that out? Have the conversation with everybody. If this is something that's stuck in your craw, discuss it with the crew. Otherwise, I recommend leading by example. Take those mulligans to four. Play through them. Show your opponents that you're committed. Make your case about how the Keepable Seven Mull is like a reward for poor deckbuilding.</p>
<p>Not the Bolas. It's totally fair to want to play by the rules.</p>
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Am I The Bolas? - Enforcing the Mulligan Rules

Borderland Explorer – Soundwave, Sonic Spy

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