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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>We're back with another Sunday Stream deck tech, and this one hails from Strixhaven (well, technically March of the Machine, but he was on vacation) in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quintorius, Loremaster" href="#" target="_blank">Quintorius, Loremaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Quintorius, Loremaster</h1>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quintorius, Loremaster"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/9042374/quintorius_loremaster">Archidekt Link</a></p>
<p>Before you say anything, yes, we're aware that we build a lot of red on the Sunday Stream. But this is one is different! It's not just a bunch of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Threaten" href="#" target="_blank">Threaten</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects and goading and stuff!</p>
<p>Quintorius, Loremaster is a red and white commander that lets us exile noncreature, nonland permanents from our graveyard at our end step, then sacrifice a Spirit and cast those spells for free later on. A notable condition of this ability is that when you cast a spell exiled with Quintorius, it goes right back into your library, not into the graveyard.</p>
<p>So what do we do with this exactly? Well, my first instinct when I read "cast without paying its mana cost" is to try to cast as many big, splashy spells as we can and try to win the game through explosive turns.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The Other Quintorii</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quintorius Kand"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quintorius, Field Historian"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Naturally, the other two versions of Quintorius, both the planeswalker <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quintorius Kand" href="#" target="_blank">Quintorius Kand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Caverns of Ixalan</em> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quintorius, Field Historian" href="#" target="_blank">Quintorius, Field Historian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Strixhaven </em>fit nicely alongside each other.</p>
<p>Kand's +1 ability creates a Spirt token which can be sacrificed to our commander's ability, and has a -3 which is a Discover 4 trigger, which will potentially cast a spell that can be exiled and recast with the commander later on.</p>
<p>Field Historian gives a slight buff to Spirits, but the ability we really care about is that he creates a Spirit every time one or more cards leave the graveyard. So, if Field Historian and Loremaster are on the field at the same time, we will automatically create the Spirit upon exiling the card that we can cast later by sacrificing said Spirit. Got it? Good.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Quintorius, Lootmaster</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Big Score"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faithless Looting"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrill of Possibility"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Illuminate History"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>So what's the quickest way we can get those big, splashy spells into the graveyard so we can cast them for free later on? Well, red's looting effects are basically perfect for this. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Big Score" href="#" target="_blank">Big Score</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faithless Looting" href="#" target="_blank">Faithless Looting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrill of Possibility" href="#" target="_blank">Thrill of Possibility</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all solid, efficient looting abilities that will draw us extra cards and allow us to discard our home run hitters into the graveyard.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illuminate History" href="#" target="_blank">Illuminate History</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Lesson card from Strixhaven that lets us discard as many cards as we like, then draw that many cards, and if our graveyard is sufficiently large enough, it too will make a Spirit token.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Quintorius, Field Enchanter</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Bombardment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Double Vision"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth Conquers Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rabble Rousing"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>We like to run lots of enchantments in the decks we build, and they work particularly well in this deck since our commander is able to cast them for free from exile.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ends up in a lot of our red spellslinger-ish decks fairly often, and for good reason. The value Arcane Bombardment is capable of accumulating over the course of just a turn or two by copying spells over and over can't be overstated. It's an explosive game-winner in many decks that can take advantage of it.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Double Vision" href="#" target="_blank">Double Vision</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a pretty straightforward card that will copy the first instant or sorcery we cast each turn. This is obviously a huge boost to our commander's ability.</p>
<p><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> is one of the strongest white Sagas that does something we care about doing in each chapter. Obviously we'd like to cast it for free with Quintorius, but this is a card that we're totally fine with hard casting. Targeted exile in chapter one, cost reduction in chapter two, and reanimating a creature or planeswalker in the third chapter make this a very versatile piece for us.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rabble Rousing" href="#" target="_blank">Rabble Rousing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a personal favorite of mine. Even though the Citizen tokens it creates can't be sacrificed for our commander's ability, the Hideway ability gives us another method of casting something for free, and does that by creating a ton of tokens by swinging our own creatures. This deck should be creating enough Spirits that we can potentially take advantage even if we wait to swing until the turn we're able to meet the Hideway condition. If push comes to shove, it can also be a fail-safe win condition by simply building a huge army of token creatures.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Quintorius, Artifact....ster....</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cellar Door"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vedalken Orrery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wondrous Crucible"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planar Bridge"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cellar Door" href="#" target="_blank">Cellar Door</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fabulous piece of synergy in this deck. When we cast a spell with our commander's ability, that card goes on the bottom of our library. Cellar Door can take that card and put it right back in your graveyard to be exiled and cast again with Quintorius. Oh and it also makes a zombie, which is cool, I guess.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vedalken Orrery" href="#" target="_blank">Vedalken Orrery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an artifact that needs no introduction. Being able to cast our big spells at instant speed is a massive advantage.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wondrous Crucible" href="#" target="_blank">Wondrous Crucible</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is essentially another version of our commander's ability except that we don't have to pay extra mana for it. Sure, the card does get exiled instead of going back to the library, but at this point we're probably not all that worried about that.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planar Bridge" href="#" target="_blank">Planar Bridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another splashy artifact that will allow us to tutor any permanent in our deck directly to the battlefield. Seems good.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Quintorius, Doing Stuff</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vicious Shadows"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rain of Riches"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alpha Brawl"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hit the Mother Lode"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vicious Shadows" href="#" target="_blank">Vicious Shadows</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a seven-mana enchantment that has the potential to deal a huge chunk of damage via creatures dying. If one of your opponents casts a board wipe and someone has a big board and a full hand, it could even be lethal damage.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rain of Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Rain of Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives us a nice Cascade trigger when we cast our first spell that was paid for with at least one Treasure, giving us lots of extra value.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alpha Brawl" href="#" target="_blank">Alpha Brawl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a very funny card that essentially wipes an entire player's board via their creatures fighting each other. When used in tandem with Vicious Shadows, this could be a great way to knock down the Voja player that's gotten a little too out of hand.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hit the Mother Lode" href="#" target="_blank">Hit the Mother Lode</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has quickly become one of my favorite spells to resolve. It discovers 10 on cast, which is capable of casting anything in most decks, and then pays back and lost value for a low mana cast in the form of treasures. If we're able to cast this spell more than once, we're going to take over the game.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Closing Summary</h3>
<p>Quintorius, Loremaster is a fun spellslinger commander that appears in a color combo that doesn't typically see that archetype outside of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firesong and Sunspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Firesong and Sunspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This deck is going to be more reliant on winning with accumulated value versus a specific strategy than most of our decks tend to be, but big, explosive turns should make this deck very entertaining to play.</p>


Sunday Stream Deck Tech (9/1/24) - Quintorius, Loremaster

Top 10 Izzet Combat Tricks

<p>The Commander Sealed event in Rochester, NY, is quickly becoming a highlight for <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> players in the region. This year's event takes place from September 13th to the 15th at the RIT Inn and Convention Center. The event draws fans of the Commander format who crave a new and unique twist on Sealed. This event challenges participants to construct their Commander decks from a limited pool of Sealed booster packs. This gets players pushing their strategic thinking and creativity to the limit.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sealed Fate"></div></div></p>
<p>The <em>Magic</em> community has even begun to embrace this innovative format. It created an atmosphere of excitement and camaraderie where players face off and open packs. Every card pulled can dramatically shift the direction a deck is built. This event not only showcases the diversity of the Commander format but the social aspect of the format.</p>
<h2>The Format</h2>
<p>One thing that makes Commander Sealed such a unique event is the format itself. Players are still are using 98-99 cards plus a command zone as it gets filled and follow the color identity restrictions. Where the format diverges from traditional constructed Commander is the card pool. Participants at Commander Sealed are given 14 semi-randomized packs which they open and build there card pool from. Another factor with this pushing the boundary further is the continuous construction of the decks. This unique rule lets players freely exchange cards from their pool with others within their pods to assist with their own decks and their pod mates. Once the deck construction phase is complete cards can still be swapped between mainboard and side board in between rounds as well.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coordinated Assault"></div></div></p>
<p>Now, say that you're attending the event and you happen to open a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hullbreacher" href="#" target="_blank">Hullbreacher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a pack. This is normally a round of bad news as it is banned for play in Commander. Thankfully, at Commander Sealed you're able to play all cards that you open in your packs. If you happen to be a fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primeval Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Primeval Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Cabal Minion" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Cabal Minion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> this is the event for you! If you want a more detailed breakdown of the format and have more questions, check out the<a href="https://commandersealed.com/primer/"> format primer</a> for more information.</p>
<h2>The Weekend</h2>
<p>Commander Sealed even offers a huge, fun-packed weekend of <em>Magic</em> for those not playing in the main event. Whether you want to grind side events for value or check out the artist alley, everyone will have something to do. The event kicks off Friday with a welcome party, gaming, and a comedy show featuring <a href="https://x.com/mikecarrozza">Mike Carrozza</a>. Mike is the host of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast"><em>Am I the Bolcast?</em></a> and a professional comedian so make sure to show up early! Saturday also features a full day of side events to match the main event. Finally, Sunday will wrap up with VIP events and meet and greets for many of your favorite creators. Among these events will also be a live show from the entire <em>Am I the Bolcast </em>crew!</p>
<p>For a full listing of all the side events and weekend activities make sure to check out the official <a href="https://commandersealed.com/schedule/">weekend calendar</a>.</p>
<h2>The Cause</h2>
<p>One of the reasons Commander Sealed has taken off like it has also comes down to its purpose. Commander Sealed started as a fundraiser and continues to raise money for Trans Lifeline and The Trevor Project. All of the proceeds from the event after production costs are then donated to the two charities. This makes the event one of the few where you can have a great time supporting an even better cause.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Benevolent Offering"></div></div></p>
<p>If you are in the New England and upstate New York area and need to get your fix for a weekend full of Commander, mark your calendars. Every year has slowly grown and added more to experience and this year's event will be no different. Check out the <a href="https://commandersealed.com/">Commander Sealed website</a> for more details on the full weekend including specials guests and artists. I hope to see you there!</p>


Commander Sealed 2024 - Playing Commander for a Cause

Back to Basics - The Top 10 Most Played Azorius Cards in Commander

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=released&amp;q=%21%22Baylen%2C+the+Haymaker%22+include%3Aextras&amp;unique=prints">Baylen, the Hammer</a> | Art By: <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CKemonomichi%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Kemonomichi</a>)</h6>
<h1>Silly Rabbit Trix Are For Kids</h1>
<p>Cereal is delicious. Most people would agree on this enough to call it a fact. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Another fact is that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baylen, the Haymaker|BLB|345" href="#" target="_blank">Baylen, the Haymaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, is the <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/blb">most built Commander</a> in <em>Bloomburrow </em>when writing this piece</span>.</span> Another fact is that I have teched a deck that is so unique that there are no other entries on the site that have the Bonk Bunny and a particular ten-mana sorcery in the 99. Venture into the land of adorable woodland creatures with me, Nick, for another outside-the-box deck tech.</p>
<h2>Why Does This Deck Look So Weird?</h2>
<p>Baylen, the Haymaker is undoubtedly powerful. The card does everything anyone wants and stays nice and safe in the command zone. All versions of Baylen will utilize tokens to an extent, but how we use those tokens is the key. Are we making mana? Drawing cards? Or making the single biggest bunny anyone has ever seen and swinging for lethal? If I told you none of these are true, you'd stop reading this article and move on, so I won't say that. I can say the ability to pump up Baylen is something I am trying never to have to use in this deck. Using that ability to kill someone is plan Z in the "ways, this deck wants to win the game" handbook.</p>
<p>I can say that the ability to draw a card and, to a lesser extent, make mana is vital to this deck's ability to win the game. Card draw is always crucial to commander decks, and it is no surprise that commanders who can draw cards are often "better" than those who can't. This deck is also a bit mana intensive; remember, we built around a ten-mana card. We also have green, so mana production isn't as hard to come by as with other colors.</p>
<h2>One, Two, Punch</h2>
<p><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=type%3Asorcery+commander%3AWRG+%28game%3Apaper%29+cmc%3D10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine</a> legal sorceries cost ten CMC, which we could build around in this deck. Five of them wrath the board in one way or another. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Singularity" href="#" target="_blank">Explosive Singularity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deals damage.<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Apex of Power" href="#" target="_blank">Apex of Power</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can let you cast more spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Herd" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Herd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes pegasi. But there is one card that makes our deck unique: <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Surge"></div></div>.</p>
<p>Some of you may have seen a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck before. Most often, it's in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nikya of the Old Ways" href="#" target="_blank">Nikya of the Old Ways</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruric Thar, the Unbowed" href="#" target="_blank">Ruric Thar, the Unbowed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both cards actively force you to run very few to no other non-permanents outside of the surge itself. I've always wanted to make a deck using Primal Surge as the win condition, and I think Baylen is a sneaky way to do it. There is no small list of permanents that reward you, HEAVILY, for making tokens. Almost every commander player has seen one, if not all, of these cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doubling Season"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Parallel Lives"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anointed Procession"></div></div>
<p>These three are the most popular. They are often the best of the bunch. Four CMC for Anointed Procession and Parallel Lives means they come down faster, and Doubling Season has a historic pedigree and extra synergy with planeswalkers. But let me introduce you to the B-Team of these effects.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Vigor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dual Nature"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation"></div></div>
<p>The CMC and added effects bring down the ratings for all these cards: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation" href="#" target="_blank">Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dual Nature" href="#" target="_blank">Dual Nature</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only affect creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the slight drawback of giving benefits to your opponents, not just you. As someone who has gotten many more Bs in my academic career than As, these will do just fine. One more card in the deck can make between zero and an indeterminate amount of tokens. It just depends on if you feel lucky, punk, do you?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirror March"></div></div>
<p>But how do we get to cast all these spells, and more importantly, how do we get to cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, with its high cost? Dorks, lots of dorks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Birds of Paradise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Circle of Dreams Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faeburrow Elder"></div></div>
<h2>How We Build It</h2>
<p>We need to make a lot of mana and fast. If you are flush with cash or have access to specific pieces of technology, like a sharpie, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gaea&#039;s Cradle" href="#" target="_blank">Gaea&#039;s Cradle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be a boon to this deck. Land enchantments like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Utopia Sprawl" href="#" target="_blank">Utopia Sprawl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> help ramp and color fix. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala, Explorer Returned" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala, Explorer Returned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala, Heart of the Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala, Heart of the Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both give us access to more cards, more mana, and a small amount of lifegain. And since we can't run the typical green staple cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Visits" href="#" target="_blank">Three Visits</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we're running all three of the Signets:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boros Signet|SLD|291"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gruul Signet|SLD|288"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selesnya Signet|SLD|290"></div></div>
<p>I will always shout out the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptolith Rite" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptolith Rite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, especially when it is so good in this deck.</p>
<h2>Gotta Go Fast</h2>
<p>As the saying goes, "haste makes waste." I want to make waste of the other players at the table, so haste seems essential to this deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Concordant Crossroads" href="#" target="_blank">Concordant Crossroads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhythm of the Wild" href="#" target="_blank">Rhythm of the Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Samut, Voice of Dissent" href="#" target="_blank">Samut, Voice of Dissent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But haste often comes with attacking, as does making a massive board of tokens. But why would I not care about how big Baylen can get if that is the case? Why would I not want to use the Bonk Bunny?</p>
<p>Because I've been lying to you this entire time, readers.</p>
<h2>Burn it Down</h2>
<p>We are not "just" built around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We are also the only Baylen deck with the card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flame Fusillade" href="#" target="_blank">Flame Fusillade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Attacking with creatures is so 2014; we're all about tapping creatures in 2024. Firstly, this causes a problem for our deck. It stops the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as it's not a permanent. This is what makes Baylen's ability to draw cards so good. It can help us find both sorceries in the deck so that the surge does not stop. Once we <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surge_(drink)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surge</a> our deck like 1995, we can tap dance our way to victory unless we are playing against a table full of pesky <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/lifegain">lifegain</a> decks. Then, once again, we turn to our furry friend, make some mana, and activate <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aggravated Assault" href="#" target="_blank">Aggravated Assault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as many times as necessary.</p>
<h2>In Conclusion</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baylen, the Haymaker" href="#" target="_blank">Baylen, the Haymaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is one of the strongest commanders I've seen recently, which says a lot. It's a Swiss army knife of a card living in your command zone. But truthfully, to me, it is a bit boring. I wanted to stretch the limits on this card in a way that still takes advantage of what the deck is trying to do at its heart but also catches people by surprise. The deck runs many expensive to cast and "not very strong" token-making creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trostani&#039;s Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Trostani&#039;s Summoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Godsire" href="#" target="_blank">Godsire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but that's the point. There's also three different <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects if we ever lose our wincons.</p>
<p>There's one type of card I did omit from this deck for many reasons. Those would be the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creatures, famously <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>. Should it be in the deck for efficiency's sake? Yes, it should. Is it super predictable and somewhat played out? I think so. But this is my build of the deck and I'm wearing my hipster hat, so if you sleeve up Baylen, put in whatever cards make you happy. If you want to see any other deck techs I have done, set reviews where I undoubtedly judged a card wrong, or the many things I have said about Planeswalkers, check out <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/nicholas-lucchesi/">my previous articles on EDHREC</a> under my name or the <em>Myth Realized</em> series.</p>
<h2>Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Silly Rabbit Trix are for Kids" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Baylen, the Haymaker
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*1 Adipose Offspring
*1 Angel of Invention
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Avenger of Zendikar
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Bloom Tender
*1 Canoptek Scarab Swarm
*1 Chancellor of the Forge
*1 Circle of Dreams Druid
*1 Cloudgoat Ranger
*1 Deep Forest Hermit
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Deranged Hermit
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Faeburrow Elder
*1 Fanatic of Rhonas
*1 Ghired, Mirror of the Wilds
*1 Godsire
*1 Hornet Queen
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Loran of the Third Path
*1 Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation // Temple of Civilization
*1 Preston, the Vanisher
*1 Prosperous Innkeeper
*1 Rampaging Baloths
*1 Rhys the Redeemed
*1 Rose Room Treasurer
*1 Samut, Voice of Dissent
*1 Selfless Squire
*1 Selvala, Explorer Returned
*1 Selvala, Heart of the Wilds
*1 Skullwinder
*1 Timeless Witness
*1 Trostani&#039;s Summoner
*1 Ulasht, the Hate Seed
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*1 Aggravated Assault
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Concordant Crossroads
*1 Cryptolith Rite
*1 Doubling Season
*1 Dual Nature
*1 Felidar Retreat
*1 Fertile Ground
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Mirari&#039;s Wake
*1 Mirror March
*1 Parallel Lives
*1 Primal Vigor
*1 Rhythm of the Wild
*1 Utopia Sprawl
*1 Wild Growth
[/Enchantment]
[Artifact]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Gruul Signet
*1 Selesnya Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sonic Screwdriver
[/Artifact]
[Sorcery]
*1 Flame Fusillade
*1 Primal Surge
[/Sorcery]
[Land]
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Boros Garrison
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Castle Garenbrig
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Commercial District
*1 Exotic Orchard
*7 Forest
*1 Gruul Turf
*1 Jetmir&#039;s Garden
*1 Jungle Shrine
*1 Lush Portico
*1 Mountain
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Plains
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Spire Garden
*1 Stomping Ground
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
[/Land]
&nbsp;"></span></div>


<hr />
<h4>Read more:</h4>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="TPGXOEq6Yj"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/singleton-shmingleton-overrun/">Singleton Shmingleton - Overrun</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Bonk Bunny - Baylen, the Haymaker Deck

Under the Radar - Breeches, the Blastmaker

Brew For Your Buck - Squirrels Budget Mayhem!

Snackrifice - Ygra, Eater of All Deck

<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://player.twitch.tv/?video=2234038985&amp;parent=edhrec.com" width="620" height="378" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>We're back with another EDHREC Sunday Stream, where we've brewed another budget deck, this time around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xavier Sal, Infested Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Xavier Sal, Infested Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, your One-Stop Token-Counter Conversion Shop.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Xavier Sal, Infested Captain</h1>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Xavier Sal, Infested Captain"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/8954970/xavier_sal_infested_captain">Archidekt Link</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This week, Jason and I ventured yet again into uncommon territory, this time the swamps (and islands and forests) of Sultai. Xavier has two tap abilities.</p>
<p>The first allows you to remove a counter (of any variety) in order to Populate, which means we create a copy of a creature token we control.</p>
<p>The second ability allows you to sacrifice a creature (either token or non-token) in order to Proliferate, which lets us add a counter of any type to any permanent on the board which that permanent already has. In short, Xavier turns counters into creatures, and creatures into counters.</p>
<p>So which direction is better to go? Tokens and counters are both strong strategies on their own, but we wanted to use Sagas to generate lots of passive value while we sacrifice those lore counters to Populate, triggering a Saga chapter again and letting us make another creature token.</p>
<p>We also have the option to sacrifice a creature to add a lore counter to every saga we have, letting us turbo through all of those chapter abilities and get our value back even faster. This deck ideally would function similarly to many <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tom Bombadil" href="#" target="_blank">Tom Bombadil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks which add and remove lore counters at will to get outrageous value out of Sagas.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The Sagas</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Binding the Old Gods"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vault 87: Forced Evolution"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="King Narfi&#039;s Betrayal"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Song of Eärendil"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Binding the Old Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Binding the Old Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the strongest Sagas in the game, solves a lot of problems for us. The first chapter destroys any nonland permanent an opponent controls, which is obviously useful. The second chapter allows us to search for any forest and put it on the battlefield.</p>
<p>If we can remove a counter from Binding right after our ramp effect resolves, we can go right back to the first chapter and do it all again. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Huntsman&#039;s Redemption" href="#" target="_blank">The Huntsman&#039;s Redemption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another great ramp-based Saga that goes in this deck and behaves similarly to Binding when we can remove counters from it.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vault 87: Forced Evolution" href="#" target="_blank">Vault 87: Forced Evolution</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a genre of Saga that plays nicely in decks that can remove lore counters, because it allows you to keep it on the board and keep that stolen creature for much longer than you ordinarily would be able to. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Phasing of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">The Phasing of Zhalfir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another Saga in this vein that we can exploit.</p>
<p>If you've followed this stream for very long, you know that we love stealing other people's stuff. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="King Narfi&#039;s Betrayal" href="#" target="_blank">King Narfi&#039;s Betrayal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Trickster-God&#039;s Heist" href="#" target="_blank">The Trickster-God&#039;s Heist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both let us do silly things that give us access to cards and creatures from our opponents' libraries.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of Eärendil" href="#" target="_blank">Song of Eärendil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of Freyalise" href="#" target="_blank">Song of Freyalise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both huge value pieces that can help us keep our gameplan moving along via ramp and card draw, even if we aren't able to pull lore counters off of them.</p>
<p>Speaking of...</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Removing Counters</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goldberry, River-Daughter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clockspinning"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrull Parasite"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chisei, Heart of Oceans"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goldberry, River-Daughter" href="#" target="_blank">Goldberry, River-Daughter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is functionally a duplicate of Xavier, but she doesn't need to sacrifice a creature to make it work. Getting her on the board may be even more valuable than Xavier himself.</p>
<p>Clockspinning is a repeatable instant with Buyback that allows us to remove counters from permanents and suspended cards. This is a great backup in case we don't have any creatures on board.</p>
<p>While it can't put counters on permanents, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrull Parasite" href="#" target="_blank">Thrull Parasite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can remove them for the low cost of two life.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chisei, Heart of Oceans" href="#" target="_blank">Chisei, Heart of Oceans</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another trigger that happens each turn which will allow us to remove any type of counter.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Counter Payoffs</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Master Biomancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gruff Triplets"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herd Baloth"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scurry Oak"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Master Biomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Master Biomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic Simic +1/+1 counter piece that makes everything on the board better just because they're entering the battlefield.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gruff Triplets" href="#" target="_blank">Gruff Triplets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a bit of a cult classic for the Sunday Stream, and it feels almost tailor-made for this deck. It automatically creates two copies of itself on entering, which are tokens that can be populated.</p>
<p>If we sacrifice one of those tokens to Xavier, every other copy of Gruff Triplets gets +1/+1 counters equal to the power of the one that died. I'm sure you can figure out the cycle here.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herd Baloth" href="#" target="_blank">Herd Baloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the potential to make tons of 4/4 Beast tokens will getting very large itself. We can either use those as beaters, or as fodder for Xavier.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scurry Oak" href="#" target="_blank">Scurry Oak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a classic combo piece and this deck might be the first time this card has ever been used without an infinite combo in mind. Like Herd Baloth, this will generate lots of tokens to use as fodder for Xavier.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Battles</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invasion of Arcavios"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invasion of Fiora"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invasion of Segovia"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invasion of Shandalar"></div></div>
<p>Battles?!? Absolutely. Some battles have very solid Enters effects and can flip into a powerful creature or enchantment, and we can remove counters from them without even attacking.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion of Arcavios" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion of Arcavios</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has an ETB effect that lets us search any zone for an instant or sorcery and put it in our hand, then flips into an enchantment that lets us copy instants and sorceries.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion of Fiora" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion of Fiora</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has an asymmetric board wipe as an ETB, then flips into Marchesa, Resolute Monarch, which can remove <em>all</em> of the counters from a permanent when she attacks, allows us to reset a Saga or flip another battle.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion of Segovia" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion of Segovia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the strongest Battles and has an ETB that creates two tokens, and flips into a creature that lets us untap four creatures on our end step and gives all of our noncreature spells convoke, which is very strong in a deck that wants to create tokens.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion of Shandalar" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion of Shandalar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ETB lets us put three permanents from our graveyard back into our hand, and flips into an enchantment that returns one permanent from a graveyard into your hand every turn.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Populate Targets</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jyoti, Moag Ancient"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Splash Lasher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tender Wildguide"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jyoti, Moag Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Jyoti, Moag Ancient</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates a 1/1 Forest Dryad on Enter, which is essentially a land that we can make copies of. We'd love to make lots of copies of this.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Splash Lasher" href="#" target="_blank">Splash Lasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ETB taps an opponent's creature and gives it a stun counter, which prevents it from untapping. The Offspring mechanic allows us to make a token copy, which could be Populated, and those stun counters can be Proliferated.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tender Wildguide" href="#" target="_blank">Tender Wildguide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an any-color mana dork with that same Offspring mechanic, allowing us to create more and more mana dorks with our Populate ability. As a side bonus, Tender Wildguide can also tap to put a counter on a creature.</p>
<p class="cardDetailsOverlay_title__6Xo0r "><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication" href="#" target="_blank">Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes a token copy of any creature you control, which will allow us to get token copies of creatures that we wouldn't ordinarily have access to.</p>
<p>While I'm not going to list it in its own section, this a Sunday Stream deck, which means that it gets a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mimic Vat" href="#" target="_blank">Mimic Vat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>if there's any possible way to justify it. Mimic Vat obviously makes token copies of the creature exiled with it and those can be Populated, which is clearly powerful.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Closing Sumarrrrrrrry</h3>
<p>Oh, you thought you were getting through this whole article without a pirate pun? You fool. Anyways, this deck has the potential to take some very interesting synergy and turn it into a win via lots of accumulated value over the course of the game rather than through any one explosive turn. However, if you're able to acquire a large number of Gruff Triplets, your opponents could be entering choppy seas.</p>


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