<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of Extus" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of Extus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.wyliebeckert.com/?show=portfolio">Wylie Beckert</a>)</h6>
<h1>Looks Like We've got Another Mystery on our Hands!</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Archetune-Up</em>, an article series devoted to tweaking a deck with the help of the EDHREC <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes">Theme</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes">Pages</a>!</p>
<p>For this article, I wanted to cover a legend that has captured my interest from the moment they were first spoiled, and the only three-color card in <em>Strixhaven</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extus, Oriq Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Extus, Oriq Overlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Extus, Oriq Overlord"></div></div>
<p>Extus has been the only legend on my brain since spoiler season (seriously, it took me almost an <a href="https://twitter.com/thejesguy/status/1394121100267765761?s=20">entire month of deliberation</a> to get my personal list together), and even now he hasn't relinquished his hold over me. In an effort to try and loosen his vice-like grip (or spread his teachings, whichever you think applies), I decided to check out his average list, and see what he was working with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Average Extus" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Extus, Oriq Overlord
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Cruel Celebrant
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Doomed Traveler
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Impulsive Pilferer
*1 Keeper of the Accord
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Monastery Mentor
*1 Ogre Slumlord
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Sedgemoor Witch
*1 Sengir Autocrat
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Teysa Karlov
*1 Thalisse, Reverent Medium
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Young Pyromancer
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Despark
*1 Fracture
*1 Fury Storm
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Rise of the Dread Marn
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Assemble the Legion
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Bitterblossom
*1 Black Market
*1 Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blot Out the Sky
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Diabolic Intent
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Lingering Souls
*1 Martial Coup
*1 Painful Truths
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Reanimate
*1 Ruinous Ultimatum
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Marsh Flats
*3 Mountain
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*4 Plains
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Spectator Seating
*6 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>With over 1,000 decks to his name, Extus is easily the most popular legend coming out of <em>Strixhaven</em>, and for good reason! He's incredibly versatile, able to build entire gameplans around either his front half or his flip side, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>That said, there are two things I took away from this average list:</p>
<ul>
<li>Y'all ain't running enough lands! How in the world is <strong>33</strong> acceptable??</li>
<li>The average decklist shows that the majority of people are building around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>Both sides of Extus are great, but each one wants their decks to do <em>slightly </em>different things. Yes, both Extus and The Blood Avatar want plenty of creatures to churn through, but Extus wants to play a bit more of a grindy game, accruing value over time with nontoken creatures. Conversely, The Blood Avatar wants a wide board of fodder to sac in order to create multiple Avatar tokens in a turn, and token fodder will often do this the best.</p>
<p>Looking at all the token makers and support in this list, a lot of these decks are geared to summon The Blood Avatar as opposed to follow the ways of Extus. I have a personal fondness for The Oriq Overlord, despite his Saturday morning cartoon villainy in the <em>Strixhaven</em> story, so he's who I'll be focusing on building around today!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Like, Zoinks, Scoob!</h2>
<p>I'll be using EDHREC's <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/aristocrats/rwb">Mardu Aristocrats Theme</a> to find the inclusions for today's list. Before I dig into the cards I added, I want to take a moment to also mention that I brought the land count up to 36 from 33. 36 is still a bit lean for me, but it is <em>a lot</em> better than the blatantly irresponsible 33 the original deck had, so with that quick fix out of the way, what does this theme hold for us?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valakut Awakening"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agadeem&#039;s Awakening"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malakir Rebirth"></div></div>
<p>Well, it has... more land!</p>
<p>If you've read my articles this year, y'all should know how much I <span style="text-decoration: underline;">adore</span> <em>Battle for Zendikar</em>'s MDFCs. On top of being outright fantastic cards, they pull double duty in an Extus deck, since they are both lands <em>and</em> spells. They help patch up the land base while also being cards that can trigger <em>Magecraft</em> to keep the deck chugging along!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valakut Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Valakut Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agadeem&#039;s Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Agadeem&#039;s Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malakir Rebirth" href="#" target="_blank">Malakir Rebirth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hagra Mauling" href="#" target="_blank">Hagra Mauling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were the four MFDCs found on the Aristocrats theme page, but there are a few others that would also be a perfect fit for the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sejiri Shelter" href="#" target="_blank">Sejiri Shelter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Inversion" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Inversion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shatterskull Smashing" href="#" target="_blank">Shatterskull Smashing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all viable options for Extus, and I cannot recommend them enough!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Ruh-roh, Raggy!!</h2>
<p>Now that we've got the mana base in order, what's next? Well, while The Blood Avatar wants to force itself into the foray and bring games to an end quickly, Extus wants to move a bit slower and more methodically. What exactly does that mean, though?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tormenting Voice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Costly Plunder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buried Alive"></div></div>
<p>What Extus desires instead of pure power is <em>synergy</em>! Extus tacks on a free <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Raise Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with every spell we cast, so why not take advantage of that?</p>
<p>Spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormenting Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Tormenting Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Costly Plunder" href="#" target="_blank">Costly Plunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have additional costs needed to cast them, so if Extus is in play, even if we discard or sacrifice a creature to help pay for the spell, we can just get another right back! This is a great way to quickly and cheaply accrue value, turning the downside of these cards' additional costs into something negligible, or even beneficial! These kinds of spells are right at home here, from removal like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Payment" href="#" target="_blank">Final Payment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bone Splinters" href="#" target="_blank">Bone Splinters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to a reusable sac outlet like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worthy Cause" href="#" target="_blank">Worthy Cause</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. All of them are welcome additions to Extus's repertoire.</p>
<p>Due to this deck being more graveyard-based than a Blood Avatar deck, we need to make sure we have ways to enable our shenanigans, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does just that. For three mana, we get to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Raise Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a creature from our graveyard if Extus is out, and then comb through our deck for three creatures to dump them directly into our precious graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might not be as powerful as it is in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karador, Ghost Chieftain" href="#" target="_blank">Karador, Ghost Chieftain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, but it is still <em>fantastic</em> here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the brand new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unmarked Grave" href="#" target="_blank">Unmarked Grave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Modern Horizons 2</em> would also be wonderful additions in the same vein if we want some more redundancy for an effect like this.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Jinkies!</h2>
<p>I dug up a lot of interesting and powerful interactions and cards for Extus during my deep dive over the past month, and one class of card in particular stood out to me when I was constructing by personal brew. Since they weren't listed in the <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/aristocrats/rwb">Aristocrats Theme</a>, I wanted to be sure to dedicate a section to them, since I think they are so integral to how our Oriq Overlord functions.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Order of Midnight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merchant of the Vale"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Embereth Shieldbreaker"></div></div>
<p>Much like the MDFCs from the first section, <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=type%3Aadventure+commander%3AWBR"><em>Adventure</em> creatures</a> are important for any Extus build. Adventure cards provide the best of both worlds, with one half triggering Extus's <em>Magecraft</em> ability, and the other half that can be sacrificed and subsequently brought back! With Extus and a sacrifice outlet, you have the potential to loop two <em>Adventure</em> creatures multiple times in a turn, triggering all of your <em>Magecraft</em> effects as well as all of the effects that trigger when your creatures die.</p>
<p>While this style of card are a home-run in this deck, I only added the three most important ones: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Order of Midnight" href="#" target="_blank">Order of Midnight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merchant of the Vale" href="#" target="_blank">Merchant of the Vale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Embereth Shieldbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Embereth Shieldbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Others, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shepherd of the Flock" href="#" target="_blank">Shepherd of the Flock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foulmire Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Foulmire Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realm-Cloaked Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Realm-Cloaked Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are also great inclusions, and I would highly recommend giving them all a look if you want to build Extus.</p>
<hr />
<h2>I Would Have Gotten Away With It, Too!</h2>
<p>There we have it, ten easy inclusions to make a deck more Extus-centric!</p>
<p>While I am happy with the additions to the deck, I personally think that the list could use even more more synergy to help differentiate itself from Blood Avatar decks. Swapping generic removal spells for things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, having ways to protect Extus like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selfless Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Selfless Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Benevolent Bodyguard" href="#" target="_blank">Benevolent Bodyguard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or having ways to loop instants and sorceries, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Living Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghitu Chronicler" href="#" target="_blank">Ghitu Chronicler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, really makes Extus hum. In an Extus build, the cheaper, the better, and the more spells you can cast in a turn, the more likely you are to win.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spark Harvest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selfless Savior"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Living Lightning"></div></div>
<p>That said, no matter what side you decide to build around, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extus, Oriq Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Extus, Oriq Overlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>//<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is incredibly fun and gives Aristocrat players two different ways to go about draining the life from their opponents.</p>
<p>What about you, though? Which side do you prefer, Extus, or The Blood Avatar? Are there any neat moves that you've come up with for either side? Make sure to let me know down below!</p>
<p>As always, you can reach me on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/thejesguy">@thejesguy</a>), where you can always hit me up for <i>Magic- </i>or Jeskai-related shenanigans 24/7. Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Please don’t hesitate to leave them below or get in touch! Stay safe, get vaccinated, wear your mask, and keep fighting the good fight. I support you. No justice, no peace.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Archetune-Up Extus Would Have Gotten Away With it Too!" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Extus, Oriq Overlord
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Cruel Celebrant
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Doomed Traveler
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
*1 Embereth Shieldbreaker
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Merchant of the Vale
*1 Monastery Mentor
*1 Order of Midnight
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Sedgemoor Witch
*1 Sengir Autocrat
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Teysa Karlov
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Young Pyromancer
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Costly Plunder
*1 Despark
*1 Fury Storm
*1 Hagra Mauling
*1 Malakir Rebirth
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Rise of the Dread Marn
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Valakut Awakening
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Agadeem&#039;s Awakening
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Diabolic Intent
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Martial Coup
*1 Painful Truths
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Tormenting Voice
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Assemble the Legion
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Black Market
*1 Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Marsh Flats
*4 Mountain
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*5 Plains
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Spectator Seating
*7 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>



Archetune-Up - The Monster of the Week

Epic Experiment - Extus, Oriq Overlord

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Segovian Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Segovian Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://simondominic.artstation.com/">Simon Dominic</a>)</h6>
<h1>Spy's Demise</h1>
<blockquote><p>Too flashy to ignore. Too fast to catch.</p>
<p style="text-align: right;">—<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kitesail Cleric" href="#" target="_blank">Kitesail Cleric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> flavor text</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When it comes to aggressively attacking at the Commander tables, you would probably expect there to be some red involved, right? Both Boros and Gruul are all about the smashy smash, using combat to end players' days. However, one of the most aggressive decks you can find might just be helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's why in this <em>Mind Bend</em>, the article series that breaks down the conventional notions of the color pie to forge new ground outside the confines of the already established, we're shifting Edric's Simic game back where it belongs - in red, white, and black.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edric, Spymaster of Trest"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>All Spies on Me</h2>
<p>For those of you wondering why <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very aggressive, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/edric-spymaster-of-trest">one look at his average decklist on EDHREC</a> will sort out your concerns. Let's go over it a little more here in order to make the Mardu conversion.</p>
<h3>Air Force One</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flying Men"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gudul Lurker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spire Tracer"></div></div>
<p>For one, the average <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck plays 26 different versions of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: tiny one-mana creatures that have flying or are in some way either unblockable, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gudul Lurker" href="#" target="_blank">Gudul Lurker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or have odd blocking conditions, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spire Tracer" href="#" target="_blank">Spire Tracer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The bevy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> serve a singular purpose: deal combat damage to your opponents so that Edric can draw you cards. The more of these evasive low-cost creatures you can have in play to swing with once Edric hits the battlefield, the more cards you'll have to cast on later turns. The first swing is for replacing those already deployed, the subsequent swings are just sheer value.</p>
<h3>Doing the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Time Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>So what do you do with all that draw? How about... draw more cards? The average <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> list runs six extra turn spells, once again for a singular purpose: to give you more combats, mana, and cards. Digging deep with your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets better and better when you keep striking extra turn gold. Each <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Time Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Part the Waterveil" href="#" target="_blank">Part the Waterveil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in hand means a better chance at finding the next.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Time Warp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Part the Waterveil"></div></div>
<h3>Closing Time</h3>
<p>Now, you could draw cards and take turns until your library is empty, but winning the game is a whole 'nuther problem. Poking with a small army of 1/1s is only going to get you so far. Since you'll be speed-running your deck into the ground, you only need a few ways to close out the game.</p>
<p>In the average list on EDHREC, Edric players run about four win conditions, and they include pumping your team via <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beastmaster Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Beastmaster Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, coming out of nowhere with poison from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triumph of the Hordes" href="#" target="_blank">Triumph of the Hordes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or killing players without even attacking them directly via <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throne of the God-Pharaoh" href="#" target="_blank">Throne of the God-Pharaoh</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beastmaster Ascension"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triumph of the Hordes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Throne of the God-Pharaoh"></div></div>
<p>The rest of the typical <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck is filled with the usual Commander staples, mostly removal, ramp, and answers, plus a few secondary "Edrics" in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reconnaissance Mission" href="#" target="_blank">Reconnaissance Mission</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bident of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Bident of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reconnaissance Mission"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bident of Thassa"></div></div>
<p>The end result is a deck that wants to hit early and often, then steal the game away by never giving anyone the chance to play again.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Tangled Web We Weave</h2>
<p>When changing this deck over to Mardu, the question then becomes "Who can helm the deck on a level similar to Edric?" <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has no direct analogue, but we do have one that gets close: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tymna the Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Tymna the Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tymna the Weaver"></div></div>
<p>With her in the command zone, we can replicate Edric's early turn strategy and net the same amount of cards. Luckily, both black and white have a plethora of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of their own to get in on the early aggro-for-cards train. For example, there are bombs like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serra Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Serra Ascendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can come down as a 6/6 flyer at the opening of the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Serra Ascendant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Healer&#039;s Hawk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vampire Cutthroat"></div></div>
<p>We can even recoup that life loss from Tymna's ability with some low-mana evasive creatures: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Healer&#039;s Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Healer&#039;s Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampire Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Vampire Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vault Skirge" href="#" target="_blank">Vault Skirge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, will give us the life we'll happily pay.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Extra Combative</h3>
<p>So what about the next step in the Edric game plan: extra turns? Also, what about the red portion of this deck? To both of those I say to you, what about extra combats? Red is tops when it comes to swinging more than once in a turn; just look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relentless Assault" href="#" target="_blank">Relentless Assault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or, new from <em>Zendikar Rising,</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moraug, Fury of Akoum" href="#" target="_blank">Moraug, Fury of Akoum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Relentless Assault"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waves of Aggression"></div></div>
<p>Since we're in white, we also get the versatile <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Response//Resurgence" href="#" target="_blank">Response//Resurgence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the absolute beating that is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waves of Aggression" href="#" target="_blank">Waves of Aggression</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. An extra combat spell you can cast again and again from the graveyard? Yes, please.</p>
<hr />
<h3>We're Pirates Now!</h3>
<p>But we can't play these extra combat cards with just Tymna in the command zone. It's time to <em>Partner</em> her up! Welcome aboard <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Breeches, Brazen Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Breeches, Brazen Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offers another route to "card draw" by stealing the top of our opponent's deck upon damage. If we have additional Pirates, we can aim them at different opponents for full effect. Unfortunately, our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serra Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Serra Ascendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are not Pirates. Or are they?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conspiracy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maskwood Nexus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Volatile Claws"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conspiracy" href="#" target="_blank">Conspiracy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has long been a staple for messing with your creature types, and it's perfect with Breeches. Plus, you can't spell "conspiracy" without "piracy", arr! The brand new <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> gives us another way to turn our team into Pirates. For a one-shot effect, we can boost our team for extra damage with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Volatile Claws" href="#" target="_blank">Volatile Claws</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h3>End Result</h3>
<p>To mirror the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Biomass Mutation" href="#" target="_blank">Biomass Mutation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in Edric's list, why not add a way to make our team all Pirates and turn them huge? For this, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Entity" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Entity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fits right at home. Speaking of ending the game with large creatures, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marton Stromgald" href="#" target="_blank">Marton Stromgald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a wonderful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beastmaster Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Beastmaster Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> impression that's actually stronger with more combat steps. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brutal Hordechief" href="#" target="_blank">Brutal Hordechief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> adds to the damage and makes it even easier to get a lethal attack through, even on other turns!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirror Entity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marton Stromgald"></div></div>
<p>We even have a few <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coastal Piracy" href="#" target="_blank">Coastal Piracy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects to slot in. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grenzo, Havoc Raiser" href="#" target="_blank">Grenzo, Havoc Raiser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can play both offense and defense, netting us opponents' cards to cast or sending a large threat elsewhere. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner" href="#" target="_blank">Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give us a brand new hand whenever we want.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Mardu You Do</h2>
<p>I will admit that this decklist is still a little rough around the edges. I feel that the build will require some heavy in-game testing before the final list is achieved. But the start here is a great one, considering the pedigree it is modeled after. It does run a little slower than Edric, to be sure, but not much slower. Taking advantage of its pace of play would be the first thing to upgrade here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Edric, but Mardu This Time" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Breeches, Brazen Plunderer
*1 Tymna the Weaver
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aven Skirmisher
*1 Azra Oddsmaker
*1 Basilica Screecher
*1 Battlefield Raptor
*1 Blight Keeper
*1 Brutal Hordechief
*1 Changeling Outcast
*1 Duskborne Skymarcher
*1 Eye Collector
*1 Faerie Guidemother
*1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
*1 Healer&#039;s Hawk
*1 Hope of Ghirapur
*1 Kitesail Cleric
*1 Kitesail Scout
*1 Lantern Kami
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Moraug, Fury of Akoum
*1 Marton Stromgald
*1 Neheb, the Eternal
*1 Nightshade Stinger
*1 Pilfering Imp
*1 Remorseful Cleric
*1 Rustwing Falcon
*1 Segovian Angel
*1 Selfless Spirit
*1 Serra Ascendant
*1 Soltari Foot Soldier
*1 Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner
*1 Suntail Hawk
*1 Topplegeist
*1 Tormented Soul
*1 Vampire Cutthroat
*1 Vault Skirge
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Despark
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Response // Resurgence
*1 Reverberate
*1 Shields of Velis Vel
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
*1 Volatile Claws
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Relentless Assault
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Waves of Aggression
*1 World at War
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Maskwood Nexus
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aggravated Assault
*1 Conspiracy
*1 Fiery Emancipation
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Blightstep Pathway
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Brightclimb Pathway
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Mana Confluence
*1 Marsh Flats
*2 Mountain
*1 Needleverge Pathway
*4 Plains
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Silent Clearing
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*2 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Time to Trest (For Now)</h2>
<p>I feel like this archetype of aggressive creatures barreling into value is still somewhat unexplored. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been around for a long time, but he can't be the only iteration out there. I'd like to see other color combinations and commanders follow suit. Decks like these win fast or die fast, but the will leave their mark before they're gone. So if that sounds like a strategy for you, go all in!</p>
<p>See you all soon for another mind-bending deck!</p>


Mind Bend - Spymaster of Mardu

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowbane" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowbane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://douglasshuler.com/">Douglas Shuler</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>Welcome to <em>Dual Shot</em>, where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck! This typically leaves us with a marriage of themes, sometimes in a neat 80/20 balance, other times in a mess of abstraction, a melding of approaches. Half one way, half the other, with a bridge between.</p>
<p>This time, two partitions will display a unity of focus, but to the exclusion of their peripheral awarenesses. They are alike in purpose, but they are not like-minded, even if they share the same headspace. Although sometimes, if your Voltron commander works, there won't be much left in the way of headspace, not with Zurgo Helmsmasher at the, uh, helm.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zurgo Helmsmasher"></div></div>
<p>(Check the archives! Have we made that joke before? If not, originality! If so, continuity!)</p>
<p>This edition of <em>Dual Shot</em> brings us another combat-centric deck. I know, be patient, I'm sure there'll be a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/wheels">Wheel</a> deck inside a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/stax">Stax</a> deck, or a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/rat-colony">Rat Colony</a> deck inside a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/persistent-petitioners">Persistent Petitioners</a> deck inside a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/shadowborn-apostles">Shadowborn Apostle</a> deck someday.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rat Colony"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Persistent Petitioners"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shadowborn Apostle"></div></div>
<p>(Oh, write those down!)</p>
<p>But no, for now the duality is a subtle one, one scarcely aware of its own schism, obvious and opaque at once. In one sphere sits the straightforward, the outward, the brash, even the honorable. In the other hides the meandering, the muttering, the surreptitious, the anxious. Day and night aren't so different; they merely color the sky. The sky's purpose is still there.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Shadow of Zurgo" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Zurgo Helmsmasher
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Adriana, Captain of the Guard
*1 Agent of Stromgald
*1 Augur il-Vec
*1 Azra Oddsmaker
*1 Dauthi Cutthroat
*1 Dauthi Ghoul
*1 Dauthi Jackal
*1 Dauthi Mercenary
*1 Dauthi Mindripper
*1 Dauthi Trapper
*1 Dauthi Warlord
*1 Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar
*1 Port Razer
*1 Soltari Champion
*1 Soltari Crusader
*1 Soltari Foot Soldier
*1 Soltari Guerrillas
*1 Soltari Monk
*1 Soltari Priest
*1 Soltari Trooper
*1 Soltari Visionary
*1 Spirit en-Dal
*1 Stronghold Overseer
*1 Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner
*1 Throat Slitter
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Despark
*1 Howl from Beyond
*1 Leave // Chance
*1 Savage Beating
*1 Seething Song
*1 Stir the Pride
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Temur Battle Rage
*1 Terminate
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bond of Discipline
*1 Dusk // Dawn
*1 Insult // Injury
*1 Read the Bones
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Rakdos Locket
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aggravated Assault
*1 Cavalcade of Calamity
*1 Curse of Stalked Prey
*1 Dauthi Embrace
*1 Latulla&#039;s Orders
*1 Rage Reflection
*1 Raid Bombardment
*1 Sphere of Safety
*1 Unspeakable Symbol
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Bloodfell Caves
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Castle Ardenvale
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Command Tower
*1 Concealed Courtyard
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Isolated Chapel
*4 Mountain
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Path of Ancestry
*5 Plains
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Rupture Spire
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Scoured Barrens
*1 Secluded Steppe
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*5 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Reconciling</h2>
<p>Our general wants to smash. His army isn't even on the same battlefield. Reducing it down, this is a win-by-commander-damage deck atop a wide, evasive combat deck. To each end, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rage Reflection" href="#" target="_blank">Rage Reflection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Savage Beating" href="#" target="_blank">Savage Beating</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insult // Injury" href="#" target="_blank">Insult // Injury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seem to act as the only channel of communication and compromise. Otherwise, we'll be fighting two different wars. Self and shadow. Conscious and unconscious. Ego and id. Digestible and euphuistic. Dictionary and thesaurus. Something and... someplace.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rage Reflection"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Savage Beating"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Insult // Injury"></div></div>
<p>Anyway, tangled among all the cards that exist in one camp here (e.g., <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howl from Beyond" href="#" target="_blank">Howl from Beyond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is really only going to benefit your commander, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stir the Pride" href="#" target="_blank">Stir the Pride</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only exhibits its utility when the shadows are long), there are two tenuous, brittle bridges: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Embrace" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Embrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Trapper" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Trapper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dauthi Embrace"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dauthi Trapper"></div></div>
<p>This deck's <em>raison d'être</em>. With these, Zurgo can give into his <em>Shadow</em> archetype, his buried truth. He is no true Khan of the Mardu Horde, not in the sense of acquiescence to the weight of culture, of honorable battle, of vendettas and oaths and ambition. All of that is in service to the chase of the bloodbath. An otherwordly stab in the back will meet that requirement just as well as crossed swords.</p>
<p>But there is a danger in giving in to the dark. With an army stuck in the shadow, you'll enjoy your evasiveness, sure, but in doing so, each of your opponents are guaranteed the same. You cannot block. And like our psychic shadow, if pressured into a defensive posture, it is a perverted one. Paranoia, carelessness, irrationality. You know, the "always be attacking" type of Jungian psychology. That isn't to say this deck can't work, only that, unlike typical <em>Dual Shot</em> fare, the pivot presented here is rather more like shifting our weight from a fixed stance. Here, despite our brazenness, our brashness, our bravado - our brutality - we do not adapt, we submit.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This is a deck at odds with itself. Running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raid Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Raid Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavalcade of Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Cavalcade of Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is terribly risky, since while we do prioritize effects that grant double strike, rather than simply buffing our power, these do seem like the first cuts to make. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> feels like the all-star here, definitely going a long way toward making this list seem fun and not frustrating. But that aggravating antipode is at the very heart of this deck - something honest and something askance. This brew does a good job of illustrating an early glimpse into the goals of <em>Magic</em>. You want to win by dealing damage to your opponents, so dealing unavoidable damage quickly seems like the clearest path to victory. But then caveats begin to pile up, lines of play become visible only after you've closed them off, and someone played <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stasis" href="#" target="_blank">Stasis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and somehow there's an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth, Knight-Errant" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth, Knight-Errant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that's going to ult and there's nothing you can do about it.</p>
<p>Often, this excavates a salt mine - at first. But it's that same circuity that keeps us coming back, reliving plays in our heads, sharing jank with friends, and turning grim metaphors into decklists at the insistence of the plague-madness.</p>
<p>That's it for this episode! Check out <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/trent-trombley/">Trent Trombley</a>'s <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/evasive-maneuvers-shadow/"><em>Evasive Maneuvers - Shadow</em></a> for more insight into this tech! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Embrace" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Embrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Trapper" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Trapper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> see a &lt; 1% inclusion rate on EDHREC, and <em>Shadow</em>, in general, is an underappreciated mechanic; it seems that people's enthusiasm for the keyword dwindles once they realize that it means they can't block. But to hell with blocking, I say! Zurgo, smash!</p>
<p>Let us know in the comments below when "always be attacking" worked for you. Or, perhaps more interestingly, tell us about a moment you had in your Commander career when you realized that this game had more going on underneath the hood that you'd first thought. Anyway, stay safe and stay sane. Till next edition.</p>
<p>Try to stay safe and sane after next edition, too.</p>


mardu

Archetune-Up - The Monster of the Week

Epic Experiment - Extus, Oriq Overlord

Mind Bend - Spymaster of Mardu

Dual Shot - Shadow Aspect

Commander Legends Set Review - Wedge and Shard Legends

Evasive Maneuvers — Shadow

Collected Company - Obosh

Archetune-Up - Knights of the Black Rose

Diabolic Intent - Horcruxes

Archetune-Up - Licia, Durdle-less Lifegain