Loki, God of LiesLoki, God of Lies | Art by Kieran Yanner

Hidden in the Villains Unleashed Scene Box is a truly wild commander that I think a lot more people should be talking about: Loki, God of LiesLoki, God of Lies.

This legend does something I absolutely love — it creates the perfect home for the cards that are hidden in a lot of people's bulk bins out there. So, whether you've been looking for an aggressive deck with a tricky twist, or you just love this classic character, I can assure you that this list offers up a game plan that's truly unique.

My name is Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, and join me as I cover this awesome mono-red budget deck that you can pick up for only about $35.

What Does Loki, God of Lies Bring to the Table?

It's a bird, it's a plane, no wait...it's actually just Loki, God of LiesLoki, God of Lies stealing all those things from your opponents. For three mana, you get a mono-red legend that turns any of your targeted spells into a theft effect, which can lead to some truly wild games. That effect isn't restricted to only happen on your turn or only once per turn, because in this case, you can do it as many times as possible as the game goes on.

So, whether you're stealing an untapped creature to block someone else's attack, or more than likely taking a powerful threat in order to throw it right back in someone's face, this commander will be sure to cause some chaos at your next game night! Let's jump right into it by looking at a few of the important classes of cards that make this list do its thing.

Key Targeting Effects

• Impolite EntranceImpolite Entrance: Kicking things off is a combat trick that represents the many spells in this list that offer up a targeted effect and then draw you a replacement card once it resolves. These are pivotal for this deck and provide you with a lot of gas to keep your engine running smoothly.
• Sudden BreakthroughSudden Breakthrough: There are a few cards in the 99 that also give you some mana advantage as the game goes on, which can set you up to double spell on the same turn more easily, and that's exactly what this deck is looking to do!
• Bulk UpBulk Up: While this card might just seem like a reference to my other article series here on EDHREC, it's also a showcase of the cards that can secretly close out a game. Casting this in order to take someone out with commander damage from their own commander could be an achievement you're looking to unlock with this deck.

• Wild RideWild Ride: Flashback and other ways to recast a spell from the graveyard are also super useful here, since you get two uses out of a single card. Plus, they tend to be pretty sneaky, especially in the late game when your opponents forget that they're in your bin...
• Mark of FuryMark of Fury: A notable thing about the text on Loki, God of LiesLoki, God of Lies is that his ability isn't limited to instants and sorceries — it works with Auras, too. When it comes to this enchantment's ability to bounce back to your hand, it just ensures that you can utilize it all over again on future turns.
• Seething AngerSeething Anger: Speaking of reusing a spell, buyback offers up a way to continually trigger your commander. While paying three extra mana seems steep, it could just win you a game if you top deck it, and have enough mana to resolve it a handful of times!

Multi-Use Removal

• AbradeAbrade: Longtime readers of mine will know just how much I love this spell, and it works so incredibly well here. Yes, it can snipe a problematic artifact, but it could also grab you a useful creature for the turn, while marking three damage on it, which could cause it to bite the dust after a simple chump block during combat.
• Mishra's CommandMishra's Command: Here's a card that offers up several super useful effects for this deck, all in one textbox. It can replace your hand, deal out some burn damage and pump up a creature, but be careful! Loki specifically mentions that the spell can target "only a single creature", so make sure you don't choose both that burn option and the haste granting mode when you cast this one.
• Spikefield HazardSpikefield Hazard: This deck list is running thirty-six lands, and three of them are MDFCs that all support the game plan. When it comes to a commander like this, you want as many castable spells as possible, so adding a few of those to your lands can help keep that train on the tracks.

Sacrifice Effects

• FlingFling: Since Loki pulls creatures to your side of the battlefield, it can be pretty tempting to cash them in for your own gain. While I didn't lean too far into this effect, it's still a useful trick to keep in your back pocket, in order to deal with some scary threats. Turning someone's value piece into damage is definitely a way to add insult to injury.
• Dark-Dweller OracleDark-Dweller Oracle: Spending one mana to get rid of an opponent's creature, while giving you access to another card is a pretty great rate, especially since you can deploy this Goblin before your commander hits play.
• High MarketHigh Market: Stapling a sacrifice effect onto a land is incredibly useful in this deck, because it not only provides mana when you need it, but also a little bit of life gain in return for getting rid of a creature. This list is going to be very aggressive, so don't be surprised if padding your life total, even by a little bit, helps keep you in the game.

Synergistic Restocking

• Raphael's TechniqueRaphael's Technique: This deck's whole plan is to chain a bunch of spells together, which could leave you empty-handed. So, having a wheel effect like this can be incredibly beneficial, especially since you can sneak it out by returning a creature you stole to someone else's hand!
• End-Blaze EpiphanyEnd-Blaze Epiphany: Here's another instant that plays double duty in this list. Say an opponent sends an attack your way — you could steal something that isn't tapped with this spell and declare blocks in a way that'll kill the creature you just gained control of, which allows you to look at a good chunk of cards off the top of your library once it hits the bin.
• SnortSnort: While this spell doesn't offer a full hand refresh, it does give you the option to utilize it twice in one game. Going back up to five cards can set you up for a big turn of stealing creatures, and then in the late game you can flash it back to do it all over again.

Mana Ramp

• Magda, the HoardmasterMagda, the Hoardmaster: While the ability to create Treasures is limited to once per turn on this card, it does allow you to build up a stash of mana in order to pop off on a future turn, all for simply enacting your game plan.
• Shiny ImpetusShiny Impetus: As previously mentioned, enchanting a creature will still allow you to gain control of it. So, you could throw this on a threat, take it for the turn, create a Treasure right away, and then give it back to deal out even more damage on your behalf.
• Tablet of DiscoveryTablet of Discovery: Here's a card that has overperformed for me, and it'll be sure to offer up a lot of power to this list. Not only does it help you dig for another card to play, but it also taps for two red mana for casting instants and sorceries, which is perfect for this mana-hungry deck.

A Few More Highlights

• Caldera PyremawCaldera Pyremaw: While this deck's main win condition is to attack people with their own creatures, you still want to push forward some pain on your own. Not only can this become a huge flying threat, but it can also deal out a lot of damage to the table as you simply cast your cheap spells throughout the game.
• Humble DefectorHumble Defector: This is a tricky inclusion for the deck, so go with me on this. You can tap the Defector, draw two cards, and pass it to an opponent. Then in the future, you can target it with a spell, bring it to your side of the field, and tap it again. While this isn't the cleanest draw engine, it can certainly come in handy if you don't have many great targets at that time.
• Arcane LighthouseArcane Lighthouse: One of the biggest buzzkills with this deck is going to be when your opponents' creatures have protection. Having a land that offers up a solution to that issue is huge for this deck, and can help you pull victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Deck List

My Final Thoughts on Loki, God of LiesLoki, God of Lies

So, there you have it, my list for Loki, God of LiesLoki, God of Lies that you can pick up for around $35. I truly do love this commander's design, since it offers up the perfect home for all of those awesome combat tricks that are hidden in your collection. You know what? I'm even tempted to throw this one together in paper myself!

One last note on this one: I would suggest you only cast Loki when you have at least one mana up after he resolves. That way, you're able to cast a cheap targeted spell in order to gain control of something on that turn. Passing while you're tapped out sets you up to have your commander removed before you get any value out of it, so be a little patient.

Well, that's it for me today, but you can find more of my budget content right here on EDHREC, as well as on my YouTube channel The Pillow Fort, where I do everything I can to make Magic more accessible for everyone.