<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodline Bidding" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodline Bidding</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.drewbaker.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drew Baker</a></em></p>
<p>From the vibrant, adventurous world of <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender,</em> we go now to the long awaited return to the world of <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/ecl" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em></a>, two decades in the making, where <em>Lorwyn</em> and S<em>hadowmoor</em> are in constant flux.</p>
<p>While this isn't a world of Minotaurs, it is a world of shapeshifting changelings, which has me very excited. But beyond that I'm confident there are still plenty of new cards that can assist Minotaur typal strategies.</p>
<p>For those new to <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/the-minotaur-reviewer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my reviews</a>, I analyze cards from the perspective of Minotaur typal and how they can be used in the various sub strategies available, those currently being Aggressive Combat, Discard, and Magar Big Spells. Each has their own nuances, but all broadly rely on the same core Minotaur typal backbone.</p>
<p>So with that, lets explore this land of faefolk whimsy and delve into <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em>.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodline Bidding" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodline Bidding</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodline Bidding"></div></div>
<p>Let’s begin with Bloodline Bidding. This is a rather interesting take on a mass resurrection spell and it's an effect we don't see too often. The problem with these type of effects is they often cost a lot of mana, which ends up meaning you’re unable to cast any additional spells that turn. With convoke, as long as we have a few creatures in play, we can cast this earlier in the game or hold back enough mana for a follow-up spell. This shouldn’t be hard to pull off in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sethron, Hurloon General" href="#" target="_blank">Sethron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck with the tokens he generates.</p>
<p>However, due to the higher mana value Minotaurs tend to have, that makes this harder to convoke with than say Elves or Zombie typal decks. At the same time, we don’t want to be tapping our Minotaurs to cast spells, we want them attacking as much as possible, so Bloodline Bidding in a way works against our game plan.</p>
<p>Therefore, I’m not sure if Bloodline Bidding is good enough to run instead of other similar cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haunting Voyage" href="#" target="_blank">Haunting Voyage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Patriarch&#039;s Bidding" href="#" target="_blank">Patriarch&#039;s Bidding</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nameless Inversion" href="#" target="_blank">Nameless Inversion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nameless Inversion"></div></div>
<p>I think this might be one of the most creative cards to have the changeling ability, as its function is to be every creature type while also temporarily stripping creature types from its target. However, this highlights its key flaw: Inversion is a combat trick we don’t want to cast on our own Minotaurs.</p>
<p>Instead, I see this as a card best used as a political tool in Commander. The -3 toughness it grants makes it good spot removal, especially against indestructible targets or utility creatures that never block. We can also use it to boost another player’s attacks and win some favor amongst the table.</p>
<p>Despite this being a "Minotaur" spell by technicality, it doesn't actually do anything specifically for Minotaur strategies. I'd recommend playing it only for flavor or theme purposes, as there are better spells you can play in its place.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Collective Inferno" href="#" target="_blank">Collective Inferno</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Collective Inferno"></div></div>
<p>As I discussed in <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-best-new-cards-for-minotaur-typal-in-avatar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my review of <em>Avatar</em></a>, I am always on the lookout for cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fated Firepower" href="#" target="_blank">Fated Firepower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The faster we can destroy our enemies the better, so doubling or tripling our damage is always important. Collective Inferno might just be my new favorite of these kinds of effects.</p>
<p>As mentioned with Bloodline Bidding, Minotaurs aren't exactly suited for convoking spells, but given the casting cost of Inferno is five mana, it’s a little more reasonable to be able to convoke with one or two Minotaurs. This way we can still have mana left over to cast another spell, such as a mana rock. What makes me most intrigued is that even at its undiscounted cost, it costs the same as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dictate of the Twin Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Dictate of the Twin Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Now this doesn’t have the surprise factor of Twin Gods, but it also doesn’t double the damage of our opponents. So, we can attack more aggressively without having to fear retaliation as much and commit more Minotaurs to our assault. So, with this and its convoke, it might be the best damage doubler available to Minotaurs at this moment. Its something I think will give my Minotaur decks an edge they didn't have previously.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chronicle of Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Chronicle of Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chronicle of Victory"></div></div>
<p>It only took one look to understand how incredible this will be for Minotaur decks. The immediate comparison is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vanquisher&#039;s Banner" href="#" target="_blank">Vanquisher&#039;s Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which also draws a card for casting the chosen type, but here the anthem effect is doubled, and it grants first strike and trample to our Minotaurs.</p>
<p>In other words, Chronicle is like two different Minotaur lords, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rageblood Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Rageblood Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, combined into one artifact. The power of this should not be underestimated, as now a humble <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hurloon Minotaur" href="#" target="_blank">Hurloon Minotaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes a 4/5 with trample and first strike. Making it so much easier to crush our opponents as well as defend better against counter attacks.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gathering Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Gathering Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gathering Stone"></div></div>
<p>I’ll say upfront that I’m a little uncertain about this card. While reducing the casting cost of Minotaurs by one mana is very valuable, it costing four mana means it won’t come into play until the middle point of the game and delay us developing our board at the critical time when we're able to play the Minotaurs core to our strategies.</p>
<p>That said, its ability to get a Minotaur into our hand on our upkeep if it’s the top card is useful, as it doubles the number of cards drawn from our deck when we already have few forms of card draw available to us.</p>
<p>But all of these points are moot when you remember that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald&#039;s Horn" href="#" target="_blank">Herald&#039;s Horn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> already exists and does everything Gathering Stone does for only three mana So with all of this context, I don't think that I'm interested in using Gathering Stone. The only way I would want to play it is if I could somehow curve Herald’s Horn into Gathering Stone to effectively get double its effect, which admittedly would be powerful.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Changeling Wayfinder" href="#" target="_blank">Changeling Wayfinder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Changeling Wayfinder"></div></div>
<p>Changeling Wayfinder is most likely the best Minotaur we’ve seen printed since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gornog, the Red Reaper" href="#" target="_blank">Gornog, the Red Reaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in 2024, and this isn’t even trying to be a Minotaur. The reason I hold this position is that Rakdos' (<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-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) decks frankly suck when it comes to mana ramp.</p>
<p>Now you may say getting a basic land into your hand isn’t mana ramp, which is technically correct. But what I am saying is that it might as well be ramp if the alternative was missing a land drop. So as far as I am concerned, Wayfinder is the first ramping Minotaur available to us, and it’s sad that I even need to sing praise over what was most likely a card designed for draft filler.</p>
<p>This is all to say that Changeling Wayfinder is likely going to be an auto-include in every Minotaur deck from this day forward, and I highly encourage other Minotaur enjoyers to do the same.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rooftop Percher" href="#" target="_blank">Rooftop Percher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rooftop Percher"></div></div>
<p>Here we have another changeling creature that honestly isn’t too shabby. Minotaurs for obvious reasons don’t historically fly or have reach. In my experience, we really don’t have many tools available for us to defend against opponents with flyers, Dragons being the most common.</p>
<p>We have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minotaur Sureshot" href="#" target="_blank">Minotaur Sureshot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Longhorn Sharpshooter" href="#" target="_blank">Longhorn Sharpshooter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talruum Piper" href="#" target="_blank">Talruum Piper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but they can be a bit clunky to play or not available when we need them.</p>
<p>So, this little Shapeshifter provides us with a Minotaur that can gain all the benefits of our lords to go toe to toe with enemy flyers and offer a method of attack against opponents entrenched in a defensive board state. The ability to exile cards from graveyards is honestly just icing on the cake here. And having more cards that can deal with enemy flyers make it easier for us to stay alive in the long game.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abundant Countryside" href="#" target="_blank">Abundant Countryside</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abundant Countryside"></div></div>
<p>This land is going to be huge for creature typal decks. The way I see it, its a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sliver Hive" href="#" target="_blank">Sliver Hive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for every creature, though it costs six mana to make a 1/1 token instead of five.</p>
<p>I like this a lot because of how it can make any color of mana for creature spells, which is useful if you happen to get color screwed. In Minotaurs, our creatures tend to skew more towards red mana, so our mana bases reflect this. This means sometimes we have black Minotaurs or Rakdos Minotaurs, without a method of casting them. So a land like Abundant Countryside can help alleviate that issue.</p>
<p>But then it also gives us an outlet for our mana so we're never wasting it each turn. If a game goes long or we're on a discard strategy, having this ability to make a Shapeshifter with changeling seriously helps maintain a board state and keep the pressure up.</p>
<p>However, if our goal is to make changeling tokens, I would much rather use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maskwood Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Maskwood Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to do it. The token is 2/2 and it costs us only three mana to generate it. But I think it's important to have a redundancy of these abilities in a Minotaur deck to ensure they're always available as an option to us.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>And with that a sunset arrives on <em>Lorwyn</em>. Not the approach of <em>Shadowmoor</em>, but rather our departure as we move back to the city that never sleeps with <em>TMNT</em>.</p>
<p>I had a lot of fun with <em>Lorwyn</em> and I can see why it's so beloved. I only started playing the game in <em>Kaladesh</em>, but had I been around for the release of <em>Lorwyn</em> I think I would have been a die hard fan of it. There's truly a charm to it not found in any other <em>Magic</em> setting.</p>
<p>Until next time, be sure to check out the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/lorwyn-eclipsed-news-and-reviews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other set reviews found on EDHREC</a> for a broader analysis on everything <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed </em>has to offer.</p>


The Best New Cards for Minotaur Typal in Lorwyn Eclipsed

<p><em>Dance of the Elements</em> is a new Commander preconstructed deck releasing with the set <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em>. What's in the deck, who are the commanders, and how can we upgrade it?</p>
<p>Let's find out.</p>


<p>The <i>Dance of the Elements Lorwyn Eclipsed</i> Commander deck contains the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>1 Ready-to-play 100-card Commander deck</li>
<li>1 Traditional foil face commander with borderless art</li>
<li>1 Traditional foil featured commander with borderless art</li>
<li>98 Non-foil cards, including 10 new-to-Magic cards</li>
<li>10 Double-sided tokens</li>
<li>1 Deck box</li>
</ul>


<h3><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></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashling, the Limitless"></div></div>


<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mass of Mysteries" href="#" target="_blank">Mass of Mysteries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mass of Mysteries"></div></div>


<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jubilation" href="#" target="_blank">Jubilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jubilation"></div></div>
<p><i>Dance of the Elements </i>provides a full cycle of Elemental Incarnations, one for each color. A callback to the first go-round in <em>Lorwyn, </em>where we were introduced to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vigor|LRW|240" href="#" target="_blank">Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and friends. Of course, that callback was a callback of its own: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brawn|JUD|107" href="#" target="_blank">Brawn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and others were first seen in <em>Judgment, </em>though that cycle weren't also Elementals like their successors.</p>
<p>This time, the cycle's picked up encore, a built-for-Commander ability that asks for a hefty mana cost to get a one-time rebuy of the creature with extra copies, one for each opponent. Normally, that'd be three token copies, which means three triggers for the creature's enters-the-battlefield ability. And that's how we judge the cycle in <em>Dance of the Elements. </em></p>
<p>For <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jubilation" href="#" target="_blank">Jubilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, that equates to each creature gaining upwards of +6/+6 and trample (well, three tramples, technically) - if that doesn't end the game, you're probably not in a great spot. But for nine mana, you're likely hoping it'll be enough to revel in the jubilation of victory.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impulsivity" href="#" target="_blank">Impulsivity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Impulsivity"></div></div>
<p>Our red Elemental Incarnation features an ability all-too-common on red cards today in a reuse of an instant or sorcery in the graveyard. Of course, you're hoping to pay nine mana to get three free spells, which, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jubilation" href="#" target="_blank">Jubilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, should end the game, provided you're able to set it up reliably.</p>
<p>It's comparable to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Finale of Promise" href="#" target="_blank">Finale of Promise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mizzix&#039;s Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Mizzix&#039;s Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the 21 power it comes with, albeit temporarily, is nothing to sneeze at.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lamentation" href="#" target="_blank">Lamentation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lamentation"></div></div>
<p>This time we're paying eight mana for encore, but this turtle-crab-porcupine hybrid isn't necessarily breaking the game like the previous two Incarnations. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lamentation" href="#" target="_blank">Lamentation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead just nukes three creatures belonging to opponents, and it's worth noting that all three creatures can belong to a single opponent if needed.</p>
<p>Along with that comes nine life, though that's just gravy.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Belonging" href="#" target="_blank">Belonging</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Belonging"></div></div>
<p>Our white Incarnation is probably the most interesting of the bunch. When encore'd for eight mana, the board benefits from a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Belonging" href="#" target="_blank">Belonging</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> boon of nine 1/1 changelings, which will likely be a massive swing in all manner of typal decks, where 1/1s are rarely just 1/1s.</p>
<p>That said, there'll also be plenty of interest for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Belonging" href="#" target="_blank">Belonging</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> among <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/reanimator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reanimator</a> and <a href="http://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aristocrats</a> players as a way to refuel their sacrifice fodder.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Subterfuge" href="#" target="_blank">Subterfuge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Subterfuge"></div></div>
<p>The last of the five Incarnations is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Subterfuge" href="#" target="_blank">Subterfuge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the dolphin-butterfly-eagle impacts the board in a distinctly <em>blue </em>way. For the encore cost of nine, three of your creatures (which can just be the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Subterfuge" href="#" target="_blank">Subterfuge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> tokens themselves in a pinch) take to the skies to be flying <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cold-Eyed Selkie" href="#" target="_blank">Cold-Eyed Selkie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Subterfuge" href="#" target="_blank">Subterfuge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the least game-impacting of the bunch, as even if the encore ability allows the player to draw a dozen cards or more, it still cost nine mana and a successful combat step to do so.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elemental Spectacle" href="#" target="_blank">Elemental Spectacle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elemental Spectacle"></div></div>
<p>The first appearance of <em>vivid </em>comes on a six-mana green sorcery. With <em>vivid, </em>the card's effect scales with the number of colors among permanents the caster controls and comes in a variety of forms throughout <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed. </em></p>
<p>In the case of Elemental Spectacle, that form is up to five 5/5 red and green Elemental creature tokens, plus a one-time bonus of lifegain. Six mana for five 5/5 Elementals is a great deal (especially in a deck that cares about that creature type), but it's entirely possible to draw this with only a few colors in play.</p>
<p>There are only five black-aligned permanents in this entire list, after all.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springleaf Parade" href="#" target="_blank">Springleaf Parade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Springleaf Parade"></div></div>
<p>Color-fixing for a five-color deck is always welcome, especially when it comes with a pocketful of creature tokens relevant to any typal deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springleaf Parade" href="#" target="_blank">Springleaf Parade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make appearances in many green/x typal decks beyond <em>Dance of the Elements </em>outside maybe Elves.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rain-Slicked Copse" href="#" target="_blank">Rain-Slicked Copse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rain-Slicked Copse"></div></div>
<p>The first of three new lands is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rain-Slicked Copse" href="#" target="_blank">Rain-Slicked Copse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a continuation of the "bicycle" lands that began in <em>Amonkhet </em>with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheltered Thicket" href="#" target="_blank">Sheltered Thicket</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and friends. With basic land types, it's fetchable.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sodden Verdure" href="#" target="_blank">Sodden Verdure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sodden Verdure"></div></div>
<p>Another enemy-colored, basic land-typed continuation of an old land cycle, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sodden Verdure" href="#" target="_blank">Sodden Verdure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s the newest entry into the "<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prairie Stream" href="#" target="_blank">battle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>" lands, named aptly because they first appeared in <em>Battle for Zendikar.</em></p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abundant Countryside" href="#" target="_blank">Abundant Countryside</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abundant Countryside"></div></div>
<p>Easily the most interesting of the three new lands in <em>Dance of the Elements,</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abundant Countryside" href="#" target="_blank">Abundant Countryside</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> acts as an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Ziggurat" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Ziggurat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but better in every way. For one, it still makes a colorless mana for noncreature spells, if needed.</p>
<p>And for two, it's one of the better late-game mana sinks among lands we've seen lately. Six mana for a 1/1 changeling might not seem <em>that </em>good, but when it's repeatable and on a land, it can take over long, grinding games.</p>
<p>Expect Abundant Countryside to see a lot of play beyond this precon.</p>


<p><i>Dance of the Elements </i>wants to do pretty much exactly what it says on the tin.</p>
<p>The deck is equal parts Elemental typal and evoke/encore-centered, which is a fancy way of saying it wants to control the board with enters-the-battlefield (ETB) effects.</p>
<p>We see that in both headliner legends <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mass of Mysteries" href="#" target="_blank">Mass of Mysteries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as well as a few other strategic linchpins:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashling, the Limitless"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mass of Mysteries"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Muldrotha, the Gravetide"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yarok, the Desecrated"></div></div>
<p>The above creatures are all about stretching our resources (in both mana and Elementals) as far as possible to eke out advantage.</p>
<p>The name of the game is Elementals, and everything in the list is in service of playing Elementals, triggering Elemental abilities, and steps one and two again. One-time triggers aren't enough. The deck wants more.</p>
<p>And speaking of Ashling, there's some <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/lorwyn-eclipsed-update-bulletin?utm_source=edhrec">day zero errata</a> regarding the card's wording that is important to keep in mind. The card <em>should </em>say "Elemental <strong>permanent</strong> spells you cast from your hand gain evoke 4 <strong>as you cast them</strong>."</p>
<p>It's a minor change, but with kindred noncreature spells out there, it's worth mentioning. also by adding the "as you cast them" condition, it just means that if something happens to Ashling between casting a relevant Elemental permanent and that spell resolving, it'll still retain the evoke 4 bonus.</p>
<p>But which ones are worth working to rehash?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cavalier of Thorns"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eclipsed Flamekin"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Risen Reef"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omnath, Locus of the Roil"></div></div>
<p>In short, there are a bunch. The five new Incarnations could also easily fit in this category as well. Of the 35 non-Commander creatures in the deck, only 11 don't have an ETB ability. And two of those, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slithermuse" href="#" target="_blank">Slithermuse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omnath, Locus of Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Omnath, Locus of Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, have leaves-the-battlefield/dies abilities instead.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cream of the Crop"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Descendants&#039; Fury"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Garruk&#039;s Uprising"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Summons"></div></div>
<p>It's not just the creatures themselves looking to get into the triggered ability craze. While the deck doesn't feature many artifacts or enchantments (thanks in part to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bane of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Bane of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s inclusion), three of our enchantments are directly tied to actions our creatures undertake.</p>
<p>All three - and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Summons" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Summons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, too - are about generating card advantage where it can be found, which is important for a five-color deck looking to find and spend all five colors.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blasphemous Act"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crib Swap"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shriekmaw"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Foundation Breaker"></div></div>
<p>There isn't a ton of interaction in <em>Dance of the Elements </em>outside of that created by the aforementioned ETB effects, and that's perfectly fine. We still have the ubiquitous <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>, if all goes south.</p>


<p>According to combo database <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/find-my-combos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander Spellbook</a>, <em>Dance of the Elements </em>has no known combos, but it certainly makes up for it in synergy.</p>
<p>As noted above, the mission is to capitalize on all the enters-the-battlefield (ETB) effects seen on the deck's army of Elementals. One trigger is nice, but for this deck, it's the bare minimum.</p>
<p>How does <em>Dance of the Elements </em>ensure multiple triggers for each effect?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashling, the Limitless"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mass of Mysteries"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haunting Voyage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yarok, the Desecrated"></div></div>
<p>Luckily, the deck's commander, Ashling, as well as the alternate commander in Mass of Mysteries, pushes players in that direction. Both seek to maximize taking advantage of Elementals coming and going.</p>
<p>Elementals (and encore) tend to be expensive, however. But the deck's got plenty of ways to ensure casting things for full price is a last resort.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smokebraider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Incandescent Soulstoke"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flamebraider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jegantha, the Wellspring"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Horde of Notions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faeburrow Elder"></div></div>
<p>The deck leans into creature mana, with more than a half-dozen slots dedicated to either producing mana or offering alternate costs to cast the expensive Elementals.</p>
<p>With a five-color deck, the ability to produce specific colors of mana is just as important as producing mana in quantity, so the added help from things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jegantha, the Wellspring" href="#" target="_blank">Jegantha, the Wellspring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is important.</p>


<p><em>Dance of the Elements </em>features a total of 40 lands, with an emphasis on lands that can produce a minimum of two colors. Several offer one of any color, albeit with caveats:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Ziggurat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Beyond"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exotic Orchard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Secluded Courtyard"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Command Tower"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unclaimed Territory"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path of Ancestry"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Opal Palace"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abundant Countryside"></div></div>
<p>Nine lands that produce one mana of any color is a pretty good rate, especially for a preconstructed deck.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abundant Countryside" href="#" target="_blank">Abundant Countryside</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in particular is excellent here, since not only does it fix our mana requirements, it provides late-game bodies that count as Elementals (and Plants, for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avenger of Zendikar" href="#" target="_blank">Avenger of Zendikar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<p>As for utility, there's that Abundant Countryside above, but there's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamekin Village" href="#" target="_blank">Flamekin Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Adding haste to any creature for a single <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> is valuable when providing the ability to mana-producing creatures to get to work immediately, or with creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vernal Sovereign" href="#" target="_blank">Vernal Sovereign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that have attack triggers.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flamekin Village"></div></div>
<p>What the deck features in creature- and land-based mana, it falters in artifact mana. However, with 35 creatures in the list, that's to be expected. The options that <em>are </em>included are again focused on ensuring players have access to all colors as reliably as possible. Outside of the usual <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, there are: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Timeless Lotus" href="#" target="_blank">Timeless Lotus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fellwar Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Fellwar Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Timeless Lotus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chromatic Lantern"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fellwar Stone"></div></div>


<p>When it comes to <em>Dance of the Elements, </em>there are roughly a million options if upgrading is the goal. Typal decks have plenty of support, and enters-the-battlefield (ETB) abilities aren't exactly in short supply, either.</p>
<p>Starting with five cards, what can we add to further the deck's synergy? And how far can the power level be pushed?</p>
<p>First of all, cards can't be added before others are removed, so which five cards are on the chopping block?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hoofprints of the Stag"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fertile Ground"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shatter the Sky"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slithermuse"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Summons"></div></div>
<p>Really, just shedding some of the less impactful inclusions is all it'll take to free up room to add more heavy hitters. Take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Summons" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Summons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example. It's not a bad card, but a seven-mana investment will have more punch if it's attached to an excellent Elemental or ETB effect.</p>
<h3>Five Additions on a Budget</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Sifter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eerie Ultimatum"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mimic Vat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reflections of Littjara"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heartless Summoning"></div></div>
<h3>Five Additions With No Budget</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Animar, Soul of Elements"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roaming Throne"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Dominance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lifeline"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Molten Echoes"></div></div>
<p>There are many, many options we can consider adding, as there are plenty of generically powerful support cards, budget or otherwise. We already have a good suite of effects, so really, the mission is to make them easier to get into play, or easier to multiply.</p>
<p>Whether they're budget-concious additions or they're cards that come with a heftier price tag, we could swap things in and out all day. However, we just want to do what <em>Dance of the Elements </em>is already doing, but even more efficiently.</p>
<h3>Game Changers</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fierce Guardianship"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worldly Tutor"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeska&#039;s Will"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Natural Order"></div></div>
<p>Since <em>Dance of the Elements </em>is a five-color deck, it can play literally any <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer</a>, though that might not be wise.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Humility" href="#" target="_blank">Humility</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might not be a good choice, for example. But there's a world in which you could argue for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coalition Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Coalition Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>


<p>For both <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed </em>decks, the MSRP is listed at $49.99, up five dollars from <em>Edge of Eternities.</em></p>
<p><em>Dance of the Elements</em> comes in at an estimated contained value of around $281. If we remove the 10 new cards, which are currently in prerelease pricing and are subject to fall, the value of the reprints alone becomes around $117, which is actually below average despite some surprising reprints.</p>
<p>The most expensive reprints in <em>Counter Intelligence</em> are:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Timeless Lotus" href="#" target="_blank">Timeless Lotus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cream of the Crop" href="#" target="_blank">Cream of the Crop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Endurance" href="#" target="_blank">Endurance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omnath, Locus of the Roil" href="#" target="_blank">Omnath, Locus of the Roil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Summons" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Summons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Timeless Lotus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cream of the Crop"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Endurance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omnath, Locus of the Roil"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Summons"></div></div>


<p>There's definitely an argument that can be made against five-color strategies in general. When players have access to any card, the only deckbuilding restrictions become those which players impose on themselves.</p>
<p>That said, <em>Dance of the Elements </em>is still a <em>fun </em>five-color list, and that's often all that matters, especially when it comes to preconstructed decks. It might not hit with every player, but there's going to be a good number out there for whom <em>Dance of the Elements </em>might become a top-five precon.</p>
<p><em>Dance of the Elements</em> gets a B.</p>


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