<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terminus" href="#" target="_blank">Terminus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.jarelthreat.com/">Jarel Threat</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome back to <em>60 to 100</em>, a series where I take beloved decks from 60-card formats and convert them to Commander. It's been a few months since the last installment, and I'm so excited to get back to it! To celebrate my triumphant return, I'm going to be taking a look at one of my favorite Legacy decks from what I consider to be the format's glory days: Miracles. Once a powerhouse of the Legacy format, Miracles has completely fallen off the map in recent times. Many attribute this deck's fall from grace to the 2017 banning of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top" href="#" target="_blank">Sensei&#039;s Divining Top</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Fortunately for this series, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top" href="#" target="_blank">Sensei&#039;s Divining Top</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is still perfectly legal in Commander, and there's no one to stop me from casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terminus" href="#" target="_blank">Terminus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> here.</p>
<h2>The Source Material</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Miracles by Brian Braun-duin" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Planeswalkers]
*2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
[/Planeswalkers]
[Creatures]
*3 Monastery Mentor
*3 Snapcaster Mage
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*4 Ponder
*4 Terminus
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*4 Brainstorm
*1 Counterspell
*4 Force of Will
*4 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*2 Engineered Explosives
*4 Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*4 Counterbalance
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*2 Arid Mesa
*4 Flooded Strand
*4 Island
*2 Plains
*4 Scalding Tarn
*3 Tundra
*2 Volcanic Island
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terminus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Counterbalance"></div></div>
<p>Miracles is a control deck that uses <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top" href="#" target="_blank">Sensei&#039;s Divining Top</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to set up instant-speed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terminus" href="#" target="_blank">Terminus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plays and lock opponents out of the game with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterbalance" href="#" target="_blank">Counterbalance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With Sensei's Divining Top and Counterbalance in play, alongside <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, the Mind Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s +0 ability, it wasn't uncommon to achieve game states where the opponent simply couldn't resolve any more spells. From there, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Monastery Mentor" href="#" target="_blank">Monastery Mentor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Jace, the Mind Sculptor, and in some cases a huge <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entreat the Angels" href="#" target="_blank">Entreat the Angels</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could easily close out a game. That's really all there is to it!</p>
<p>In April 2017, Sensei's Divining Top was banned, citing both power level concerns and tournament logistics issues. A player with a Sensei's Divining Top in play could often eat up large portions of the round timer, leading to delays in extra turns with repeated Top activations. Combined with the fact that Miracles had been the best deck in the format for quite some time by that point, the folks at <em>Wizards</em> decided that enough is enough. This ban didn't immediately kill the deck, but it was the beginning of the end for Miracles. Today, you won't even find Miracles in Legacy metagame breakdowns, although it has seen something of a resurgence in Modern in 2025.</p>
<h2>Bringing Miracles to Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aminatou, the Fateshifter"></div></div>
<p>I struggled with choosing a commander to helm this deck a lot. In the end, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aminatou, the Fateshifter" href="#" target="_blank">Aminatou, the Fateshifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was too good to pass up. Her precon was what introduced me to the miracle mechanic way back when, and she's literally tailor-made for this strategy! Her +1, much like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, the Mind Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s +0 ability, can set a miracle card on top of the deck. Her -1 blinks a permanent, which synergizes well with the many powerful enters triggers that help make this deck tick.</p>
<p>When writing this series, I'm normally something of a stickler for color identity, and I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't find an Azorius(<span class="mana-container-container"><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-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) or Jeskai(<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>) commander that tickled my fancy. To justify this breach of the source material's color identity to myself, I've decided that it isn't entirely implausible that a Miracles player at some point in the deck's history would have included a couple black cards somewhere in the 75, and black really is just a splash color in my final build of the deck anyhow.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Miracles</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terminus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Devastation Tide"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Entreat the Angels"></div></div>
<p>The most important part of this Miracles deck is... the miracles! In Legacy, Miracles decks got away with including four copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terminus" href="#" target="_blank">Terminus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and sometimes a copy or two of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entreat the Angels" href="#" target="_blank">Entreat the Angels</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If I could, I'd probably just play four Terminuses as well, but Commander's singleton restriction forces me to branch out a bit. Thankfully, there are plenty of good options. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devastation Tide" href="#" target="_blank">Devastation Tide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a board wipe in the same vein as Terminus. If I squint a little, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zephyrim" href="#" target="_blank">Zephyrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a decent enough impression of Entreat the Angels. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temporal Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Temporal Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just a bananas extra turn spell that I'd be thrilled to include in most of my blue decks.</p>
<p>In constructed formats, the second or third best version of an effect will rarely see play. Why include the second best board wipe with miracle when a deck can have four copies of Terminus? The most exciting prospect of porting a deck like Miracles to Commander is getting the thrill of playing with a lot of these second or third best options that I'd never include in a 60-card deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll Rack"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trinket Mage"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top" href="#" target="_blank">Sensei&#039;s Divining Top</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and its functionally similar cousin, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll Rack" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll Rack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are vital to allowing this deck to live out this deck's dreams of ruining opponents' days by locking them out with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterbalance" href="#" target="_blank">Counterbalance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or slamming a Terminus after they've resolved 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> and moved to combat. To do that, I'm going to need a lot of ways to fish those two artifacts out of the deck. <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tribute Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Tribute Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can grab Sensei's Divining Top and Scroll Rack, respectively. They can also be blinked with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aminatou, the Fateshifter" href="#" target="_blank">Aminatou, the Fateshifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for additional value to find artifacts, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Expedition Map" href="#" target="_blank">Expedition Map</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disruptor Flute" href="#" target="_blank">Disruptor Flute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Step Through"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spellseeker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Muddle the Mixture"></div></div>
<p>As is often the case with my decks, there's a second layer of tutors devoted to finding more tutors! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Step Through" href="#" target="_blank">Step Through</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my favorite cards to include in blue decks, as it incentivizes me to construct a package of situational Wizards around it. In addition to giving purpose to my situational Wizards package, it serves as an uncounterable, instant-speed tutor that can find Trinket Mage or Tribute Mage for just two mana.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spellseeker" href="#" target="_blank">Spellseeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is yet another tutor that can be searched for with Step Through. This combination provides access to any card in the deck via <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. My favorite chain of tutors made possible in this deck is Step Through to find Spellseeker, Spellseeker to find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muddle the Mixture" href="#" target="_blank">Muddle the Mixture</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and finally Muddle the Mixture to find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterbalance" href="#" target="_blank">Counterbalance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is unlikely to be a common line of play, but it's important to me that I have multiple lines to find all of my deck's key cards.</p>
<h2>How Does this Miracles Deck Win the Game?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Entreat the Angels"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zephyrim"></div></div>
<p>Aside from the common Miracles win condition of opponents conceding out of exhaustion, this control deck is actually looking to win through good, old-fashioned combat! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entreat the Angels" href="#" target="_blank">Entreat the Angels</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zephyrim" href="#" target="_blank">Zephyrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both instant-speed late game mana sinks that can flood the board with flying bodies to close out a game. This requires a lot of mana and therefore time to achieve, but such is the nature of control decks.</p>
<p>In a control deck like Miracles, the important thing isn't so much that it has an instant-win button, but rather that it has a theoretically possible way to bring a game to an end after it has stabilized and rendered all opposing strategies inert. By the time the board has been flooded with 4/4 Angels that are swinging for lethal, the game has likely been effectively over for multiple turns.</p>
<h2>Miracles Commander Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Legacy Miracles" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Aminatou, the Fateshifter
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Bender&#039;s Waterskin
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Disruptor Flute
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Meekstone
*1 Scroll Rack
*1 Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Progress
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Archaeomancer
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Boggart Trawler // Boggart Bog
*1 Grief
*1 Loyal Warhound
*1 Reflector Mage
*1 Solitude
*1 Spellseeker
*1 Subtlety
*1 Tribute Mage
*1 Trinket Mage
*1 Triumph of Saint Katherine
*1 Venser, Shaper Savant
*1 Wall of Omens
*1 Zephyrim
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Banishing Stroke
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Brainsurge
*1 Consider
*1 Consult the Star Charts
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cryptic Command
*1 Dig Through Time
*1 Ephemerate
*1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
*1 Flusterstorm
*1 Force of Will
*1 Ghostly Flicker
*1 Muddle the Mixture
*1 Mystic Confluence
*1 Mystical Tutor
*1 Opt
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Sublime Epiphany
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Three Steps Ahead
*1 Vampiric Tutor
*1 Vanishment
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Counterbalance
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Damn
*1 Devastation Tide
*1 Entreat the Angels
*1 Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn
*1 Step Through
*1 Supreme Verdict
*1 Temporal Mastery
*1 Terminus
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
*1 Teferi, Master of Time
*1 Teferi, Time Raveler
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Bleachbone Verge
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Celestial Colonnade
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Emergence Zone
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Gloomlake Verge
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*3 Island
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Meticulous Archive
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*1 Otawara, Soaring City
*2 Plains
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Raffine&#039;s Tower
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Shadowy Backstreet
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*1 Sunken Citadel
*1 Swamp
*1 Undercity Sewers
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Windswept Heath
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This deck fills me with indescribable joy! I just barely missed out on the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top" href="#" target="_blank">Sensei&#039;s Divining Top</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> era of Miracles decks. My memories of that version of the deck come from binge watching old Grand Prix and SCG Tour coverage when I first ventured into competitive <em>Magic</em>. By the time I was experienced enough to even begin wrapping my head around playing Legacy, Sensei's Divining Top had long been banned. With this deck, I get to experience a taste of what masters of the archetype like Reid Duke felt playing Miracles in its prime.</p>
<p>This Commander deck falls nicely into Bracket 3 (Upgraded), including just three Game Changers and lacking any sort of two-card combos. I think this bracket is perfect for control decks like this one, as the changes that must be made to power these decks up enough to hang in higher brackets compromises their identity in ways I find less satisfying. When piloting the decks that I build for this series, I'm much more interested in the decks recreating the experience of playing their 60-card counterparts than creating a deck that plays like a high power Commander deck.</p>
<p>That's it for this installment of <em>60 to 100</em>! I'd love to read about must-play cards I missed in the comments! I'm always overjoyed to see the feedback this series gets, and I'm so happy to hear from fellow devotees of 60-card <em>Magic</em> and players that haven't gotten to experience this side of the game alike!</p>


Playing Legacy Miracles in Commander

<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>
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<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>
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<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

Suki, Kyoshi Warrior Bracket 3 Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knuckles the Echidna" href="#" target="_blank">Knuckles the Echidna</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.tylerwalpole.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler Walpole</a></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another deck tech; I'm <a href="http://linktr.ee/commandzoe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Command Zoe</a>. This time we're going to be looking at one of the new commanders from the <em>Sonic Secret Lair</em>, Knuckles the Echidna! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Knuckles is a fan favorite character from the original Sega Genesis games; he was a rival of Sonic before teaming up with him in a later installment. I'm excited to show you this list I brewed up, but first let's take a look at him</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knuckles the Echidna"></div></div></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Get it? He's the keeper of the Master Emerald, so he cares about rocks!<br />
Anyway, that's why I'm running Mox Emerald in here — that's cool right?</em></p>
<h3>What Does Knuckles the Echidna Do?</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Knuckles is a straightforward but incredibly powerful commander. He has three keywords that work well with each other, he grants all his controller's creatures the ability to create Treasure tokens upon dealing combat damage to a player, and then he has an upkeep trigger that wins the game with thirty artifacts. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The idea of the design is to have him hit the board and immediately generate two Treasures using a combination of haste and double strike, with trample on there to guarantee he doesn't get chump-blocked. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With only two power, he's not dealing a ton of damage, but that doesn't matter because the goal is to win Treasure tokens on the upkeep trigger.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are three other mono-red commanders that care about Treasure tokens: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, the Hoardmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, the Hoardmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both Magdas come with some sort of payoff for those Treasures, but none of them are quite as powerful as "win the game". </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Knuckles probably wont be able to reach the high-highs of Brazen Outlaw, which is a cEDH deck, but he is a fun card with a very powerful effect, which would be perfect for any of brackets 2, 3, or 4.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This Knuckles deck is going to be within Bracket 3. It technically has three extra turn spells in cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Fortune" href="#" target="_blank">Final Fortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it can't chain them. They're only in the deck to be able to trigger Knuckles' upkeep-ability immediately.</span></p>
<h2>Key Cards for Knuckles the Echidna</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The main win condition in this deck is quite obviously Knuckles' second ability, so we want to rush up to twenty-nine total permanents on the board then cast both key card of the deck: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mycosynth Lattice" href="#" target="_blank">Mycosynth Lattice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following that up with an extra turn spell will allow an instant win off of Knuckles when the turn rolls over to the next upkeep. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to these, two keys to the deck are the tutors to get them out. Everything else is there to push the board to thirty permanents.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Final Fortune"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warrior&#039;s Oath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Last Chance"></div></div><br />
<em>This is still technically bracket two because I'm not-<br />
What are you all doing with those torches and pitchforks?</em></p>
<p>To help get there the deck has <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckless Handling" href="#" target="_blank">Reckless Handling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inventors&#039; Fair" href="#" target="_blank">Inventors&#039; Fair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can be used in conjunction with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trash for Treasure" href="#" target="_blank">Trash for Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or either of Daretti's cards to get the Mycosynth Lattice out.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Matron" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Matron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can play a game of telephone to get it out by searching for the Engineer first. It can also snag a Grenzo, Havoc Raiser in case more permanents are needed but none are in hand.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daretti, Scrap Savant"></div></div><br />
<em>Both flavors work! Trade your Treasures for permanents that make more Treasures!<br />
</em></p>
<p>Instant board state cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brass&#039;s Bounty" href="#" target="_blank">Brass&#039;s Bounty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can be extremely useful at making the final push to thirty cards.</p>
<p>Playing it along with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can go for infinite by snagging Lattice plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clock of Omens" href="#" target="_blank">Clock of Omens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Tap the Magda plus a Treasure to untap the Magda. Make a new Treasure, and use it infinitely. Then just sacrifice 5 Treasures at a time to spit the entire deck's permanents onto the battlefield, then finally win by sacrificing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anger" href="#" target="_blank">Anger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to a sac outlet and attacking with everything.</p>
<h2>How Does This Knuckles the Echidna Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>Getting to thirty permanents can be difficult, so there are some tricks to make a lot all at once.</p>
<p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krark-Clan Ironworks" href="#" target="_blank">Krark-Clan Ironworks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of Totentanz" href="#" target="_blank">Song of Totentanz</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hell to Pay" href="#" target="_blank">Hell to Pay</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, each artifact sacrificed will turn into two new permanents, effectively doubling the number on the board if there is a Lattice out.</p>
<p>There are a few other ways to do the same that take more set up, like adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xorn" href="#" target="_blank">Xorn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure Vault" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure Vault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to KCI, or using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goldspan Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Goldspan Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the Treasure-doubler.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Copper Dragon"></div></div><br />
<em>I just need to roll a 16 or better, but I don't have advantage...</em></p>
<p>In terms of alternate win conditions, there's only one, since the commander comes with its own "win the game" ability. However, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellkite Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Hellkite Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is strictly better in terms of how many permanents are needed, so it goes in the ninety-nine. Needing one third the number of permanents is too good to give up, and the theft ability is nothing to write off either.</p>
<h2>Knuckles the Echidna Commander Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Echidna Echinacea" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Knuckles the Echidna
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Ancient Copper Dragon
*1 Anger
*1 Bonehoard Dracosaur
*1 Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer
*1 Glóin, Dwarf Emissary
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Goblin Matron
*1 Goblin Welder
*1 Goldlust Triad
*1 Goldspan Dragon
*1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
*1 Hellkite Tyrant
*1 Magda, Brazen Outlaw
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
*1 Treasure Nabber
*1 Xorn
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Final Fortune
*1 Seething Song
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Brass&#039;s Bounty
*1 Hell to Pay
*1 Hit the Mother Lode
*1 Last Chance
*1 Reckless Handling
*1 Scrap Mastery
*1 Song of Totentanz
*1 Strike It Rich
*1 Trash for Treasure
*1 Warrior&#039;s Oath
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Clock of Omens
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Liquimetal Torque
*1 Lotus Petal
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mycosynth Lattice
*1 Phial of Galadriel
*1 Planar Atlas
*1 Prismatic Lens
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Star Compass
*1 The Reaver Cleaver
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Descent into Avernus
*1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki
*1 Guild Artisan
*1 Spiteful Banditry
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Chandra, Spark Hunter
*1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
*1 Karn, Scion of Urza
*1 Koth, Fire of Resistance
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Fomori Vault
*1 Fountainport
*1 Great Furnace
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*1 Mines of Moria
*19 Mountain
*1 Power Depot
*1 Scene of the Crime
*1 Sunken Citadel
*1 The Mycosynth Gardens
*1 Treasure Vault
*1 Urza&#039;s Cave
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to read this deck tech on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knuckles the Echidna" href="#" target="_blank">Knuckles the Echidna</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I think he's quite a strong commander and has a lot of potential for upgrade into the Bracket 4 arena.</p>
<p>I had a lot of fun playing it; Treasures are a blast, and getting the win off of the extra turn felt incredible. I hope you get to give it a try yourself because it is such a blast to pilot. If you like making Treasures and scraping out value you will love this deck.</p>
<p>If you missed it make sure you check out my last <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/mog-moogle-warrior-commander-deck-tech">deck tech</a> on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mog, Moogle Warrior" href="#" target="_blank">Mog, Moogle Warrior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and be sure to follow me on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/commandzoe">twitch</a> where you can find me playing this deck sometimes.</p>


Knuckles the Echidna Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kefka, Court Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kefka, Court Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by <a href="https://www.yoshitakaamano.com/">Yoshitaka Amano</a></em></p>
<p>When someone asks an expert in the <em>Final Fantasy</em> series about its most detestable villain, Kefka Palazzo will often come to mind. After all, Kefka has committed a vast multitude of crimes that, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YJgM16uaq0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to paraphrase another RPG clown</a>, would make the Geneva Convention look more like "Geneva Suggestions." The role of Court Mage of the Gestahlian Empire and, later, as the God of Magic are, understandably, extremely oppressive titles to hold. Kefka achieves his goals with aplomb and fanfare, often to the chagrin of the protagonists of <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>.</p>
<p>Therefore, it may come as no surprise that this deck tech is almost certain to bring pain and despair to many a table. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kefka, Court Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kefka, Court Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and its rear face, Kefka, Ruler of Ruin) is extremely powerful as a commander. This commander wants to do multiple different things, but in a way that allows us to seamlessly pivot from one task to another as needed. By no means is this deck ever <em>not</em> going to be a "group slug" build; the deck wants to oppress the table at every turn. But, at the same time, you ought to have a little fun doing it, right? It's exactly what Lord Kefka would want.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kefka, Court Mage"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Kefka, Court Mage Do?</h2>
<p>Kefka, Court Mage is a legendary Human Wizard. His stats are relatively innocuous for his cost. He's a 4/5 for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, which isn't much to shout about. However, it's his abilities that allow Kefka to shine. On entry and whenever Kefka, Court Mage attacks, each player discards a card, then you get to draw a card for each card type among the discarded cards. For emphasis, this doesn't include subtypes or supertypes, but you'll often draw at least two cards with each resolution of this ability. Such is the way of forced discard!</p>
<p>To transform Kefka into his Ruler of Ruin iteration, you must pay a hefty eight generic mana. However, in addition to transforming Kefka, the ability also forces each opponent to sacrifice a permanent. This could be something as innocuous as a token or as impactful as a land, but that's at the whims of your opponents. Even so, ruination comes forth!</p>
<p>Kefka's rear face, the Ruler of Ruin, is a 5/7 with flying. He's now on rate, even considerably better, for his five-mana cost, but those stats don't make him worth eight. However, his triggered ability, which reads "Whenever an opponent loses life during your turn, you draw that many cards," fully makes up for this.</p>
<h3>A Contrapositive Nekusar?</h3>
<p>At the point where you read the front face of Kefka, you may be thinking to yourself, "This clown seems a <em>lot</em> like <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/nekusar-the-mindrazer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a>!" And to that, I fully agree with you. After all, Kefka also draws you cards, and is built to cater to group slug strategies. But there's something slightly off about this line of thought. To that end, I say Kefka, Court Mage is a contrapositive to Nekusar. By that, I mean they affirmatively complement each other, but are still very different. You <em>could</em> always group them into the same deck, but to achieve similar results, it's actually not necessary.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nekusar, the Mindrazer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arjun, the Shifting Flame"></div></div>
<p>When you pivot over to Kefka, Ruler of Ruin, the commander that ensues does a good job at imitating <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/arjun-the-shifting-flame" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arjun, the Shifting Flame</a>. To an even slightly careless Arjun pilot, one slip-up might spell the difference between drawing your deck and winning, or drawing your deck and losing. The same is true of Kefka, Ruler of Ruin, except we have more fail-safe options to mitigate that possibility. Namely, we have the addition of sacrifice outlets to help us in case Kefka goes a little too mad with draw power. This deck tech doesn't utilize many black sacrifice outlets, but know that you <em>can</em>, and it might make a difference for you.</p>
<h3>Plans Befitting Ruination</h3>
<p>This deck tech will showcase a "group slug" strategy, as mentioned previously. This means affecting opponents in a relatively equal, very net-negative manner. This will be achieved through group discard and punishing card draw for opponents. Additionally, we'll utilize a plethora of triggered abilities that proc off of either draw or self-discard. Finally, when we transform Kefka into his Ruler of Ruin face, we'll aim to win by maximizing the extent of our triggers off card draw.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Kefka, Court Mage</h2>
<p>A few cards make this deck tick exceptionally well. These cards can be divided into three groups:</p>
<h3>#1. Fail-Safes</h3>
<p>Before we get into the fun parts of running this deck, we need to discuss the fail-safes to keep you from losing by your own (literal) hand. Very often, you may find yourself in a situation where you're about to draw too many cards all at once. This is typically a bad situation, but it can be salvaged! For one, we run instant-speed enablers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of Anticipation" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of Anticipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="High Fae Trickster" href="#" target="_blank">High Fae Trickster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to ensure we can fix things quickly if they were to go awry.</p>
<p>The solutions themselves include sacrifice outlets, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dimir House Guard" href="#" target="_blank">Dimir House Guard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in case we need to remove Kefka from the field. They also include cards that halt draw in some fashion, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obstinate Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Obstinate Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Words of Waste" href="#" target="_blank">Words of Waste</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ormos, Archive Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Ormos, Archive Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a really good job of accruing +1/+1 counters instead of drawing in the worst case scenario - an empty library.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obstinate Familiar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dimir House Guard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ormos, Archive Keeper"></div></div>
<h3>#2. Card Draw Payoffs</h3>
<p>There are plenty of cards in this deck that pay off from drawing cards. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Locust God" href="#" target="_blank">The Locust God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes a ton of Insect tokens with haste with even one Kefka, Court Mage trigger. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage" href="#" target="_blank">Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could mill a player out quite handily in here if you've transformed Kefka. And, quite notably, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychosis Crawler" href="#" target="_blank">Psychosis Crawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starving Revenant" href="#" target="_blank">Starving Revenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> imitate the old <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-plus-<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curiosity" href="#" target="_blank">Curiosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo with Ruler of Ruin on the battlefield.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Starving Revenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Locust God"></div></div>
<h3>#3. Discard Payoffs</h3>
<p>This deck runs various ways to profit off of discard. This applies to opponents' discard, sure, but also self discard. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waste Not" href="#" target="_blank">Waste Not</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bone Miser" href="#" target="_blank">Bone Miser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> work to create versatile and worthwhile situations. Through these scenarios, your opponents will ultimately suffer more than you. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Ifnir" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Ifnir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a straight-up one-sided board wipe if you can freely discard enough cards. And don't even get me started on the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megrim" href="#" target="_blank">Megrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style effects in this deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bone Miser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tergrid, God of Fright"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waste Not"></div></div>
<p>But special attention should be paid to the key reason this deck is Bracket 3 in letter as well as intent. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tergrid, God of Fright" href="#" target="_blank">Tergrid, God of Fright</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a seriously intimidating card. It will do you absolutely no favors with how oppressive the card is. If you wish to tone the deck down at all, this should feasibly be the first card to consider cutting.</p>
<h2>How Does Kefka, Court Mage Win?</h2>
<p>Kefka, Court Mage wins a typical Commander game in a variety of different ways. One more apparent way is through <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Laboratory Maniac" href="#" target="_blank">Laboratory Maniac</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Lab Man is a tried and true method of winning, and it isn't a bad one here. It also doesn't hurt that it can eat spot removal when you can use another method of winning.</p>
<p>Another method to win the game includes using Kefka, Ruler of Ruin to combo with Psychosis Crawler or Starving Revenant. This is a less effective means to win as it requires far more math, especially via Psychosis Crawler. The trajectory goes like this: with Kefka, Ruler of Ruin and Psychosis Crawler in play, when you draw a single card, each opponent loses one life. In a three-opponent game, that means you draw three cards. Psychosis Crawler causes your opponents to each lose three life, for nine life lost in total. You draw nine cards. They each lose nine life. You draw 27. If the next instance of 27 life lost can't defeat them all, you'd best have Ormos or a Lab Man handy. Starving Revenant does similarly, but on a 1-to-1 level of lifeless to draw as opposed to exponential degrees.</p>
<p>But overall, there are plenty of other means with which to win the game. This includes punisher effects and the potential for a go-wide strategy as well. The possibilities are endless!</p>
<h2>Kefka, Court Mage Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kefka, Court Mage" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kefka, Court Mage // Kefka, Ruler of Ruin
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Bedevil
*1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
*1 Forbid
*1 Malakir Rebirth // Malakir Mire
*1 Pongify
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Slip Out the Back
*1 Withering Torment
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Archfiend of Ifnir
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Bone Miser
*1 Captain Howler, Sea Scourge
*1 Chainer, Nightmare Adept
*1 Davros, Dalek Creator
*1 Dimir House Guard
*1 Fate Unraveler
*1 Glint-Horn Buccaneer
*1 High Fae Trickster
*1 Kederekt Parasite
*1 Laboratory Maniac
*1 Magus of the Jar
*1 Molten Gatekeeper
*1 Nightscape Familiar
*1 Obstinate Familiar
*1 Ormos, Archive Keeper
*1 Psychosis Crawler
*1 Razorkin Needlehead
*1 Sangromancer
*1 Scrawling Crawler
*1 Screaming Nemesis
*1 Starving Revenant
*1 Tergrid, God of Fright // Tergrid&#039;s Lantern
*1 The Locust God
*1 Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls
*1 Warren Soultrader
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Leyline of Anticipation
*1 Liliana&#039;s Caress
*1 Megrim
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage
*1 Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight
*1 Teferi&#039;s Tutelage
*1 Waste Not
*1 Words of Waste
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Dark Deal
*1 Demonic Counsel
*1 Disrupt Decorum
*1 Ringsight
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Whispering Madness
*1 Windfall
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Blightstep Pathway // Searstep Pathway
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crosis&#039;s Catacombs
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Drossforge Bridge
*1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
*1 Great Furnace
*1 Haunted Ridge
*1 Homeward Path
*2 Island
*1 Mistvault Bridge
*1 Mountain
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Raucous Theater
*1 Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Silverbluff Bridge
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*2 Swamp
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Undercity Sewers
*1 Underground River
*1 Valgavoth&#039;s Lair
*1 Vault of Whispers
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Xander&#039;s Lounge
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>The End Comes, Beyond Chaos</h2>
<p>This deck is, in a couple of words, certifiably evil. This is befitting of the good (read: despicable) name of Kefka Palazzo. It provides all manner of strong synergies with draw and discard effects. It's also readily able to pivot strategies to full-send draw payoffs as needed. Much like Kefka himself, this deck is sure to drive your opponents entirely up the wall, each scrambling in many ways to handle their inevitable collective demise. Just don't go dancing mad with too much power, or you'll fall to ruination yourself.</p>
<p>Finally, I hope you liked this deck tech and its diabolical fool of a commander. If you did, consider playing <a href="https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VI" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Final Fantasy VI</em></a> for yourself. It's an expansive title and does amazing things for the series at large.</p>


bracket 3

Playing Legacy Miracles in Commander

Sokka and Suki Deck Tech

Suki, Kyoshi Warrior Bracket 3 Commander Deck Tech

Knuckles the Echidna Commander Deck Tech

Group-Slugging With Kefka, Court Mage