<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mysterious Limousine" href="#" target="_blank">Mysterious Limousine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CDan+Murayama+Scott%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Dan Murayama Scott</a></em></p>
<hr />
<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?<strong> This week, wait, now that I know that, let me counter it!</strong></p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day.</p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza, the newest member of the gang!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Muckslinger Gang"></div></div>
<p><i>Shout out to all of us slingin' muck!</i></p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
<hr />
<h2>SUBMISSION</h2>
<div dir="auto">
<p><em>Hi Mike,</em></p>
<div dir="auto"><em>This was something that happened last FNM and it split the table on who was in the right. I wanted your thoughts on it. </em></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto"><em>I was in the the middle of a five-person pod; not ideal, but my LGS has very loose hours on when the event actually starts, and pods of five and three pop up a lot. This pod was composed of me playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Vondam, Sunstar Exemplar" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Vondam, Sunstar Exemplar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, another playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, another on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zoraline, Cosmos Caller" href="#" target="_blank">Zoraline, Cosmos Caller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Monsoon Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Monsoon Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the person in question playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wise Mothman" href="#" target="_blank">The Wise Mothman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</em></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Syr Vondam, Sunstar Exemplar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Wise Mothman"></div></div></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto"><em>It was around an hour into the game, and me and the Mothman player were focused on the Krenko player to prevent him from getting too much of a board state. During this process, I noticed the Mothman himself was getting a little two big for my liking, and on my turn I cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mysterious Limousine" href="#" target="_blank">Mysterious Limousine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that I use as a budget flickerer for my commander’s removal effect. The Mothman player verbally approved me playing the card: due to his <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, he was checking each noncreature spell we cast. He was under the impression from himself and his memory of the card that the Limousine was graveyard hate. So when I pointed the ETB exile at the Mothman, he got angry and said he would have countered it if he knew I was going to do that. I argued he didn’t have access to that information, because the car targets when it hits the field, and not on the stack, so unless he was just going to counter something obviously included to help my deck game plan, and not use it to protect his board, he would have no idea what I was going to do. As I said before, we had been working together before, and he had no reason to counter my things. </em></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto"><em>The other three people were divided on this, with two of the three, including the Krenko player, siding with me. We ended up with my side of the argument, and the Mothman player moved it to the command zone and we continued playing. The rest of the night, switching to a four with the Krenko player leaving, went off without a hitch, with the Mothman player seemingly not holding any grudges. With all this in mind, how do you feel about the need to reveal information that doesn’t need to be given at the moment an opponent needs it?</em></div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto"><em>Thanks,</em></div>
<div dir="auto"><em>EverythingHe’<wbr />sEatenWasBrilliant</em></div>
</div>
<div dir="auto">
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mysterious Limousine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glen Elendra Archmage"></div></div>
</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<hr />
<h2>VERDICT</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>I gotta say, I think I'm team Krenko and Vondam on this one. I think there's no real walking this back unless the Mothman player actually suspected you of going after their stuff considering the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mysterious Limousine" href="#" target="_blank">Mysterious Limousine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> exiles something on ETB. The Mothman player read the card and assumed you'd go after the Krenko player and let it through. Once it enters, you can hit their commander, and now they've learned a hard lesson about the nature of Commander being a free-for-all battle royale.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mortal Combat"></div></div>
<p>While it can be helpful to keep an opponent in check or get yourself stabilized, an alliance in a Commander game can come to an abrupt end. Once you're too big to handle, you'll have to be on the lookout for some blindsides like this. It'll feel personal and like a dagger to the heart, but those feelings are also part of why we play Commander the way we do! It's exciting to evaluate your opponents and determine whether your trust in them is going to benefit or harm you in the long run. I don't see how this story makes you the Bolas.</p>
<p>However, if there had been further discussion and you were directly asked if you were going to target any of the Mothman's things and you'd said no, then I'd say you were being a stinkin' lil' lyin' Bolas. Even if you were to exile your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Vondam, Sunstar Exemplar" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Vondam, Sunstar Exemplar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (<a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/syr-vondam-sunstar-exemplar-deck-tech">a card I know can be quite destructive</a>) to murder their Mothman, it'd be a roundabout way of telling a truth that still stings like a lie, while only technically not being "in the wrong". This would still be kind of Bolas territory, but not full-blown. Being precise with your language is part of the fun for some folks out there.</p>
<p>Ultimately, in this case, the Mothman was betrayed, and that stings. While this is fair and valid, it doesn't make you a bad person. It's a war! You're competing to be the last one standing! You can't both win; even if someone played <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Divine Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Divine Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, there are no winners, it's a draw! Being a winner is a lonely affair. Hopefully, when it happens, people celebrate it for a second and then everybody gets to shuffle up and race to see who will be the next one. Every game has a lesson to learn in it and it's part of what we all love about the game, whether we know it or not. Unfortunately for Mothman, that lesson today was "be wary of allies when you've got yourself in a commanding position".</p>
<p>Not the Bolas!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="A Killer Among Us"></div></div>


Am I the Bolas? - Counter on Board

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.rahnart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Rahn</a></em></p>
<p>She’s the first to do it, folks. Let’s talk about the first ever mono-white legend with a five-color identity: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>She was created with Commander loosely in mind, as Allies had been a popular creature type in original <em>Zendikar</em> block. Unfortunately, <em>Battle for Zendikar</em> block didn’t provide the oomph the creature type needed for Tazri to establish a long-term spot. She did briefly enjoy her time as a cEDH-viable <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Food Chain" href="#" target="_blank">Food Chain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> commander, but has been otherwise largely irrelevant for the last decade.</p>
<p>Thanks to a major infusion of Allies from the upcoming <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tla" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em></a> set, it’s worth looking back on Tazri and asking the question: Is she worth a rebuild?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="General Tazri"></div></div>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a five-mana 3/4 who has an enters ability and an activated ability. Her enters ability tutors for an Ally, and her five-color activated ability pumps the team for +X/+X, where X is the number of colors among Ally creatures you control (so the maximum is +5/+5).</p>
<p>A tutor in the command zone is something that risks a deck becoming repetitive, but this is a build veering away from combos. The <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> set has multiple new Ally commander options in it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aang and Katara"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mai and Zuko"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sokka and Suki"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sokka, Tenacious Tactician"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Katara, the Fearless"></div></div>
<p>Any of these could justify a whole deck unto themselves. I particularly enjoy how <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aang and Katara" href="#" target="_blank">Aang and Katara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mai and Zuko" href="#" target="_blank">Mai and Zuko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> reward you for waterbending or firebending, respectively, a fun way to interweave the set mechanic into the <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/allies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ally theme</a>.</p>
<p>However, the Ally creature type is found across all five colors. No one could be blamed for wanting to just run one deck; that’s where Tazri comes in. Plus, she can search up any of these to let you play them out!</p>
<p>Now, let’s talk Tazri.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>There are three key features of this Tazri deck: great Allies, enters triggers matters, and a solid typal glue.</p>
<p>First: Allies. They’re the main theme here. With 82 Allies that care about Allies in some way, shape, or form (29 of which come from the world of Aang and friends), there’s plenty to choose from. You could make two whole decks with no overlap and still not use all of them!</p>
<p>We’re not interested in that exercise (in this article), so instead we’ll need to consider what the creatures need to be able to do most of all.</p>
<p>Item one: card advantage. Allies are light on this one, but there are some good picks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sea Gate Loremaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="South Pole Voyager"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boiling Rock Rioter"></div></div>
<p>Item two: board state. Tazri’s activated ability goes from good to great when there’s a wide swath of creatures on your side of the battlefield. The aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aang and Katara" href="#" target="_blank">Aang and Katara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka, Tenacious Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka, Tenacious Tactician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> contribute massively to this effort, but there are still others that help go wide.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Treetop Freedom Fighters"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Suki, Kyoshi Warrior"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Turntimber Ranger"></div></div>
<p>Item three: breaking through. Even now, most of the creatures in the type run pretty small. The pump effect can help, but redundancy is key.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tajuru Warcaller"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Resolute Blademaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope"></div></div>
<p>So, the army is rallied. Let’s look at a really common feature ripe for abuse: enters abilities, made better with a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/blink" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blink package</a>. A lot of Allies have an enters trigger that then triggers whenever another Ally enters. There are trigger doublers like the original <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the brand new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, the Fearless" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, the Fearless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Mass blink effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostway" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can set off a huge chain reaction out of nowhere, and being instants means they can double as board wipe protection. Repeatable blink engines like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Airbender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Airbender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or the explosive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri&#039;s Resolve" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri&#039;s Resolve</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will crank out turn after turn of value. Any of these are gravy, but get two of these going and the army is going over the top.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Katara, the Fearless"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eerie Interlude"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nahiri&#039;s Resolve"></div></div>
<p>Now a little extra dose of creature type reward cards. Sure, every Ally is innately a typal reward, but the creature type as a whole is lacking in draw effects and ways to go off.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Distant Melody" href="#" target="_blank">Distant Melody</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realmwalker" href="#" target="_blank">Realmwalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> won’t totally fix it, but they’re a really good start. The newly-minted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion Tactics" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion Tactics</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will also be important (and unique to this deck). Likewise, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald&#039;s Horn" href="#" target="_blank">Herald&#039;s Horn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and friends will still need a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farseek" href="#" target="_blank">Farseek</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package, but it can put it work.</p>
<p>Finally, two more members of the <em>Commander 2017</em> cycle of spells: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Charge" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Charge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Summons" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Summons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both achieve similar aims as the blink spells in firing off a ton of enters triggers while also doubling our board presence. You might note that Kindred Charge has some difficulty with this iteration of the list: a high number of legendary creatures that will immediately die to the legend rule. However, they still hit the field and set off all the various “whenever an Ally enters” triggers.</p>
<h2>How Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Win?</h2>
<p>This is very much a go-wide aggro deck, supported by a unique version of card advantage with the various, repeatable enters abilities. Let’s break it down into rough game phases.</p>
<p>In the first phase, the deck is trying to develop. Play out at least one ramp spell and a couple of creatures. Ideally drop the commander on turn four and go tutoring. It’ll be important to consider board state and what’s in hand for this first run.</p>
<p>With a lot of noncreature spells in hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka, Tenacious Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka, Tenacious Tactician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good run. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Great Divide Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Great Divide Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide a huge mana boost if the hand is ramp-light, whereas <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murasa Pyromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Murasa Pyromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good solution for troublesome creatures.</p>
<p>From there, it’ll be about developing the board state. The deck should have drawn into one of the enters matters cards by then, even just a mass flicker spell, to hopefully drum up some serious value and start putting pressure on opponents’ life totals. Those mass flicker spells are pulling double duty as board wipe protection, so don’t deploy them willy-nilly.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Market Connections"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Airbender Ascension"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aang, Airbending Master"></div></div>
<p>In this phase of the game, the Tazri targets can be more specific. If you’ve gotten <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market Connections" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market Connections</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> down, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Cleric" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Cleric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be massively useful for offsetting the life loss. If <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Airbender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Airbender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri&#039;s Resolve" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri&#039;s Resolve</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are going strong, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aang, Airbending Master" href="#" target="_blank">Aang, Airbending Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be able to get up and running quickly.</p>
<p>With a solid board state, enter the endgame. One of the Kindred spells can usually put the deck in a winning position. It not, flicker <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or re-cast her to go find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Warcaller" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Warcaller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and/or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aang and Katara" href="#" target="_blank">Aang and Katara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The latter is an army in a can and the former is a <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> with extra steps. If one of those has been used and board wiped, pick up an Ally that will get a missing color to maximize Tazri’s pump effect and start crashing in.</p>
<h2>General Tazri Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>And here’s our rebuild!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tazri Redux" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 General Tazri
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*1 Aang and Katara
*1 Aang, Airbending Master
*1 Agadeem Occultist
*1 Akoum Battlesinger
*1 Appa, Steadfast Guardian
*1 Bala Ged Thief
*1 Boiling Rock Rioter
*1 Earth King&#039;s Lieutenant
*1 Hagra Diabolist
*1 Harabaz Druid
*1 Hero of Goma Fada
*1 Invasion Reinforcements
*1 Jwari Shapeshifter
*1 Kabira Evangel
*1 Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope
*1 Katara, the Fearless
*1 Mai and Zuko
*1 Master Piandao
*1 Murasa Pyromancer
*1 Ondu Cleric
*1 Resolute Blademaster
*1 Sokka, Tenacious Tactician
*1 Suki, Courageous Rescuer
*1 Suki, Kyoshi Warrior
*1 Tajuru Warcaller
*1 Treetop Freedom Fighters
*1 Tuktuk Scrapper
*1 Turntimber Ranger
*1 White Lotus Reinforcements
[/Creature]
[Sorcery]
*1 Kindred Charge
*1 Tale of Momo
*1 United Front
[/Sorcery]
[Draw]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Founding of Omashu
*1 Hakoda, Selfless Commander
*1 Invasion Tactics
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Realmwalker
*1 Sea Gate Loremaster
*1 South Pole Voyager
*1 True Ancestry
[/Draw]
[Instant]
*1 Cosmic Intervention
*1 Eerie Interlude
*1 Ghostway
*1 Kindred Summons
[/Instant]
[Enchantment]
*1 Airbender Ascension
*1 Nahiri&#039;s Resolve
[/Enchantment]
[Ramp]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cultivate
*1 Cycle of Renewal
*1 Farseek
*1 Great Divide Guide
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Origin of Metalbending
*1 Patchwork Banner
*1 Shared Roots
*1 Skyshroud Claim
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Urza&#039;s Incubator
[/Ramp]
[Artifact]
*1 Captain&#039;s Claws
*1 Panharmonicon
[/Artifact]
[Lands]
*1 Ally Encampment
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Flooded Strand
*2 Forest
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Indatha Triome
*2 Island
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Jasmine Dragon Tea Shop
*1 Jetmir&#039;s Garden
*1 Ketria Triome
*1 Krosan Verge
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Path of Ancestry
*2 Plains
*1 Raffine&#039;s Tower
*1 Raugrin Triome
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Swamp
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Unclaimed Territory
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Once again, shout out to the average deck feature on EDHREC. It’s incredibly helpful as a tool in finding starting points or general trends. One analytical usage is to compare one specific version of the deck against the average. I generated this average decklist early on in spoiler season and used it to find out how much the new set may potentially influence upcoming Tazri decks and the like. With a quick use of the compare feature, I found that there was a 47% match between the decks, but I like digging into specific facets of the data to get the whole story. Lands take up a lot of space and averages can get weird.</p>
<p>The real “meat” of this deck is in its creature-base, and there’s a pretty big divide. I chose 20 creatures not featured in the average, 18 of which came from this set. Time will tell how many of those picks will end up becoming mainstays of a Tazri list!</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments how many of you are dusting off a Tazri deck, and how many of you only found out about her recently.</p>


Rebuilding General Tazri With Allies From Avatar

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka and Suki" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka and Suki</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.brianyuenart.com/">Brian Yuen</a></em></p>
<p>The spoiler season for <em>Avatar: the Last Airbender</em> has shown off a lot of really sweet cards so far. I've really enjoyed seeing how they've gone about marrying <em>Magic</em>'s mechanics with the characters and events from this universe.</p>
<p>When the first wave of spoilers came out, I covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka, Bold Boomeranger" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka, Bold Boomeranger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This time around, I have another Sokka card to take a look at! In this deck tech, I'm going to be taking a crack at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka and Suki" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka and Suki</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sokka and Suki"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Sokka and Suki Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka and Suki" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka and Suki</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a three mana<a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/jeskai"> Jeskai</a> (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) creature with two abilities that work very well together. Whenever it or another <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/allies">ally</a> enters the battlefield, Sokka and Suki attaches an Equipment its owner controls to that creature.</p>
<p>Then, whenever an Equipment enters, Sokka and Suki make a 1/1 Ally token. Combined, these two abilities give this commander a very unique direction.</p>
<p>Most Equipment-matters commanders end up turning into Voltron decks. However, Sokka and Suki doesn't really lend itself to that direction. What kind of Voltron commander attaches Equipment to <em>other</em> creatures? Instead, Sokka and Suki is a go-wide Equipment deck.</p>
<p>With Sokka and Suki in play, each Equipment spell practically comes with living weapon. The end result is a deck that plays as many Equipment spells as a typical commander deck plays creatures.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Sokka and Suki</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Colossus Hammer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mechanized Production"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossus Hammer" href="#" target="_blank">Colossus Hammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives this deck the potential to do huge amounts of damage, when paired with ways to copy it. One 10/10 Ally token wouldn't be the end of the world for three opponents to deal with. Three, four, or five 10/10 Ally tokens, however, should start making the opponents sweat.</p>
<p>There are other Equipment that could be copied for a similar effect, but Colossus Hammer is the cream of the crop and there are a lot of ways to search it out to make sure that this plan is consistent. Everything from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Saga" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Saga</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trinket Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Trinket Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is present to help make this dream a reality.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Biorganic Carapace"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="SP//dr, Piloted by Peni"></div></div>
<p>After just a couple turns of casting Equipment spells with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka and Suki" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka and Suki</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, there will be a plethora of modified creatures on the board. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Biorganic Carapace" href="#" target="_blank">Biorganic Carapace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="SP//dr, Piloted by Peni" href="#" target="_blank">SP//dr, Piloted by Peni</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both convert a board full of modified creatures into card draw!</p>
<p>These two, and a number of other draw effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka, Lateral Strategist" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka, Lateral Strategist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sram, Senior Edificer" href="#" target="_blank">Sram, Senior Edificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, go a long way to make sure this deck rarely runs out of gas in the middle of a game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sokka, Tenacious Tactician"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frostcliff Siege"></div></div>
<p>The Equipment in this deck will grant a wide variety of cool bonuses to the many, many Ally tokens they'll be attached to. However, many of these Equipment just provide a huge boost to power and toughness.</p>
<p>Without evasion, those benefits will be nearly meaningless in the middle and late stages of many Commander games. I can't imagine trying to fight my way through an opposing army of 1/1 tokens with this deck.</p>
<p>To mitigate that, I've included some ways to grant evasion to the Ally tokens. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka, Tenacious Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka, Tenacious Tactician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives Ally tokens menace and prowess. The prowess part doesn't make much of a difference, but menace is nothing to sneeze at.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frostcliff Siege" href="#" target="_blank">Frostcliff Siege</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my pet cards in Commander. This enchantment does everything. Here, it acts as a haste and trample enabler for the heaps of tokens this deck puts into play. Then, while not the ideal use, it can also act as a fantastic card draw spell in a pinch!</p>
<h2>How Does this Sokka and Suki Deck Win the Game?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akki Battle Squad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fallen Hero"></div></div>
<p>Getting into the red zone with a bunch of Ally tokens is how this deck is looking to win the game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akki Battle Squad" href="#" target="_blank">Akki Battle Squad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> speeds that process up a lot by untapping all modified creatures and providing an extra combat step each turn.</p>
<p>The turn Akki Battle Squad hits the field should be the last turn of the game unless something has gone horribly wrong. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fallen Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fallen Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> buffs the Ally tokens by changing the base power and toughness of each modified creature to 7/5.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mechanized Production"></div></div>
<p>While not the most likely win condition, Mechanized Production does offer an interesting alternative to combat damage. This deck can make a lot of copies of artifacts.</p>
<p>While this is typically a way to shorten the game by creating an arsenal's worth of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossus Hammer" href="#" target="_blank">Colossus Hammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, Mechanized Production is a grand alternative when the board has gotten so clunked up that eight copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossus Hammer" href="#" target="_blank">Colossus Hammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can't win the game with combat damage.</p>
<h2>Sokka and Suki Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Sokka and Suki&#039;s Hammers" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sokka and Suki
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Akki Battle Squad
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Cloud, Midgar Mercenary
*1 Cloudsteel Kirin
*1 Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam
*1 Hydroelectric Specimen
*1 Pinnacle Monk
*1 SP//dr, Piloted by Peni
*1 Sephiroth, Fallen Hero
*1 Sokka, Lateral Strategist
*1 Sokka, Swordmaster
*1 Sokka, Tenacious Tactician
*1 Sram, Senior Edificer
*1 Stoneforge Mystic
*1 The Reality Chip
*1 Trinket Mage
*1 Trophy Mage
*1 Witch Enchanter
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Copy Artifact
*1 Frostcliff Siege
*1 Mechanized Production
*1 Mirrormade
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Brilliant Restoration
*1 Echo Storm
*1 Molten Duplication
*1 Replication Technique
*1 Reshape
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Deflecting Swat
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Final Showdown
*1 Flawless Maneuver
*1 Legion Leadership
*1 Redirect Lightning
*1 Sink into Stupor
*1 Soul Partition
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
*1 Three Steps Ahead
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Adaptive Omnitool
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Biorganic Carapace
*1 Buster Sword
*1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
*1 Colossus Hammer
*1 Conqueror&#039;s Flail
*1 Hammer of Nazahn
*1 Lost Jitte
*1 Mace of the Valiant
*1 Nettlecyst
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Springleaf Drum
*1 Stoneforge Masterwork
*1 Sunforger
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Fire and Ice
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 The Reaver Cleaver
*1 Umezawa&#039;s Jitte
*1 White Lotus Tile
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Command Tower
*1 Elegant Parlor
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*2 Island
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Meticulous Archive
*1 Mistrise Village
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Mountain
*2 Plains
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Raugrin Triome
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Spire of Industry
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Sunbillow Verge
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This deck is right at home in Bracket 3 (Upgraded). It has a strong game plan and many high quality cards to make sure it gets the job done, but the goals this Sokka and Suki deck are looking to achieve can be quite lofty.</p>
<p>I'd easily recommend this deck to any player that has found a lot of joy in Equipment strategies with other commanders, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dogmeat, Ever Loyal" href="#" target="_blank">Dogmeat, Ever Loyal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but are growing tired of using commander damage to eliminate players.</p>
<p>I'm in love with this deck's concept! It's very different from the normal Equipment-matters decks I've played in the past, and it's a real breath of fresh air. Sokka and Suki is easily my favorite of the new designs I've seen so far, even if <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iroh, Grand Lotus" href="#" target="_blank">Iroh, Grand Lotus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toph, the First Metalbender" href="#" target="_blank">Toph, the First Metalbender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> put up strong competition.</p>
<p>This deck will undoubtedly make it into my personal collection at some point once the cards have been released in paper. Thankfully, there isn't much longer to wait!</p>
<h3>Read More:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="T6RxSCvmrm"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/to-the-yard-with-long-feng-grand-secretariat-deck-tech/">To the Yard With Long Feng, Grand Secretariat - Deck Tech</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;To the Yard With Long Feng, Grand Secretariat - Deck Tech&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/to-the-yard-with-long-feng-grand-secretariat-deck-tech/embed/#?secret=buyWymMksQ#?secret=T6RxSCvmrm" data-secret="T6RxSCvmrm" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="vAXxrLzGSl"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-momo-friendly-flier-on-a-budget/">Building Momo, Friendly Flier on a Budget</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Building Momo, Friendly Flier on a Budget&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-momo-friendly-flier-on-a-budget/embed/#?secret=wst6c2XMW1#?secret=vAXxrLzGSl" data-secret="vAXxrLzGSl" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="Gdug1h0dvP"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/avatar-the-last-airbender-preview-recap-from-10-31-11-02/">Avatar: The Last Airbender Preview Recap From 10/31-11/02</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Avatar: The Last Airbender Preview Recap From 10/31-11/02&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/avatar-the-last-airbender-preview-recap-from-10-31-11-02/embed/#?secret=MRd0xuI4Pn#?secret=Gdug1h0dvP" data-secret="Gdug1h0dvP" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


Sokka and Suki Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haru, Hidden Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Haru, Hidden Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMitori%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art.">MITORI</a></span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">About a month ago, when the new Katara was previewed and it was revealed that the upcoming <em>Avatar</em> set was going to feature the return of the Ally creature type, I wrote an article about the creature type and how there were finally enough to make a solid deck.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the interim, a large amount of cards from the <em>Avatar</em> set have been released, including more Allies. A lot more Allies. So many more, in fact, that a mono-colored Ally deck is possible, albeit with a bit of help from the Changelings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But why would we want to play mono-colored Allies? Because it would combine my two great loves in <em>Magic</em>: Typal strategies and bouncing! I am known as the Unsummoned Skull, after all!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what does bouncing have to do with Allies? And how do we get these pieces to fit together into a cohesive strategy? The key is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haru, Hidden Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Haru, Hidden Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the centerpiece of today’s commander deck.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haru, Hidden Talent"></div></div>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haru, Hidden Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Haru, Hidden Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Do?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First and foremost, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haru, Hidden Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Haru, Hidden Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a cheap Ally, meaning that he's easy to cast and re-cast, with or without commander tax. This means that we can drop him early to gain a trigger off of each following Ally with his second ability or use him as a curve-topper if we have an aggressive hand, triggering any Allies’ activated abilities when he comes out.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Haru’s triggered ability, alluded to earlier, lets us earthbend 1 whenever an Ally enters under our control. For a low-to-the-ground deck, this lets us go wide with come impunity, as earthbent lands return to the battlefield tapped when they die or are exiled.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Altar of Dementia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maskwood Nexus"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In fact, were we to get really cheeky, we could opt for a combo-style finish with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altar of Dementia" href="#" target="_blank">Altar of Dementia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maskwood Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Maskwood Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The Nexus would turn our earthbent lands into Allies, then we can sacrifice them to the Altar, return them to the battlefield as Allies because they are earthbent lands, and earthbend themselves with Haru’s ability, milling our opponents out!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The question remains, however: why limit ourselves to mono-green Allies when there are so many other colors that Allies are in? There is no one answer, but it starts with the reason the last build went from five to three colors: aggressive decks can’t afford to stumble on mana. When they do, they become worse versions of the engines everyone else is running because, card-for-card, we run worse quality. The hope is that our aggression and synergy carries the day before that matters.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haru, Hidden Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Haru, Hidden Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike other Ally commanders before him, Haru has the unique ability to go wide quickly with small creatures, simulating Elves, but doing so by animating lands and simultaneously protecting them. While Elf mana dorks are vulnerable to board wipes, earthbent lands pop right back.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overrun"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This ability to go wide with impunity means that we present a lot of damage very quickly. The problem is, our damage is on small creatures without evasion. Good thing green has a ton of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. Quite a lot of them give a power boost and an evasion boost, although we do sometimes get into the tight position where we need to figure out which lands to tap for mana and which ones to leave up as attackers. As a result, the seemingly simple deck has a lot of play to it.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guardian Project"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="You Meet in a Tavern"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As an aggro deck, we tend to run out of gas. The draw spells we run bridge two different phases of our plan: some synergize with our bounce spells and some with our Overruns. Guardian Project allows us to draw when a creature enters, which we can also use to re-activate our Ally triggers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="You Meet in a Tavern" href="#" target="_blank">You Meet in a Tavern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an Overrun effect that also lets us find multiple creatures if we need more bodies to get rolling.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudstone Curio"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temur Sabertooth"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking of bounce spells, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temur Sabertooth" href="#" target="_blank">Temur Sabertooth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are repeatable bounce effects that let us operate as an aggro-combo deck. Most Allies have abilities that trigger when an Ally enters, including our commander, so triggering these abilities multiple times in a turn is necessary to our engine.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Three Tree City"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mutavault"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faceless Haven"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soulstone Sanctuary"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our nonbasic lands provide a boost of mana, making it so we don’t have to rely as heavily on our animated lands. These include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx" href="#" target="_blank">Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Tree City" href="#" target="_blank">Three Tree City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We can also sneak in a couple of extra Allies with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutavault" href="#" target="_blank">Mutavault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faceless Haven" href="#" target="_blank">Faceless Haven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soulstone Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Soulstone Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all able to be animated as creatures with all creature types.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haru, Hidden Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Haru, Hidden Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commander Deck Win?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We aim to drop our commander early and expand our board with both Allies and earthbent lands before dropping an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to deal massive amounts of damage. We use bounce and draw spells to avoid running out of gas before dealing the finishing blow.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haru, Hidden Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Haru, Hidden Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commander Decklist</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Haru, Hidden Talent Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Haru, Hidden Talent
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Ancestral Statue
*1 Beastcaller Savant
*1 Chameleon Colossus
*1 Earthbending Student
*1 Game-Trail Changeling
*1 Gladewalker Ritualist
*1 Graypelt Hunter
*1 Guardian Gladewalker
*1 Harabaz Druid
*1 Invasive Species
*1 Joraga Bard
*1 Littjara Glade-Warden
*1 Masked Vandal
*1 Oran-Rief Survivalist
*1 Realmwalker
*1 Rebellious Captives
*1 Stickytongue Sentinel
*1 Stonework Puma
*1 Sylvan Advocate
*1 Tajuru Archer
*1 Tajuru Beastmaster
*1 Tajuru Pathwarden
*1 Tajuru Stalwart
*1 Tajuru Warcaller
*1 Temur Sabertooth
*1 Toph, the Blind Bandit
*1 Turntimber Ranger
*1 Universal Automaton
*1 Vastwood Animist
*1 Webweaver Changeling
*1 Woodland Changeling
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Become the Avalanche
*1 Fangs of Kalonia
*1 Formless Genesis
*1 Last March of the Ents
*1 Nature&#039;s Cloak
*1 Noxious Assault
*1 Overrun
*1 Overwhelming Encounter
*1 Overwhelming Stampede
*1 Preposterous Proportions
*1 Rydia&#039;s Return
*1 Storm the Seedcore
*1 Triumph of the Hordes
*1 You Meet in a Tavern
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Birthing Boughs
*1 Blood Clock
*1 Cloudstone Curio
*1 Decoction Module
*1 Dragon Mask
*1 Erratic Portal
*1 Maskwood Nexus
*1 Skullclamp
*1 The Great Henge
*1 Umbilicus
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Chord of Calling
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Shared Summons
*1 Vitalizing Wind
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Arch of Orazca
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Faceless Haven
*30 Forest
*1 Hidden Nursery
*1 Mutavault
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Soulstone Sanctuary
*1 Three Tree City
*1 War Room
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Conclusion</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Allies are a ton of fun as a creature type. They can oscillate between aggro, combo, and tempo, leveraging a conflux of ETB effects, building to a crescendo like a beautiful piece of music.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how would you build Allies? And do you think we captured their teamwork?</span></p>


Building Ally Typal with Haru, Hidden Talent

Divine Convocation - Precon Primer

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://steveprescott.com/">Steve Prescott</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p><span id="m_7985745279735501680gmail-docs-internal-guid-971aaafd-7fff-35c2-bef7-2bbb00875c9e">Hello EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</span></p>
<p>In this article we'll be exploring one of the most open-ended creature-based commanders there is: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roon of the Hidden Realm"></div></div>
<p><strong>{2}, T: Exile another target creature. Return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>He can target opponents' creatures, which can act as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maze of Ith" href="#" target="_blank">Maze of Ith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in a pinch.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>There's an implicit timing restriction for his ability, meaning that we can't use it to blink <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Snake" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Snake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s. At least, not successfully.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>He can help blank removal spells pointed at our creatures.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p>Let's take a quick look on how folks are building him:</p>
<p><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Sig.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-37810" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Sig.png" alt="" width="541" height="294" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Top.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-37811" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Top.png" alt="" width="532" height="293" /></a></p>
<p>It's not surprising that Roon decks have lots of good value creatures and a bunch of additional blink/flicker abilities aside from just Roon to help take advantage of those abilities over and over and over.</p>
<p>But that's so <em>Commander 2013! </em>It's 2019, which means it's time to mix things up and let Roon try something he hasn't done before!</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>There are lots of cool tribes out there, but there's only one that has the highest density of ETB effects per creature, not to mention lots of potential for chaining them on the same turn. Which tribe? Allies, of course!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harabaz Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tajuru Warcaller"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ondu Cleric"></div></div>
<p>Allies are a tribe from the <em>Zendikar</em> blocks and are spread across all five colors. Most of them trigger whenever they or another Ally enter the battlefield, which eventually became known as the keyword <em>Rally. </em>This means that we can use our commander to make sure that we get maximum value from our Allies.</p>
<p>While we don't have access to all the Allies, the ones we have can make an impact: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hero of Goma Fada" href="#" target="_blank">Hero of Goma Fada</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows our team to swing freely. We can even board wipe without having to lose creatures in the process. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lantern Scout" href="#" target="_blank">Lantern Scout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Cleric" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Cleric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> make trading blows with us a losing proposition. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seascape Aerialist" href="#" target="_blank">Seascape Aerialist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helps our attacks connect. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Beastmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Beastmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Warcaller" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Warcaller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pump the team to get more damage in.</p>
<p>Yeah. Allies are pretty awesome.</p>
<p>With the printing of a new batch of Changeling cards in <em>Modern Horizons</em>, tribes without much love in their colors got a huge boost, especially white-inclusive tribes. We have plenty of new toys to proc our Allies, although it's important to not go overboard with them because they need a board to work. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birthing Boughs" href="#" target="_blank">Birthing Boughs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a constant source of <em>Rally</em> triggers, which can also be activated at instant speed for extra shenanigans. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chameleon Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Chameleon Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valiant Changeling" href="#" target="_blank">Valiant Changeling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are reasonably threatening by themselves, but the fact that they're Changelings makes them that much more dangerous. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irregular Cohort" href="#" target="_blank">Irregular Cohort</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a double trigger the turn that it comes down, which can be quite explosive, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Entity" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Entity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great finisher that can help us pass through board stalls.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shamanic Revelation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vanquisher&#039;s Banner"></div></div>
<p>For our draw engine, we're heavily invested on creature-based draw effects: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pulls double duty by allowing us to draw cards when our creatures come out and when they attack. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sea Gate Loremaster" href="#" target="_blank">Sea Gate Loremaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are on the slower side, but given the potential card draw, it's completely justified.</p>
<p>Oh, and on the subject of tribal cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Summons" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Summons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is absolutely nuts! There's no other way to put it, this card allows for many different lines of play, and they all involving putting an astounding number of creatures on the battlefield.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Roon Allies" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Roon of the Hidden Realm
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Birds of Paradise
*Hada Freeblade
*Beastcaller Savant
*Halimar Excavator
*Harabaz Druid
*Jwari Shapeshifter
*Kazandu Blademaster
*Kor Bladewhirl
*Metallic Mimic
*Ondu Cleric
*Oran-Rief Survivalist
*Skyrider Elf
*Unsettled Mariner
*Avian Changeling
*Farhaven Elf
*Kabira Evangel
*Knight of Autum
*Lantern Scout
*Makindi Patrol
*Mirror Entity
*Umara Raptor
*Veteran Warleader
*Wood Elves
*Chameleon Colossus
*Graypelt Hunter
*Irregular Cohort
*Talus Paladin
*Hero of Goma Fada
*Kor Entanglers
*Munda&#039;s Vanguard
*Sea Gate Loremaster
*Seascape Aerialist
* Tajuru Warcaller
*Turntimber Ranger
*Tajuru Beastmaster
*Valiant Changeling
*Craterhoof Behemoth
[/Creature]
[Instant]
*Nature&#039;s Claim
*Path to Exile
*Swords to Plowshare
*Worldly Tutor
*Arcane Denial
*Cyclonic Rift
*Eladamri&#039;s Call
*Heroic Intervention
*Kindred Summons
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Farseek
*Nature&#039;s Lore
*Rampant Growth
*Day of Judgment
*Skyshroud Claim
*Triumph of the Hordes
*Wrath of God
*Creeping Renaissance
*Shamanic Revelation
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Birthing Boughs
*Panharmonicon
*Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Cathars&#039; Crusade
*Kindred Discovery
*True Conviction
[/Enchantment]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*Ally Encampment
*Unclaimed Territory
*Exotic Orchard
*Breeding Pool
*Hallowed Fountain
*Temple Garden
*Canopy Vista
*Prairie Stream
*Glacial Fortress
*Hinterland Harbor
*Sunpetal Grove
*Adarkar Wastes
*Brushland
*Yavimaya Coast
*Temple of Enlightenment
*Temple of Mystery
*Temple of Plenty
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*8Forest
*3Island
*6Plains
[/Land]"></span></div><br />
</p>
<hr />
<p>Aside from all those Allies, the list is pretty much a straightforward Bant value town, with creatures in the place of common staples (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farhaven Elf" href="#" target="_blank">Farhaven Elf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wood Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Wood Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead of the usual <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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> package), so that we may acquire more value by using our commander.</p>
<p>For finishers we have mostly massive pumps for our army to do its work: <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> is great for us because he's a finisher that can be tutored with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eladamri&#039;s Call" href="#" target="_blank">Eladamri&#039;s Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldly Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Worldly Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathars&#039; Crusade" href="#" target="_blank">Cathars&#039; Crusade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> starts out slower, but it benefits greatly from the constantly entering creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="True Conviction" href="#" target="_blank">True Conviction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> escalates extremely well, but at the cost of being somewhat unreliable and color-intensive.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Panharmonicon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclonic Rift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path to Exile"></div></div>
<p>The few slots left in the deck are devoted to covering our bases, with ramp and interaction. This is flexible and should be adjusted according to your meta, so take this model as a suggestion.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>We aren't really picky with our opening hand; a few lands and some creatures are really all we need. Hands with ways to accelerate are highly recommended since the deck can always find a use for any spare mana.</p>
<p>In the early game we need to sequence our creatures to get the most value possible from them. Usually that means that we're playing beaters first, creatures with fun ETB effects afterward, and Changelings last. We should be aggressive early on because our creatures can grow so quickly, but they lack the evasion without proper support. The best part of the deck is that we get to play aggro early game, but we can also grind like no other!</p>
<p>When we get to the mid-game, our options vastly increase. Roon can flicker any of our Allies to re-trigger their excellent effects. However, the expansion of our horizons also brings with it a tricky period for us: we have a lot of little abilities, but none that can take over the game just yet. Board wipes are also devastating to us as a creature-heavy deck, so make sure to keep an eye out for those.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Summons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Craterhoof Behemoth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathars&#039; Crusade"></div></div>
<p>In the late game, unlike the mid-game, our mana potential gives us the opportunity to have explosive turns. Even a single <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Warcaller" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Warcaller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can boost things on its own, but with enough creatures flickering back into play, it's game over for the unwitting opponent.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<p>For potential changes, I would strongly recommend adding more recursion spells if your meta is full of board wipes. It might even be prudent to add a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Negate" href="#" target="_blank">Negate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or two. Replacing some of our spells to add more value creatures could also be powerful, but beware of the timing restrictions of Roon's ability.</p>
<p>Many of our creatures grow using +1/+1 counters, so adding more support for a counter-based strategy is a nice touch. Alternatively, if you want a more combo-focused list, you can pretty easily convert this deck into 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> list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Halimar Excavator" href="#" target="_blank">Halimar Excavator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help us mill our opponents, and adding some haste enablers will allow us to win on the turn we combo.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Did we save Zendikar? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


ally

Am I the Bolas? - Counter on Board

Rebuilding General Tazri With Allies From Avatar

Sokka and Suki Deck Tech

Building Ally Typal with Haru, Hidden Talent

Divine Convocation - Precon Primer

Epic Experiment - Roon Allies

Commander Showdown - Najeela vs Tazri