Etali, Primal ConquerorEtali, Primal Conqueror | Art by Ryan Pancoast

Greetings and salutations, my dear brewers, and welcome to the wild lands of Ixalan. I'm Arnaud, and I'm delighted to take you on a journey of big monsters, shared threats, and blatant thievery.

As has been now the tradition for 75 builds – my, time does fly – I left you last time with the usual poll. Third place went to Sydri, Galvanic GeniusSydri, Galvanic Genius, with 43 votes (28%). No artifact shenanigans this time it seems. Second place went to Jhoira of the GhituJhoira of the Ghitu, with 49 votes (32%). Better, but not good enough. With 59 votes (39%), this week's winner is therefore none other than Etali, Primal ConquerorEtali, Primal Conqueror.

To be honest, I had not realized how expensive this piece of cardboard had gotten when I chose it two weeks ago. I just don't understand how its price point reached between $25 and $30 in the US. Friendly advice, you can find foil copies in Europe for €20. But I digress.

This is an interesting critter to build around. First, it's a 7/7 with trample for . Three hits, and you're dead. Yes, it's expensive, but access to green means ramp won't ever be a problem. Second, it steals stuff from each and every opponent upon entering, and gives you something of yours for free. Third, it can become a Blightsteel ColossusBlightsteel Colossus of sorts, often spelling one-shot doom for a player.

I'm not going to get ahead of myself on the actual direction the brew is going to take this time. As you may know, I trim the deck and write this article basically concomitantly, and at this precise moment, I have no clue whether my core idea will be feasible.

For the time being, let's grab each and every card from the commander's EDHREC page, both regular and budget, and add them to Archidekt.

351 cards. A very strong start. Let's build.

First Trim – Dinos wear no bling

For those of you reading this series for the first time – don't lie, there's always a few – I bid you a very warm welcome.

The main idea of Trims is to build a deck using no cards worth $1.11 and upwards. Granted, this is a strong constraint, all the more so with playable cardboard becoming increasingly expensive. But it also paves the way to finding unexpected and fun interactions, and sometimes sheer hidden gems.

Also, bear in mind this deck is intended to be played in Bracket 2 to low Bracket 3.

First things first, let's begin by removing each and every card that's above the $2 mark. Aaaand... Ouch. Ouch. OUCH.

This first cut removed close to half the available cards in the pool, bringing the total to 188, so it's far from being over.

Before axing the rest, let's take a look at the best options in the $1.11-$2.00 range, in case you want some more flexibility:

• Tyvar's StandTyvar's Stand: One of my favourite protection spells in . This covers 95% of all removal, barring mass exile effects.
• Return of the WildspeakerReturn of the Wildspeaker: How I wish WotC would reprint this to oblivion. Easily one of my favourite draw spells.
• Soul's MajestySoul's Majesty: Likewise, but slightly more clunky due to the targeting. If the big boy is removed, the spell fizzles.
• Imposing GrandeurImposing Grandeur: Chances are you'll be drawing more than any other player with this.
• Jaxis, the TroublemakerJaxis, the Troublemaker: There goes one of my preferred copy outlets.
• Greater GoodGreater Good: Sac Etali, gain a net four cards, recast Etali.
• Mirage PhalanxMirage Phalanx: Cheaper Helm of the HostHelm of the Host, but not cheap enough.
• Devastating OnslaughtDevastating Onslaught: Yes, I'll have four more Etalis please.

This leaves four cards in the $1.00-$1.10 range:

• Spinerock KnollSpinerock Knoll: Hideaway always makes for fun and unexpected tricks.
• Ghalta, Primal HungerGhalta, Primal Hunger: Once a big boy, always a big boy.
• Hulking RaptorHulking Raptor: Excellent ramp outlet, with decent body and built-in protection.
• Mana GeyserMana Geyser: A classic massive influx of mana. I'm expecting this one to be in the $5 range in 18 months, barring significant reprints.

With all these cuts, the list is already down to 155 cards. It's not a record, but it's close. Oh well...

Second Trim – Even Etali Eats Veggies

I don't expect to see any raised eyebrows when I say veggies are a critical part of any Commander deck. This is even truer here, to the extent that I believe they are, actually, the most important aspect of this brew, all the more so because of the budget constraint.

Etali costs seven mana, and you want to be able to cast him consistently on turn four or five. This means you need a massive amount of ramp – I'm thinking in the 25-ish range – as well as a lot of lands – probably in the 40 or so range – to make sure that you don't miss a single land drop. Ideally, you want to ramp on turn two, netting you four mana on turn three, to then cast a spell that gives you two more mana on turn four. With the turn's land drop, this will give you seven mana, allowing you to then cast Etali. For this reason, I'll cut all but the best three-mana ramp spells, as they would hurt the tempo. It's not cEDH, not by a mile, but the core idea remains close.

Then you need a significant number of card draw outlets to make sure you draw the critical pieces and some protection, to keep Etali around.

For once, I'm not going to bother with removal, keeping it to a minimum. I'm not foregoing these pieces entirely, but the section is going to be quite bare.

The current state of the list is rather representative of the above. See for yourself:

This is what I would cut:

This is going to be a rather short Trim, as the list is already down to 107 cards, but I may have a few cards up my sleeve, if you'll pardon the pun.

Thematic Trim – Adjusting the Scales

Before adding and removing stuff, let's talk a bit about how the deck works.

I see Etali as a deck that scales (pun 100% intended) with your opponents'. Your stack has no significant payoffs by itself. Sure, technically Ghalta, Primal HungerGhalta, Primal Hunger is still in here, but that's nowhere near enough of a threat. No, the real fun comes from getting whatever your opponents are kind enough to give you. And do it again, and again, and again...

This is where I believe the deck is slightly lacking. Most of the copy spells cost a hefty penny. However, there are a few available options that are still missing here. Ideally, you want to cast Etali, get whatever your opponents reveal, and then create a token copy of your commander to rinse and repeat. It doesn't matter if the copy dies to the legendary rule, you'll still get the trigger.

All this should eventually yield an avalanche of value, enough in theory to kill the table.

With this in mind, let's focus first on the stuff that needs removing:

• Emerald CharmEmerald Charm: I'm not entirely sure why this is in here in the first place. I'm guessing cEDH, but if someone has an explanation, I'll take it.
• Belligerent YearlingBelligerent Yearling: Cute, but it does not align with the plan.
• Fires of YavimayaFires of Yavimaya and Rising of the DayRising of the Day: Giving haste to your board has a certain allure to it, but I need the slots.
• Scytheclaw RaptorScytheclaw Raptor: Again, I'm assuming cEDH protection against other players. Out.
• Ghalta, Primal HungerGhalta, Primal Hunger: Let's go all the way and rely on your opponents.

Right, so what's left to add? Basically, more copy effects. These are:

• Choreographed SparksChoreographed Sparks: Granted, you need to cast this while Etali is still on the stack, but it's not too bad.
• Dollhouse of HorrorsDollhouse of Horrors: Leaving Etali in the graveyard isn't too bad with this out.
• Feldon of the Third PathFeldon of the Third Path: Same reasoning.
• Felhide SpiritbinderFelhide Spiritbinder: Requires some additional setup, but all in all not too shabby.
• Kindle the Inner FlameKindle the Inner Flame: On the more expensive side, but a copy spell nonetheless.

The list is back up to 106 cards. Time to end this.

Final Trim – Difficult Decisions

Let's not beat around the bush. These are the cards I would cut in the end:

• Ram ThroughRam Through: Does not send Etali back to the command zone. The damage is cute, but it does not make the cut.
• Thrill of PossibilityThrill of Possibility: Two-for-two. Pass.
• Annoyed AltisaurAnnoyed Altisaur: Too expensive, and not that good value, even with Etali out.
• Hedron ArchiveHedron Archive: Down to 25 ramp outlets.
• Beast WithinBeast Within: And off to Phyrexia with the removal.
• 1 Mountain: I'm out of ideas, and probability-wise the land count is still solid.

Etali, and Etali, and Etali, and...

Additional Trim – A Look Into the Past

This week, Araumi of the Dead Tide is back to the drawing board. How has this nightmare of a Merfolk fared in the past year and a half?

As is becoming an irksome habit of late, not that well. There are currently 12 cards above the $1.10 mark, the most egregious one being Baleful StrixBaleful Strix, thanks to its blasted printing in the blasted Zeta Secret Lair at blasted common.

• Syr Konrad, the GrimSyr Konrad, the Grim: $1.15
• Mirkwood BatsMirkwood Bats: $1.22
• Bojuka BogBojuka Bog: $1.23
• Mystic ReflectionMystic Reflection: $1.33
• Sol RingSol Ring: $1.37
• Wake the DeadWake the Dead: $1.42
• Tainted IsleTainted Isle: $1.63
• Swiftfoot BootsSwiftfoot Boots: $2.03
• Geier Reach SanitariumGeier Reach Sanitarium: $2.26
• Massacre WurmMassacre Wurm: $2.43
• Marionette ApprenticeMarionette Apprentice: $3.18 (!)
• Baleful StrixBaleful Strix: $3.26 (!)

Let's replace these with the following:

• Ravenous ChupacabraRavenous Chupacabra: More removal never hurt anyone.
• Choked EstuaryChoked Estuary: Not quite as good as Tainted Isle, but it will do.
• Fleshbag MarauderFleshbag Marauder: More removal, mooore!
• Sepulchral PrimordialSepulchral Primordial: Reanimate nine creatures total? Yes please!
• Temple of DeceitTemple of Deceit: One more land to balance the total.
• Fellwar StoneFellwar Stone: To make up for the lost Sol Ring.
• Reef WormReef Worm: Always a fun thing to reanimate.
• Kairi, the Swirling SkyKairi, the Swirling Sky: An excellent removal outlet, even more so with encore.
• Body DoubleBody Double: The Return of the Vengeance of the Counterattack.
• Fetid PoolsFetid Pools: Last land.
• Diluvian PrimordialDiluvian Primordial: Worst case scenario, this should net some value, often in the forme of card draw. Best case... well, the sky is the limit.
• Mystic SanctuaryMystic Sanctuary: While it's still below the price threshold.

You can find the updated list here.

Conclusion

Let's close this article with the usual suspects.

I hope you enjoyed this build.

I hope you learned something.

I hope you continue to enjoy these budget brews.

I hope you weren't bored.

I hope you have a great day.

I hope you'll leave a comment below.

I hope to see you in two weeks!