The Top 10 Typal Commander Precons

<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://indusconcept.com/?ckattempt=1">Yongjae Choi</a></em></span></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/wizards">Wizards</a> are as old as the concept of magic and varied as the cultures they appear in. And <em>Magic</em> takes this in stride, depicting hundreds of wizards across dozens of planes using a variety of spells and techniques.</p>
<p>But how do you play Wizards in Commander? What are the strengths and weaknesses of Wizard decks? And how do you win with Wizards in Commander?</p>
<p>This EDHREC Guide is here to answer all of these questions.</p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1920-inalla-archmage-ritualist-e1781183504122.jpg

<p>Wizards have been in <em>Magic</em> since <em>Alpha</em> and have only continued to grow from there.</p>
<p><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> since their inception, they have appearances in every color and often involve powerful abilities to compensate for middling statlines.</p>
<p>Typically, each plane will have multiple factions or culture groups and those factions will each have a variety of Wizards within them dependent on the plane's needs.</p>
<p>For instance, Zendikar possesses a number of elementalists who control Elementals while Innistrad's Ghoulcallers wake the dead.</p>
<p>On Ravinca, the entire Izzet guild is reliant on the melting pot of many different Wizards pooling their genius together.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Niv-Mizzet, Parun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tempest Angler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kefka, Dancing Mad"></div></div>
<p>In <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/grand-creature-type-update-2007-09-26">the Grand Creature Type Update</a>, the Wizard creature type absorbed a variety of spell-casting classes such as Mage, Sorcerer, Sorceress, and Witch.</p>
<p>Unlike many other creature type updates, though, Wizards weren't intended to be a catch-all for spellcasters!</p>
<p>Warlocks still occupy the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> niche, Shamans the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Druids the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and Clerics the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>These disparate spellcaster creature types represent different 'flavors' of magical practice, where all those obsolete classes subsumed by Wizard had the same flavor of studying arcane power to manifest spells.</p>
<p>Wizards are also considered to be part of a 'party' alongside Clerics, Rogues, and Warriors.</p>


<h3>Spellslinging</h3>
<p>If you want to play a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger">Spellslinger</a> deck, Wizards are your best friend.</p>
<p>They often have powerful synergies with casting or reclaiming instants and sorceries, with the prowess keyword being quite common among them.</p>
<p>They might grant cost reduction, grant you creature tokens, or copy certain spells you cast.</p>
<p>Wizards are reliant upon but also wholly support spell slinging, burn damage, and stack control.</p>
<p>And with their concentration in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-ur" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, they have access to quite powerful instants and sorceries!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Veyran, Voice of Duality"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stormcatch Mentor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Talrand, Sky Summoner"></div></div>
<h3>Hitting the Books</h3>
<p>Many Wizards, as a result of being <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, enjoy granting you information you wouldn't otherwise have access to.</p>
<p>This might be scrying, surveilling, or always having access to the top card of your deck. In some cases, you can even play that top card.</p>
<p>On top of that, many Wizards also grant you the ability to draw cards!</p>
<p>These Wizards grant you incredible control of what your hand and near-future hand will be, making informed decisions about what makes it to the top of your library and what happens once it makes it there.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nalia de&#039;Arnise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azami, Lady of Scrolls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aether Channeler"></div></div>
<h3>Unlimited Power</h3>
<p>Wizards really do it all, with only a few slices of the color pie being inaccessible to them.</p>
<p>They duplicate ability triggers, synergize with multiple creature classes such as Monks and the rest of the party, and can reclaim cards from the graveyard.</p>
<p>Alternatively, they can deal incredible damage directly to your opponents.</p>
<p>Most Wizards can only do one specific thing, as most creatures do.</p>
<p>But the variety of what Wizards as a creature type have access to is astounding. Effectively, anything their magic can accomplish!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Naban, Dean of Iteration"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fandaniel, Telophoroi Ascian"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archmage of Echoes"></div></div>


<h3>Hit the Gym</h3>
<p>Wizards have to make a choice, either to have a powerful ability or decent power and toughness.</p>
<p>Many times, Wizards choose the former. And as a result, you can make copies of your instants or reclaim your sorceries but your most powerful creature is a 3/3 you can't afford to block with.</p>
<p>There are certainly exceptions, though, mostly occupying the 'battle-mage' archetype or Wizards which possesses prowess.</p>
<p>These Wizards often have lower-powered abilities than others, but they generally still have <em>an</em> ability to supplement their statline. Therefore, you'll rarely have a Wizard that is 'just' a blocker.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Queen Brahne"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer"></div></div>
<h3>Education is Expensive</h3>
<p>Even mid-range Wizards tend to be very expensive and, as discussed above, they almost never have a power or toughness exceeding their mana cost.</p>
<p>This is coupled with their reliance on instants and sorceries, meaning you not only have to have the mana to cast your Wizards but also enough saved to maintain the board state.</p>
<p>Wizards get around this mostly by fielding creatures who reduce the cost of your Wizards, though the mana generation of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> provides can offset this as well.</p>
<p>So long as you don't get impatient, you'll be able to slowly build up a force of Wizards while retaining enough mana to respond to threats each turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stonybrook Banneret"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baral, Chief of Compliance"></div></div>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has <em>Eminence,</em> a keyword that allows it to provide value while on the battlefield or in the command zone.</p>
<p>Inalla in particular gives you the ability to pay <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> when a nontoken Wizards enters the battlefield (ETB) under your control in order to create a copy of that Wizard.</p>
<p>The copy gains haste and is exiled at the beginning of the next end step.</p>
<p>With only <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> you can double the discount from a cost-reducing Wizard, the damage of a pinging Wizard, or the spells reclaimed from a retrieval Wizard.</p>
<p>Many of Wizards' most powerful effects are reliant upon ETB, and since this is an <em>Eminence </em>ability your opponents can't shut it down easily.</p>
<p>The ability to tap five Wizards to cause a player to lose seven life is useful and made easier by the extra Wizard tokens you'll be forming, but not the main draw of Inalla.</p>
<p>It's useful for ensuring value from your tokens before they're exiled and can occur more than once per turn!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azami, Lady of Scrolls" href="#" target="_blank">Azami, Lady of Scrolls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azami, Lady of Scrolls"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azami, Lady of Scrolls" href="#" target="_blank">Azami, Lady of Scrolls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives every one of your Wizards the ability to tap and allow you to draw a card.</p>
<p>This increases your card draw with a limit only determined by how many Wizards you have.</p>
<p>And your Wizards often have abilities that don't need to be tapped to be activated, meaning they still grant their intended value.</p>
<p>Pair this with the fact your Wizards likely won't be blocking, and this is effectively free card draw!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bria, Riptide Rogue" href="#" target="_blank">Bria, Riptide Rogue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bria, Riptide Rogue"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bria, Riptide Rogue" href="#" target="_blank">Bria, Riptide Rogue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ensures that all of your creatures have prowess, gaining +1/+1 until end of turn each time you cast a noncreature spell.</p>
<p>Not only does this stack with any other creatures' prowess keywords, but Bria has the additional effect that each noncreature spell you cast makes a target creature unable to block for the turn.</p>
<p>Bria is a more much aggressive and active commander than most Wizards, actively pushing your board state to attack and giving you the ability to compensate for Wizards' poor power.</p>
<p>Depending on how many spells you're casting in a turn, you can devastate even a well-guarded opponent by bypassing their defenders, swinging with prowess, and dealing direct damage with instants and sorceries.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alania, Divergent Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Alania, Divergent Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alania, Divergent Storm"></div></div>
<p>Whenever you cast a spell, if it's the first instant, sorcery or Otter spell other than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alania, Divergent Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Alania, Divergent Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>  you've cast this turn, you can let an opponent draw a card. If you do, you can copy that spell.</p>
<p>This allows you to dip into group <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/group-hug">Group Hug</a>, particularly when paired with other spells oriented around benefiting any target including your opponents.</p>
<p>But it also isn't that high a cost to simply get free copies of your instants and sorceries, given your ability to double anything from damage to card draw to alternate win conditions.</p>
<p>It can even support combining an Otter subtheme into your Wizard typal deck, given the power of certain Otter Wizards such as Alania.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer"></div></div>
<p>Each of your end steps, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates a 0/1 Wizard that deals 1 damage to each opponent for every noncreature spell you cast.</p>
<p>Then if you have four or more Wizards, Kuja transforms and has a new ability where Wizards you control deal double damage to permanents and players.</p>
<p>This doubles the pinging damage from the 0/1 Wizards Kujo previously created, providing up to eight damage per noncreature spell cast as many times as you have creatures to cast.</p>
<p>Though this also doubles the damage dealt from their activated abilities or combat damage from toughness, empowering Wizards with prowess even further.</p>
<p>The intended setup is to further the strength of your Wizard tokens, though this is far from the only synergy.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaza, Roil Chaser" href="#" target="_blank">Kaza, Roil Chaser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kaza, Roil Chaser"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaza, Roil Chaser" href="#" target="_blank">Kaza, Roil Chaser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is two-mana 1/2 with flying and haste which can tap to reduce the next instant or sorcery spell's cost by X, where X is the number of Wizards you control.</p>
<p>Assuming you have two other Wizards upon casting Kaza, this ability immediately reduces the instant or sorcery for more than Kaza cost.</p>
<p>Kaza's greatest weakness is its frailty paired with an increasing commander tax, leading to lower and lower immediate returns.</p>
<p>A commander granting cost-saving to other cards is incredibly powerful so long as you save more than you're spending.</p>
<p>Should you have any ability to protect Kaza, the cost reduction will add up overtime even after playing Kaza with a commander tax.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naban, Dean of Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Naban, Dean of Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Naban, Dean of Iteration"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naban, Dean of Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Naban, Dean of Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> causes any ETB effects from Wizards you control to trigger an additional time.</p>
<p>There are quite a few Wizards that have an ETB such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, where the ability to repeat it doubles its value.</p>
<p>Most Wizards provide their value from their abilities, so many of these ETB Wizards struggle to add value other than being a 'Wizard on the board' upon being cast.</p>
<p>Naban doesn't extend their usefulness past their casting, but does enhance it.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adeliz, the Cinder Wind" href="#" target="_blank">Adeliz, the Cinder Wind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adeliz, the Cinder Wind"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adeliz, the Cinder Wind" href="#" target="_blank">Adeliz, the Cinder Wind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effectively, but does not literally, grant prowess to all of your Wizards. Including itself!</p>
<p>Adeliz's ability only activates upon casting instants and sorceries, but it pairs with existing prowess keywords or Wizard activations from casting noncreature spells.</p>
<p>Depending on what spells you can cast in a turn, it can even turn middling Wizards with 1/1 and 2/2 statlines into genuine threats that need to be responded to independent of whatever abilities they might have.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mysidian Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Mysidian Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mysidian Elder"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mysidian Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Mysidian Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has an ETB to create a 0/1 Wizard that deals a damage to each opponent whenever you cast a noncreature spell.</p>
<p>This provides you two Wizards for the cost of one while dealing consistent damage each time you cast a noncreature spell.</p>
<p>The natural synergy is with commanders such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but using a 1/3 as a blocker while protecting a 0/1 that pings each noncreature spell cast is a sustainable strategy!</p>
<p>Particularly if you can double the ETB to create multiple tokens or reclaim it from the graveyard.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nalia de&#039;Arnise" href="#" target="_blank">Nalia de&#039;Arnise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nalia de&#039;Arnise"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nalia de&#039;Arnise" href="#" target="_blank">Nalia de&#039;Arnise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is intended to assist you in forming a party, allowing you to look at the top card of your library and cast Clerics, Rogues, Warriors, and Wizards from it.</p>
<p>Each combat you have a full party, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control and grant them deathtouch until end of turn.</p>
<p>For a Wizard typal deck, this is still useful!</p>
<p>However, the greatest value it provides is in allowing you greater access to Wizards from the top of your library with no need for the remainder of the party.</p>
<p>Your Wizards likely won't be swinging directly, meaning that +1/+1 counters and deathtouch won't be useful.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gains +1/+0 for each artifact you control while also creating a Treasure token each time you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.</p>
<p>This, of course, is a self-building synergy where casting spells grants you more Treasure tokens which increase Storm-Kiln Artist's power.</p>
<p>But the most valuable contribution it grants is the ability to create Treasures off of casting and copying instants and sorceries.</p>
<p>This effectively decreases the cost of any instant or sorcery by one mana of any color, ensuring you can keep up the pressure.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Isochron Scepter"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to exile an instant from your hand with converted mana cost two or less from your hand. You may then copy it and cast the copy 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> on.</p>
<p>This allows you repeatedly cast a low-costed instant, triggering multiple ability activations from your Wizards each time you cast and potentially even each time you copy it.</p>
<p>What instant you copy is variable based on your needs, but something repeatable and flexible in its target are the best options.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Robe of the Archmagi" href="#" target="_blank">Robe of the Archmagi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Robe of the Archmagi"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Robe of the Archmagi" href="#" target="_blank">Robe of the Archmagi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> synergizes best with Wizards with prowess, being only <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to equip to them and allowing you to draw cards equal to the combat damage they deal.</p>
<p>Even for a low-power Wizard, drawing two or three cards by swinging them at an open opponent will give you an incredible amount of value over time.</p>
<p>Equipping the robe to a dedicated attacker will fill up your hand in a single turn.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormchaser&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Stormchaser&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stormchaser&#039;s Talent"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormchaser&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Stormchaser&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Class enchantment, meaning it begins at Level 1 and you must spend additional mana to advance it up to its maximum of Level 3.</p>
<p>At Level 1, you create a 1/1 Otter with prowess. At Level 2, you may instantly return an instant or sorcery from your graveyard to your hand.</p>
<p>And at Level 3, any time you cast an instant or sorcery spell you create a 1/1 Otter with prowess.</p>
<p>While expensive, the highest-value of this Class is the ability to create an Otter with prowess each time you cast an instant or sorcery.</p>
<p>Even though they aren't Wizards, that's still bodies that scale with your spellslinging to occupy your side of the board.</p>
<p>Paired with an Otter commender, you can very easily run a dual-typal Wizard Otter deck, though that's not a requirement to get incredible use from this Class.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thousand-Year Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thousand-Year Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thousand-Year Storm"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thousand-Year Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thousand-Year Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to copy an instant or sorcery you cast for each other instant and sorcery spell you cast before it this turn.</p>
<p>This only scales off of spells you cast, not copies of them made by the Storm, but it still scales quickly!</p>
<p>With any amount of card draw or cost reduction, this can lead to an incredible amount of copies for your spells cast, turning a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into a board wipe or even a win condition.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Artist&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Artist&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Artist&#039;s Talent"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Artist&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Artist&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another Class, this time reliant on enhancing your noncreature spells.</p>
<p>At Level 1, casting a noncreature spell allows you to discard a card in order to draw a card.</p>
<p>At Level 2, your noncreature spells cast <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> less. Level 3 increases your noncombat damage by 2.</p>
<p>This greatly enhances your flexibility in instants and sorceries in particular, allowing you to shape your hand while casting them for cheaper and hitting harder.</p>
<p>If you're struggling for mana production, stretching to hit Level 2 and then just sitting on it will save you quite a bit of mana going forward.</p>
<p>The extra damage is something you can invest in once you stabilize your mana production.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning Bolt"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> instant that deals three damage to any target.</p>
<p>It's cheap, it's versatile, and it is downright oppressive when paired with a Wizard deck.</p>
<p>You can increase its damage, copy it to cast it again, reclaim it from the graveyard, trigger activated abilities from it, and so much more.</p>
<p>There are many spells like it, which are cheap, high-value instants and sorceries that are useful on their own and enhanced further through synergies with Wizards.</p>
<p>Most are considered color staples so I won't mention them here, but things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Negate" href="#" target="_blank">Negate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Opt" href="#" target="_blank">Opt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consider" href="#" target="_blank">Consider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all occupy a similar state.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ponder" href="#" target="_blank">Ponder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ponder"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ponder" href="#" target="_blank">Ponder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to look at the top three cards of your library and return them in any order for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, then draw a card.</p>
<p>It's cheap, it's effective at sculpting your upcoming hands, and it triggers your Wizard triggers! Great all around.</p>
<h2><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></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Step Through"></div></div>
<p><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> allows you to return two creatures to their owners' hands, which can shut down a built-up opponent or allow you regain the benefits of your own Wizards' ETB.</p>
<p>You can even split the difference and choose one of each, depending on what best suits the scenario.</p>
<p>Additionally, you may discard it 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> in order to search your library for a Wizard and add it to your hand.</p>
<p>This ensures you'll find value from Step Through, even if it isn't by directly casting it.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Crackling Wit" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Crackling Wit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ral, Crackling Wit"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Crackling Wit" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Crackling Wit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gains a loyalty counter each time you cast a noncreature spell.</p>
<p>In addition to this, it can gain one by creating a 1/1 Otter with prowess. This means you'll be able to keep Ral's loyalty high and jump it up into the double digits almost immediately depending on your hand when casting it.</p>
<p>For -3 loyalty counters you can draw three cards and then discard two.</p>
<p>Ral's ultimate allows you to both draw three cards and also grant you an emblem where your instants and sorceries gain storm.</p>
<p>This means they're copied for each spell cast before it this turn.</p>
<p>This isn't only powerful, it's also entirely reasonable given how many noncreature spells you'll be casting!</p>
<p>Any number of one-two mana instants can provide both a loyalty counter alongside independent value, meaning you may not even need to create an Otter with prowess to use Ral's ultimate.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Storm Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Storm Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ral, Storm Conduit"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Storm Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Storm Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a different rendition of the same planeswalker. Instead of gaining loyalty counters, whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, Ral deals a pint of damage to an opponent or planeswalker.</p>
<p>It can increase its loyalty to scry and it can decrease to copy your next instant or sorcery.</p>
<p>While scrying one card is underwhelming, the passive ability to deal continuous targeted ping damage can't be overstated.</p>
<p>It synergizes with Ral's second activated ability and will also trigger regularly on your turn, granting a great vector of pressure to whittle down planeswalkers or chip away at an opponent.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, Wielder of Mysteries" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, Wielder of Mysteries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jace, Wielder of Mysteries"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, Wielder of Mysteries" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, Wielder of Mysteries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an odd one, allowing you to win the game if you would draw from an empty library.</p>
<p>Jace's ultimate also allows you to draw seven cards and win the game if you would have no cards in your library after that.</p>
<p>His +1 forces a player to mill two cards and then you may draw a card.</p>
<p>This doesn't directly synergize with Wizards, but it synergizes with card draw and self-mill.</p>
<p>It effectively functions like a more-expensive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and has a known combo with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorph" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it doesn't actually go against the Wizard strategy.</p>
<p>Consistent card draw paired with control of your opponents' libraries is useful in any deck, regardless of if you're going for the alternate win condition.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Sanctuary"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enters unless you control three or more other Islands, which Wizards will have no trouble playing with their concentration in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>If you manage to hold off and ensure Mystic Sanctuary isn't tapped, it gains an ETB to return an instant or sorcery from your graveyard on top of your library.</p>
<p>This effect won't activate until you have multiple Islands, which means you're likely going to have gone through more than a handful of turns before using it.</p>
<p>That gives plenty of time to activate a noncreature spell you'd like to return to your library, of any power level across low and mid-range costs.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otawara, Soaring City" href="#" target="_blank">Otawara, Soaring City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Otawara, Soaring City"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otawara, Soaring City" href="#" target="_blank">Otawara, Soaring City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be discarded for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" 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> to return an artifact, creature, enchantment, or planeswalker to its owner's hand.</p>
<p>This costs <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> less for each legendary creature you control, meaning your powerful Wizards with big effects.</p>
<p>Returning nearly any permanent to its owner's hand for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> is great, particularly if you're already doing fine with lands and don't mind discarding it.</p>
<p>This can be used to remove a particularly problematic creature, shut down a tax like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or return your own permanents to your hand and allow you to capitalize on their ETB.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alchemist&#039;s Refuge" href="#" target="_blank">Alchemist&#039;s Refuge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alchemist&#039;s Refuge"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alchemist&#039;s Refuge" href="#" target="_blank">Alchemist&#039;s Refuge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives you the ability to cast your spells as though they had flash for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" 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>.</p>
<p>This has no significant difference on instants, but it gives you out-of-turn creature ETB effects, surprise enchantments, and sorceries changing the board state right before your upkeep.</p>
<p>The unpredictability of this can really throw your opponents off their game while the flexibility it allots you can allow for some pretty flashy displays of power. It certainly requires some planning, but it's a good option to have.</p>


<p>Wizards rely upon your noncreature spells, most notably instants and sorceries.</p>
<p>Many have low power and toughness, existing only to retrieve noncreature spells from the graveyard or copy them upon casting.</p>
<p>A fair few Wizards have an ability that triggers each time an instant or sorcery, sometimes any noncreature spell, is cast. Sometimes even when they're copied!</p>
<p>These effects are often minor and meant to supplement the noncreature spell's effect, but adding up over both time and volume can lead to devastating waves that beat down your opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mysidian Elder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guttersnipe"></div></div>
<p>Otherwise, Wizards want to strengthen a few combat-oriented creatures with prowess or Magecraft and open up the field to allow them to attack directly.</p>
<p>These are explosive, dynamic decks that want to maximize their mana expenditure in a single turn.</p>
<p>They cast a number of inexpensive instants and sorceries to pump their creatures, removing or tapping key blockers, and attempting to take down an opponent in a turn or two.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Veyran, Voice of Duality"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tempest Angler"></div></div>


<p>There are number of combos Wizards have access to, be it two-turn combos restricted to higher brackets or methods of creating infinite triggers of Magecraft.</p>
<p>Often, these combos are reliant on card draw, instant casting triggers/reclamation, or the ability to ping for a small amount of damage multiple times per turn.</p>
<p>Some of them don't even involve Wizards, though they're Wizard-aligned and synergize with Wizard strategies even if not of they same creature type.</p>
<p>Niv-Mizzet has multiple iterations who deal a damage to any target upon you drawing a card, which can be paired with an enchantment to allow you to draw a card upon dealing damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Niv-Mizzet, Parun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curiosity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can go infinite with multiple different spell combinations, relying on keywords such as buyback to create Treasure tokens it then spends to cast additional copies of spells.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seething Song"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reiterate"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to return creatures such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrine Drake" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrine Drake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to your hand, gaining the effects of their ETB once more and returning Ghostly Flicker to your hand for one more untapped land than you started with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghostly Flicker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peregrine Drake"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer"></div></div>


Wizards in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Admiral Beckett Brass" href="#" target="_blank">Admiral Beckett Brass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.jasonrainville.com/">Jason Rainville</a></em></span></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/pirates">Pirates</a> are the scourge of the seas and terrors of the coast. And in <em>Magic,</em> they can go as wild as the folklore surrounding them, fighting krakens and defying death in their endless search for treasure.</p>
<p>But how do you play Pirates in Commander? What are Pirate typal decks' strengths and weaknesses? And how do Pirates win in Commander?</p>
<p>This EDHREC Guide is here to answer all of these questions.</p>


<p>Pirates first appeared back in 1996 during the <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/mir"><em>Mirage</em> </a>set. They've since featured across various sets overtime in variable quantities, most often appearing in high concentrations in specific planes such as Ixalan.</p>
<p>Sea-faring by nature, Pirates overwhelmingly lean towards <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, though they aren't fully immersed in the color.</p>
<p>There's a fair amount of variation with <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to represent their free spirits and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to represent their tendency to blunder, even without any splash of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>This means Pirates can be found across all of Grixis, with there being multiple Grixis Pirate commanders.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kukemssa Pirates"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Corsair Captain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Port Razer"></div></div>
<p>In the Grand Creature Type Update, Pirates absorbed the now-defunct Merchant creature type, primarily affecting the Talas such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talas Merchant" href="#" target="_blank">Talas Merchant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>As of <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/otj">Outlaws of Thunder Junction</a>,</em> Pirates are considered Outlaws alongside Assassins, Mercenaries, Rogues, and Warlocks while remaining distinct creature types from one another.</p>


<h3>Join the Crew</h3>
<p>Pirates, by their nature of thieves and scoundrels, excel at stealing your opponents' permanents.</p>
<p>This most often manifests in cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zara, Renegade Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Zara, Renegade Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and grants you temporary control of your opponents' creatures, but they just as well steal artifacts or even just the top card of their deck.</p>
<p>This is entirely reliant on the strength of your opponents' creatures, where <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger">Spellslinger</a> or <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/mill">Mill</a> decks might have no useful creatures for you to recruit into your ranks!</p>
<p>But Pirates don't entirely rely upon the creatures they steal, they just use them to supplement their own strategies.</p>
<p>With how much <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> Pirates lean into, that's perfect to get free sacrifice fodder.</p>
<p>Alternatively, having an additional blocker while focusing on a primary attack with your Pirates adds an extra level of security.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zara, Renegade Recruiter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coercive Recruiter"></div></div>
<h3>Treasure and Plunder</h3>
<p>Pirates love treasure, so it's only natural that they have multiple ways of creating Treasure tokens.</p>
<p>Sometimes this involves active participation from attacking an opponent or losing life while other times your Pirates just have an enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effect that give you Treasure for free.</p>
<p>Treasure is a generic artifact token that can be tapped and sacrificed to give you one mana of any color.</p>
<p>This gives Pirates the unique position of having enhanced mana production alongside card draw and removal from the colors they're aligned with.</p>
<p>Their mana production coming from artifacts also means they can get additional benefits from the multiple methods of artifact-interaction inherent to <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-ur" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gemcutter Buccaneer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ramirez DePietro, Pillager"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breeches, Eager Pillager"></div></div>
<h3>Scum and Villainy</h3>
<p>Pirates sail ships, so they have a fair amount of support for fielding Vehicles. They're also Outlaws, meaning they find friends in Assassins, Mercenaries, Rogues, and Warlocks. Pirates, therefore, have synergy with quite a few different non-Pirate creature types!</p>
<p>Certain Pirates or Pirate-adjacent creatures have effects that hit on different synergies Pirates can lean into, most often separated by set.</p>
<p><em>Thunder Junction</em> leaned more into Outlaw support while Ixalan Pirates of had Vehicle support. Pirates aren't tied to either synergy, allowing you to flexibly incorporate either or neither in your deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Indomitable"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adéwalé, Breaker of Chains"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Olivia, Opulent Outlaw"></div></div>


<h3>All Offense</h3>
<p>Very few Pirates have any amount of protection, either for themself or your other creatures.</p>
<p>As such, they're incredibly vulnerable to targeted removal or board wipes or targeted damage from spells.</p>
<p>Their toughness usually is lower than their power, sometimes significantly so. And you have little recourse against flying creatures.</p>
<p>The ideal battlefield setup won't have to worry about that, though, because of how many of your opponents' creatures you can steal.</p>
<p>With all of the Treasure you're making, you can simply play more Pirates. And while some of your Pirates might be more valuable than others, few are expensive.</p>
<p>Pirates therefore find protection not in actually protecting themselves, but by the opportunity cost of what else your opponents can target instead.</p>
<p>Once you start getting aggressive you might force their hand, but until that point you'll likely be able to avoid their notice by sticking to skirmishes.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Francisco, Fowl Marauder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm Fleet Sprinter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daring Saboteur"></div></div>
<h3>Keep the Crew Happy</h3>
<p>Pirates aren't expensive as individual creatures, though they often come with additional costs to them.</p>
<p>Alternatively, they'll require specific setup or investment before they actually have a payoff that is worth fielding them.</p>
<p>Unlike other creature types which have static synergies that stack atop one another, Pirates require more direct involvement in their preparation. This might be making sure you have enough Treasure, discarding cards, or losing life.</p>
<p>There are many Pirates that do simply grant incremental bonuses to your creatures, but overall Pirate strategies tend to rely upon loud, swingy decisions that can really hurt you if you play them poorly.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marchesa, the Black Rose"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captain Howler, Sea Scourge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captain Vargus Wrath"></div></div>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edward Kenway" href="#" target="_blank">Edward Kenway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edward Kenway"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edward Kenway" href="#" target="_blank">Edward Kenway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does everything Pirates synergize with! Each of your end steps, Edward Kenway creates a Treasure token for each tapped Assassin, Pirate, and/or Vehicle you control.</p>
<p>This includes tapping after attacking as well as tapping to crew a Vehicle, allowing you to maximize your treasure production by fielding high-Crew Vehicles in your deck.</p>
<p>Vehicles are artifacts that can temporarily become artifact creatures by tapping a number of creatures whose combined strength exceeds a listed value.</p>
<p>Further, this lists various permanents you <em>control,</em> which aligns with the Pirate strategy of stealing your opponents' permanents for yourself.</p>
<p>And this "benefit from creatures crewing Vehicles" extends into Kenway's second effect, allowing you to exile and play the top of an opponent's library after dealing combat damage to them with a Vehicle.</p>
<p>Which if it's a creature, can then gain you more Treasure tokens on subsequent turns.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Admiral Brass, Unsinkable" href="#" target="_blank">Admiral Brass, Unsinkable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Admiral Brass, Unsinkable"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Admiral Brass, Unsinkable" href="#" target="_blank">Admiral Brass, Unsinkable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> really leans into being Grixis, with how it prioritizes short-term benefits involving self-sacrifice.</p>
<p>Playing Admiral Brass mills four of your cards and then at the beginning of each combat on your turn, you may return a Pirate from your graveyard to the battlefield.</p>
<p>They have a base power and toughness of 4/4, which is better than most Pirates have natively, and gain haste until end of turn which allows them to attack instantly.</p>
<p>The unfortunate side-effect is that they gain a finality counter, causing them to be exiled upon death.</p>
<p>However, Admiral Brass gives free retrieval from the graveyard with an upgrade to your Pirates' statline in most cases. Any ETB effect can thereby be doubled from your Pirates, assuming you can play them, lose them, and then return them with Admiral Brass.</p>
<p>And ultimately, most of your Pirates will help you steal permanents or produce Treasures. If a few get exiled along the way, that's well-worth it.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Admiral Beckett Brass" href="#" target="_blank">Admiral Beckett Brass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Admiral Beckett Brass"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Admiral Beckett Brass" href="#" target="_blank">Admiral Beckett Brass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives a very comfortable +1/+1 to all of your other Pirates, which is nothing crazy but certainly helps.</p>
<p>Particularly any Pirates that might have one toughness, allowing them to survive most token blockers.</p>
<p>This pales to Admiral Beckett's second ability, allowing you to gain control of a nonland permanent controlled by a player who was dealt combat damage by three or more Pirates.</p>
<p>This might be a creature that's a major threat, an artifact that's core to their engine, or an enchantment that's just nice to have.</p>
<p>No matter the target, this is a powerful ability that requires capitalizing on an opening given it requires actually dealing combat damage with three or more Pirates.</p>
<p>Though this ends up being an upward spiral where the more you take from an opponent, the easier it is to dismantle their defenses, allowing for more plundering.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Breeches, Brazen Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> // <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Breeches, Brazen Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 3/3 with menace, which facilitates its second ability and allows it to deal damage to your opponents.</p>
<p>Whenever your Pirates deal damage to an opponent, you may exile the top card of their library and play that card, using using mana of any color to cast it.</p>
<p>This is incredibly aggressive but somewhat limited by your mana production, which is why Breeches is so often partnered with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Partner is a keyword that allows you to have two commanders which both have Partner.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 2/2 with flying, which is yet another way of bypassing your opponents' defenses.</p>
<p>But Malcolm capitalizes off of this by creating a Treasure token each time one or more of your Pirates deal damage to an opponent.</p>
<p>This of course synergizes with Breeches, allowing you to both exile cards from the top of your opponents' decks and gain mana-producing Treasures at the same time.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Francisco, Fowl Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Francisco, Fowl Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>// <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Francisco, Fowl Marauder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> shows up once again as a part of another partner deck! Malcolm provides all of the same benefits, but instead of fueling a strategy surrounding stealing cards from your opponents it instead pumps your economy.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Francisco, Fowl Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Francisco, Fowl Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 0/1 with flying and who can't block, but who gets to explore every time one or more of your Pirates deal damage to a player.</p>
<p>To explore, you check the top card of your library. If it's a land, you may put it in your hand; otherwise, Francisco gets +1/+1.</p>
<p>This means that as you continue to push the advance, Francisco gets stronger as a flying attacker which allows you to create more Treasures.</p>
<p>These allow you to play more Pirates, furthering the growth of Francisco with every additional opponent dealt damage to.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don Andres, the Renegade" href="#" target="_blank">Don Andres, the Renegade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Don Andres, the Renegade"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don Andres, the Renegade" href="#" target="_blank">Don Andres, the Renegade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> benefits from taking control of your opponents' spells.</p>
<p>For creatures, they gain +2/+2, menace and deathtouch, and are a Pirate in addition to their other types. Casting noncreature spells you don't own creates two tapped Treasure tokens.</p>
<p>This relies on the ability to gain control of your opponents' spells, which Pirates are swimming in.</p>
<p>Menace and deathtouch across all of your creatures you control but don't own alone is already quite powerful, but making those creatures Pirates allows them to continue whatever method of plundering you have access to.</p>
<p>Then with menace, that allows your stolen creatures to by pass your opponents' defenses and deal damage as Pirates, furthering your ability to take control of more creatures.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mary Read and Anne Bonny" href="#" target="_blank">Mary Read and Anne Bonny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mary Read and Anne Bonny"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mary Read and Anne Bonny" href="#" target="_blank">Mary Read and Anne Bonny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can tap to draw a card and then discard a card. Any time you discard an Island, Pirate, or Vehicle, create a tapped Treasure. Being in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-ur" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> affords quite a bit of self-discard via drawing and discarding.</p>
<p>You'll have plenty of options to thin your hand of cards that will grant you Treasure tokens with the potential to reclaim them later.</p>
<p>Particularly in the mid-late game when basic lands aren't as necessary due to your Treasure production, being able to discard an Island for delayed mana further rewards cycling through your cards.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider" href="#" target="_blank">Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider" href="#" target="_blank">Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to put a +1/+1 counter on a Pirate you control whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control.</p>
<p>This doesn't have any limit on how many times it can occur, meaning every time you create a Treasure token, play a Vehicle, or cast any other Artifact spell such as Equipment will progressively strengthen your Pirates more and more.</p>
<p>For such a cheap commander, its payoff is slow to build but consistent. The more ability you have to create artifact tokens such as Treasures, the faster this will scale.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dire Fleet Daredevil" href="#" target="_blank">Dire Fleet Daredevil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dire Fleet Daredevil"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dire Fleet Daredevil" href="#" target="_blank">Dire Fleet Daredevil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 2/1 with first strike that has an ETB to exile an instant or sorcery spell from an opponent's graveyard.</p>
<p>This turn, you can cast it by spending mana of any type and then the spell is exiled.</p>
<p>Not only does this allow you to single-out specific spells your opponents' might be looking to cast or return from their graveyard, it also gives you great flexibility in what spell to choose.</p>
<p>With how many Treasure tokens you can create, it's entirely reasonable to grab an expensive sorcery or you can nab a cheap instant to push the edge over in combat. You can even hold onto a counter to keep yourself safe during your turn.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warkite Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Warkite Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warkite Marauder"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warkite Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Warkite Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 2/1 with flying, where each time it attacks a creature the defending player controls becomes a 0/1 without any abilities until the end of turn.</p>
<p>Being a flying Pirate gives great utility in being able to bypass many defenses and proc a variety of abilities that rely on Pirates dealing combat damage to an opponent.</p>
<p>And for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" 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>, the ability to shut down a creature once per turn is pretty great.</p>
<p>You have to put your Marauder in harm's way by attacking in order to gain its effects, but even a single turn of shutting down your opponent's most dangerous blocker can have an incredible effect on the game.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merchant Raiders" href="#" target="_blank">Merchant Raiders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merchant Raiders"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merchant Raiders" href="#" target="_blank">Merchant Raiders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has an ETB where it taps one target creature which doesn't untap during its controller's untap step for as long as you control Merchant Raiders. It then grants this same ETB to every other Pirate you control.</p>
<p>So long as you can protect Merchant Raider, you can leave an opponent wide open which, again, is incredibly important for Pirates.</p>
<p>You want the ability to deal combat damage to activate multiple effects powerful Pirates have. Forcing an opponent's blockers to be tapped gives you a much easier time swinging directly.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Belligerent" href="#" target="_blank">The Belligerent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Belligerent"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Belligerent" href="#" target="_blank">The Belligerent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 5/5 Vehicle with Crew 3, meaning it's not considered a creature.</p>
<p>On your turn, you may tap any number of creatures whose power equals or exceeds three to make it a creature for the remainder of the turn.</p>
<p>The Belligerent creates a Treasure token whenever it attacks and allows you to look at the top card of your library until end of turn. You may play lands and cast spells from the top of your library for the same duration.</p>
<p>This Vehicle can be crewed with a single Pirate and provides immediate value upon attacking.</p>
<p>And because both the Treasure and card on top of your library are interacted with upon attacking, you can include any instant revealed as a part of that attack with effectively a one-mana discount.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jackdaw" href="#" target="_blank">Jackdaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jackdaw"></div></div>
<p>The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jackdaw" href="#" target="_blank">Jackdaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another Crew 3 Vehicle, meaning it's very easy to convert to a creature. Then each time it deals combat damage to a player, you may discard your hand and draw a card for each artifact you control.</p>
<p>This scales off of your Treasures, your Equipment, your Maps, and of course, your Vehicles.</p>
<p>Even if you have a single card in your hand, having a collection of tokens and Vehicles could lead to you drawing multiple more cards than you lost.</p>
<p>This is reliant on the Jackdaw dealing combat damage, which without keywords means you'll have to plan around it.</p>
<p>But it's equally useful to have the Jackdaw draw your opponents' attention while your other Pirates attack alongside it, giving you other ability activations.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bident of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Bident of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bident of Thassa"></div></div>
<p>The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bident of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Bident of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to draw a card whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, which is a trigger Pirates love inflicting. For all of their Treasure production, Pirates don't involve that much card draw. This turns the tide on how your economy will be fairing, giving you many more options to spend all of your mana on.</p>
<p>It can also tap for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" 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> to force your opponents' creatures to attack this turn if able, allowing you to clear out an opponent's field of blockers before attacking with your own Pirates directly. You'll have to defend against their attack, but the ability to swing directly with your Pirates can't be understated.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coastal Piracy" href="#" target="_blank">Coastal Piracy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coastal Piracy"></div></div>
<p>Much like the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bident of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Bident of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coastal Piracy" href="#" target="_blank">Coastal Piracy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> grants you card draw from your creatures dealing combat damage to an opponent.</p>
<p>This can stack alongside something like the Bident or function on its own, but either way drawing more cards from a strategy you were already going to do is a great thing.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Revel in Riches"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates a Treasure token whenever a creature an opponent controls dies. At the beginning of your upkeep, of you control ten or more Treasures, you win the game.</p>
<p>Alternate win-cons are always tricky, since they tend to be hard to build around and often struggle to take off when not directly supported. Creating Treasures, however, is one of the main things Pirates do.</p>
<p>Further, Revel grants you passive Treasure generation even if you aren't going for the alt win con.</p>
<p>While spending your Treasure tokens takes away from your progress towards Revel, they're so easy to replace that you should feel comfortable using them normally.</p>
<p>Once you reach eight or nine Treasures, a well-timed instant before your upkeep can win you the game.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Double Down" href="#" target="_blank">Double Down</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Double Down"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Double Down" href="#" target="_blank">Double Down</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> copies any outlaw spell you cast, including Pirates. This doubles all of your non-legendary Pirates as well as their ETBs, granting you additional bodies to swing in order to deal direct damage.</p>
<p>It's a solid inclusion for any Outlaw deck, whether mono-class or batched together.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lookout&#039;s Dispersal" href="#" target="_blank">Lookout&#039;s Dispersal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lookout&#039;s Dispersal"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lookout&#039;s Dispersal" href="#" target="_blank">Lookout&#039;s Dispersal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a counter that reduces its cost by <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> if you control a Pirate, which you almost always will.</p>
<p>The spell's controller can pay <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to overcome this effect, which for most decks will dissuade even important spells from being cast.</p>
<p>And even if the opponent does pay the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, that's four less mana they can spend on other spells.</p>
<p>Counters are doubly useful in a typal deck such as Pirates which lack in-built protections.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Money" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Money</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Money"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Money" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Money</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a board wipe that destroys all creatures and then creates a tapped Treasure for each nontoken creature destroyed.</p>
<p>This doesn't discriminate between your creatures and opponents' creatures and is quite expensive, but the delayed mana generation from the resulting Treasure tokens will offset that.</p>
<p>This can potentially win you the game when paired with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or simply wipe the board and create great value for you.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="March of the Drowned" href="#" target="_blank">March of the Drowned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="March of the Drowned"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="March of the Drowned" href="#" target="_blank">March of the Drowned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a cheap way to return one creature from your graveyard to your hand or two Pirates. Frail as they are, Pirates often are going to leave the battlefield shortly after being played and any way to return them will preserve your momentum.</p>
<p>It then doubles any ETBs they might have or those prompted by other permanents you have.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vraska, Relic Seeker" href="#" target="_blank">Vraska, Relic Seeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vraska, Relic Seeker"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vraska, Relic Seeker" href="#" target="_blank">Vraska, Relic Seeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can create a 2/2 Pirate with menace, which is a great vector to deal combat damage to opponents or thin out their defenders.</p>
<p>Vraska can also destroy an artifact, creature, or enchantment and create a Treasure, giving a highly efficient targeted removal. And as an ultimate, it reduces a player's life total to one.</p>
<p>You'll get the most value from balancing Vraska's +2 and -3 abilities, gaining Pirates and Treasures as necessary.</p>
<p>But assuming there's no interaction from your opponents, Vraska only requires two +2 activations to be able to use her ultimate.</p>
<p>If you want to try and rush down an opponent, it can absolutely work out where you can create some Pirates as blockers and then rush an opponent at one life.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dihada, Binder of Wills" href="#" target="_blank">Dihada, Binder of Wills</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dihada, Binder of Wills"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dihada, Binder of Wills" href="#" target="_blank">Dihada, Binder of Wills</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can grant your legendary creatures vigilance, lifelink, and indestructable until your next turn, protecting them for an entire round.</p>
<p>Dihada can also reveal the top four cards of your library and put any number of legendary cards into your hand and the rest in the graveyard.</p>
<p>For each put in the graveyard, you gain a Treasure token. Dihada's ultimate gains control of all nonland permanents until end of turn and gives them haste.</p>
<p>While not possessing direct synergy with Pirates or even Outlaws, Dihada synergizes with Pirates through Treasure generation and gaining control of opponents' permanents.</p>
<p>And a focus on legendary creatures is generic enough to apply to any creature type, though Pirates benefit from the addition of legendary Vehicles.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angrath, Minotaur Pirate" href="#" target="_blank">Angrath, Minotaur Pirate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angrath, Minotaur Pirate"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angrath, Minotaur Pirate" href="#" target="_blank">Angrath, Minotaur Pirate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deals 1 damage to an opponent and each creature that player controls, though unfortunately he is not a Pirate and does not activate any abilities triggered by Pirates dealing damage.</p>
<p>Angrath can also return a Pirate card from your graveyard to the graveyard, doubling any ETB effects they might have.</p>
<p>Angrath's ultimate destroys all creatures an opponent and deals damage to that player equal to the destroyed creatures' total power.</p>
<p>Consistent ping damage in and the ability to clear token blockers are fantastic for Pirates with how aggressive they are.</p>
<p>The safety net of being able to return select Pirates from the graveyard to the battlefield allows you to make riskier plays and recover from them. Your Pirates can prioritizes applying consistent pressure and then Angrath can activate in order to supplement your primary strategy.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rogue&#039;s Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Rogue&#039;s Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rogue&#039;s Passage"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rogue&#039;s Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Rogue&#039;s Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can tap to make a creature unable to be blocked this turn. For Pirates with how much they love dealing combat damage to opponents in order to activate effects, this is essential.</p>
<p>Particularly given how lacking many Pirates are in keywords such as menace or even flying.</p>
<p>An unblockable Pirate rarely "just" does damage, it's often able to continue or initiate multiple benefits that will further your other Pirates.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desolate Lighthouse" href="#" target="_blank">Desolate Lighthouse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Desolate Lighthouse"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desolate Lighthouse" href="#" target="_blank">Desolate Lighthouse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to draw a card and discard a card. With how many Treasures Pirates can produce, card draw is often their limiting factor so being able to advance that speeds along whatever gameplan they have in mind.</p>
<p>Further, a few Pirates have abilities that activate off of discarding certain types of cards, where this is a consistent means of activating them.</p>


<p>Pirates enjoy their aggressive skirmishes, rarely trying to rush down an opponent at once and more-so poking them consistently and taking what they can.</p>
<p>This means a lot of attacks, but rarely committing your entire force at a time. Most often this will involve one more Pirate than the opponent has defenders, allowing you to confirm combat damage without overextending.</p>
<p>After building up additional Pirates and Treasures, you're in a position to fully commit to rushing down an opponent.</p>
<p>This will be supplemented by high-impact Vehicles as well as instants and sorceries, both your own and your opponents'.</p>
<p>While Pirates aren't a creature type reliant on obscene quantities of creatures, they often field many Pirates at a time alongside their plundered allies.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Indomitable"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pitiless Plunderer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fathom Fleet Captain"></div></div>


<p>As mentioned earlier in this guide, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Money" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Money</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a board wipe that creates Treasures and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates Treasures when an opponent's creature dies, where you likely win the game upon your next upkeep.</p>
<p>There are alternatives to Blood Money in this setup such as <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>, where really anything that creates Treasure tokens and can push you above 10 is sufficient.</p>
<p>The biggest issue here is surviving until your next upkeep with Revel in Riches remaining on the field, which is highly dependent on the board state in how feasible that is.</p>
<p>Holding onto at least one counter and keeping your Pirates primed as blockers are good starts, but you also have to look out for your Treasures being destroyed or stolen.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Money"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Revel in Riches"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brass&#039;s Bounty"></div></div>
<p>Pirates also have the ability to completely roll the dice and rely upon their opponents' cards to win the game for them.</p>
<p>They take control of permanents regularly, meaning they can easily take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and choke out an opponent slowly or <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 rush down an opponent by sheer coincidence.</p>
<p>This isn't a reliable strategy by any means, as it entirely relies on not only the ability to take control of permanents but then also the power of those permanents.</p>
<p>But Pirates can take control of enough permanents that, should you try hard enough, it is reasonable you will eventually grab something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheoldred, the Apocalypse" href="#" target="_blank">Sheoldred, the Apocalypse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and can pivot to accommodate it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhystic Study"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Craterhoof Behemoth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sheoldred, the Apocalypse"></div></div>


Pirates in Commander

EDHREC Guide to Pirates in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primo, the Unbounded" href="#" target="_blank">Primo, the Unbounded</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/eyari">Aldo Domínguez</a></span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As I typically enjoy doing when a new set releases, I’m setting out on a quest to cover creature types that gained substantial support. We’ve looked at <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-wizard-typal-with-kaza-roil-chaser">Wizards</a> and <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-warlock-typal-with-honest-rutstein">Warlocks</a>, two of the more prominent classifications of students at Strixhaven. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The last couple of weeks, we’ve been touring the mascots of the different colleges. Since we’ve already covered <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/decyphering-the-new-elemental-commander-mass-of-mysteries">Elementals</a> in Lorwyn and <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-spirit-typal-with-millicent-restless-revenant">Spirits</a> in Innistrad, as well as <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-inkling-typal-with-felisa-fang-of-silverquill">Inklings</a> and <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-pest-typal-with-blech-loafing-pest">Pests</a>, we’ll complete the cycle with a type that breaks the Simic/Quandrix formula.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you guessed it? It’s Fractals!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fractals are really cool-looking hypergeometric figures, resembling the shapes I used to make out of tessellations in elementary school. The prisms that constitute their bodies reflect the creativity of the caster. Even just on our commander’s art, there are Bird and Squirrel-like teal figures alongside Primo, the Big Badass Wolf.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fractals themselves have remained largely unchanged since their introduction in <em>Strixhaven</em>, although they do provide a range of design opportunities. Fractals, by and large, were limited to tokens, and fairly mundane tokens at face-value. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cards that made them were generally fun and exciting enough to see play, and the addition of creatures with the type added layers to an already fun and surprisingly deep token type.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deekah, Fractal Theorist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kianne, Dean of Substance"></div></div>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fractal History</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fractals are anthropomorphic hypergeometric amalgamations of the flexible thinking of Quandrix students. They take a range of forms, even though, at their base, they begin as the same. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is because the token itself represents the core of the Fractal, while the counters are what makes each Fractal unique, kind of like how snowflakes are all crystallized water droplets, but each has a unique, complex, beautiful, and delicate crystal structure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fractal tokens, and many Fractal creatures, are 0/0 green and blue bodies. Without help, they can’t even survive on the battlefield, dying to state-based effects. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cards that make Fractals and the Fractal cards put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to any of a variety of values, such as the number of lands the caster controls or the number of instant and sorcery cards in the caster’s graveyard. These different sources of values for the counters give the Fractals a range of stats and roles in a deck.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how do we win a game with 0/0 creatures? And what are the roles Fractals can serve?</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primo, the Unbounded"></div></div>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primo, the Unbounded" href="#" target="_blank">Primo, the Unbounded</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Do?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Primo is a fun and intriguing Simic/Quandrix commander. It’s a great curve-topper and ramp payoff, even without help. In a Commander precon built around X spells, Primo is the prime example. It enters with twice X +1/+1 counters and has trample. It’s a Fractal and a Wolf. If that were all, it would have been just enough to be fun to play.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, Primo also MAKES Fractals. Whenever one or more creatures with 0 base power deals combat damage to a player, we make a Fractal with counters equal to the damage dealt. A Fractal that makes Fractals and turns them into threats while being a win con in and of itself is exactly what a durdling (synergistic but not gamewinning) strategy needs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fractals have a clear throughline, both old and new, which relates to +1/+1 counter synergies. While Quandrix started to lean into X spells with <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em> and its related precon, there are only a few Fractals, including our commander, that feed those synergies.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Some straddle the line between the two, however, like Primo and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pterafractyl" href="#" target="_blank">Pterafractyl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, although the latter has a printed power and doesn’t work perfectly with our commander.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what do Fractal producers look like? And do they work with this framework?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primo, the Unbounded" href="#" target="_blank">Primo, the Unbounded</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fractals are tiny things by printed power and toughness, but the cards that create them give them variable amounts of counters. These counters are what help to determine the card’s role in the deck, anywhere from curve-filler to bomb threats. This fun and flexibility help to differentiate Fractals from the stock blue-green deck.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Serpentine Curve"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leyline Invocation"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serpentine Curve" href="#" target="_blank">Serpentine Curve</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline Invocation" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline Invocation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were both alluded to earlier as cards that make Fractals with counters equal to instants and sorceries in the graveyard and lands on the battlefield, respectively. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both of these represent Fractals that are best saved until later in the game, coming down as mid-to-large threats on the ground. They both require some setup, but pay off things we’re already doing by making land drops and casting spells.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild Hypothesis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pterafractyl"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Hypothesis" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Hypothesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pterafractyl" href="#" target="_blank">Pterafractyl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are newer Fractals that are X spells, so they can serve a variety of roles on the mana curve. Still, they’re better served being cast later, like the Curve and Invocation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pterafractyl" href="#" target="_blank">Pterafractyl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in particular, is a powerful flying beater, taking advantage of opponents without flying or reach. The chip damage starts to add up when our big bad Wolf commander comes crashing in.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But Fractal makers are expensive; how do we protect our mana investments?</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrap in Vigor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Voidslime"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrap in Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Wrap in Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> regenerates our Fractals, as they are all both blue and green. It is worth noting that some of our Fractal producers aren’t as fortunate, but counterspells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voidslime" href="#" target="_blank">Voidslime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are able to protect everything, so we split our board protection between the two types.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nature&#039;s Lore"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kodama of the West Tree"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With our Fractals costing a hefty sum of mana, especially our mana sink of a commander, we need to get to high amounts of mana quickly. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nature&#039;s Lore" href="#" target="_blank">Nature&#039;s Lore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and similar effects help us fix our mana, and we want low mana-value ramp in particular to give us early plays and to build up lands and instants and sorceries for Invocation and Curve.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama of the West Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama of the West Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might not be a Fractal or Fractal producer, but it does work with modified creatures, which includes creatures with counters on them, like our Fractals. The burst of mana the Kodama provides helps to propel the deck into the late game, which our commander specializes in.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn&#039;s Bastion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breeding Pool"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Bastion" href="#" target="_blank">Karn&#039;s Bastion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is essentially a repeatable <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gaea&#039;s Anthem" href="#" target="_blank">Gaea&#039;s Anthem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, adding layers and layers of counters to our Fractals while also giving us a use for our excess mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeding Pool" href="#" target="_blank">Breeding Pool</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might not seem like a noteworthy nonbasic land, but we want as many blue-green dual lands as we can support and afford, as it gives our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nature&#039;s Lore" href="#" target="_blank">Nature&#039;s Lore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects ways to fix our mana.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what are we winning the game with?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primo, the Unbounded" href="#" target="_blank">Primo, the Unbounded</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commander Deck Win?</span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doubling Season"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hardened Scales"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is very much a combat-oriented deck, looking to either grow our Fractals to massive size or commander damage an opponent with our giant trampling commander. Effects that increase the counters creatures enter with, either doubling the counters like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or adding to them like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hardened Scales" href="#" target="_blank">Hardened Scales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, contribute to both game plans.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Primo, the Unbounded Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Primo, the Unbounded
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Applied Geometry
*1 Body of Research
*1 Cultivate
*1 Emergent Sequence
*1 Fractal Summoning
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Leyline Invocation
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Oversimplify
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Serpentine Curve
*1 Three Visits
*1 Wild Hypothesis
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Ambitious Augmenter
*1 Berta, Wise Extrapolator
*1 Biomathematician
*1 Deekah, Fractal Theorist
*1 Emil, Vastlands Roamer
*1 Esix, Fractal Bloom
*1 Fractal Mascot
*1 Fractal Tender
*1 Interdisciplinary Mascot
*1 Jadzi, Steward of Fate // Oracle&#039;s Gift
*1 Kami of Whispered Hopes
*1 Kodama of the West Tree
*1 Manifestation Sage
*1 Pterafractyl
*1 Zimone, All-Questioning
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Fractal Harness
*1 Geometric Nexus
*1 Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
*1 Sequence Engine
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Earth Crystal
*1 The Ozolith
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Additive Evolution
*1 Branching Evolution
*1 Doubling Season
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Innkeeper&#039;s Talent
*1 Loading Zone
*1 Paradox Zone
*1 Primal Vigor
*1 Solid Ground
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Kasmina, Enigma Sage
[/Planeswalkers]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Decisive Denial
*1 Fractal Anomaly
*1 Fractalize
*1 Growth Spiral
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Mutational Advantage
*1 Negate
*1 Planar Genesis
*1 Repulsive Mutation
*1 Silkguard
*1 Swan Song
*1 Voidslime
*1 Wrap in Vigor
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Alchemist&#039;s Refuge
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Command Tower
*15 Forest
*1 Hedge Maze
*15 Island
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Novijen, Heart of Progress
*1 Rain-Slicked Copse
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Sodden Verdure
*1 Tangled Islet
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Conclusion</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fractals are a relatively new creature type, but represent the Quandrix college well. They’re fun and play in interesting ways, including having a few different options for commanders.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how would <em>you</em> build Fractals? And which commander would you choose?</span></p>


Building a Fractal Typal Deck with Primo, the Unbounded

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prodigal Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Prodigal Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CDouglas+Shuler%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Douglas Shuler</a></em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Wizards of the Coast has begun to print creatures with the Sorcerer creature type! From <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashling, the Limitless" href="#" target="_blank">Ashling, the Limitless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanar, Innovative First-Year" href="#" target="_blank">Sanar, Innovative First-Year</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, soon (in just one week, as it were!), Sorcerer creatures will enter the main lexicon of <em>Magic</em>'s official creature types. And, as with most new creature type additions, Wizards has also made the executive decision to errata multiple appropriately-named cards with the new Sorcerer creature type.</p>
<h2>As Per Wizards' Sorcerer Update</h2>
<p>On Friday, January 9th, Wizards of the Coast gave this Oracle update within an article on <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/lorwyn-eclipsed-update-bulletin">DailyMTG</a>, their official news hub:</p>
<blockquote><p>The Sorcerers of <i>Lorwyn Eclipsed</i> are plenty powerful on their own merits, but everyone could use some friends, right? We've added the Sorcerer creature type to nearly two dozen creatures from <i>Magic</i>'s history. None of these creatures lost any types they previously had.</p></blockquote>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aberrant Mind Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Aberrant Mind Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Apprentice Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Apprentice Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodboil Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodboil Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Capricious Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Capricious Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dakmor Sorceress" href="#" target="_blank">Dakmor Sorceress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium-Horn Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium-Horn Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gempalm Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Gempalm Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Johann, Apprentice Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Johann, Apprentice Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krovikan Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Krovikan Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Multani, Maro-Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Multani, Maro-Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prodigal Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Prodigal Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rockslide Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Rockslide Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serendib Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Serendib Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sighted-Caste Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Sighted-Caste Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silumgar Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Silumgar Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simon, Wild Magic Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Simon, Wild Magic Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and its SLX counterpart, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mathise, Surge Channeler" href="#" target="_blank">Mathise, Surge Channeler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sorcerer of the Fang" href="#" target="_blank">Sorcerer of the Fang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sorceress Queen" href="#" target="_blank">Sorceress Queen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vulshok Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Vulshok Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild-Magic Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Wild-Magic Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>This change mostly affects Wizards and Shamans, with a few Elemental "Maro-Sorcerers" on the list as well for good measure and a full sweep. As a result, there are now 31 creatures with the Sorcerer creature type.</p>
<h3>Does This Change End Shamans?</h3>
<p>In a word, no. Shaman is still currently a valid creature type in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>. It's possible that Wizards of the Coast is still aiming to phase out the creature type for the sake of cultural sensitivity and inclusionary measures. However, according to the above update bulletin, no creature types have been removed from the creatures who now have the addendum of a Sorcerer creature type. Furthermore, Wizards of the Coast gave no Druid creature this type (unless you count those with the changeling ability, in which case you're being silly while technically still correct!).</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>In the end, this isn't a huge change from the everyday creature type updates we get from time to time. I'm quite confident that Phyrexian as a creature type was a much bigger deal here, by many ranks above the Sorcerer creature type. However, it's worth noting that <em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</em>, Wizards of the Coast's other biggest tabletop game, has had Sorcerers for a long time. Therefore, this was, frankly, a long time coming.</p>
<p>With that, let's open the floor to you, dear readers! How do you feel about the addition of the Sorcerer creature type to the <em>Magic</em> lexicon? And, what kinds of distinctions do you think Wizards of the Coast needs to make to differentiate it from other spellcasters? Sound off in the comments below!</p>


Sorcerer Creature Type Added to Two-Dozen Older Cards

<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Space Beleren" href="#" target="_blank">Space Beleren</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.tylerjacobsonart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler Jacobson</a></span></i></p>
<h2>What Is the Bracket System?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Commander Bracket system is a Beta concept created after </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wizards of the Coast</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> took the reins of the Commander format from the Commander Rules Committee. It’s an attempt to ease the communication of gameplay expectations in Commander by providing a common language. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are five Brackets, each with different parameters and descriptors.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The five Brackets are: Exhibition (1), Core (2), Upgraded (3), Optimized (4), and cEDH (5). </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The difference between Exhibition and Core is the extent to which the deck is based on theme. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The difference between Core and Upgraded is the amount of staples, including Game Changers. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The difference between Upgraded and Optimized is speed, with Optimized loosening deckbuilding restrictions. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">And the difference between Optimized and cEDH proper is designing based on an expected metagame.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>For more on the Bracket System, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can check out our Guide here</a>.</p>
<h2>How Has the Bracket System Changed With the Latest Announcement?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coax from the Blind Eternities"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the key adjustments to the Bracket system is the addition of the arrows of intent, the Blind Eternities between the Brackets. These help create the terminology with which the Brackets are discussed, as well as offering some interesting context and nuance for discussing typal decks.</span></p>
<h2>What Do the Changes Mean for Typal Decks?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But where do typal decks fit? If you’ve been following this column, you know that I’ve written about a range of creature types, from tiny Halfings to mighty Dragons. I’ve also recorded 70+ episodes of a creature-type-based podcast,</span> <a href="http://anchor.fm/quote-of-arms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Quote of Arms</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, so I’ve seen a huge array of creature type decks. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So how do we interpret the Bracket system for such a wide range of power and speed?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coat of Arms"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tricky part of answering where typal decks tend to live is this: Typal decks bridge Brackets. They use a set framework to ease design and the individual cards tend to be better together, so they can play up or down to different competition. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Generally speaking, typal decks have simple and linear play patterns, making them relatively easy to pick up and take to a new table in the abstract. Unsupported and colorshifted strategies go into the lower levels, but they'd get absolutely wrecked by more powerful and supported strategies.</span></p>
<h2>How Can Typal Decks Bridge Exhibition and Core?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hamza, Guardian of Arashin"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many typal decks live in the Exhibition or Core Brackets. The focus on theme over staples, including exceptions to deckbuilding restrictions for thematic cards, means that less-supported creature types with more creative license can live at these levels. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The more you have to stretch to find playable members of the creature type, and the less support or even common ground between members, the more the type leans into Exhibition. An example of this would be my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hamza, Guardian of Arashin" href="#" target="_blank">Hamza, Guardian of Arashin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Elephant typal deck.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lathril, Blade of the Elves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urgoros, the Empty One"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not all creature types have received the same amount of power and support over the years. For example, Elves appear on many different planes, exist in largely the same colors, and, as a result, get stronger and stronger as more sets come out. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Specters have a similarly historic pedigree, but rarely have new members printed and have never truly been featured on a plane the way Elves were in </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dominaria</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lorwyn</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malcolm, the Eyes"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Theme is an intriguing separation between Exhibition and Core. Exhibition typal decks are ones where the player does more work to supply the theme, such as including forced combat and goad effects in a Siren typal deck. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Core typal decks, on the other hand, will often have multiple key pieces or commanders that specifically reference the creature type or provide a direction.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ayara, First of Locthwain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Preston, the Vanisher"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what about taking popular creature types in new directions? Elves and Wizards are fairly well supported creature types, but there are enough members to shift those strategies away from their typical colors. Adding extra restrictions is a fun way to reinforce the theme and lean into Exhibition instead of Core. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Examples of this include mono-black Elves with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, First of Locthwain" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, First of Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and mono-white Wizards with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Preston, the Vanisher" href="#" target="_blank">Preston, the Vanisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<h2>How Can Typal Decks Bridge Core and Upgraded?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ezuri, Renegade Leader"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elfball decks and other powerful creature types, like Dragons, have limited deck slots because there are so many cards that fill major roles. Since these decks have staple cards and commanders, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tiamat" href="#" target="_blank">Tiamat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezuri, Renegade Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Ezuri, Renegade Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, they tend to lean more into Core or Upgraded.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tiamat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ur-Dragon"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Staples separate Core from Upgraded decks, and it’s important to note that this isn’t limited to Game Changers. Core typal decks will likely have some amount of cards that act like signpost uncommons in Limited formats. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Upgraded typal decks, however, will have a high degree of synergy with each other and multiple powerful signpost commanders, like Dragons with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm" href="#" target="_blank">Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<h2>How Can Typal Decks Bridge Upgraded and Optimized?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Muxus, Goblin Grandee"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conspicuous Snoop"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speed is what separates Upgraded typal decks from Optimized ones. While Miirym or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are busy ramping to a board of giant flyers, an Optimized <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muxus, Goblin Grandee" href="#" target="_blank">Muxus, Goblin Grandee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck is setting up the top of its library to combo off with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conspicuous Snoop" href="#" target="_blank">Conspicuous Snoop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a Goblin-flavored ham sandwich.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Muxus is not part of the established cEDH metagame, however. It’s a six-mana creature, and its combos are permanent-based and able to be disrupted. Players expecting decks that are on a particular list know what types of threats and interaction to expect and build their decks around that known information. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They also use that known information to evaluate their decks and decisions, and playing off-meta decks can disrupt their data collection and make it so that they don’t get what they want out of those games.</span></p>
<h2>How Can Typal Decks Bridge Optimized and cEDH?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magda, Brazen Outlaw"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the cEDH Deck Database, Inalla Wizards and Magda Dwarves have pierced the metagame, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conspicuous Snoop" href="#" target="_blank">Conspicuous Snoop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Goblin combo decks have been experimented with. These tend to be some of the easier entry points into Optimized and cEDH play. Typal decks tend to do this regardless of Bracket. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is why I love writing about typal decks: they’re great at bridging Brackets.</span></p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Typal decks can occupy a range of Brackets, and the changes to the Bracket system have made it easier to figure out where a typal deck fits, even if those differences are subtle and a bit different than placing the average deck. Typal decks also help bridge Brackets, making them great ways to introduce players to different Brackets!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But where would you place different typal decks? And what Brackets are your typal decks in?</span></p>
<h3>Read More:</h3>
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