Top 10 Coalition Victory Commanders

The Best Free White Spells for Commander

<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a> | Art By <a href="https://www.artstation.com/fajareka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fajareka Setiawan</a>
Hello, and welcome back to Beyond the Multiverse! This week we're tackling something on my short list, but also an actual deck I currently own (like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourteenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourteenth Doctor</a> from the other week).
However, I must first address the elephant in the room. I'm talking about the recent announcement regarding the Spider-Man set. The Traversing the Omenpaths product line will have in-universe equivalents, but for digital only. I may be an ardent supporter of Universes Beyond, but I cannot condone this. I digress, though, because you and I want to delve into today's deck, and that I will deliver on that.
<h2>Greeting Your Mentor</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ezio Auditore da Firenze"></div></div>
Ezio, coming from the Assassin's Creed franchise, was a Florentine nobleman who's more well-known (to us real worlders anyway), as a master assassin. He came to learn of his assassin heritage at 17, with the death of several family members, including his father. From there, Ezio went on to thwart the Templars on numerous occasions. He died of a heart attack while visiting Florence with his wife and daughter, yet he would go on to become the ancestor of one <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desmond Miles" href="#" target="_blank">Desmond Miles</a>.
Consequently, given his backstory, Ezio needs us to run a load of Assassins to take advantage of his first ability. This actually comes in handy, especially with the more expensive spells in the deck. In addition, don't rely on the second ability too much. It's neat when you pull it off, but Ezio himself is sitting with a 3/2 statline, meaning it'll take a while for you to be able to trigger. There's a faster, more impactful way of outright eliminating players - but we'll get to that in a moment.
<h2>Ezio Auditore a Firenze Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Advent Creed" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ezio Auditore da Firenze
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Achilles Davenport
*1 Adéwalé, Breaker of Chains
*1 Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad
*1 Arbaaz Mir
*1 Arno Dorian
*1 Aveline de Grandpré
*1 Aya of Alexandria
*1 Basim Ibn Ishaq
*1 Bayek of Siwa
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Edward Kenway
*1 Eivor, Battle-Ready
*1 Evie Frye
*1 Ezio, Blade of Vengeance
*1 Jacob Frye
*1 Kassandra, Eagle Bearer
*1 Layla Hassan
*1 Lydia Frye
*1 Mary Read and Anne Bonny
*1 Queen Marchesa
*1 Ramses, Assassin Lord
*1 Ratonhnhaké꞉ton
*1 Shao Jun
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Desynchronization
*1 Harrow
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Unexpected Windfall
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Assassin Gauntlet
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Haystack
*1 Hidden Blade
*1 Hidden Footblade
*1 Hookblade
*1 Hunter&#039;s Bow
*1 Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
*1 Phantom Blade
*1 Raven Clan War-Axe
*1 Smoke Bomb
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Cultivate
*1 Eagle Vision
*1 Farseek
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Restart Sequence
*1 Viewpoint Synchronization
*1 What Must Be Done
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Coastal Piracy
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Rooftop Bypass
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Brotherhood Headquarters
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fiery Islet
*2 Forest
*1 Haunted Ridge
*2 Island
*2 Mountain
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*2 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*1 Silent Clearing
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunken Hollow
*2 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Waterlogged Grove
[/Lands]"></div>
<h2>Advent Creed</h2>
I'm willing to bet you didn't think I was going to post the list this early in the article, did you? There's actually a story behind this list. It began when I had an idea of doing an advent calendar for Christmas last year. Originally I was going to do Foundations Jumpstart, but insatiable curiously killed it. Acting quickly, I went with a couple of boxes of the Assassin's Creed set, and the rest is history (I pulled a regular version of our commander on the first day. Talk about luck, right?). After the calendar was done, I finished it off with buying the few singles I needed from the set. In addition, this included a couple of cards from one of the Secret Lair drops.
Assembling the deck, especially towards the end, it was really difficult to make the last cuts, and I had to make some hard choices to finish the decklist. Some might say it's all of that Equipment the deck's using, but there's a reason for that.
<h2>The Team Across Time</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edward Kenway"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ramses, Assassin Lord|sld|1560"></div></div>
Above all, the reason I started with the list early is because of the Assassin support. Before the Assassin's Creed set, Assassin support was sparse to nonexistent. Now, we have a truckload to work with, laced together with historic and Equipment subthemes. Unfortunately, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desmond Miles" href="#" target="_blank">Desmond Miles</a> (17,119 decks) is about the biggest hole in the list, and I'm currently trying to fit him in somehow. Like I said above, the list was tight enough for me to make some difficult cuts.
Most importantly, the Assassins are the backbone of our deck. Firstly, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad" href="#" target="_blank">Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad</a> (9,276 decks) ensures that, with time, we'll be swinging with a swarm of Assassins, albeit temporarily. Secondly, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edward Kenway" href="#" target="_blank">Edward Kenway</a> (8,200 decks) nets us Treasures to ramp us. However, it's a shame that he and Altaïr don't combo together, since the latter's tokens are gone post-combat. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arno Dorian" href="#" target="_blank">Arno Dorian</a> (14,539 decks) buffs even the token Assassins we'll be making enough to be block-worthy. Speaking of buffs, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bayek of Siwa" href="#" target="_blank">Bayek of Siwa</a> (20,176 decks) gives our creatures double strike, capable of carrying out a devastating attack.
The most dangerous card in the deck is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ramses, Assassin Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Ramses, Assassin Lord</a> (reskinned as Basim, Master Assassin; 16,544 decks). This was the more impactful way I was alluding to of taking players out. Time him right, and you could potentially win out of nowhere. Otherwise, he's a decently sized anthem with deathtouch, which is good with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aveline de Grandpré" href="#" target="_blank">Aveline de Grandpré</a> (8,568 decks). There's a few ways to give deathtouch to your other creatures, but it'll be just Aveline getting bigger most of the time.
<h2>Growing the Brotherhood</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rooftop Bypass"></div></div>
There are a few cards in the deck that produce Assassin tokens. Firstly, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rooftop Bypass" href="#" target="_blank">Rooftop Bypass</a> (11,901 decks) can give us up to three, given that we hit each player. Secondly, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aya of Alexandria" href="#" target="_blank">Aya of Alexandria</a> (16,061 decks) is similar, but has the potential to give us even more tokens. Meanwhile <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Marchesa|sld|1559" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Marchesa</a> (reskinned as Amunet, Tyrant's End; ironic I mention her after Aya; 29,530 decks) introduces the monarch to the game. We'll get a card if we have it, and a hasty Assassin with deathtouch if we don't.
<h2>Ancient Arsenal</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ratonhnhaké:ton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eivor, Battle-Ready"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hookblade"></div></div>
In addition to the historic element of the deck, you'll notice a lot of Equipment there. The main reason is not just flavor (which works, too), but they're to work with a pair of Boros legends we covered a while ago: <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Battle-Ready" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Battle-Ready</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer" href="#" target="_blank">Kassandra, Eagle Bearer</a> (7,363 and 8,656 decks, respectively). Eivor is a threat in her own right, dealing damage equal to our Equipment stash, and having a sizable body to work with. Meanwhile, Kassandra works specifically with legendary Equipment, hence why we run a few here. I'd use <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Wolf-Kissed" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Wolf-Kissed</a>, but I didn't have enough targets to make her worthwhile.
However, those aren't the only creatures working with Equipment. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ratonhnhaké:ton" href="#" target="_blank">Ratonhnhaké:ton</a> (8,301 decks) brings back Equipment, which is automatically equipped to the Assassin token he creates. Meanwhile, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bureau Headmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Bureau Headmaster</a> (16,232 decks), our only non-legendary creature in the deck, helps us cast our Equipment, and makes equip costs more manageable. Lastly, Equipment can be tapped for <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shao Jun" href="#" target="_blank">Shao Jun</a> (8,787 decks)'s ability while <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arbaaz Mir" href="#" target="_blank">Arbaaz Mir</a> (20,652 decks) will drain opponents since Equipment are also historic by their nature.
Our Equipment suite mostly draws from the Assassin's Creed set, but there's some good stuff here. We have access to the likes of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Feast and Famine</a> (136,870 decks) down to the lowly, but useful <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hookblade" href="#" target="_blank">Hookblade</a> (5,615 decks). The colored Equipment cycle (and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hidden Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Hidden Blade</a> (12,493 decks)) all enter and equip themselves to a creature automatically, so there's no equip cost to worry about initially. Moreover, we have <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a> (60,260 decks) and the ever-useful <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Spear of Leonidas" href="#" target="_blank">The Spear of Leonidas</a> (21,116 decks), both of which can make our commander into a major threat. Lastly, both <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes" href="#" target="_blank">Caduceus, Staff of Hermes</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Regalia</a> (39,122 and 86,747 decks, respectively) work to protect our creatures, if not our commander.
<h2>Beyond the Franchise</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guardian Project"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crush Contraband"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Austere Command"></div></div>
Trying to build a deck using exclusively cards from the Assassin's Creed deck is a fool's errand: we have basics, yes, but outside of those, there's really only nine nonbasic lands to its name. In addition, your access to the essentials, like ramp, are minimal at best.
Besides the obvious includes of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Command Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Command Tower</a>, we also have format all-stars like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a> (1,226,154 and 940,197 decks, respectively), which both help ramp us to keep up with our opponents. Card draw has a stronger presence within the set, but it could be a bit better. In that vein, this is where cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian Project" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian Project</a> (229,853 decks) come in handy. Similarly, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unexpected Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Unexpected Windfall</a> (181,542 decks) provides us with both ramp and draw; not many cards in the list can do that.
Where the Assassin's Creed set excelled was in its removal. There was a lot of removal in there, so I took a bit to see what was worth adding. While some of the Equipment count as removal, we need more of it, especially more superior options. While the set had <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Assassin&#039;s Trophy" href="#" target="_blank">Assassin&#039;s Trophy</a> (376,282 decks), it's hard to pass up <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anguished Unmaking" href="#" target="_blank">Anguished Unmaking</a> (321,075 decks). Meanwhile, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crush Contraband" href="#" target="_blank">Crush Contraband</a> (35,439 decks) has the capacity to hit two targets instead of one.
On the other hand, the two-ish wipes the set had were very good. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desynchronization" href="#" target="_blank">Desynchronization</a> (39,827 decks) is a one-sided <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a> in this deck, and will hit very few of our cards. Secondly, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="What Must Be Done" href="#" target="_blank">What Must Be Done</a> (7,867 decks) is flexible utility, though you'll mostly choose the wipe option. I felt like the deck could benefit from one more wipe, and I picked <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Austere Command" href="#" target="_blank">Austere Command</a> (337,633 decks) for its adaptability.
Lastly, for the mana base, I mostly drew from the Doctor Who release, since the precons there had some of the best mana bases to exist. While we have access to the enemy-colored Horizon duals, forming a panorama (more bonus points if you're using the full-art Ezio to complete it), that release came with nearly the full cycle of slow duals (ex. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haunted Ridge" href="#" target="_blank">Haunted Ridge</a>), finished only by a couple of scry lands for now.
<h2>Back to the Present</h2>
Like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourteenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourteenth Doctor</a> with Doctor Who, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a> mostly just needed some stuff from beyond the release to help stabilize its foundations. For a small set, with its setup similar to the much-maligned March of the Machine: Aftermath release, there were a lot of cool cards in Assassin's Creed.
Return next week, when we'll take center stage in another franchise. Until then, if you're reading up on something historical, perhaps you can learn about the respective time periods the Assassin's Creed franchise drew its inspiration from.

Building Ezio Auditore da Firenze Using Only Universes Beyond Cards

Making a Group Slug Deck With Neheb, the Eternal

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
On the evening of Thursday, May 8th, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasy/posts/pfbid02T3VmsH45Nimu25H198i2wFv1t9DzafUQKwTcPvobfVXNCsSrhHtiJXyqcLVZ4e12l">the official Facebook account for Final Fantasy</a> revealed the remaining two alternative commanders for their Commander precons. Yuna, Grand Summoner is part of the Counter Blitz deck, which features characters from Final Fantasy X. Graha Tia, Scion Reborn is the alternate commander of the Scions &amp; Spellcraft deck, showcasing the characters of Final Fantasy XIV.
<h2>Yuna, Grand Summoner</h2>
One of the main characters of FFX and the love interest of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tidus, Yuna&#039;s Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Tidus</a>, Yuna is an extremely vital figure in the FFX canon. A summoner, Yuna can conjure beings known as "aeons" to aid in combat. She is also a proficient White Mage, using healing magic to act as a support role in the game and its sequel.
<div id="attachment_152073" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152073" class="wp-image-152073" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png" alt="Yuna, Grand Summoner, a new card from within the &quot;Counter Blitz&quot; precon for Final Fantasy. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a>Yuna, Grand Summoner, a new card from within the "Counter Blitz" precon for Final Fantasy. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</div>
In the context of Commander, Yuna acts as a pseudo version of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ozolith" href="#" target="_blank">The Ozolith</a>, but rather than the counters of the dead creature retaining their classification, Yuna effectively converts them into +1/+1 counters for another creature. What's more, Yuna is a mana-producing creature that puts +1/+1 counters on the creature that mana is spent on. In that way, she seems to do a bang-up job in somewhat imitating <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Great Henge" href="#" target="_blank">The Great Henge</a>.
Meanwhile, her showcase borderless version can be seen below!
<div id="attachment_152074" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152074" class="wp-image-152074" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png" alt="The borderless showcase version of Yuna, Grand Summoner. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a>The borderless showcase version of Yuna, Grand Summoner. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</div>
<h2>G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn</h2>
G'raha Tia, also known as the "Crystal Exarch," is a major character in Final Fantasy XIV. He is a member of the protagonist's party and a member of the Miqo'te race in the game's setting. He is playful and eccentric, and, in the context of the MMO setting of FFXIV, can play the role of a Paladin, White Mage, or Black Mage. Versatile!
<div id="attachment_152075" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152075" class="wp-image-152075" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png" alt="G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn, a new card from within the &quot;Scions &amp; Spellcraft&quot; precon for Final Fantasy. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a>G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn, a new card from within the "Scions &amp; Spellcraft" precon for Final Fantasy. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</div>
In the context of Magic: The Gathering, G'raha Tia is a token generator with lifelink. His second ability appears to synergize somewhat with the face commander of the "Scions &amp; Spellcraft" precon, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a>, but only just. However, the existence of a 1/1 colorless Hero token seems interesting. Usually, nonartifact creature tokens have a color associated with them. Is this indicative of something greater?
<h2>Final Days Before the Final Fantasy Panel</h2>
These two precon commander alternatives are pretty interesting. We look forward to seeing what else comes of the set and decks! If you're also interested, the panel at PAX East will be livestreamed on Twitch on Saturday, May 10th, from noon to 2 pm Eastern!
Meanwhile, how do you feel about these reveals? Are you excited to test out any Final Fantasy commanders? Sound off below!

Final Fantasy Precons' Yuna And G'raha Tia Officially Revealed

The Best Ways to Play Kaheera, the Orphanguard in Commander

Old Man Magic: The Bureaucratic Undead

<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a> | Art by <a href="https://martanael.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marta Nael</a>
It's usually not a good idea to give resources to an opponent, especially many different resources to many different players. Usually, any advantage that an opponent has puts us in the position to lose the game, but but but! I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm actually a huge advocate for <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/group-hug" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Group Hug</a> decks. Not that chaos nonsense, but real Group Hug. I talk about the distinctions in <a href="https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/cashinds-seo-02042025-how-to-play-group-hug-in-commander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this article</a>.
To boil it down a little, I discuss that Group Hug is only valid if it has a win condition. I walk through some of the ways to do that in that article, but the concept is to out-value, or use resources against, the opponents. But Group Hug isn't actually the focus on my article, the card <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a> actually is.
<h2>What Does Ms. Bumbleflower Do?</h2>
She's a cost 1/5 creature with vigilance. And whenever you cast a spell, target opponent draws a card, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature, and that creature gains flying until end of turn. When this ability resolves the second time in a turn, you draw two cards.
In the traditional sense, Ms. Bumbleflower has some language on her that seems like Group Hug: she provides card draw to another player whenever you cast a spell.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ms. Bumbleflower"></div></div>
This could be a huge advantage to whatever player gets the advantage. It also does a good job of accelerating the Bumbleflower player as they gain two cards on the second cast, bringing them ahead of each individual they target with the card draw. Additionally, it provides some way to give evasion to their creatures and buff them as blockers. You can even buff other players creatures after casting a cantrip to eke out a bit more damage. It's a good shields-up strategy in the colors of control and combo.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seedborn Muse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Approach of the Second Sun"></div></div>
I imagine in a Group Hug strategy for <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a> the goal is to get to draw spells and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a> or a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Folio of Fancies" href="#" target="_blank">Folio of Fancies</a> combo, milling players each turn. Both are slow and steady strategies typical for Bant Control and Draw.
There's a possibility for <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tidal Barracuda" href="#" target="_blank">Tidal Barracuda</a> to give your spells flash, which, with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a>, can put you massively ahead, giving cards along the way. You could give the card draw to the player whose end step it is to give yourself more time, and not pile value into one player.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Folio of Fancies"></div></div>
If you're starting to wonder when I'll talk about how strong it is to give flying to Bumbleflower and go in for combat damage, you're slightly missing the essence of Group Hug. In Group Hug you have to hide your power level as long as possible, because giving resources puts a target on your back with players who would like to benefit alone, like mid-range players who might be in danger against an Aggro deck with the gasoline of creature and card advantage.
But this is the essence of my article; why aren't we all putting counters on Bumbleflower?
<h2>Ms. Bumbleflower at Her Best</h2>
SURPRISE! This is actually a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a> Voltron Deck Tech. Hear me out.
Usually the most common Voltron Commanders are in Boros, but Bumbleflower can do it! She is a 1/5 with vigilance. This is insidious because it makes a great blocker and attacker. Cast one spell on your turn and she gets flying, the evasion needed for a strong Voltron commander. She also has a way to buff herself, which is another great addition for a Voltron commander.
Cast a spell, put a +1/+1 on her and give her flying at the cost of giving one other player a card. Cast a second, and fill your hand with two more cards you can cast, while putting on another counter. In one turn she can go from a 1/5 vigilant creature to a 3/7 flying, vigilant creature.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderbolt"></div></div>
Her big toughness makes her survive most <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thunderbolt" href="#" target="_blank">Thunderbolt</a> effects, and with enough time to build her up, she can even survive a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a>. She has evasion, protection, built-in card draw, and a way to be a good blocker and attacker.
<h2>Other Voltron Commanders</h2>
What are we usually looking for in a Voltron commander? In a general sense, what players are looking for in a Voltron commander is:
<ul>
<li>Evasion</li>
<li>A way to buff or a good body to buff</li>
<li>Free/discounted cost to buff</li>
<li>Good attacker and/or blocker</li>
<li>Protection</li>
</ul>
The <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/voltron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">top Voltron commanders according to EDHREC</a> are: <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rafiq of the Many" href="#" target="_blank">Rafiq of the Many</a>; <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Light-Paws, Emperor&#039;s Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Light-Paws, Emperor&#039;s Voice</a>; and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slicer, Hired Muscle // Slicer, High-Speed Antagonist" href="#" target="_blank">Slicer, Hired Muscle // Slicer, High-Speed Antagonist</a>. What makes these commanders so popular?
<h3>Rafiq</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rafiq of the Many"></div></div>
Rafiq has exalted (a creature attacking alone gets +1/+1) and gives double strike to any creature attacking alone. It goes from a humble 3/3 to a 4/4 with double strike when it attacks alone. That's potentially eight commander damage, which is usually the goal with a Voltron commander. This kind of deck focuses on many exalted effects combined to buff the hell out of itself or any other creature coming in alone.
Rafiq is in the same colors as <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a>, so most of the cards you run in it could translate over easily. Cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silent Arbiter" href="#" target="_blank">Silent Arbiter</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rancor" href="#" target="_blank">Rancor</a> create a really spicy combination for this commander, which Bumbleflower could also effectively utilize. Being the only attacker and only blocker is perfect, especially when she's buffed.
<h3>Light-Paws</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Light-Paws, Emperor&#039;s Voice"></div></div>
Light-Paws is a well stated 2/2 for . Its ability allows for easy and cheap buffs. Casting a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sage&#039;s Reverie" href="#" target="_blank">Sage&#039;s Reverie</a> gets you a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Battle Mastery</a> and an <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="All That Glitters" href="#" target="_blank">All That Glitters</a> gets you into an <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ethereal Armor" href="#" target="_blank">Ethereal Armor</a>. For six mana Light-Paws is a 14/14 with double strike.
That's lethal commander damage. What it does well is stack up a creature cheaply and quickly with damage. All of these cards are possible in Bumbleflower. The Auras that buff are possible with a commander that gives itself card draw and evasion and buffs, on top of basic stats.
<h3>Slicer</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slicer, Hired Muscle // Slicer, High-Speed Antagonist"></div></div>
Slicer is well stated as a 3/2 converted for with haste and first strike. Equipping him with stuff like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beamtown Beatstick" href="#" target="_blank">Beamtown Beatstick</a> gives it a way of connecting with evasion. With <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mask of Memory" href="#" target="_blank">Mask of Memory</a> you can fill your hand with ways to buff it on contact. Your commander gets additional opportunities to deal combat damage by being passed around.
Sadly, many of Slicer's cards are locked to red, outside of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a>'s wheelhouse, but it runs a ton of Equipment that Bumbleflower can use. She doesn't get additional combats by being passed around, but she might not even need it.
<h2>Fatal Flaws Of Typical Voltron Commanders</h2>
One of the fatal flaws of Voltron is being locked out of blue and green good stuff - stuff like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rancor" href="#" target="_blank">Rancor</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a>. Stuff that adds counters are typically green, like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hardened Scales" href="#" target="_blank">Hardened Scales</a>, and counter magic is typically blue, like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Denial" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Denial</a>. Not being able to interact with spells that remove your commander, or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a> them, or simply <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a> in response, is huge. Board wipes like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vandalblast" href="#" target="_blank">Vandalblast</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a> or <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a> go unchecked.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Denial"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vandalblast"></div></div>
Most typical Voltron commanders struggle to put up blockers. Usually after a swing, the player is shields down and vulnerable. Running other creatures take away spells that are able to buff your commander. Rafiq doesn't run into this problem, and neither does <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a>. Casting an instant can give a creature the ability to fly and buff them as well, making blockers really strong.
<h2>Card Draw Flaw</h2>
I've talked in great detail on how Bumbleflower excels as a Voltron commander, but the big fatal flaw of this deck is giving out card draw. It doesn't seem like a lot, but big stormy turns with Bumbleflower that puts cards in opponents' hands might be your downfall. I can't talk my way out of this one. It is the fatal flaw that tricks most players into seeing this deck only as a Group Hug deck. Card draw on every cast is just so beneficial to other players that it's hard to work around.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Narset, Parter of Veils"></div></div>
But <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset, Parter of Veils" href="#" target="_blank">Narset, Parter of Veils</a> gets around that additional card draw. If you don't see that card, you can also draw more yourself, to have interaction up. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight</a> could put four cards in hand on your second spell, making sure you have value in hand to mitigate loss. It's out-valuing others in the way Group Hug typically does.
Free counterspells, like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fierce Guardianship" href="#" target="_blank">Fierce Guardianship</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Will" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Will</a>, are huge in this deck. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="View From Above" href="#" target="_blank">View From Above</a> is an excellent way to keep a spell up to give Bumbleflower flying when needed. Cantrips like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Opt" href="#" target="_blank">Opt</a> and value spells like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snap" href="#" target="_blank">Snap</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rewind" href="#" target="_blank">Rewind</a> can refund themselves. It gives tons of mana value while giving card draw.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="View From Above"></div></div>
Stacking all the powerful things in Voltron that <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a> can do, it can be a very powerful deck, even with its one card draw issue. All I can say is that, just because you give out cards because you have to, doesn't mean your deck has to be Group Hug. Most players are playing Bumbleflower as a Voltron commander covertly behind a bunch of Group Hug effects. It's time to just fully embrace the Voltron.
Either way, tell me what you think. I'm <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strixhavendropout.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@Strixhavendropout on Bluesky</a>.

Ms. Bumbleflower Is Better as a Voltron Deck

Which Commanders Are Most Affected by the New Game Changers?

Zenos yae Galvus/Shinryu, Transcendent Rival | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mokhman/?hl=en">Alexander Mokhov</a>
The Magic: The Gathering fandom was still reacting to May 7's first Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY reveal when another one dropped on social media only a few hours later.
Coming off the heels of <a href="https://scryfall.com/card/fin/241/shantotto">Shantotto, the Radical Lady</a>, the details of which you can find here, the second legendary creature of the day appeared - Zenos yae Galvus/Shinryu, Transcendent Rival:
<a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150936" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150935" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-1-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-1-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-1.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a>
Yes, it's a dual-faced card. While Shantotto is a character featured in Final Fantasy XI, Zenos yae Galvus arrives to Magic via Final Fantasy XIV and its associated expansions. That particular game released to consoles and PC in August of 2013. Fitting perfectly into Commander games that utilize politics, the Burning Chains trigger on the card's Shinryu side will lead to plenty of humorous stories.
In addition to the basic art and frame, Wednesday also saw the reveal of an alternate treatment:
<a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150949" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150948" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-1-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-1-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-1.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a>
With Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY heading to Standard on its release next month, that effect might not hold as much value in a one-vs.-one environment.
Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY is slated for release on June 13, 2025 and promises to be stuffed with iconic characters, events, and legends from the long-running video game series. The set will feature both Play and Collector Boosters and four preconstructed Commander Decks (in both base and Collector's Edition versions), as well as Bundles, Prerelease Kits, and Starter Kits.
How do Zenos/Shinryu's abilities fit the character? Are you suprised to see the character make an appearance in Magic form? Be sure to frequent EDHREC as deck techs featuring all the revealed characters start hitting the website in the coming weeks - with a deck tech centered around Zenos coming courtesy of <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/michael-wheelan">Wheels</a>.

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