Bre of Clan StoutarmBre of Clan Stoutarm | Art by Jesper Ejsing

Greetings and salutations my dear brewers, and welcome back to the plane of Lorwyn! I'm Arnaud, and I'm delighted to take you on a trip to Lifetown, a journey to Headbashington, a peregrination towards AAAAAAAAAAAHdwellingsworth.

In the last article, I asked you to choose between the usual three candidates. Third by quite a margin came Longshot, Rebel BowmanLongshot, Rebel Bowman, earning 20 votes (14%). It's been a while since a commander was so thoroughly rejected. Second place went to Arna Kennerüd, SkycaptainArna Kennerüd, Skycaptain, with a more respectable 53 votes (38%). I might throw the good Captain back into the fray at some point, as she's a really fun one to build around.

With 66 votes (47%), the first spot therefore went to none other than Bre of Clan StoutarmBre of Clan Stoutarm.

The pretty Giantess is both a lovely throwback to the original Brion StoutarmBrion Stoutarm, who was already featured in another Trim more than two years ago. Following in her father's footsteps, she's all about providing significant lifegain and decent evasion, as well as giving card advantage straight from the command zone. In a way, she's a Jack-of-All-Trades while being decently stout herself.

Without further ado, let's grab all cards from her page, both normal and budget, and pour them down into Archidekt.

284 cards. Hm, a rather lower count than I'm used to in these lists. Let's hope it's not an ill omen.

First Trim – Jewellery Goes Off

To all of you reading this for the first time, a very warm welcome. The premise of this series is rather simple: build a deck using no cards worth $1.11 or more, based mostly on what's available on the commander's EDHREC page.

To start things off, let's remove each and every card costing more than $2. Already this hurts, and hurts bad. As things stand, the list is already down to 172 cards, with still 16 in the $1.11-$2 range. I've been writing this column for more than three years now, and I believe this could very well be a new record.

Either Magic cards have become more expensive (no, really?) or this dear Bre has an acquired taste for luxury.

Either way, let's have a look at the best options in this range before moving forward:

• Quintorius KandQuintorius Kand: Ever so slightly too expensive for my taste, but provides a stream of bodies to launch in the air with Bre, card advantage, and potential life drain.
• Well of Lost DreamsWell of Lost Dreams: One of the best card draw engines in any given Lifegain deck, provided you can assemble a decent mana pool.
• Exemplar of LightExemplar of Light: Draw and incremental pump all in one.
• Aurelia, the Law AboveAurelia, the Law Above: She makes coffee, and pancakes, and jam, and...
• Aerith GainsboroughAerith Gainsborough: Similar to the Exemplar, with a counter redistribution to boot.
• Rhox FaithmenderRhox Faithmender: Because more life.
• Bruse Tarl, Boorish HerderBruse Tarl, Boorish Herder: A fun altrernative should Bre meet an untimely demise.
• Voice of the BlessedVoice of the Blessed: You'd be surprised at how fast this can grow huge.

This leaves four cards in the $1-$1.10 bracket:

• Big ScoreBig Score: I'm not as much a fan of this card as I once was, but it remains a solid option in Boros nonetheless.
• Seraph SanctuarySeraph Sanctuary: Free lifegain, I'll say yes everyday.
• Inspiring VantageInspiring Vantage: Not a huge fan of these lands in commander, as they'll be little else than a Guildgate most of the time.
• Path to ExilePath to Exile: Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares has proven too expensive, but at least the little brother survived the axing.

Wow. The expensive cuts already got rid of almost half the cards. I'm rather certain this is unprecedented. This is going to be a quick build indeed...

Let's proceed.

Second Trim – Veggies Fitting a Giant's Diet

There are a lot of uncanny things going on with this list, and the veggies are no exception.

Before going any further, have a look:

I know this is a Boros build, but Ramp and Draw look eerily low to me. Removal, on the other hand, is plentiful, so no worries on that end.

Prior to getting any cuts done, I'd like to keep at least 12 ramp outlets (some cards are rather expensive), all of the possible actual draw, and 2-3 board wipes.

As for protection... the package is rather clunky, either too expensive, sorcery speed, or downright ineffective.

After giving the land base a nice makeover, the list is already down to 117 cards. Don't worry though, because this is about to change. I have a lot of things to say about this about the remaining cards.

And I have close to 20 cards I want to throw in.

Let's move on.

Third Trim – So Much Superfluous Kerfuffle...

Right, so let's end the suspense. Usually at this point of the brew I try to point out what the remaining cards try to achieve, the overall strategy and the end goal.

Except... Except here nothing really makes sense.

• There's a bunch of extremely weak creatures with lifelink.
• There are several "Soul Sisters," aka creatures that net you life when other creatures enter the battlefield.
• There are a few incidental lifegain outlets.
• Finally, there's a bunch of expensive Giants that are present for what I suppose to be a typal approach, but don't really fit the objectives.

Allow me therefore to elaborate a bit on what I believe the end goal should be.

Bre opens the way to a twofold plan.

First, she provides both evasion and lifelink to any of your creatures. This in itself could provide a life influx.

Second, this life is then used to cast free spells on your end step.

My big problem with the overall approach is the inconsistency of many enablers present. You don't want to end the turn having gained two or three life. You want to net at least six or seven, to make sure that you can play whatever you end up revealing.

For this reason, I'd tend to evacuate almost anything that's two power or less, as well as most of the situational lifegain, especially those which do so in homoeopathic doses. This brings me to what I believe to be blatant omissions in this list.

I want to add a bunch of cards that either offer great power for a limited mana investment, or provide a significant pump, in order to send the lifegain into the two-digit realm.

Before anything else, this is what I would remorselessly remove from the list:

Right. The list is now down to 89 cards. Time to add some stuff back in, in the final section.

Final Trim – Wait, More Cards?

So, now that the list is much clearer, these are the cards I would add, and why:

• Rite of the Raging StormRite of the Raging Storm: I don't understand why it wasn't included in the first place. It makes free 5/1s that can't attack you, and it gives you free fodder that can net you five life with Bre.
• Duelist's HeritageDuelist's Heritage: The second card I would add in a heartbeat. It doubles the lifegain provided by Bre, and can also be used as a political tool.
• Casey Jones, Asphalt HooliganCasey Jones, Asphalt Hooligan: Hits for at least four, can rise up to eight, and more.
• Dragon-Style TwinsDragon-Style Twins: Built-in double strike, and with prowess the tally can rise quickly.
• Markov BlademasterMarkov Blademaster: That double strike can bring its power up surprisingly quickly if given enough evasion.
• Seifer AlmasySeifer Almasy: Most of the time, you'll be content with alpha striking through Bre's ability. Seifer allows you to replay your cheap instants or sorceries. Granted there aren't that many, but there's no downside in playing him.
• Two-Headed GiantTwo-Headed Giant: Evasive four, or eight power for a puny four mana, I say yes.
• Arc RunnerArc Runner and Ball LightningBall Lightning: Both hasty, both cheap, both boostable with Bre, both provide ample lifegain.
• Mighty Servant of Leuk-oMighty Servant of Leuk-o: It's a big boy for three, which can potentially draw two to four cards per attack.
• The Warring TriadThe Warring Triad: Worst case scenario it's a mana rock. Best case, it's a 5/5 beater with three relevant keywords.
• Shivan WumpusShivan Wumpus: 6/6 trample for four mana ? Not a bad ratio. In the early stages of the game, no one is going to sacrifice a land to get rid of it.
• Territorial HellkiteTerritorial Hellkite: Last but not least, you get a 6/5 flyer for a puny four mana. Attacks are random? Who cares, given the value you'll gain from Bre!
• Bulk UpBulk Up and Unleash FuryUnleash Fury: To double up on the double strike.
• Alseid of Life's BountyAlseid of Life's Bounty, Brave the ElementsBrave the Elements, and Loran's EscapeLoran's Escape: if only to provide more protection for either your commander or the alpha striker.

As you may have noticed, this ups the card count to 106. Here are my final cuts:

• Daxos, Blessed by the SunDaxos, Blessed by the Sun: Cute, but not that impactful, and that huge toughness is rarely relevant.
• Dazzling AngelDazzling Angel: I love the built-in evasion, but there are already some much more thorough beaters.
• Pia Nalaar, Consul of RevivalPia Nalaar, Consul of Revival: I like the idea of popping lil ThopThops, but the impact is rather negligible.
• Crib SwapCrib Swap: Thematic, but not great removal for the cost.
• Mazemind TomeMazemind Tome: I'm not a huge fan of the ratio to draw cards on this.
• Star CharterStar Charter: Very likely to whiff most of the time. There are 13 other creatures with power three or less in the list. The probabilities of getting a hit are simply too low.

Bre of Clan Stoutarm Commander Deck List

And with this wild ride, I give you:

Additional Trim – A Look Into the Past

Before we part ways, let's have a look at one of the past brews. Has Zurzoth, Chaos Rider stood the test of time?

The short answer is no.

The longer answer is still no, but with finesse

There are currently 17 cards worth $1.11 and more:

• AngerAnger: $1.18
• Fiendish DuoFiendish Duo: $1.22
• Shared AnimosityShared Animosity: $1.32
• Curse of OpulenceCurse of Opulence: $1.34
• Inti, Seneschal of the SunInti, Seneschal of the Sun: $1.41
• Virtue of CourageVirtue of Courage: $1.41
• Cursed MirrorCursed Mirror: $1.55
• Surge to VictorySurge to Victory: $1.60
• Wild Magic SurgeWild Magic Surge: $1.62
• ArcbondArcbond: $1.73
• Swiftfoot BootsSwiftfoot Boots: $1.73
• Endless AtlasEndless Atlas: $1.79
• Thought VesselThought Vessel: $2.29
• Brazen CannonadeBrazen Cannonade: $3.32 (!)
• Liquimetal TorqueLiquimetal Torque: $3.32 (!)
• Wyll's ReversalWyll's Reversal: $4.57 (!!)
• Brallin, Skyshark RiderBrallin, Skyshark Rider: $7.72 (!!!)

I think this is a new record. Never before have I seen so many cards rising above the set price point.

So, what to replace them with? This is what I would add back to the list:

• Burn Down the HouseBurn Down the House: Either burn the world to the ground, or make new Devils
• Wildfire DevilsWildfire Devils: Mayhem!
• Magus of the WheelMagus of the Wheel: Not ideal, but the card draw must be replaced.
• Thrill of PossibilityThrill of Possibility: Not a thrilling choice, as I'm more and more reluctant to play card replacement effects, but the options in mono- are sadly lacking.
• Fire DiamondFire Diamond: Because ramp is just too low if not.
• Embermaw HellionEmbermaw Hellion: Suddenly your Devils dying do not spark mirth anymore.
• Light Up the StageLight Up the Stage: Impulse draw is better than no draw at all.
• Subira, Tulzidi CaravannerSubira, Tulzidi Caravanner: In here, an excellent draw engine.
• Havoc JesterHavoc Jester: Every bit of ping helps.
• Magmakin ArtilleristMagmakin Artillerist: Same. Since you're already discarding cards at random, you may just as well put those to some good use.
• Tempt with MayhemTempt with Mayhem: It's all in the title. It can result in real fun stacks.
• Fiery ConfluenceFiery Confluence: Versatile spell that can help get your Devils to meet their unfortunate yet prickling demise.
• The Rollercrusher RideThe Rollercrusher Ride: Bad wipe yet useful in a pinch. And pings as well.
• Sulfuric VortexSulfuric Vortex: Burn faster please.
• Everflowing ChaliceEverflowing Chalice: for a mana rock is acceptable.
• Heraldic BannerHeraldic Banner: Boost your troops and make mana.
• A Mountain: To make up for the lost ramp.

You can find the updated list here.

Conclusion

This has been a troubling journey. I'd really like your opinion here.

Would you rather I had stayed the course and made the list with whatever was at hand?

Do you prefer this method, where I try to find other solutions and include cards from outside the original list?

Let me know in the comments below, and I'll see you in two weeks!

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