<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prismari Command" href="#" target="_blank">Prismari Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/algenpfleger">Johannes Voss</a></em></p>
<p>Last month we had a first look at the upcoming <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em></a> set. We got to <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/secrets-of-strixhaven-and-marvel-super-heroes-products-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">see the entire product line-up</a>, including the five Commander preconstructed decks and their respective face commanders.</p>
<p>This week, I'll be covering a deck tech on the leader of the <em>Prismari Artistry</em> deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" href="#" target="_blank">Rootha, Mastering the Moment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" href="#" target="_blank">Rootha, Mastering the Moment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p>You can read all about Rootha's backstory <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Rootha_Squallheart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. True to her character, she delayed her graduation to reach the perfection she long sought. A <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magma Opus" href="#" target="_blank">Magma Opus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you might say.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rootha, Mastering the Moment"></div></div>
<p>Much like the Prismari back in the original <em>Strixhaven: School of Mages</em> set, we're not casting a billion spells, ramping up to storm off. Instead, we're going with the big spells, and this version of Rootha rewards us by creating a hasty, flying token that can smack opponents for some big damage.</p>
<p>All of this is well and good, but what kind of big spells are we talking about here?</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" href="#" target="_blank">Rootha, Mastering the Moment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<h3>Artistic Performance</h3>
<p>While we could look through all of the <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spellslinger</a> options we have, Rootha needs us to run something different from the norm. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Creative Technique" href="#" target="_blank">Creative Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are valuable because, at worst, we're getting a 5/5 Elemental. However, we could always hit one of our bigger spells instead, which is even better.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Into the Story|eld|50"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Creative Outburst"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Creative Technique"></div></div>
<p>In the case of both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Creative Outburst" href="#" target="_blank">Creative Outburst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the aforementioned Magma Opus, we can discard these to get a Treasure token, but being able to cast them for free is simply divine.</p>
<p>Even better, though, are the spells that can discount themselves.</p>
<p>For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Into the Story" href="#" target="_blank">Into the Story</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could be cast for two mana. However, Rootha checks for the mana value of the card, not how much you paid into the spell. So, you technically get a 7/7 for just two mana! Sadly, I must point out that Rootha does not work with <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> because Rootha triggers at the start of combat, but she'll die before then - unless you find a way to protect her.</p>
<p>That said, there aren't many cards that are worthwhile in the deck. Maybe more will come out, but we'll make do with what we have.</p>
<h3>A Token Performance</h3>
<p>You might be asking what the big idea is behind this section. Well, considering that we make only one of those Elementals during our turn (assuming we've cast an instant or sorcery), it'll mean the game plan will be slow, and easily hindered in a multiplayer setting. The bad news is that, at the time of writing, there aren't too many ways we can make multiple tokens that can attack that turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curiosity Crafter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Full Throttle"></div></div>
<p>However, the good news is that we have a few ways to get things going. We have our usual suspects, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talrand, Sky Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Talrand, Sky Summoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but there's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ovika, Enigma Goliath" href="#" target="_blank">Ovika, Enigma Goliath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who will make an army of these tokens. Though, we also have options like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twinflame" href="#" target="_blank">Twinflame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can make copies of a given card.</p>
<p>Beware, though, because Rootha only triggers during combat, and a lot of these spells are sorcery-speed. The key player in all of this is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It'll turn every token we have into the same Elemental we make, plus make a token of its own. Here's hoping that we have more ways to make Rootha's ability work sooner or later.</p>
<p>It's at this point that it makes sense to protect the token we create as best as we can. That way, when it comes back to our turn, we can use red's various cloning effects to copy the token.</p>
<p>This is especially true when we take into account the key suite of cards that make Rootha tick: extra combat steps! The more combats we get, the more Rootha triggers we'll get. Plus, these tokens will have haste, so they can attack right away. Our prime example is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Full Throttle" href="#" target="_blank">Full Throttle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will give us a bunch of extra combat steps, meaning more tokens to swing with.</p>
<h2>How to Win With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" href="#" target="_blank">Rootha, Mastering the Moment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Our ways to win are not much different from the average Spellslinger deck. That said, in our case, we have to go big or go home.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crackle with Power"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shark Typhoon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Surge to Victory"></div></div>
<p>Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surge to Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Surge to Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pumps our board, and creates a copy of whatever spell we pick when we cast it. While Rootha won't see the copied spell, she will see the Surge, giving us a 6/6 token, perhaps more with an extra combat spell.</p>
<p>Speaking of tokens, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shark Typhoon" href="#" target="_blank">Shark Typhoon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (aka "sharknado") will make plenty of tokens, including big ones we can copy. However, the main token will not have haste, making Brudiclad even more important.</p>
<p>Otherwise, we can rely on the Old Faithful method of using big spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Replication" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Replication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crackle with Power" href="#" target="_blank">Crackle with Power</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The X-spells in the deck will ensure that we'll always have a giant token to use. That said, I would not advise <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Epic Experiment" href="#" target="_blank">Epic Experiment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you load up on those. X will be zero every time, and the cards would basically do nothing.</p>
<h2>Rootha, Mastering the Moment Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Mastering the Moment with Rootha" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Rootha, Mastering the Moment
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Primal Amulet // Primal Wellspring
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Consider
*1 Creative Outburst
*1 Dig Through Time
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Galvanic Iteration
*1 Into the Story
*1 Invert Polarity
*1 Magma Opus
*1 Opt
*1 Prismari Command
*1 Savage Beating
*1 Seething Song
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Crackle with Power
*1 Creative Technique
*1 Dance with Calamity
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Expressive Iteration
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Full Throttle
*1 Fury of the Horde
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Mizzix&#039;s Mastery
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Relentless Assault
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Surge to Victory
*1 Treasure Cruise
*1 Volcanic Salvo
*1 Volcanic Vision
*1 World at War
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Archmage Emeritus
*1 Archmage of Runes
*1 Balmor, Battlemage Captain
*1 Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer
*1 Coruscation Mage
*1 Curiosity Crafter
*1 Firebrand Archer
*1 Goblin Electromancer
*1 Goldspan Dragon
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Haughty Djinn
*1 Kessig Flamebreather
*1 Mizzix of the Izmagnus
*1 Ovika, Enigma Goliath
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Stormcatch Mentor
*1 Third Path Iconoclast
*1 Thunderclap Drake
*1 Young Pyromancer
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Case of the Ransacked Lab
*1 Determined Iteration
*1 Shark Typhoon
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Ferrous Lake
*1 Fiery Islet
*1 Frostboil Snarl
*11 Island
*11 Mountain
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Training Center
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Aaaaand, Scene!</h2>
<p>And that is just one of the five face commanders from <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em>. Rootha does seem dull, but built and/or played right, she can be taken into a path within the archetype that can be rather unique. She just simply needs a bit more support to push her over the edge (or the Edge, you might say).</p>
<p>Now, I would like to hear from you. Which of those face commanders gets your attention? Are you looking forward to going back to <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Arcavios" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arcavios</a>? Either way, be sure to come back next time, where I hopefully (more like finally!) begin one of the two new series I have planned for you.</p>


Mastering the Moment With Rootha in Commander

Izzet Possible to Play Izzet Without Spell-Slingizzeting?

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shantotto, Tactician Magician" href="#" target="_blank">Shantotto, Tactician Magician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/jsraphael" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joshua Raphael</a></em></p>
<p>Well, this is about the most up to date I've ever been in terms of new releases. As of the day I'm writing this, May 7th, the commander I'm doing a deck tech for hasn't even made it's way into the EDHREC database. But <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shantotto, Tactician Magician" href="#" target="_blank">Shantotto, Tactician Magician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just too interesting to not write about immediately. She's just been spoiled for the new Final Fantasy Set, and while I don't know a single thing about Final Fantasy, I do know a good deckbuilding challenge when I see one. So lets dive right into this weird spellslinger commander.</p>
<h2>Shantotto, Tactician Magician</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shantotto, Tactician Magician"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast that spell. If X is 4 or greater, draw a card.</em></p>
<p>Ok, so I've done more than a few spellslinger commanders on this series. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balmor, Battlemage Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Balmor, Battlemage Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Third Path Iconoclast" href="#" target="_blank">Third Path Iconoclast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, they're all blue-red commanders that care about casting noncreature spells. It's a pretty basic formula. All you need for those decks is a bunch of cheap instants and sorceries that can draw cards or buff your team or whatever is helpful. Then you get a bunch of creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kessig Flamebreather" href="#" target="_blank">Kessig Flamebreather</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that'll ping your opponents whenever you cast one of those spells. It's a pretty tried and true formula, but I've built it a few too many times at this point. I've gotten quite bored of the whole game plan, and I need a challenge.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Balmor, Battlemage Captain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Third Path Iconoclast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kessig Flamebreather"></div></div>
<h2>How Is Shantotto Different From Other Izzet Spellslinger Decks?</h2>
<p>So that's why I was elated when my editor recommended that I check out Shantotto. Yes, at the surface level, it's just another Izzet spellslinger commander. But there's a bit more to it than that. Rather than request the usual one-drop suspects of <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="Preordain" href="#" target="_blank">Preordain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serum Visions" href="#" target="_blank">Serum Visions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and all those other crummy cantrips, Shantotto wants us to play spells with mana value four or greater. That's certainly a big difference from what other commanders want.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Opt"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Preordain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Serum Visions"></div></div>
<p>Shanotto doesn't technically require us to play big spells, but we draw a card whenever we do, and I'm certainly not one to turn down card advantage. Other than that, the only thing she does is get bigger when we play spells. But, man does she get a lot bigger. So let's build a deck around big noncreature spells and one big creature. I think that's pretty doable, and even if it's not, I'm sure it'll be interesting.</p>
<p>As with any big mana deck, the question is: how much? How big can our average mana value get before it becomes unmanageable? Well, there's a pretty clear minimum we have to follow. If we want to take advantage of our commander's ability throughout the game, we need to be drawing a four-drop every three cards or so. Because otherwise, our commander's ability is just gonna be a random bonus that occurs every once in a while. It would be like playing <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 only cloning a Dragon every other turn. We've got a cool commander, let's use it.</p>
<h2>Big Pauper Spells for Shantotto</h2>
<p>Unfortunately, there's a slight problem. I'm not sure if there are enough great four-drops to play in Pauper. Yeah, you've got <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unexpected Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Unexpected Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pirate&#039;s Pillage" href="#" target="_blank">Pirate&#039;s Pillage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Big Score" href="#" target="_blank">Big Score</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which are all fantastic, but I don't think there are 30+ four drops that are worth playing. I certainly don't want to play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Airborne Aid" href="#" target="_blank">Airborne Aid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> just to draw a card. There are a decent number of good cards though, so let's check those out first before giving up.</p>
<p>We've got plenty of card draw, from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Behold the Multiverse" href="#" target="_blank">Behold the Multiverse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deep Analysis" href="#" target="_blank">Deep Analysis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tamiyo&#039;s Epiphany" href="#" target="_blank">Tamiyo&#039;s Epiphany</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is worthwhile here. Then there's some red aggression in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin War Party" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin War Party</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hazardous Blast" href="#" target="_blank">Hazardous Blast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Empty the Warrens" href="#" target="_blank">Empty the Warrens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Are Goblins particularly useful to us? Nah, but every deck needs chump blockers, and we'd rather create them with noncreature spells.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unexpected Windfall"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Behold the Multiverse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin War Party"></div></div>
<p>After that, we have to reach into five-mana spells. Luckily, there are a few that are great inclusions even if our commander didn't ask for it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lórien Revealed" href="#" target="_blank">Lórien Revealed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just a handy card to have, early and late game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temporal Fissure" href="#" target="_blank">Temporal Fissure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can decimate a board state. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Geyser" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Geyser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> just makes a ridiculous amount of mana. Then, even more expensive than those is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure Cruise" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure Cruise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Eight Mana? How could that possibly be worth it? Oh, hold up, it's got delve. Basically, it's castable for just a single mana. And it'll still trigger our commander! Right?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lórien Revealed"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Geyser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Treasure Cruise"></div></div>
<h2>This Commander Got Nerfed</h2>
<p>Well, actually, there's something unusual about our commander that I've concealed. I said that Shantotto checks the mana value of your cards when deciding what X is, but actually, she checks how much mana is spent. That means that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure Cruise" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure Cruise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't give Shantotto +8/+0, it gives Shantotto +1/+0 if you delve away all the generic mana. That's super disappointing, especially considering that Shantotto is one of the first commanders to be worded like this. I'm sure it was a balancing decision, but honestly the result of it is that Shantotto is extremely underpowered.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Treasure Cruise"></div></div>
<p>This is the reason that I haven't been including cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meeting of Minds" href="#" target="_blank">Meeting of Minds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Normally, for a commander that checks mana value, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meeting of Minds" href="#" target="_blank">Meeting of Minds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would be great because it can be cast for less than its advertised cost, but still trigger an ability. But here, if we don't pay any mana, we don't get any value. This is also the reason that I'm not including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Electromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Electromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, despite it being one of the best spellslinger staples of all time. If it reduces a four-cost card to three mana, we just don't get the card draw from Shantotto.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Meeting of Minds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Electromancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mocking Sprite"></div></div>
<p>The most I can do to patch this deck up is add a ton of ramp and some stuff to make Shantotto unblockable, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Artful Dodge" href="#" target="_blank">Artful Dodge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Maybe we'll also add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temur Battle Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Temur Battle Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into the mix, because double strike on our commander sounds pretty intimidating. But I think that's about all I can do. Unfortunately, all we have right now is a deck with an absurdly high average mana value, and a pretty lousy payoff for it. I know I made a comparison to <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> earlier in this article, but anyone with eyes can see that drawing a card for casting a four-mana spell is not the same as making a copy of a Dragon for two mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firemind Vessel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Artful Dodge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temur Battle Rage"></div></div>
<h2>Shantotto Pauper Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Pauper Commander - Shantotto, the Radical Lady" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Shantotto, Tactician Magician
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Behold the Multiverse
*1 Big Score
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Choking Tethers
*1 Counterspell
*1 Fling
*1 Foil
*1 Frantic Firebolt
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Into the Roil
*1 Izzet Charm
*1 Lightning Bolt
*1 Mizzium Skin
*1 Negate
*1 Psychotic Fury
*1 Raking Claws
*1 Resculpt
*1 Rewind
*1 Shadow Rift
*1 Siege Smash
*1 Teach by Example
*1 Temur Battle Rage
*1 Trip Up
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Unfathomable Truths
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Brass Knuckles
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Firemind Vessel
*1 Hulldrifter
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Neurok Stealthsuit
*1 Sisay&#039;s Ring
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Artful Dodge
*1 Assault Strobe
*1 Daring Discovery
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Distortion Strike
*1 Empty the Warrens
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Goblin War Party
*1 Hazardous Blast
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Pirate&#039;s Pillage
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Epiphany
*1 Temporal Fissure
*1 Treason of Isengard
*1 Treasure Cruise
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Apprentice Wizard
*1 Goblin Electromancer
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Kiln Fiend
*1 Mocking Sprite
*1 Murmuring Mystic
*1 Nivix Cyclops
[/Creatures]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*19 Island
*18 Mountain
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>I'm not gonna lie, this deck is hilariously bad. A lack of good four-drops wasn't even my biggest problem, because trying to take advantage of the four mana clause was just a terrible idea when the payoff is so bad. I think this deck would be better off if you just played a bunch of one-drops, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balmor, Battlemage Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Balmor, Battlemage Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But then you should just play Balmor.</p>
<p>The one thing that could've saved this deck would've been <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Electromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Electromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the wording of Shantotto makes that card actively detrimental. I understand why the card is phrased like that, and it'll probably make some future legend much less abusable. But here, it just makes the commander mediocre.</p>


izzet spellslinger

Mastering the Moment With Rootha in Commander

Izzet Possible to Play Izzet Without Spell-Slingizzeting?

Does Shantotto Work as a Pauper Commander?