<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.mtgpics.com/illus?art=1759" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ignatius Budi</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>! This week, I'm doing something a bit different from the routine. It won't be the last time, because I do intend to branch out into different ideas, so you can expect that in the near future. However, for today's article, we're going into something called Box-mander.</p>
<p>What is it, exactly? It's sort of like the name implies: You take a <em>Magic</em> booster box, and build a deck from its contents, and the regular Commander rules apply. According to <a href="https://articles.starcitygames.com/magic-the-gathering/premium/an-introduction-to-commander-booster-box-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this article</a> by the late Sheldon Menery (May he <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rest in Peace" href="#" target="_blank">Rest in Peace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), it was an idea created by Brian-David Marshall. Will the deck be good enough for your average pod? Absolutely not, but it's something to try with other players doing the same thing.</p>
<p>That said, I do want to note <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/edge-of-eternities-two-new-commander-formats-announced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about this format becoming official</a>. I was unaware of this, and the unboxing happened before <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> announced it. I'll be playing by the old rules, but if you want me to do an article like this again, I'll play (mostly; color identity stays) by the new rules.</p>
<p>For this article, rather than focus on card choices, I'll take you through my journey and see how the final list was produced.</p>
<p>So, who did I end up choosing?</p>
<h2>Aliens</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jenova, Ancient Calamity|fin|346"></div></div>
<p>I will note that I didn't do a lore write up for Cloud and Sephiroth back in <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/beyond-the-multiverse-cloud-and-sephiroth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their article</a> because they're very iconic to the IP, and everyone knows of their feud. Almost legendary, if you will. Jenova, though, was in the same game. She (it?) was a threat from 2,000 years before the events of <em>Final Fantasy VII</em>, and was stopped. That is, until Shinra unearthed and used her properties for experiments.</p>
<p>Said experiments would go on to affect the lives of multiple characters, including Cloud and Sephiroth. She's also a boss you fight multiple times throughout the game.</p>
<p>Jenova's card wants you to grow her stats, but not necessarily to attack. Instead, she wants you to play other creatures and buff them instead. This feeds into her second ability, potentially drawing you piles of cards at a time.</p>
<p>Now, Golgari (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>)is a rare color combination for me to build, and I have no idea why. In fact, my journey began with another color pair.</p>
<h2>In the Beginning</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Y&#039;shtola Rhul|fin|577"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hope Estheim"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning, Army of One"></div></div>
<p>Before I begin, I mentioned in the previous article that I had three boxes. Jenova's was the only one I was able to record because, when I opened the other two, I was coming off the heels of almost evacuating from a fire. I forgot about the box-mander business in the chaos, and in an aftermath where I was mentally taxed. However, I still had plenty to work with.</p>
<p>My path begins in the second pack, where I pulled a foil <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola Rhul|fin|577" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola Rhul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. From that point, I was looking into blue as one of my colors. Later, I pulled a number of options, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emet-Selch, Unsundered" href="#" target="_blank">Emet-Selch, Unsundered</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omega, Heartless Evolution" href="#" target="_blank">Omega, Heartless Evolution</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That said, the former didn't work with Y'shtola, but Omega would've been outright oppressive, and not much fun. Even going the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hope Estheim" href="#" target="_blank">Hope Estheim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> route would've put me on the naughty list.</p>
<p>Consequently, along the way, I pulled <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning, Army of One" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning, Army of One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, along with a number of cards centered on Equipment. Having <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Danitha Capashen, Paragon|fca|22" href="#" target="_blank">Danitha Capashen, Paragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, among others was too good to pass up. This, in turn, had me set the Y'shtola idea aside.</p>
<h2>Lost in the Woods</h2>
<p>By the time I got to the end of the box, I was content with going the Lightning route. I dug in, and began assembling the deck. However, I ran into a big problem: I didn't pull enough unique Equipment to make the deck work.</p>
<p>For additional context, Boros's draft archetype was Equipment, and Lightning needed the Equipment to get the most out of her (and keep her around on the field). With my initial plan thwarted, I kept going through what I pulled.</p>
<p>I acquired most of the commons, and some of the uncommons, but outside of what I mentioned, nothing really grabbed my attention.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Wandering Minstrel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gladiolus Amicitia"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gladiolus Amicitia" href="#" target="_blank">Gladiolus Amicitia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was there, together with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa Lockhart" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa Lockhart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the push wasn't there. All 10 of the Town duals, plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balamb Garden, SeeD Academy" href="#" target="_blank">Balamb Garden, SeeD Academy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were present along with the other Town-related stuff, but someone else was writing him, and I didn't want to step on their toes.</p>
<p>On the other hand, five-color decks are too easy here; I needed a challenge.</p>
<p>Further, I was caught in a bind, and I wasn't sure what to pick. I eventually reached out to get some extra pairs of eyes to get me out of my rut. Jenova was the first option that was mentioned (I ended up pulling the regular and the showcase versions. I went with the latter eventually). Seeing no other recourse, I attempted to build Jenova, and the resulting deck list is below.</p>
<h2>The Final List for Jenova, Ancient Calamity</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-JENOVA (Box-mander)" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Jenova, Ancient Calamity
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bard&#039;s Bow
*1 Black Mage&#039;s Rod
*1 Blitzball
*1 Chocobo Racetrack
*1 Dark Knight&#039;s Greatsword
*1 Lion Heart
*1 Lunatic Pandora
*1 Monk&#039;s Fist
*1 Phantom Train
*1 Ring of the Lucii
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*1 Strixhaven Stadium
*1 The Earth Crystal
*1 World Map
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Chocobo Kick
*1 Clash of the Eikons
*1 Commune with Beavers
*1 Cornered by Black Mages
*1 Esper Origins // Summon: Esper Maduin
*1 Evil Reawakened
*1 Gysahl Greens
*1 Resentful Revelation
*1 Rydia&#039;s Return
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Ahriman
*1 Al Bhed Salvagers
*1 Ardyn, the Usurper
*1 Balamb T-Rexaur
*1 Cactuar
*1 Cloud of Darkness
*1 Coliseum Behemoth
*1 Demon Wall
*1 Exdeath, Void Warlock // Neo Exdeath, Dimension&#039;s End
*1 Fang, Fearless l&#039;Cie
*1 Gaius van Baelsar
*1 Goobbue Gardener
*1 Gran Pulse Ochu
*1 Hecteyes
*1 Jecht, Reluctant Guardian // Braska&#039;s Final Aeon
*1 Magic Pot
*1 Malboro
*1 Namazu Trader
*1 Shambling Cie&#039;th
*1 Shinra Reinforcements
*1 Summon: Anima
*1 Summon: Fat Chocobo
*1 Summon: Fenrir
*1 Tifa Lockhart
*1 Tonberry
*1 Town Greeter
*1 Undercity Dire Rat
*1 Vanille, Cheerful l&#039;Cie
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Airship Crash
*1 Blitzball Shot
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Fight On!
*1 Galuf&#039;s Final Act
*1 Overkill
*1 Prishe&#039;s Wanderings
*1 Sephiroth&#039;s Intervention
*1 Tifa&#039;s Limit Break
*1 Vayne&#039;s Treachery
*1 Vincent&#039;s Limit Break
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Adventurer&#039;s Inn
*1 Capital City
*1 Crossroads Village
*1 Eden, Seat of the Sanctum
*15 Forest
*1 Gohn, Town of Ruin
*1 Midgar, City of Mako // Reactor Raid
*15 Swamp
*1 The Gold Saucer
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Analyzing the List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Earth Crystal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tifa Lockhart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ardyn, the Usurper"></div></div>
<p>Note that I'm not using the exact versions I pulled from the packs, but these were all from the box. The exceptions are the basics, which you can just use what you have, really.</p>
<p>Firstly, we need ways to buff Jenova. The greater her power, the more +1/+1 counters she distributes. We begin with the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/ranking-the-job-select-equipment-cards-from-final-fantasy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">job select cards</a> (a few from this list are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bard&#039;s Bow" href="#" target="_blank">Bard&#039;s Bow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Monk&#039;s Fist" href="#" target="_blank">Monk&#039;s Fist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Mage&#039;s Rod" href="#" target="_blank">Black Mage&#039;s Rod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), which all come in with a Hero token.</p>
<p>That said, we need to move them onto Jenova to provide the Heroes with an even bigger boost. On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rydia&#039;s Return" href="#" target="_blank">Rydia&#039;s Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides a way to cross the finish line while making Jenova bigger.</p>
<p>Crucially, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Earth Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">The Earth Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perhaps the best here: It'll double the counters that Jenova dishes out, and you can activate the ability to give essentially 2 counters to Jenova, and two to another creature. The cost reduction is just icing on the cake.</p>
<p>Secondly, we'll need some good targets for those counters. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa Lockhart" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa Lockhart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can get dangerous very quickly if timed right. Meanwhile, the creatures you exile from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> become tokens you could put counters on. You can layer the triggers so Ardyn resolves first, then proceed to put Jenova's counters on that Demon you just created.</p>
<p>Another good target is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demon Wall" href="#" target="_blank">Demon Wall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which normally has defender as is. However, you put the counter(s) from Jenova onto the Wall, and it can suddenly attack without needing to pay for its activated ability.</p>
<h2>Where to Go From Here</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphere Grid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Watchful Radstag"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Branching Evolution"></div></div>
<p>Here, for the purposes of articles like this one, I'll cover cards from both <em>Universes Beyond</em>, and in-universe cards you could add.</p>
<p>Firstly, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphere Grid" href="#" target="_blank">Sphere Grid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maester Seymour" href="#" target="_blank">Maester Seymour</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> distribute counters as well as having other benefits. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kami of Whispered Hopes" href="#" target="_blank">Kami of Whispered Hopes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both recur cards and gain mana, respectively. The latter also acts like a <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> effect (another good card to add, by the way), which is a valuable effect. The more you can find, the better.</p>
<p>Secondly, thanks largely to the <em>Fallout</em> decks from last year, we have a plethora of new Mutant creatures that work with Jenova. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Watchful Radstag" href="#" target="_blank">Watchful Radstag</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good one, copying itself whenever a counter gets put on it. This'll mean lots of cards in the long run. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloatfly Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Bloatfly Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will accrue counters, then gives everyone rad counters if it should take damage.</p>
<p>Playing further into the rad counters sub-theme, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feral Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Feral Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets bigger each time a creature dies, then does a similar thing to Bloatfly swarm if the Ghoul dies.</p>
<p>Finally, there's a few other cards I wish to mention. Counter doublers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Branching Evolution" href="#" target="_blank">Branching Evolution</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpsejack Menace" href="#" target="_blank">Corpsejack Menace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both very good here. If doubling alongside a Hardened Scales effect, you can choose the order in which the effects apply. You'd resolve the Scales effect first, then the doubler, so the latter takes the Scales effect into account.</p>
<p>Feel free to let me know in the comments if I got this wrong.</p>
<h2>Final Mutation</h2>
<p>Doing a Box-mander deck is a fun way to explore a set, and everything it has to offer. Perhaps you'll find some new synergies while you do so. Opening packs -though I do advocate for buying singles - is also some good ASMR if you need it.</p>
<p>I'd would like to hear from you whether a Box-mander deck is something I should do again. I'm open to feedback, and I'm currently looking for ways to branch out into some new content. On that note, I'll be away for a couple of weeks, but I do have content to cover for both (I've already written them, as of writing this article).</p>
<p>With that said, tune in next time as we retread old ground, and give <em>Final Fantasy</em> a small break.</p>


Building a Box-mander Deck With Jenova, Ancient Calamity

Final Fantasy Deck Tech: Jenova, Ancient Calamity

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/b03di" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ignatius Budi</a></em></p>
<p>Well <em>Magic</em> players, it's time to introduce you all to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the biggest villains in <em>Final Fantasy VII.</em> For those of you that don’t know: Jenova, is an ancient Alien creature that's central to the plot of the story. It infects lifeforms like a virus, turning them into monsters, which is captured perfectly with this new card. Modifying a creature and then drawing cards when it dies is a powerful ability to build around.</p>
<p>So, join me, Tyler ‘Savesya’ Bucks, as I highlight 14 cards for under $14 that can get you started on a new deck! With this list, we'll look at a few creatures that are naturally Mutants, which makes it even easier to draw cards off of when they die, as well as show off some synergistic sacrifice outlets that will give you more control over when your creatures leave the board.</p>
<h2>What Does Jenova, Ancient Calamity Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jenova, Ancient Calamity"></div></div>
<p>Let’s kick things off by taking a look at the commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a four-mana 1/5 that hands out +1/+1 counter equal to their power to one of your creatures at the start of your combat. When that happens, that creature becomes a Mutant in addition to its other types.</p>
<p>But that’s not all. Whenever a Mutant you control dies during your turn, you draw cards equal to its power.</p>
<h2>Budget Mutant Cards for Jenova, Ancient Calamity</h2>
<p>Of course, throwing something like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yargle and Multani" href="#" target="_blank">Yargle and Multani</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into this deck would be great, but I wanted to first show off some creatures that are already Mutants.</p>
<h3>Rampaging Yao Guai</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampaging Yao Guai"></div></div>
<p>The first Mutant we’re showcasing today comes with some counters of its own, as well as removal stapled to it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampaging Yao Guai" href="#" target="_blank">Rampaging Yao Guai</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be strong in the early game as well as the late game, allowing you to clear the board of pesky artifacts and enchantments while getting you a big body on the board.</p>
<p>It's also a great blocker and attacker that you won’t care about dying during combat, since you’ll be drawing all those cards with your commander.</p>
<h3>Lily Bowen, Raging Grandma</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lily Bowen, Raging Grandma"></div></div>
<p>Another card that comes with its own counters is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lily Bowen, Raging Grandma" href="#" target="_blank">Lily Bowen, Raging Grandma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Even though she already has a way to grow her counters, throwing an additional one on with Jenova could be beneficial, since it'll only grow your Granny faster.</p>
<p>Now all but one of those counters will go away once Lily gets more than sixteen of them, which just means you should be attacking as much as possible or looking for one of the sacrifice outlets we'll talk about later to cash her in when she's at her most powerful.</p>
<h3>Watchful Radstag</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Watchful Radstag"></div></div>
<p>We'll be talking about a lot of big creatures on this list, but let’s take a look at a way to go a bit wider with our board. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Watchful Radstag" href="#" target="_blank">Watchful Radstag</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates a token of itself whenever it evolves, which means that as you simply play out your game plan, you could be getting a bigger board of Elk.</p>
<p>Since Jenova doesn’t care about how your Mutants die, you can recklessly use those tokens for attacking, all while drawing cards in the process.</p>
<h3>Lumbering Megasloth</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lumbering Megasloth"></div></div>
<p>If you already have plenty of counters building up on your board, well then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lumbering Megasloth" href="#" target="_blank">Lumbering Megasloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is here to come down for as little as two mana. It's naturally an 8/8, which is great for getting into the red zone, or just straight up sacrificing to draw an obscene number of cards.</p>
<p>Do yourself a favor and hold off on casting this Sloth until you’re ready to get full value out of it, because let’s be honest, 12 mana is just too high. Also, don’t overlook the fact that the mana reduction takes into account all counters on the board, not just yours.</p>
<h3>Ursine Monstrosity</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ursine Monstrosity"></div></div>
<p>Let's step away from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/pip" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Fall Out</em></a> Mutants for a second with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ursine Monstrosity" href="#" target="_blank">Ursine Monstrosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This creature has trample as well as a way to grow when you move to combat, milling you a card and then getting +1/+1 for each card type in your graveyard. Since it also gains indestructible, this will be a great target for the counters Jenova passes along, making it a constant threat on each of your turns for one random unlucky opponent.</p>
<p>As another bonus, since the Monstrosity only costs three mana, you can get it down the turn before your commander, and start the pain train as early as possible.</p>
<h3>Feral Ghoul</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feral Ghoul"></div></div>
<p>In this deck a lot of cards will be going to your graveyard, whether it's from milling or sacrificing; the latter of the two is something that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feral Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Feral Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves to see. Gaining +1/+1 counters whenever another creature you control dies means that you could get this down early, then continue your game plan of sacrificing bigger creatures to draw cards, all while the Ghoul gets bigger and bigger, setting you up to cash it in for value later in the game. Then you draw a bunch of cards and throw a whole lot of rad counters onto your opponents in the process.</p>
<h3>Evolution Witness</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evolution Witness"></div></div>
<p>As I just mentioned, a lot of these value pieces we look at today will most likely end up in your bin - but that’s where <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes in. Whenever you add a counter to it, you’ll return a permanent from your graveyard to your hand, which makes for a great combo with your commander, since you can have a repeatable way to regrow something each turn if you need to build your board back.</p>
<h2>Budget Sacrifice Outlets for Jenova</h2>
<p>In this next section, we'll highlight some great sacrifice outlets, which always feel even better to run when you have more ways to bring your cards back, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>Wight of the Reliquary</h3>
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<p>Let's kick off this section on sacrifice outlets with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wight of the Reliquary" href="#" target="_blank">Wight of the Reliquary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not only is this a creature that grows in size, which Jenova would love to turn into a Mutant, but it also gives you the ability to grab any land from your deck.</p>
<p>If you’re drawing huge chunks of cards in this deck, the main thing that will hold you back is not having enough mana to cast those spells. Ramp like this that synergizes on multiple levels of your game plan makes it a slam dunk inclusion for this list.</p>
<h3>Illuminor Szeras</h3>
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<p>Up next we have the most expensive card on the list, but its worth it since it helps us with that mana problem I was just referring to. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Illuminor Szeras" href="#" target="_blank">Illuminor Szeras</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can tap to sacrifice a creature, and gives you black mana equal to the creature’s mana value. Imagine using that ability with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lumbering Megasloth" href="#" target="_blank">Lumbering Megasloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we talked about earlier: drawing eight cards, and making twelve mana could just push you towards closing the game out faster than anyone is ready for.</p>
<h3>Flare of Cultivation</h3>
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<p>Keeping with the ramp theme, our next spell, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flare of Cultivation" href="#" target="_blank">Flare of Cultivation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can feed into everything you need and cost you zero mana in the process. As you cast it, you can sacrifice a nontoken green creature, which makes it free. This card is flexible since at its base, it’s just a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But when your game plan is humming, it can also refill your hand. Ramp and card draw for free sounds pretty nice to me!</p>
<h3>Cultist of the Absolute</h3>
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<p>Not many cards on this list help grow Jenova’s stats, which you do want since you put counters on something equal to its power, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultist of the Absolute" href="#" target="_blank">Cultist of the Absolute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was too good to pass up. Giving +3/+3, great keywords, and ward is amazing, but it's also a sacrifice outlet on your upkeep.</p>
<p>There's a chance that this card might put you in an awkward position where you don’t want to get rid of a member of your team, but if your commander gave four counters to a creature on your last turn, and then you cash it for cards, you'll likely be able to add a lot more fodder to the board from there.</p>
<h3>Deadly Brew</h3>
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<p>If you want your opponents to join in the fun of sacrificing their creatures, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Brew" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Brew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is here for you. Two mana to have each player get rid of a creature is a solid rate. When you add the fact that you want to be doing that with your creatures anyway, you’ll be sure to come out on top of this exchange. Plus, this sorcery allows you to then return something from your graveyard to your hand, which can help you get back a key piece you sacrificed earlier in the game for value.</p>
<h3>Daemogoth Titan</h3>
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<p>Alright, let’s not mess around anymore… <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daemogoth Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Daemogoth Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a four mana 11/10. When you move to combat, Jenova can give it a counter, turning the Titan into a Mutant. Then you either sacrifice it to one of the effects we’ve mentioned before, or just attack with it on your turn. It’s a lose-lose situation for your opponents, since its sacrifice ability allows you to target itself.</p>
<h3>The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride</h3>
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<p>Closing things out this week, we have a little bit of redundancy for your commander with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride" href="#" target="_blank">The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When I first saw Jenova, my mind immediately went to <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/otj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Thunder Junction’s</em></a> take on this Frog Horror, and they work perfectly together.</p>
<p>Here’s a little example: before combat, have that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daemogoth Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Daemogoth Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> saddle The Gitrog. Then move to combat and place a counter on the Titan turning it into a Mutant. Then, when The Gitrog deals damage to someone, you’ll sacrifice the Titan, which will draw you 12 cards with Gitrog, and then you can put up to twelve lands into play. Jenova will also trigger, drawing you another 12 cards… At that point, you’ll be so far ahead that the best hope your foes will have to take you out is that you draw yourself to death.</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>There you have it: 14 cards for under $14 to jump-start a new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. This list was a lot of fun to put together and allows you to have a lot of big splashy moments during a game, while still getting a little tricky with it at some points. Let me know in the comments below what cards you would add to this list so we can help our fellow players find more great cards!</p>


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