Top 10 Forests

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emil, Vastlands Roamer" href="#" target="_blank">Emil, Vastlands Roamer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | by <a href="https://www.kaicarpenterart.com/magic-the-gathering">Kai Carpenter</a></em></p>
<p>Have you ever seen someone get hosed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and wanted to know that exact type of pain? Do you want to play a <em>true</em> Singleton deck in Commander?</p>
<p>Then why not give <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emil, Vastlands Roamer" href="#" target="_blank">Emil, Vastlands Roamer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a try! At first glance, Emil seems like a mediocre +1/+1 counter support piece with an underwhelming ability. But, if you dig just a little deeper, you'll see the real power of this innocuous uncommon.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emil, Vastlands Roamer"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Emil, Vastlands Roamer Do?</h2>
<p>Emil's first ability is easy enough to build around in Commander. He gives creatures you control with +1/+1 counters on them trample.</p>
<p>Which is great with this second ability, for the low price of five mana, you make a 0/0 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fractal" href="#" target="_blank">Fractal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creature token and put +1/+1 counters on it equal to the number of differently named lands you control.</p>
<p>Unlike other green landfall decks, we're only on two basics, a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forest" href="#" target="_blank">Forest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snow-Covered Forest" href="#" target="_blank">Snow-Covered Forest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This means no <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> required.</p>
<p>This is a ramp deck through and through. But unlike other ramp decks, our commander is our payoff.</p>
<p>We want to ramp into as many weird lands as possible. Sometimes... stealing our opponents' lands. And, of course, pretending we're a DJ by tapping and untapping Emil over and over until we overwhelm our foes with an army of Fractals.</p>
<p>I did include some common landfall combos, but they're intended to be a backup win condition. Most of the time, it's making a big thing, then turning said big thing sideways for damage.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Emil, Vastlands Roamer</h2>
<h3>The Nonbasic Land Ramp</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tempt with Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Titania&#039;s Command"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Realmbreaker, the Invasion Tree"></div></div>
<p>Unsurprisingly, there isn't a ton of efficient nonbasic land ramp. A majority of it starts at four mana and often comes with conditions.</p>
<p>However, they also act as a strong political tool. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tempt with Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Tempt with Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives you at least one untapped land and is a strong political tool if someone is behind on lands. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titania&#039;s Command" href="#" target="_blank">Titania&#039;s Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> supports both the ramp and +1/+1 counter synergies in the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elemental Teachings" href="#" target="_blank">Elemental Teachings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gifts Ungiven" href="#" target="_blank">Gifts Ungiven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for lands.</p>
<p>But my favorite weird ramp spell is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realmbreaker, the Invasion Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Realmbreaker, the Invasion Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It allows you to steal utility lands from other players that you might not have access to.</p>
<h3>Additional Land Drops</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summer Bloom"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oracle of Mul Daya"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nylea&#039;s Intervention"></div></div>
<p>With 43 lands in the deck, including MDFCs, you'll usually have a few extra lands sitting in hand. But fear not, we can play those additional lands. For budget reasons, I didn't include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exploration" href="#" target="_blank">Exploration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Instead, I included some great budget options. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summer Bloom" href="#" target="_blank">Summer Bloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> costs two mana and lets you play up to three additional lands. The once expensive, and now affordable <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oracle of Mul Daya" href="#" target="_blank">Oracle of Mul Daya</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets you play lands off the top of your library. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nylea&#039;s Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Nylea&#039;s Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ensures you're not stuck with these spells without lands in hand.</p>
<h3>Untappers</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quirion Ranger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wirewood Symbiote"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wirewood Lodge"></div></div>
<p>Finally, I wanted to include a few ways to untap Emil, so we can make multiple Fractals a turn. Those being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quirion Ranger" href="#" target="_blank">Quirion Ranger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wirewood Symbiote" href="#" target="_blank">Wirewood Symbiote</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wirewood Lodge" href="#" target="_blank">Wirewood Lodge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. You might be thinking it's odd to have Quirion Ranger with only two basics, but it says forest specifically.</p>
<p>This is why I included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prismatic Omen" href="#" target="_blank">Prismatic Omen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as ways to turn all our lands into forests. You can also run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I don't think the price tag is worth.</p>
<p>Wirewood Symbiote has us returning an elf, like Quirion Ranger, to our hand to untap our commander. With these two creatures in play, you can activate Emil up to three additional times. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wirewood Lodge" href="#" target="_blank">Wirewood Lodge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a land that allows us to untap an Elf.</p>
<h2>How Does Emil, Vastlands Roamer Win?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baloth Prime"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuran Orb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Germination Practicum"></div></div>
<p>As I said at the start, the primary win condition is big creature beatdown. Emil is also great against board wipes, since you can hold cards in hand and rebuild with expendable tokens.</p>
<p>But Fractals aren't the only way to beat some face. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baloth Prime" href="#" target="_blank">Baloth Prime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titania, Protector of Argoth" href="#" target="_blank">Titania, Protector of Argoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in conjunction with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuran Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Zuran Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can quickly overwhelm opponents with large board states.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scute Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Scute Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while tiny, can grow into a massive problem with just a few well-timed land drops. Then all you need is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Germination Practicum" href="#" target="_blank">Germination Practicum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to give all these tokens trample.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elemental Teachings"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Depths"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marit Lage"></div></div>
<p>As for the combo finishes: We have the usual <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama of the East Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama of the East Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loops with bounce lands like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arid Archway" href="#" target="_blank">Arid Archway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guildless Commons" href="#" target="_blank">Guildless Commons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If you don't know the combo, EDHREC <a href="https://edhrec.com/combos/simic/1479-1671-2907">has you covered</a>. I also included an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elemental Teachings" href="#" target="_blank">Elemental Teachings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pile for your pleasure.</p>
<p>The four lands you want to find are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echoing Deeps" href="#" target="_blank">Echoing Deeps</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thespian&#039;s Stage" href="#" target="_blank">Thespian&#039;s Stage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shifting Woodland" href="#" target="_blank">Shifting Woodland</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. No matter which lands your opponents pick, you'll be able to cheat <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marit Lage" href="#" target="_blank">Marit Lage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into play.</p>
<h2>Upgrading to Bracket 3</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crop Rotation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seedborn Muse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worldly Tutor"></div></div>
<p>I had the goal to keep this deck as Bracket 2, since that is what I generally enjoy the most, and it's easier on the wallet. But we have some great upgrade options that really power up the deck. First is replacing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Expedition Map" href="#" target="_blank">Expedition Map</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crop Rotation" href="#" target="_blank">Crop Rotation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Map does a great Crop Rotation impression, but nothing is as good as the original. It's instant speed, and puts the land into play untapped. Next, replace <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azusa&#039;s Many Journeys" href="#" target="_blank">Azusa&#039;s Many Journeys</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Azusa's is the weakest additional land spell in the deck, but it's a great budget option.</p>
<p>However, Seedborn Muse drastically increases the deck's power level by letting you ramp out several Fractals a turn cycle. The final game changer is up to you. I'd probably add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Natural Order" href="#" target="_blank">Natural Order</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldly Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Worldly Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to find Seedborn Muse as quickly as possible.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Actually Singleton Mono Green" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Emil, Vastlands Roamer
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aftermath Analyst
*1 Avenger of Zendikar
*1 Baloth Prime
*1 Disciple of Freyalise // Garden of Freyalise
*1 Dryad Arbor
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Evolution Sage
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Kodama of the East Tree
*1 Kura, the Boundless Sky
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Loot, Exuberant Explorer
*1 Oracle of Mul Daya
*1 Quirion Ranger
*1 Regal Behemoth
*1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
*1 Scute Swarm
*1 Sowing Mycospawn
*1 Springheart Nantuko
*1 Tangled Florahedron // Tangled Vale
*1 Tireless Provisioner
*1 Tireless Tracker
*1 Titania, Protector of Argoth
*1 Wayward Swordtooth
*1 Wirewood Symbiote
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Animist&#039;s Awakening
*1 Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary
*1 Bridgeworks Battle // Tanglespan Bridgeworks
*1 Cosmium Confluence
*1 Disorienting Choice
*1 Explore
*1 Germination Practicum
*1 Nylea&#039;s Intervention
*1 Pir&#039;s Whim
*1 Splendid Reclamation
*1 Summer Bloom
*1 Sylvan Scrying
*1 Tempt with Discovery
*1 Titania&#039;s Command
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Exploration Broodship
*1 Heartstone
*1 Realmbreaker, the Invasion Tree
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Zuran Orb
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Archdruid&#039;s Charm
*1 Elemental Teachings
*1 Energybending
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Obscuring Haze
*1 Vastwood Fortification // Vastwood Thicket
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Azusa&#039;s Many Journeys // Likeness of the Seeker
*1 Earthbender Ascension
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Prismatic Omen
*1 Ride the Shoopuf
*1 Rites of Flourishing
*1 Roaring Earth
*1 Spelunking
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Archway
*1 Ba Sing Se
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dark Depths
*1 Desert of the Indomitable
*1 Echoing Deeps
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Field of Ruin
*1 Forest
*1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Guildless Commons
*1 Hidden Nursery
*1 High Market
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Lair of the Hydra
*1 Mosswort Bridge
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Shifting Woodland
*1 Snow-Covered Forest
*1 Sunken Citadel
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Thespian&#039;s Stage
*1 Thran Portal
*1 Thriving Grove
*1 Treasure Vault
*1 Tree of Tales
*1 Urza&#039;s Cave
*1 War Room
*1 Wirewood Lodge
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
*1 Zanarkand, Ancient Metropolis // Lasting Fayth
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>If you're looking for a unique take on a lands deck, Emil fits the bill. It's easy to pick up and offers tons of decisions with all the utility lands.</p>
<p>It's also a great deck that can easily be upgraded over time. Creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashaya, Soul of the Wild" href="#" target="_blank">Ashaya, Soul of the Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azusa, Lost but Seeking" href="#" target="_blank">Azusa, Lost but Seeking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ouroboroid" href="#" target="_blank">Ouroboroid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great, albeit expensive upgrade options.</p>
<p>Also, if you want to see even more <em>Magic</em> content from me, you can find plenty of that on my YouTube channel, <a href="http://youtube.com/@BRBMTG?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BathroomBrewsMTG</a>. Alrighty nerds, I'll see you in the next one!</p>


forests

Top 10 Forests

Mono Green Landfall - Emil, Vastlands Roamer Deck Tech