 <p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMark+Winters%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mark Winters</a></em></p> <p>Hello everyone, and welcome back to <em>Ten under Twenty,</em> the article series in which we look at all kinds of commanders and find those hidden gems that simply aren’t getting the play they deserve. In order to qualify as a gem, the card must be in less than 20% of eligible decks for EDHREC. This week, we're looking at an oldie but a goodie, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Naturally, this list is a buffet style, meaning you can simply take what you like and leave what you don’t. At the end of the day, it is your deck. Before we get into the cards, let’s first look at the commander.</p> <h2>Nekusar, the Mindrazer</h2> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nekusar, the Mindrazer"></div></div> <p>Nekusar was originally printed in <em>Commander 2013</em>. This was a revolutionary commander, opening up the <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/wheels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wheels archetype</a> (named after <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wheel of Fortune" href="#" target="_blank">Wheel of Fortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), providing a damage outlet in the command zone as a payoff by inflicting a point of damage off of every card an opponent draws.</p> <p>The deck is traditionally filled with as many Wheel effects as possible, causing players to constantly pitch their hand for a new one, often multiple times in the same turn. The cards we're looking at will want to support this strategy in one way or another.</p> <p>Let’s begin!</p> <h2>10) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zenith Chronicler" href="#" target="_blank">Zenith Chronicler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%)</h2> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zenith Chronicler"></div></div> <p>Starting off our list, we have a card draw enabler, just not a wheel-related one. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zenith Chronicler" href="#" target="_blank">Zenith Chronicler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> forces each other player to draw a card off of their first multicolored spell. Since this is not a “may” ability, this will generate a lot of additional card draws and Nekusar triggers over the course of the game, as it isn’t threatening enough to catch a spot removal spell. It can also serve as a three-power blocker in a pinch to dissuade chip damage from smaller creatures.</p> <p>It may not be the spiciest card on this list, but it definitely deserves more representation than the eleven percent it's currently in.</p> <h2>9) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insatiable Avarice" href="#" target="_blank">Insatiable Avarice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9%)</h2> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Insatiable Avarice"></div></div> <p>This goes with flavoring your powerful cards to the deck when you can. Instead of running a <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer</a> like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insatiable Avarice" href="#" target="_blank">Insatiable Avarice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> which can add the optional bonus of drawing cards. What is nice about the card draw effect is it can be assigned to a target player, so there are scenarios where you can tutor a card to the top of your deck, force another player to draw three cards and take three damage (plus any other Nekusar-like effects in play), and then wheel those cards away with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a similar card. Having a choice like that in your deck can lead to far more interesting games than a simple tutor would.</p> <p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is showing up in close to 29% of decks, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insatiable Avarice" href="#" target="_blank">Insatiable Avarice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is at only 9%? I feel as a community we can show some more love to this card.</p> <h2>8) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Ifnir" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Ifnir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8%)</h2> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archfiend of Ifnir"></div></div> <p>A big issue that Nekusar faces in games is in combat. Because Nekusar wants to dedicate so many card slots to wheeling cards and enablers, there isn’t a lot of room for profitable blockers if a deck like a mono-green stompy comes to avenge their discarded <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>. This is where the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Ifnir" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Ifnir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes into play.</p> <p>When wheeling, players will constantly be discarding cards to draw their new hand. For each card Nekusar draws, the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Ifnir" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Ifnir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be putting a -1/-1 counter on each creature opponents control. Let’s say in a Nekusar deck that focuses on Wheels that actually discard cards (a tall order, I know, but just stay with me here), they pitch an average of ten cards per turn through two Wheel spells. With 10 -1/-1 counters being placed, it would be hard to find even Eldrazi that would be able to stick around.</p> <p>Another nice part of this card is if that matchup doesn’t call for that level of creature control, or you simply don’t have the mana, it comes with its own cycling keyword, letting you pitch the card to your graveyard for a new card at a low price of two generic mana. This is great for Nekusar and only shows up in 8% of decks on EDHREC.</p> <h2>7) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigil of Sleep" href="#" target="_blank">Sigil of Sleep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h2> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigil of Sleep"></div></div><br />Admittedly, this is a pet card of mine, so I will absolutely accept any comments of bias on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigil of Sleep" href="#" target="_blank">Sigil of Sleep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> here at number seven. The main thing to remember about this card is it says “damage,” not “combat damage.” This creates a spectacularly annoying removal/tempo engine with Nekusar, where every time an opponent draws a card, Nekusar can bounce one of their creatures back to hand. In a token deck, it's even worse since you can elect to return the tokens back to hand, where they would cease to exist. All of this synergy for one blue mana.</p> <p>Is this the best thing that Nekusar can do? Absolutely not. But it's one of the more <em>fun</em> things you can do. This card shows up in only seven percent of Nekusar decks, only costs one blue mana to cast, and is under $2 to buy. Honestly, there isn’t much of a reason to not try Sigil of Sleep.</p> <h2>6) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anvil of Bogardan" href="#" target="_blank">Anvil of Bogardan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h2> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anvil of Bogardan"></div></div><br />Coming to us straight from the Reserved List, we have one of the more expensive cards on our list in Anvil of Bogardan. The Anvil is a great “group hug” effect in Nekusar since the deck is capable of punching opponents for both discarding and drawing cards. Getting an extra draw trigger and a discard trigger each turn can lead to a huge increase in damage output.</p> <p>Since Anvil is a bit more on the expensive side, I can understand it only showing up in seven percent of Nekusar decks on EDHREC, but if you do have a Nekusar deck that plays cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other draw enablers, this would be a slam dunk addition for you.</p> <h2>5) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Witch&#039;s Clinic" href="#" target="_blank">Witch&#039;s Clinic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6%)</h2> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Witch&#039;s Clinic"></div></div><br />If there is one thing that I irrationally love in Commander, it's high-floor cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Witch’s Clinic" href="#" target="_blank">Witch’s Clinic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is exactly that. As an untapped nonbasic land, the only opportunity cost involved with this card is that it doesn’t produce any colors. When you use a Wheel spell in Nekusar and have every player draw seven cards, that's going to be 21 total damage. Witch’s Clinic can give Nekusar lifelink to gain that much life. There can be scenarios in which the Nekusar deck can gain life so fast that opponents can’t deal enough damage to knock Nekusar out before they're eliminated themselves. Not too shabby for a $2 card.</p> <h2>4) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saw It Coming" href="#" target="_blank">Saw It Coming</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (2.22%)</h2> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Saw It Coming"></div></div><br />At only 2.22%, we have a very interesting counterspell. One of the main pain points that Nekusar can run into in games is the hesitation to wheel if there's something really strong in hand that you don’t want to discard. Because of this, foretell is an incredible mechanic to utilize in a Wheel deck.</p> <p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saw It Coming" href="#" target="_blank">Saw It Coming</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a counterspell that you can exile from your hand face down to use later. As Nekusar continues to wheel and deal damage, that counterspell can still be used, giving you your “eighth” card in hand.</p> <h2>3) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Siren Stormtamer" href="#" target="_blank">Siren Stormtamer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.38%)</h2> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Siren Stormtamer"></div></div><br />In the same breath as Saw It Coming, it's really helpful to be able to place cards in positions where they're out of hand but still able to be used. Siren Stormtamer is our next example, only being played in 0.38% of Nekusar decks. It serves as a counterspell or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stifle" href="#" target="_blank">Stifle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a spell or ability that's targeting you or a creature you control, like Nekusar. Being that it's seen on the battlefield, it won’t catch a player by surprise, but it often discourages players from using their removal your way since they don’t want to waste it.</p> <h2>2) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Will of the Jeskai" href="#" target="_blank">Will of the Jeskai</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.24%)</h2> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Will of the Jeskai"></div></div><br />At our second deepest hidden gem, we have a new card from <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> with Way of the Jeskai. Since this is a new card, I don’t anticipate it staying as a hidden gem for very long. Another Wheel effect for five card draws after the fact, this also boasts the ability to give each instant or sorcery in your graveyard flashback for the turn. In a Nekusar game, it's not unreasonable to have multiple Wheel effects in your graveyard from previous turns that can be used on the turn to chain into more card draw effects and have everyone draw an extra 15 cards or so. In the endgame for Commander, this could be enough damage to eliminate players.</p> <p>Only 52 decks are currently using this card according at the time of writing, so this is definitely your opportunity to get ahead of the curve.</p> <h2>1) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bohn, Beguiling Balladeer" href="#" target="_blank">Bohn, Beguiling Balladeer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.158%)</h2> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bohn, Beguiling Balladeer"></div></div><br />Finally, at the top of our list, we have Chris Pine from the Dungeons and Dragons Movie Secret Lair. Bohn, Beguiling Balladeer allows Nekusar to take advantage of the foretell mechanic on any card in hand, creating a vault of cards to use later. Unlike the other foretell counterpart in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Bohn can also help with Nekusar combat problems by goading creatures on the second spell cast in a turn, sending them in a different direction. For only three mana and showing up in only 0.158% of Nekusar decks, this legendary creature definitely deserves more love than it's getting.</p> <h2>Cards Seeing Too Much Play In Nekusar Decks</h2> <p>When I suggest ten new cards for a Nekusar deck, I understand that it can be intimidating to try to find cards to take out to make room. With that in mind, I have an additional section called “Cut Candidates” which are the cards that I believe might be getting a little too much play for what they do.</p> <h3>1) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kami of the Crescent Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Kami of the Crescent Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (59%)</h3> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kami of the Crescent Moon"></div></div><br />This one is definitely going to have some controversy, but bear with me. Kami is a nice <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect, allowing an additional card to be drawn each turn for each player. It's nice to force other players to draw more cards, but I think it's more important to have these types of effects either attached to something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spiteful Visions" href="#" target="_blank">Spiteful Visions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to add damage and draw the card, or provide more card draw like another Wheel might. I also prefer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kami of the Crescent Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Kami of the Crescent Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> since it's an artifact instead of a creature and won’t get caught up in creature-based board wipes.</p> <h3>2) <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>/ <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swiftfoot Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Swiftfoot Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (42% and 35%, respectively)</h3> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swiftfoot Boots"></div></div><br />I understand the urge to keep Nekusar safe by granting shroud or hexproof. But with the amount of redundancy of damage outlets Nekusar has, keeping two slots dedicated to these Equipment spells could be used more efficiently since Nekusar isn’t really positioned as an attacker or containing a payoff to take advantage of haste. I suggest using one or the other if you're a fan of protection magic, but not both.</p> <h3>3) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megrim" href="#" target="_blank">Megrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (54%)</h3> <p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Megrim"></div></div><br />Using this card requires a bit more finesse in deck building to really take advantage of. You would have to use a lot more Wheel spells that force discarding effects and neglect the shuffle wheel effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winds of Change" href="#" target="_blank">Winds of Change</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In place of this card, you could play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raiders&#039; Wake" href="#" target="_blank">Raiders&#039; Wake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which only costs one additional mana and can make players discard cards and self-enable instead. There are decks that are going to want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megrim" href="#" target="_blank">Megrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I would rather focus on the card draw side of the ability and keep the deck on a singular focus.</p> <p>And there you have it, ten new cards to try out in Nekusar and three to take a look at cutting. I hope you found some hidden gems to try out! Of course, there are <em>way</em> more gems for Nekusar than ten, so let us know your favorite hidden gem in the comments that wasn’t on my list! If you have a commander you would like to see next, let us know in the comments or by sending an email to thoughtvesselshow@gmail.com.</p> <p>Until next time, happy brewing!</p> 

Ten Hidden Gems for Nekusar, the Mindrazer

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, the Unifier|sld|1932" href="#" target="_blank">Spongebob Squarepants</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://caleb-meurer.squarespace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caleb Meurer</a></em></p>
<p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello everyone! I’m Levi from the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5n27ku41qleRMM7CKrWOh3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thought Vessel Show</a>, and this is </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ten Under Twenty</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> where we take a deep dive on a single commander and find those cards that are simply not getting the respect they deserve. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week we're looking at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, the Unifier|sld|1932" href="#" target="_blank">Spongebob Squarepants</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or, probably more commonly known as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jodah, the Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Jodah, the Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">In order to qualify for this list, the card has to appear in less than 20% of decks here on EDHREC. This is a buffet-style list, meaning you can take whatever you like and leave whatever you don't. My goal here is to simply shine some light on some great cards that deserve some love. Let’s look at SpongeBob first before jumping into the list.</span> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jodah, the Unifier|sld|1932"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">SpongeBob might be the closest commander we have currently to the universally good WUBRG commander ever since Golos was banned. Having both a pump effect and an upgraded cascade effect out of the command zone will both bring a lot of power and attention to the table. There's rarely a game in which a SpongeBob deck is played where it is not the center of attention in non-cEDH pods. The deck usually wants to run the best legendary creatures possible in order to take advantage of the free casting and use the buffed attack power to close out the game. With this strategy in mind, let’s start our list with number ten.</span> </p>
<h2>10) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kolvori, God of Kinship" href="#" target="_blank">Kolvori, God of Kinship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kolvori, God of Kinship"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Starting out, we have a pretty underrated card in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kolvori, God of Kinship" href="#" target="_blank">Kolvori, God of Kinship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In a deck that's legend-focused, being able to choose between a two mana value mana rock or a 6/6 vigilant legendary creature that can also provide card advantage is a phenomenal place to be. Attacking, blocking, ramping, or gaining card advantage, there really isn’t a single point in the game in which this would be a dead card thanks to that versatility. The fact that it's only showing up in fourteen percent of SpongeBob decks on EDHREC is criminal!</span> </p>
<h2>9) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the numbers for Ragavan might be a bit lower due to its price, this is still one of my favorite includes in this deck. Most of the time, when you cast Ragavan, it can be easy to block and trade off before generating Treasure and card advantage since this is a mere 2/1 Monkey. With SpongeBob in play, Ragavan becomes significantly stronger and will survive chump blocks. The extra mana from the Treasures will allow for multiple legends to be cast in the same turn or even permit SpongeBob to be cast earlier if Ragavan is played in the early game. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Since it's a lower mana value legend, it will also find its way onto the field pretty consistently through SpongeBob’s ability since it can still be cast off of two- and three-mana legends.</span> </p>
<h2>8) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Temporal Sundering" href="#" target="_blank">Karn&#039;s Temporal Sundering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn&#039;s Temporal Sundering"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">SpongeBob specifically cares about legendary spells, not legendary creatures. Though extra turns are sometimes seen as taboo in Commander, this is an excellent finisher. For starters, you'll be able to bounce a nonland permanent an opponent controls back to their hand. This could be a protection piece like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or possibly that one pesky deathtouching blocker that's in the way. It's also a six mana legendary spell, so it'll find a five-mana or less legend to come right into play. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">That extra turn will also bring extra cards, mana, and most importantly, an extra combat step. It’s not too far-fetched to believe that an extra turn in SpongeBob can be enough to close out the game. Fourteen percent of decks using this card is way too low.</span> </p>
<h2>7) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basim Ibn Ishaq" href="#" target="_blank">Basim Ibn Ishaq</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Basim Ibn Ishaq"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">This card is flying under the radar like many other cards from the <em>Assassin’s Creed</em> set. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basim Ibn Ishaq" href="#" target="_blank">Basim Ibn Ishaq</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another phenomenal low mana value legend to catch the four- and three-mana legends that provides card advantage once per turn. It also grows with the +1/+1 counters and becomes unblockable to get through any potential blockers. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">For under $5, this should be an auto-include in these decks.</span> </p>
<h2>6) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aurelia, the Warleader" href="#" target="_blank">Aurelia, the Warleader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aurelia, the Warleader"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">As I mentioned with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn’s Temporal Sundering" href="#" target="_blank">Karn’s Temporal Sundering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the level of damage this deck can produce can lead to victory by simply adding one more turn of combat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aurelia, the Warleader" href="#" target="_blank">Aurelia, the Warleader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> provides that extra push. It's an added bonus that the card comes with haste, so you can start attacking for flying damage right away. There's even a combo that this deck can run by including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for infinite combat steps, if one were inclined to use it. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">As a top-end finisher, we could do a lot worse.</span> </p>
<h2>5) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma&#039;s Will"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking of Angel-related powers, the next card on the list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is played in only 7% of SpongeBob decks here on EDHREC. It's strange that a card can be used defensively and as a finisher at the same time. The only thing that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">doesn’t provide is stat modification, which SpongeBob has in droves. It's honestly a perfect match. </span> </p>
<h2>4) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minsc &amp; Boo, Timeless Heroes" href="#" target="_blank">Minsc &amp; Boo, Timeless Heroes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Minsc &amp; Boo, Timeless Heroes"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">This is one that a lot of players don’t think about since it’s a planeswalker, and most planeswalkers that are being played in SpongeBob are in a dedicated Superfriends deck. Minsc, of course, brings along <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boo" href="#" target="_blank">Boo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which normally can be pumped up with the first loyalty ability or sacrificed to spread around damage and draw cards. In a deck that's pumping the stats of all legendary creatures, that's going to push out a lot of damage and be a lot of cards drawn. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The cherry on top: the beginning of the next upkeep will bring Boo back to be used in combat or for a sacrifice again.</span> </p>
<h2>3) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar" href="#" target="_blank">Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6.8%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Next we have another card from the <em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</em> universe, and now in the SpongeBob universe as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar|sld|1928" href="#" target="_blank">Squidward, Sarcastic Snob</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grazilaxx</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is sneaky good in SpongeBob as it puts opponents in a lose-lose situation. Either players allow themselves to get hit by legendary creatures and SpongeBob gets to draw cards, or they can block and Grazilaxx</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> allows the SpongeBob player to put the card back into hand, which allows them to be recast and trigger SpongeBob again, adding even more legendary creatures to the battlefield. It also makes it nearly impossible to lose an attacking creature in combat.</span> </p>
<h2>2) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion of Fiora" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion of Fiora</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6.2%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invasion of Fiora"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">It's always a good idea to include a couple of one-sided board wipes. This is especially true for SpongeBob, since it would be able to clear out most blockers that are in the way. Since it's a battle, it wouldn’t be very difficult to attack and take out the battle to get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marchesa, Resolute Monarch" href="#" target="_blank">Marchesa, Resolute Monarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">into play for some extra combat damage and card draw.</span> </p>
<h2>1) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4.1%)</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate"></div></div> <span style="font-weight: 400;">And finally, at the top of our list, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It almost feels like cheating to play this in</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SpongeBob since their stats are drastically increased, so SpongeBob can virtually bring back any creature in the graveyard right away. The +1/+1 counters are also a nice touch. Ultimately, this card deserves a lot more inclusion in SpongeBob decks than 4.1%.</span> </p>
<h2>Overplayed Cards With SpongeBob</h2>
<p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">When looking to add some, if not all, of these legendary cards to your SpongeBob deck, it can be intimidating to figure out what to cut from your deck. Though I can't make that decision for you, I do have some suggestions of some cards that are popular for SpongeBob, showing up in about 50% of eligible decks or more on EDHREC, that may not be worth the hype that they are getting. These are my cut candidates. </span> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chromatic Lantern Annie Joins Up Mox Amber"></div></div> <b>1) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (60%)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – I get this is a five-color deck that legitimately needs to have all five colors available as soon as possible, but with the amount of dual lands that we're getting in sets these days, I don’t think color fixing is as big of an issue as it once was. I would much rather use my three mana value slot in the deck toward <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relic of Legends" href="#" target="_blank">Relic of Legends</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> which is going to be far more impactful to the overall strategy of the deck.</span> <b>2) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Annie Joins Up" href="#" target="_blank">Annie Joins Up</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (50%)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – This is a good card in SpongeBob, no doubt about it. Coming in and dealing five damage to a target and then doubling SpongeBob triggers moving forward is great. I don’t like that the card itself is legendary, because in a lot of games with SpongeBob, this is either going to come in instead of a legendary creature that will boost the team, or it will be cast on the turn and it brings along a three mana or less legendary creature. Yes, it will add more legends to the board, but I would rather cast or flip into cards that will help me push for the win rather than a value engine. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">There are some decks that would absolutely want this, like if you were using a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Najeela, The Blade-Blossom" href="#" target="_blank">Najeela, The Blade-Blossom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">combo and you wanted to increase the rate of using SpongeBob’s ability on three mana or less cards, then this would be a great include. I would just suggest building your deck, recognizing the play patterns, and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">then</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Annie Joins Up" href="#" target="_blank">Annie Joins Up</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">into the 99.</span> <b>Bonus Card – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mox Amber" href="#" target="_blank">Mox Amber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (29%)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – Though it doesn’t quite make the list for a cut candidate since it shows up in only 30% of SpongeBob decks, I still wanted to discuss this card and why it may not be a good inclusion for SpongeBob in general. When SpongeBob triggers off of a legendary cast, it's going to take the next legendary spell in the order. While you still would be able to get this card off of casting a one-mana legend like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, it would also take up that legendary spell off of a bigger cast as well. And since it's not a creature, it wouldn’t increase the power of the rest of the legends either. It just isn’t worth the hassle most of the time in this deck.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">SpongeBob is like a superhero in this format. It’s an incredibly powerful card, but it will attract a lot of attention at the same time. Most SpongeBob players know this and are more than willing to accept the challenge. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">I hope you find some or all of these cards helpful for your current or future SpongeBob builds. If you have a commander you'd like to see on </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ten Under Twenty</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, send us an email at thoughtvesselshow@gmail.com. Until next time, happy brewing.</span></p>


Ten Underplayed Cards for SpongeBob Squarepants (AKA Jodah, the Unifier)

 <p style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://www.karlaortizart.com/">Karla Ortiz</a></p> <p>Hello Everyone! I’m Levi from the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5n27ku41qleRMM7CKrWOh3">Thought Vessel Show</a>, and today I am very excited to debut a new series here at EDHREC called <em>Ten Under Twenty</em>, where we take a deep dive on a single commander and find those cards that are simply not getting the respect they deserve.</p> <p>You may find similarities between this series and the “Challenge the Stats” segment on EDHRECCast. The main difference is we are looking for several hidden gems for only one commander at a time. This week, we are looking at one of my favorite commanders of all time, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p> <p>In order to qualify for this list, the card has to appear in less than 20% of decks here on EDHREC. This is a buffet-style list, meaning you can take whatever you like and leave whatever you don't.</p> <p>My goal here is to simply shine some light on some great cards that deserve some love. Let’s jump right in!</p> <h3>10.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delney, Streetwise Lookout" href="#" target="_blank">Delney, Streetwise Lookout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Delney, Streetwise Lookout"></div></div> <p>Starting out our list is an absolute beast of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in Delney, Streetwise Lookout. For starters, Delney’s first ability ensures that Brago cannot be blocked by creatures with power 3 or greater, which makes the chances of Brago being able to connect for damage almost a guarantee.</p> <p>Speaking of that trigger, the Brago blink effect is also copied, meaning you can flicker every nonland permanent you control twice per turn. And those creatures coming into play with power two or less will also have their triggered abilities doubled.</p> <p>Essentially, this means that one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Omens" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Omens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will draw four cards per turn. That’s an incredible amount of value.</p> <h3>9.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%) </h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mightstone and Weakstone"></div></div> <p>Being that this is the second half of the melded combination, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Planeswalker" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Planeswalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> goes under the radar. This card can do plenty on its own without its other half, being repeatable ramp, card draw, and spot removal at the same time.</p> <p>In decks that are taking advantage of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strionic Resonator" href="#" target="_blank">Strionic Resonator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> infinite combo, the mana can be used to activate the artifact and draw your entire deck at the same time.</p> <h3>8.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glen Elendra Archmage"></div></div> <p>In a deck like this, keeping Brago safe from removal is essential. If you can do that with the right pieces on board, you can take complete control of the game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great protective tool.</p> <p>When <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is sacrificed, it comes back into play with a -1/-1 counter. When you blink it with Brago, that ability resets, and you can counter something else and keep <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> around. It becomes an extremely effective removal engine.</p> <h3>7.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Hearth and Home" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Hearth and Home</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (10%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Hearth and Home"></div></div> <p> This one is pretty simple compared to the rest of the list. Being able to protect Brago from removal spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can function like hexproof.</p> <p>Blink decks are also mana-hungry, so being able to get that extra land per turn can really add up if the game runs longer. Also, never underestimate being able to blink your best payoff one extra time per turn. Having a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent of Treachery" href="#" target="_blank">Agent of Treachery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to blink in play could make all the difference.</p> <h3>6.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blessed Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Blessed Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blessed Sanctuary"></div></div> <p>This one is more for the bracket two or bracket three style of lists. One of the biggest weaknesses of a blink-style deck is the lack of raw power to use in combat.</p> <p>If Brago were to come across a mono-green stompy deck that had the capability to prevent Brago from connecting with combat damage, this would be a tough spot to work from. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blessed Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Blessed Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would protect against damage-based board wipes like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and also provide a very steady flow of attackers or blockers in the 2/2 Unicorns it makes every time a nontoken creature enters. Off of a Brago trigger, that number could easily be 5–10 Unicorns without a lot of difficulty.</p> <h3>5.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth Conquers Death" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth Conquers Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth Conquers Death"></div></div> <p>Sagas are a really neat inclusion in a Brago deck since Brago has the capability of blinking them and resetting their lore counters to keep them around. On chapter one, you get a very versatile removal spell for any big threats.</p> <p>When it gets to chapter two, you can consistently slow things down for your opponents by making spells cost two more mana. By chapter three, if you want to let it move toward chapter three, you can bring back your best creature or planeswalker from the graveyard to use again.</p> <h3>4.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Parting Gust"></div></div> <p>It’s important in a blink deck to have removal that isn’t tied to a creature in the event that an opponent plays a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines" href="#" target="_blank">Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can completely shut down our entire strategy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the great ability to either be a removal spell or a single-target blink spell depending on what you need at the moment.</p> <h3>3.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5%) </h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll of Fate"></div></div> <p>This card is criminally underplayed. With a Brago trigger on the stack, you can manifest a card into play, which will be blinked and come in on the face-up side. This can allow us to cheat a high mana value card or combo piece without giving opponents the chance to counter the spell.</p> <p>At its floor, it can be used to manifest extra lands. Routinely, we can flash in a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Time Raveler" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Time Raveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to prevent players from casting spells on our turns. Since manifest is a more niche mechanic, this card is flying under the radar. Hopefully, that will change.</p> <h3>2.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plagon, Lord of the Beach" href="#" target="_blank">Plagon, Lord of the Beach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.88%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plagon, Lord of the Beach"></div></div> <p>For a super sleeper, we have Plagon, Lord of the Beach. Plagon allows us to draw a card for each creature you have that has a toughness greater than power. With Brago in play, this is a minimum of two cards per trigger.</p> <p>Since blink creatures are usually smaller and a good portion of them do, in fact, have greater toughness than power, Plagon can easily draw 5+ cards per turn. In a lesser capacity, you can also pay one mana to have Brago attack for four damage rather than two.</p> <p>1.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Raven’s Warning" href="#" target="_blank">The Raven’s Warning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.57%)</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Raven’s Warning"></div></div> <p>Our second saga on the list, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Raven’s Warning" href="#" target="_blank">The Raven’s Warning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is a great card for information. Initially, it will produce a 1/1 flying Bird with some life gain, which when repeated can actually be pretty effective. The second chapter lets you look at each opponent’s hand and draw cards.</p> <p>When playing a deck like this, being able to know the potential threats your opponents are hiding can make you borderline invincible. This card definitely scales with the skill of the pilot, but fair warning: this card does take a lot of time to resolve and can lead to a bit of analysis paralysis.</p> <h2>3 Cards You Don't Always Need for Brago</h2> <p>Now, with all these cards that I am suggesting, it can be intimidating to find cards to cut from the deck to make room. So, in our section, we’ll be looking at some cut candidates.</p> <p>These are good cards, showing up in over 50% of Brago decks here on EDHREC. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it's an undisputed auto-include. Let's start off with a blink staple.</p> <h3>1.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (59%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mulldrifter"></div></div> <p>Ah yes, the flying fish. Drawing two cards per entering the battlefield is indeed a strong ability. If you have a card in hand like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can actually get around the sacrifice portion of the evoke cost.</p> <p>However, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plagon, Lord of the Beach" href="#" target="_blank">Plagon, Lord of the Beach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being on the list, we’re simply able to get more bang for the buck with these cards over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p> <p>Card advantage isn’t as much of a problem in a deck like Brago that has so many repeatable card advantage engines in the 99, and it’s good to look for cards that can wear multiple hats.</p> <h3>2.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reality Acid" href="#" target="_blank">Reality Acid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (53%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reality Acid"></div></div> <p>This is a card that I actually used to run in my personal Brago list. Being able to remove something for three mana repeatedly is a very solid effect. Since you can blink this card, the time counters running out really isn’t as big of an issue as it appears to be.</p> <p>It's also nice to have a removal spell that simply says “permanent” instead of “nonland permanent” or something even more restrictive. The downside of this card is that this is a leaves-the-battlefield ability instead of an enters-the-battlefield ability.</p> <p>This means that any type of ETB-doubling cards in the deck do not impact this card at all. Additionally, with a traditional removal ETB ability like on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this can be used twice in the turn it is cast. You also have to telegraph your next removal target by enchanting it without an effective way of using it again until your next turn.</p> <p>If the enchanted permanent can be removed by sacrificing, for example, then the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reality Acid" href="#" target="_blank">Reality Acid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is taken off the board without any real ability to stop it from happening. Because of this, I’m more cold on this card than the average Brago player.</p> <h3>3.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (54%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghostly Flicker"></div></div> <p>Another staple in blink decks. The main problem with this card is that we simply have access to better cards. For less mana I would want something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for more versatility I want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and for a better utility, I want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eerie Interlude" href="#" target="_blank">Eerie Interlude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostway" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at a minimum.</p> <p>In a blink deck that also uses white, I just feel we have better things that we can be doing in the 99 with the exception of using this card as a combo piece to win the game.</p> <p>And there you have it! These are some incredible cards that you might want to consider putting in your Brago, King Eternal deck. If you have a commander that you would like to see in the next <em>Ten Under Twenty</em> article or a card you feel needs some love, leave a comment. Until next time, happy brewing!</p> 

Levi Perry

Levi Perry

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