The Best Elf Combos in Commander

From the (not really) Brim to the (even less) Trim - Merry Christmas !

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fruitcake Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Fruitcake Elemental</a> | art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/darrellricheart/?hl=en">Darrell Riche</a></h6>
Dearest reader, it’s Christmas day, and while you’re here, I’d like to paint a picture of what’s going on with the editorial side of EDHREC and in the coming year, as well as share a few festive updates.
My name is Morgan Sanchez, operations manager and editor in chief of EDHREC. I’ve been playing Magic since I was 8 years old, starting with Odyssey block and Seventh Edition, now I’m almost 32 and have been able to see the game falter, grow and finally prosper throughout what amounts to my entire life. 
It’s wonderful to meet your reading eyes, and I hope you’re enjoying the Monday-Friday content EDHREC publishes, as well as our weekly<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/EDHRECast"> EDHRECast</a> segments. It’s been an exceptionally productive year on the content side for us, and we’re grateful to our ever-expanding community of readers and writers who work to make EDHREC one of the best in the business.
Even as our previous editor-in-chief left us at the end of November, EDHREC soldiers on, with myself alone at the helm for the first time. It’s a lonely tower, but one I’m grateful to have been able to climb part time all the way to full time. There are always articles to edit, words to read, and cards to brew with, and I very much hope that we can always provide that for you.
<a href="https://edhrec.com/articles">You will notice upon perusal that the Articles</a> section of EDHREC has changed a bit: 
<ul>
<li>UI now matches EDHREC, no more "2010s" look</li>
<li>All global EDHREC features are shared (e.g. the clipboard)</li>
<li>Faster loading times</li>
</ul>
And, some sneak peeks of fun stuff to look out for that’s coming to EDHREC in 2025:
<ul>
<li>Even more daily article content, including new series to come back for</li>
<li>Directed content initiatives that will help you make Magic an even bigger and better part of your life with friends and family</li>
<li>More site updates and improvements based on your feedback</li>
</ul>
These incremental changes are all working to help bolster your experience with our site, whether you’re here for the articles or the best recs. <a href="https://spacecowmedia.com/careers">As always, we are hiring writers of all skill levels and demographics</a> who are looking to showcase their creative chops, whether through deckbuilding or the more social side of the Commander format. Please never be afraid to reach out.
I could not continually accomplish any of this work without my partners in crime: everyone within our internal editorial team and company, including Eliza Hunton, EDHREC's previous editor-in-chief, Jake Fitzsimons, editor-in-chief of <a href="https://commandersherald.com/">Commander’s Herald</a>, Andy Zupke, editor-in-chief of <a href="https://cardgamer.com/">Card Gamer</a>, and my mentor and the brainstorm-brewed man himself, Jason Alt. There are more thanks to give to them and so many others than I have words to say.
Magic is so much more than words on a screen (or card). It is the community we foster with one another; from the bitterness of ban talks to the solidarity of our favorite casual (and competitive!) format. 
In the end, us Commander players are all just one ask away from sitting at a table with three other strangers to play our favorite game and share our stories and solidarity with it. Maybe we’ll grab a drink and a good meal after, too. 
And finally, I am most grateful to you, dear reader of words and cards, for your support and time. I hope no matter your holiday proclivity that this season bestows upon you peace and love.
<a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/caketree-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-143178" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/caketree-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="933" srcset="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/caketree-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/caketree-225x300.jpg 225w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/caketree-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/caketree-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/caketree-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>

Have Yourself a Merry Little EDHREChristmas

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naughty//Nice" href="#" target="_blank">Naughty//Nice</a> | Art by Greg Staples</h6>
<h1>Who's on the List?</h1>
I am not, in fact, Santa Claus. But this year, I'm pretending to be.
In my usual series, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/kyle-massa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Over/Under</a>, I try to predict how popular new commanders will become one year after their release. But since I've covered every set from 2024 already, I thought this might be a fun opportunity for a retrospective. And so, we're getting naughty. And nice.
What were the biggest blunders of the year? What were the strongest successes? What gimmicks horribly backfired on me? Let's find out!
<h2>Naughty: Universes Beyond Takes Over</h2>
I haven't been as disappointed in the Universes Beyond products as most other players. I viewed them as fun ancillary products for fans of whatever crossover IP we might've visited. Honestly, I was even holding on hope that we might someday get an X-Files product. And then October rolled around.
On the 25th of that month, <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/aligning-the-universes-making-all-our-sets-legal-in-all-our-formats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aaron Forsythe announced</a> all future Universes Beyond sets would be legal in all formats. Furthermore, we'll now have three of them per year, starting with Final Fantasy next June, Marvel's Spider-Man at an undisclosed later date, and an unnamed set after that.
<a href="https://commandersherald.com/gavin-verhey-and-aaron-forsythe-on-commanders-future/">The first half of that news isn't groundbreaking for us</a>; UB cards have been running rampant in Commander for years. It's the other bit that's got me concerned. Forsythe lists several reasons for the change, but the cynical explanation is these licensed sets make massive profits. That makes corporate Hasbro happy, but it's concerning for the long term originality of the game.
Take a set like April's <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-over-under-predicting-the-popularity-of-outlaws-of-thunder-junction-commanders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outlaws of Thunder Junction</a>. It's an original plane that unites villains from the game's history, including Oko, Vraska, Rakdos, and Tinybones. I didn't love the set, but even I couldn't deny that it was a triumph of concept and worldbuilding. Finding familiar characters in an unfamiliar world was a delight, and it was made possible from years of original storytelling.
You can find that same resonance in Universes Beyond, true, but it has to be built-in. Speaking from personal experience, it was pleasing to see my guy Aragorn as a Magic card in <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-over-under-a-review-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-commanders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tales of Middle-earth</a>.
Yet that's only because I happened to have prior attachment to that world. This year's <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-over-under-predicting-the-popularity-of-assassins-creed-commanders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Assassin's Creed</a>, by contrast, interested me not in the slightest.
If it had been an original set built around the theme of Assassin kindred, I would've given it more of a shot. I suspect many players feel the same.
We're only going to have more of that hit-and-miss feeling moving forward, and I think that's a shame. So for now, Universes Beyond products, you're on the Naughty List.
<h2>Nice: Duskmourn: House of Horror</h2>
From the flavor to the gameplay to the <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marvin, Murderous Mimic" href="#" target="_blank">creepy killer clowns</a>, this was my favorite set of the year. We got 27 new commanders (which I believe is the perfect amount), with some returning characters and many more fresh faces. Check that—creepy faces.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rendmaw, Creaking Nest"></div></div>
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rendmaw, Creaking Nest" href="#" target="_blank">Rendmaw, Creaking Nest</a> was my favorite, and though many were surprised I named it my Can't-Miss Pick, it's already gone far over 1,200. Thanks, Rendmaw. This class of commanders as a whole is tracking well, with 15 of the 27 already going Over.
I still maintain it's thematically and aesthetically similar enough to Innistrad that it probably shouldn't have become a new plane, but whatever—Duskmourn was still a hit in my book. But while we're on the subject...
<h2>Naughty: So-Called Original Planes That Nonetheless Seem Oddly Familiar</h2>
Maybe it was because they came back-to-back, but what was the deal with Bloomburrow and Duskmourn? I mean, Bloomburrow was an idyllic, whimsical world based around typal synergies. Sounds a lot like my favorite set ever, Lorwyn. And Duskmourn is a top-down horror-themed world featuring the Delirium mechanic. Sounds a lot like Innistrad to me.
Granted, both distinguished themselves in many ways, and I enjoyed both for what they were. Yet still, I couldn't help but think of them as reboots. And when half our future sets are now going to be IP crossovers, we need to cherish our originality.
<h2>Nice: Commander Masters</h2>
This one didn't technically release in 2024, but I did <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-over-under-a-review-of-commander-masters-commanders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review my picks in August</a>. That's when I earned an 88% correct prediction percentage, which was only three points short of my all-time best.
The other nice thing about this product was its restraint. There were only eight new commanders, which is far fewer than the usual metric crapton we get. (Granted, that's because Commander Masters wasn't a usual booster release, but still.)
It might sound contradictory to ask for less of something we love, but here I believe it applies. I mean, each of these eight earned far more decks and far more attention simply because there were so few of them.
Furthermore, with fewer to design, I think the design team had an easier task crafting interesting commanders. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anikthea, Hand of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Anikthea, Hand of Erebos</a>, for example, is an inspired card who generates unique and oftentimes zany game states.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anikthea, Hand of Erebos"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vial Smasher, Gleeful Grenadier"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malcolm, the Eyes"></div></div>
Compare that to the 52 new commanders from 2024's Outlaws of Thunder Junction, which had some fun ones, but also featured some absolute stinkers like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vial Smasher, Gleeful Grenadier" href="#" target="_blank">Vial Smasher, Gleeful Grenadier</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malcolm, the Eyes" href="#" target="_blank">Malcolm, the Eyes</a>.
Overall, I wouldn't mind seeing a scaled back approach to commanders moving forward. I don't think it'll happen, but 'tis the season for some wishing.
<h2>Naughty: Doctor Who</h2>
I've already complained about Universes Beyond at length. It's not about that. It's just that, this year, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-over-under-a-review-of-doctor-who-commanders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I reviewed Doctor Who</a>, only to discover it was my worst performance of all time.
For context, my lifetime correct prediction percentage is 75. My previous low was 50%. My Doctor Who percentage? 47.
It was a shameful performance, not unlike my guy Aaron Judge hitting .184 in this past year's postseason. Here's hoping we both do a little better next year.
<h2>Nice: Modern Horizons 3</h2>
While we're on the subject of 2024 sets, this was a close second on my personal list to Duskmourn: House of Horrors. Whether you enjoy Eldrazi, energy, or creating <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tarmogoyf" href="#" target="_blank">Tarmogoyf</a> tokens, this set had something for everyone.
I mean, even the commons were juiced. Take <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Witness</a>, for example, which is arguably better than its inspiration, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a>. I mean, does E-Wit have crazy synergy with proliferate? I think not.
Furthermore, WotC finally admitted that these sets are as much Commander Horizons as they are Modern Horizons, because they released four unique commander decks with it.
Almost every commander in those decks has been a hit, with only <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jyoti, Moag Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Jyoti, Moag Ancient</a> lingering under 1,200 decks as of now. I can't speak for Modern players, but at this point, I'd happily take an MH4 whenever it's ready.
<h2>Naughty: Nadu, Winged Wisdom</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nadu, Winged Wisdom"></div></div>
Though Horizons sets are awesome, they often bring with them some utterly busted cards. In MH1 it was <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis" href="#" target="_blank">Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis</a>. In MH2, it was <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar" href="#" target="_blank">Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar</a> (it's been three years and some scholars are still split on how to pronounce the name). And in MH3, it was <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadu, Winged Wisdom" href="#" target="_blank">Nadu, Winged Wisdom</a>.
This card was so stupidly busted that the "only twice each turn" text reads as a laughable limitation. Only twice, huh? That hardly matters when you're equipping <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shuko" href="#" target="_blank">Shuko</a> to everything in sight, while subconsciously reaffirming that yes, it was indeed worth buying this otherwise useless bulk uncommon just for this specific and ridiculous purpose.
And don't forget, it triggers when your opponents target your stuff as well, meaning they basically always get two-for-oned, if not worse.
As someone who enjoys watching Pro Tour coverage, Nadu became doubly annoying. I'm pretty sure it popped up in the Draft portion at least once, then took five of the Top 8 spots, finally winning the whole thing in the hands of pleasant Dane Simon Nielsen. I've had enough of Nadu, so I'm glad it got banned. Welcome to the Naughty List, pal.
<h2>Nice: The Wise Mothman</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Wise Mothman"></div></div>
And it's not just because I'm an amateur cryptozoologist. Fallout's <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wise Mothman" href="#" target="_blank">The Wise Mothman</a> earns a spot on the Nice List because it's the highest ranked commander of 2024, sitting pretty at Rank 48 with 13111 decks as I write this.
The deck looks super fun and versatile, with Mill, Mutant kindred, +1/+1 counters, Rad counters, and Proliferate all viable themes. Look, I know I've been hard on Universes Beyond in this article, but this one worked for me.
<h2>Naughty: Me</h2>
Calling oneself naughty carries a slightly sexual connotation, but I swear I'm not trying to seduce you. Rather, I'm putting myself on the list for some of this year's worst predictions. A few examples:
<ul>
<li>I predicted <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eluge, the Shoreless Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Eluge, the Shoreless Sea</a> would earn fewer than 1,200 decks. It already leads more than 4,000.</li>
<li>I predicted <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emrakul, the World Anew" href="#" target="_blank">Emrakul, the World Anew</a> would earn more than 1,200 decks. It has less than 200.</li>
<li>I discovered the return to my favorite plane, Lorwyn, would be delayed another year, and I still haven't gotten over it.</li>
</ul>
That last one was more a personal crisis than a prediction, but I wanted to slip it in somewhere. Bottom line: When you make upwards of 30 predictions for every set every year, you're bound to have some bad ones.
<h2>Nice: Also Me</h2>
That said, you can have some good ones, too. If I may pat myself on the back for a moment, I was happy with many of my Fallout picks going Over, including <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent Frank Horrigan" href="#" target="_blank">Agent Frank Horrigan</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Dog, Galaxy News DJ" href="#" target="_blank">Three Dog, Galaxy News DJ</a>, since these Universes Beyond sets are proving to be volatile. Gotta savor the victories when you have them.
<h2>Naughty: The Commander Advisory Group Debacle</h2>
This is a fun article, <a href="https://commandersherald.com/commander-rc-reacts-to-wizards-taking-format-reins/">so we won't get too far into the weeds on this one</a>. Suffice it to say that online bullying is not in keeping with the Christmas spirit, let alone the human spirit.
It's a shame that it led to the dissolution of the Commander Advisory Group. Here's wishing success to the newly formed Commander Format Panel. And if they happen to unban <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primeval Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Primeval Titan</a>, I wouldn't mind.
<h2>Nice: Play Boosters</h2>
I know there was some trepidation with these at first, mainly due to the extra few dollars per pack. However, it's hard not to feel like you're getting your value's worth when you can open up to four rares in a single pack. Sure, the graphics explaining the contents of said packs are absolutely ludicrous. But the product itself? Not bad at all.
<h2>Naughty: Breaking News, The Big Score, and Special Guests</h2>
We've already touched on Outlaws of Thunder Junction, but while we're on the subject, let's talk about this set's bonus sheets. Some would say one bonus sheet is too many. So how about three?
Seriously, the Breaking News cards are hard enough to read. Don't get me wrong—I appreciate the ambition of the art style. However, the colors are so washed out it's difficult to differentiate one from others, and the newspaper title at the top gets confused with the card names.
Then there's The Big Score, which didn't seem to have any cohesion mechanically, thematically, or artistically.
And then there were the Special Guests, which I've never really enjoyed. I know they're essentially free reprint slots, but they're so rare that they don't provide any real value to the sets, and if they were any less rare, they'd be distracting.
Fortunately, the whole Big Score thing was a unique scenario I doubt we'll ever encounter again. The Special Guests, on the other hand, appear to be a mainstay moving forward. I wouldn't mind if they weren't, but we'll see.
<h2>Nice: Facedown 2/2s</h2>
Between the disguise mechanic in Murders at Karlov Manor and Assassin's Creed, manifest on MH3's <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kozilek, the Broken Reality" href="#" target="_blank">Kozilek, the Broken Reality</a>, and manifest dread from Duskmourn, it felt like facedown 2/2s were having a moment. This was not good for my winning percentage, because my powers of deduction are not exactly Sherlock Holmes level.
<h2>Naughty: The Set Designers Who Drove a Dagger Through the Hearts of Colossal Dreadmaw Fans Everywhere</h2>
I'm sure the people at Wizards are lovely. I'm sure they want what's best for the game. But when I saw this card, a little part of me died...
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Colossal Dreadmask"></div></div>
The meme value of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossal Dreadmaw" href="#" target="_blank">Colossal Dreadmaw</a> was that there was only one <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossal Dreadmaw" href="#" target="_blank">Colossal Dreadmaw</a>, yet he kept showing up in every set. Now, thanks to the Dreadmask, literally any creature can be a Dreadmaw, so long as you pay the equip cost.
It's not right! It's not fair! There's only one true <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossal Dreadmaw" href="#" target="_blank">Colossal Dreadmaw</a>, and he appears in Core Sets, Jumpstarts, Ixalan blocks, and occasionally Mystery Boosters. Leave my boy alone!
<h2>Nice: All You Readers Out There</h2>
Thanks to everyone out there who visits EDHREC and keeps this fine site going. You've had a great year, and here's hoping the one coming up is even better!

The Naughty/Nice - An Over/Under Holiday Edition

Archetune-Up - Season's Beatings

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yule Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Yule Ooze</a> | Art by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Prescott_(artist)">Steve Prescott</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
We find ourselves in a strange place, as we often do, a realm of juxtaposition. The sun hides, and the nights lengthen. There is disparity in this season. Somewhere, a Dark Souls joke is made. Heat and cold. Bonfires and snow shovels. Hygge and the bitter chill of winter.
Welcome to Yule Shot, where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck. This time, to honor the elder gods of Candletide, we'll be knitting a warm blanket of the <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/snow">Snow supertype</a> atop an <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes/oozes">Ooze tribal</a> subtheme. How is Snow presented here as a metaphor for warmth, you ask? Igloos. And why Ooze? Well, in anticipation of the eventual errata of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yule Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Yule Ooze</a> to black border, of course.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jegantha, the Wellspring"></div></div>
I think <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jegantha, the Wellspring" href="#" target="_blank">Jegantha, the Wellspring</a> looks suitably festive. If one were to make a New Year's Resolution to forego multiples of duplicate mana symbols in card costs, Jegantha could probably pull the royal sleigh of someone like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kenrith, Returned King" href="#" target="_blank">Kenrith, Returned King</a>, who, in the lore of Eldraine, is prophesied to become Santa Claus in his twilight years. Though some sad substitutions would have to be made (God rest ye merry <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Predator Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Predator Ooze</a>), Kenrith's second ability could make for a powerful +1/+1 counters tertiary theme that permeates, and even 'permanates' throughout the brew.
But we'll keep this list cozy, so that means lots of mana symbols in casting costs. With Jegantha steering (sleighs have wheels, right? Hmm... ask the wheelwright), that gives us access to things like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glacial Plating" href="#" target="_blank">Glacial Plating</a>. Oh, this is going to end up being a Cumulative Upkeep deck, isn't it?
One would think the cold might slow our gelatinous friends down. Is there such a thing as too viscous? Let's find out.
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Rudolph’s Reign" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Jegantha, the Wellspring
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Boreal Druid
*1 Chilling Shade
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Conifer Wurm
*1 Diamond Faerie
*1 Thing in the Ice
*1 Woolly Razorback
*1 Rimefeather Owl
*1 Zombie Musher
*1 Rimescale Dragon
*1 Heidar, Rimewind Master
*1 Ice-Fang Coatl
*1 Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
*1 Chulane, Teller of Tales
*1 Sisay, Weatherlight Captain
*1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
*1 Yule Ooze
*1 Mitotic Slime
*1 Biowaste Blob
*1 Slurrk, All-Ingesting
*1 Prime Speaker Vannifar
*1 Acidic Slime
*1 Bloodhall Ooze
*1 Manaplasm
*1 Experiment Kraj
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Ancient Ooze
*1 Biogenic Ooze
*1 Predator Ooze
*1 Metallic Mimic
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Mystic Genesis
*1 Tribal Unity
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Into the North
*1 Cultivate
*1 Gelatinous Genesis
*1 Miming Slime
*1 Hurricane
*1 Harsh Mercy
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Arcum’s Astrolabe
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Obelisk of Urd
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
*1 Slate of Ancestry
*1 The Ozolith
*1 Chromatic Orrery
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Iceberg
*1 Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber
*1 Rhythm of the Wild
*1 Ice Cave
*1 Gelid Shackles
*1 On Thin Ice
*1 Snow Devil
*1 Glacial Plating
*1 Ooze Garden
*1 Ooze Flux
*1 Crown of Ascension
*1 Etchings of the Chosen
*1 Steely Resolve
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Command Tower
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Novijen, Heart of Progress
*1 Highland Weald
*1 Boreal Shelf
*1 Arctic Flats
*1 Tresserhorn Sinks
*1 Frost Marsh
*1 Scrying Sheets
*3 Snow-Covered Plains
*5 Snow-Covered Island
*4 Snow-Covered Swamp
*4 Snow-Covered Mountain
*7 Snow-Covered Forest
*1 Krosan Verge
*1 Blighted Woodland
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Flooded Grove
[/Lands]"></div>

<hr />
<h2>Santa Took the Year Off</h2>
We're running 40 lands in this list, giving Rudolph plenty of room to touch down. We're a bit color-intensive, thanks to the many multi-pipped Oozes, so we've excised some obvious lands, such as <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frostwalk Bastion" href="#" target="_blank">Frostwalk Bastion</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Depths</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mouth of Ronom" href="#" target="_blank">Mouth of Ronom</a>. While we are trying to cool things down with ice counters, Marit Lage will have to wait a little longer: the additional color sources in this list seemed more important than a few more frosty permanents. Generally, our ice counters will be doing different things, but with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rimefeather Owl" href="#" target="_blank">Rimefeather Owl</a>, we can refrigerate our own gelatinous desserts, adding to our total number of Snow permanents in a pinch. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Woolly Razorback" href="#" target="_blank">Woolly Razorback</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thing in the Ice" href="#" target="_blank">Thing in the Ice</a> will even be Snowy for a little while.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rimefeather Owl"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Woolly Razorback"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thing in the Ice"></div></div>
More likely we'll be plowing away both with our abundance of winter wonderlands and with cards like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chulane, Teller of Tales" href="#" target="_blank">Chulane, Teller of Tales</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golos, Tireless Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Golos, Tireless Pilgrim</a> (incidentally, second and third in line for the Santa line of succession). It shouldn't be too difficult to flash in <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ice-Fang Coatl" href="#" target="_blank">Ice-Fang Coatl</a> with deathtouch, nor should <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heidar, Rimewind Master" href="#" target="_blank">Heidar, Rimewind Master</a>'s activated ability be unavailable for overlong.
Of course, as the snow piles up, so too should our +1/+1 counters, accumulating in the gooey eaves. While <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hardened Scales" href="#" target="_blank">Hardened Scales</a> might seem as brightly obvious as the North Star, our included lords and anthems and the like serve us well enough. And as far as the +1/+1 counter interactions themselves (e.g. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ooze Flux" href="#" target="_blank">Ooze Flux</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Experiment Kraj" href="#" target="_blank">Experiment Kraj</a>), we should have a reliable stockpile even without doubling.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obelisk of Urd"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Biowaste Blob"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tribal Unity"></div></div>
And hey, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obelisk of Urd" href="#" target="_blank">Obelisk of Urd</a> does a decent impression of a Douglas Fir.
<hr />
<h2>Santa's Back!</h2>
However, what if we had someone pulling the reins as well? Left alone, Jegantha just kind of follows their nose. A little bit of navigational experience from a pilot with more than a few flights under their sash could give us some much-needed guidance. Indeed, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kenrith, the Returned King" href="#" target="_blank">Kenrith, the Returned King</a> has 3,630 decks as of this writing, compared to Jegantha's 216. Sorry, Rudolph.
Santa does not simply walk to the table. He'll need Jegantha leading the van (and maybe <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crown of Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Crown of Ascension</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snow Devil" href="#" target="_blank">Snow Devil</a>) if he's going to take flight.
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="To Be Jolly" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kenrith, the Returned King
[/Commander]
[Companion]
*1 Jegantha, the Wellspring
[/Companion]
[Creatures]
*1 Boreal Druid
*1 Chilling Shade
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Conifer Wurm
*1 Diamond Faerie
*1 Zombie Musher
*1 Heidar, Rimewind Master
*1 Ice-Fang Coatl
*1 Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
*1 Chulane, Teller of Tales
*1 Sisay, Weatherlight Captain
*1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
*1 Yule Ooze
*1 Mitotic Slime
*1 Slurrk, All-Ingesting
*1 Prime Speaker Vannifar
*1 Bloodhall Ooze
*1 Manaplasm
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Metallic Mimic
*1 Inexorable Blob
*1 Ravenous Slime
*1 The Mimeoplasm
*1 Corrosive Ooze
*1 Corpsejack Menace
*1 Blizzard Specter
*1 Rime Tender
*1 Blizzard Strix
*1 Abominable Treefolk
*1 Rimewind Cryomancer
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Tribal Unity
*1 Skred
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Into the North
*1 Cultivate
*1 Miming Slime
*1 Hurricane
*1 Harsh Mercy
*1 Slime Molding
*1 Glacial Revelation
*1 Dead of Winter
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Arcum’s Astrolabe
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Obelisk of Urd
*1 Vanquisher’s Banner
*1 Slate of Ancestry
*1 The Ozolith
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Marit Lage’s Slumber
*1 Gelid Shackles
*1 On Thin Ice
*1 Snow Devil
*1 Ooze Garden
*1 Ooze Flux
*1 Crown of Ascension
*1 Etchings of the Chosen
*1 Steely Resolve
*1 Winter’s Night
*1 Gutter Grime
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Command Tower
*1 Karn’s Bastion
*1 Novijen, Heart of Progress
*1 Highland Weald
*1 Boreal Shelf
*1 Arctic Flats
*1 Tresserhorn Sinks
*1 Frost Marsh
*1 Scrying Sheets
*3 Snow-Covered Plains
*5 Snow-Covered Island
*4 Snow-Covered Swamp
*4 Snow-Covered Mountain
*6 Snow-Covered Forest
*1 Krosan Verge
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Mouth of Ronom
*1 Frostwalk Bastion
*1 Dark Depths
*1 Thespian’s Stage
[/Lands]"></div>

<hr />
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slate of Ancestry" href="#" target="_blank">Slate of Ancestry</a> will tell the tales of the sleigh-drivers. Oh, and now with Kenrith reigning o'er the land, tossing your hand into the 'yard has the potential to fuel your commander's fifth activated ability. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mimeoplasm" href="#" target="_blank">The Mimeoplasm</a> doesn't mind a populated charnel house, either. Huh, sounds festive.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pine Walker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Ski Patrol"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feast of the Unicorn"></div></div>
You'll have noticed that the +1/+1 counter quaternary theme has suffered in the new list, but Kenrith himself provides a bit of support with his second activated ability. In addition, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpsejack Menace" href="#" target="_blank">Corpsejack Menace</a> showed up, fitting in nicely with the forgotten leftovers of the holidays. Without <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rimefeather Owl" href="#" target="_blank">Rimefeather Owl</a>, we won't be feasibly freezing our Oozes, and our lost lords a-leaping means less in the way of holiday cheer. So, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dead of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Dead of Winter</a> is likely to hit our jams and jellies along with any other creatures sans snowfall. Fortunately, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kenrith, Returned King" href="#" target="_blank">Kenrith, Returned King</a> can convince our lazier (that is, dead) Oozes to get back into the workshop and get them making toys again. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prime Speaker Vannifar" href="#" target="_blank">Prime Speaker Vannifar</a> is an Elf Ooze Wizard, so this extremely roundabout metaphor has legs. Or, uh, slime... feet.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slimefoot, the Stowaway"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Year's End</h2>
That's it for this Frore and Frosty Feast, Prepared Two Ways, and Forgotten in the Fridge, and that's it for this inaugural edition of Yule Shot. I hope you all enjoy the remainder of this winter season as much as possible - it is the denouement to 2020, after all. Be sure to fish out any +1/+1 counters in your eggnog, those aren't supposed to be in there. Let us know in the comments below if you've gotten up to any wintry brewing lately, and what it's looking like. Food tokens? Politics? Group hug? Every single card with synonyms for cold?
Till next time. I'll be hoping you all stay safe and warm and fed this season. Happy holidays!

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