Jumpstart Commander Cube: Final Fantasy

Ranking Which Final Fantasy Main Protagonists Got the Best Cards

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zidane, Tantalus Thief|fin|405" href="#" target="_blank">Zidane, Tantalus Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/katanacanata/profile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canata Katana</a></em></p>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em> is already released, but I've still got a lot of awesome cards to look at, so we're checking out one more today. Today's deck is gonna be built around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zidane, Tantalus Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Zidane, Tantalus Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a commander that incentivizes us to steal creatures, but just for a little bit.</p>
<p>I absolutely love theft decks, especially in Pauper, because they tend to match the power level of your opponents' decks. Of course, right? Because you're playing with their creatures. This means that I can play this deck against non-Pauper decks, because even though those decks are built with stronger cards than mine, I can just snatch them, and boom, my deck is just as powerful.</p>
<p>So this is gonna be a lot of fun.</p>
<h2>What Does Zidane, Tantalus Thief Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zidane, Tantalus Thief"></div></div>
<p>While Zidane is shiny and new, what he's doing isn't particularly fresh. We've had cards that snatch creatures from opponents' boards for years. But Zidane really gives us something to build around, and offers a payoff in the form of Treasure tokens when we give our creatures back.</p>
<p>Though having a big scary creature for a turn is a pretty decent payoff on it's own.</p>
<p>In addition to this, Zidane nearly doubles the amount of theft cards we can run in our deck, just by having that effect on an ETB. How? Because of the color white, which lets us run blink spells. Essentially, we can turn <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudshift" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into a one-mana copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Act of Treason" href="#" target="_blank">Act of Treason</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>And for whatever reason, Zidane also grants lifelink to our stolen creatures, making it even better.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloudshift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Act of Treason"></div></div>
<h2>Key Cards for Zidane</h2>
<h3>Blink Spells</h3>
<p>So of course, we're gonna run all the blink spells we can. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrollshift" href="#" target="_blank">Scrollshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, awesome. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flicker of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Flicker of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, even better. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, hell yeah!</p>
<p>There are more than enough great options in Pauper, from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Justiciar&#039;s Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Justiciar&#039;s Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Acrobatic Maneuver" href="#" target="_blank">Acrobatic Maneuver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slip On the Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Slip On the Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We should be able to blink Zidane constantly, and reap the rewards of his theft ability.</p>
<p>And the Treasure we get afterwards just fuels further robbery. Unfortunately, some of these spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otherworldly Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Otherworldly Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, only return Zidane at the end of the turn, skipping combat. But this doesn't make them totally useless, and you'll see why in a bit.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrollshift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ephemerate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slip On the Ring"></div></div>
<h3>Theft Spells</h3>
<p>First though, let's complete our arsenal of theft spells. Obviously, our supply of blink spells isn't infinite, so we have to dip into actual theft spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hijack" href="#" target="_blank">Hijack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But that's no big worry, because some of these spells are quite decent.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goatnap" href="#" target="_blank">Goatnap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for instance, gives +3/+0 if what we're stealing is a Goat. Haha, ok, obviously not that one, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Traitorous Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Traitorous Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give trample to something huge. That'll be particularly funny when you hear your opponent muttering that they "could win this game if they only had trample."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hijack"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goatnap"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Traitorous Blood"></div></div>
<p>Then there are just some generic ones, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrangle" href="#" target="_blank">Wrangle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Price of Loyalty" href="#" target="_blank">Price of Loyalty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloody Betrayal" href="#" target="_blank">Bloody Betrayal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, etc. Nothing special, but it's not the spells that need to be big and threatening; it's our opponents' cards. And we can usually count on that.</p>
<p>Yes, I did consider running some cards that give our opponents big creatures, but I doubt that'll be necessary</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrangle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Price of Loyalty"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloody Betrayal"></div></div>
<h3>Evasion</h3>
<p>Anyways, now that we've got some big creatures on our side of the board, sometimes with lifelink, what are we gonna do with them? Well, we're gonna attack with them, obviously. So let's get some evasion in here.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin War Drums" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin War Drums</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a personal favorite of mine. Trust me, the difference between one chump blocker and two is huge. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Orcish Oriflamme" href="#" target="_blank">Orcish Oriflamme</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also a decent anthem that'll give us a boost if all we're doing is trading hits with an opponent.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin War Drums"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Orcish Oriflamme"></div></div>
<h3>Sacrifices</h3>
<p>But attacking isn't all we can do. I mean, you can't reduce a creature's worth to just their power and toughness. That'd be so dehumanizing. Don't forget their value as sacrifice fodder!</p>
<p>Yes, if we sacrifice the creature, we don't get Zidane's Treasure token, but it's absolutely worth it to steal a creature for three mana, swing for a ton of damage, and then rob our opponents of a huge creature while gaining some bonus for ourselves.</p>
<p>There's plenty of ways to do this. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, of course, although two mana isn't really that helpful post-combat. We'd rather use something that's useful any time, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Purge" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Purge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tavern Scoundrel" href="#" target="_blank">Tavern Scoundrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark-Dweller Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Dark-Dweller Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are pretty handy as well, sitting around until we need them.</p>
<p>And of course, we can't forget <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the iconic game ender.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angelic Purge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark-Dweller Oracle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fling"></div></div>
<p>I ultimately decided to go fairly light on the sacrifice outlets, because constantly stealing your opponents creatures and then sacrificing them over and over again is a pretty nasty game plan. And hey, it means Zidane triggers more. But if you really wanted to, it wouldn't be difficult at all to make an extremely powerful, if toxic deck.</p>
<p>The rest of the deck is just some support for the main game plan. A bunch of ramp, and a ton of removal for the things we can't steal. Our whole plan is essentially just to snatch the biggest things on the board and win with that, so there doesn't need to be a whole lot else here. As long as we make sure that we've always got the mana and cards to carry out that game plan, we should be golden.</p>
<p>And just for extra safety, we'll throw in a few protection spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gods Willing" href="#" target="_blank">Gods Willing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Apostle&#039;s Blessing" href="#" target="_blank">Apostle&#039;s Blessing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to protect Zidane, because he is a five-mana commander and we really don't want to be recasting him too often.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gods Willing"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Apostle&#039;s Blessing"></div></div>
<p>Yeah, the blink spells could double as protection, but we'd rather use them on our turn, and not in response to a removal attempt.</p>
<h2>Zidane, Tantalus Thief Pauper Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Pauper Commander - Zidane, Tantalus Thief" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Zidane, Tantalus Thief
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Acrobatic Maneuver
*1 Apostle&#039;s Blessing
*1 Big Score
*1 Cloudshift
*1 Crib Swap
*1 Demand Answers
*1 Ephemerate
*1 Flicker of Fate
*1 Fling
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Gods Willing
*1 Justiciar&#039;s Portal
*1 Otherworldly Journey
*1 Scrollshift
*1 Slip On the Ring
*1 Thraben Charm
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Your Temple Is Under Attack
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Decanter of Endless Water
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bitter Reunion
*1 Fanatical Devotion
*1 Goblin War Drums
*1 Journey to Nowhere
*1 Makeshift Munitions
*1 Oblivion Ring
*1 Orcish Oriflamme
*1 Shiny Impetus
*1 The Shattered States Era // Nameless Conqueror
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Act of Treason
*1 Angelic Purge
*1 Bloody Betrayal
*1 Coronation of Chaos
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Glimpse the Impossible
*1 Goatnap
*1 Hijack
*1 Involuntary Employment
*1 Mark of Mutiny
*1 Pack&#039;s Betrayal
*1 Price of Loyalty
*1 Settle Beyond Reality
*1 Shackles of Treachery
*1 Traitorous Blood
*1 Witch&#039;s Mark
*1 Wrangle
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Blood Aspirant
*1 Dark-Dweller Oracle
*1 Icewind Stalwart
*1 Pegasus Guardian // Rescue the Foal
*1 Tavern Scoundrel
*1 Vanguard Seraph
[/Creatures]
[Lands]
*1 Boros Garrison
*1 Command Tower
*1 Forgotten Cave
*17 Mountain
*17 Plains
*1 Secluded Steppe
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>Welp, that's the whole deck. To be honest, I'm surprised it never occurred to me to make a theft deck before. I don't really have a Pauper pod, so I often have to hurl my commons at a bunch of rares and mythics. But this way, I can just steal those shiny cards for myself. Awesome!</p>
<p>Just due to the nature of the strategy, this deck is pretty strong, and I'm quite happy with how it came out.</p>


Pauper Commander - Zidane, Tantalus Thief

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/tedrick94" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Tedrick</a></em></p>
<p>In today’s current meta, commanders that sit around the seven mana mark tend not to be built too often. But every once and a while, we get a legend that breaks the status quo by capturing player’s imaginations, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> did just that.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment"></div></div>
<p>Having an enters and attack trigger as powerful as this creature has sparks a lot of creativity, which opens it up to all kinds of directions to go in.</p>
<p>With the start of this list, I wanted to focus on some great cards that help set up Sin’s ability by filling up the graveyard. Then we'll close things out by showcasing some great payoffs for all those copy tokens hitting your board.</p>
<p>This deck might be a little bit of an all-in strategy, but that’s what Commander is all about, right?</p>
<h2>Sin, Spira's Punishment</h2>
<p>This deck wants to do one thing: have your commander enter and attack. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can cheat in a huge number of permanents and specifically relies on you hitting lands to repeat the process.</p>
<p>Including plenty of instant and sorcery ways to fill your graveyard will be important, since your commander's effect will ignore them in the bin, thus increasing your chances of hitting a land to keep the chain going.</p>
<p>Recently, fellow EDHREC writer Jeff Girten released an article covering a decklist for Sin with no non-land permanents that I highly recommend you <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-sin-spiras-punishment-with-no-nonland-permanents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out here</a>. As you will see in this list, I did include some payoff permanents to help the deck flow, and could give you more options to build the rest of this 99 on a budget.</p>
<p>With that being said, here are the <em>fourteen cards for under $14</em> you can pick up to get a jumpstart on a new deck!</p>
<h3>Grisly Salvage</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grisly Salvage"></div></div>
<p>Kicking off our list is the classic graveyard filling spell, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grisly Salvage" href="#" target="_blank">Grisly Salvage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Two mana to dig five cards deep, pick out the best creature or land from among them, and put the rest in the bin is exactly what you want in this deck.</p>
<p>As I mentioned before, instant and sorcery spells dodge Sin’s trigger, since it looks for a random permanent. That allows you to hit as many lands as possible, without breaking the chain.</p>
<h3>Doom Whisperer</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doom Whisperer"></div></div>
<p>Next up, we have a creature you would love to hit with the first card on the list: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Whisperer" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Whisperer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. A flying, trampling 6/6 for only five mana is an incredible rate, but the star of the show for this spell is that surveil ability.</p>
<p>With this creature out, you can pay as much life as you want and fill up your graveyard in preparation for your commander’s arrival. All while being a great attacker and blocker in the air!</p>
<h3>Flux</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flux"></div></div>
<p>Another great way to fill up your graveyard is with wheel effects. While a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will do great work in the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flux" href="#" target="_blank">Flux</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is here to give you a little more selection.</p>
<p>Making sure you fill your graveyard with lands and your hand with spells is paramount for this deck’s strategy. Being able to do that by turn three will just set you up for success as the game goes on.</p>
<h3>Drown in Dreams</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drown in Dreams"></div></div>
<p>Depending on where you are in the game, a spell like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drown in Dreams" href="#" target="_blank">Drown in Dreams</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be exactly what you need in the moment. Whether you need to fill your hand, or your graveyard before Sin comes out, it's here to help.</p>
<p>Then, once your commander is on the board, you can do both! Since it can be cast at instant speed you can play it right before your turn, which then sets you up for a big attack trigger to move yourself towards the endgame.</p>
<h3>Otherworldly Gaze</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Otherworldly Gaze"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of instant-speed graveyard fillers, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otherworldly Gaze" href="#" target="_blank">Otherworldly Gaze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets you surveil 3, and has flashback for only two mana. Holding this up and casting it just before your commander can help you catch your opponents by surprise, since you can add a few more lands to your graveyard that your opponents weren't ready for.</p>
<p>Plus, that flashback cost is pretty cheap, so it can easily be cast again whenever you need it.</p>
<h3>Stargaze</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stargaze"></div></div>
<p>One of my favorite cards from last year is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stargaze" href="#" target="_blank">Stargaze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, since it offers an incredible level of card selection all in one go.</p>
<p>Say you cast this spell the turn before your commander, where X is equal to four. That allows you to dig a whole eight cards deep, putting the cards you want right now into your hand, and most likely a chunk of lands into the bin that you’ll be ready to copy once Sin hits the board.</p>
<h3>Malevolent Rumble</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malevolent Rumble"></div></div>
<p>Next up we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malevolent Rumble" href="#" target="_blank">Malevolent Rumble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that gives you both a little bit of ramp and card advantage.</p>
<p>While it’s nothing too flashy, two mana to mill three cards, while giving you a necessary permanent and an Eldrazi Spawn, is nice at any point in the game. On top of that, you can then sacrifice that Spawn to help get your commander out a turn earlier than people are ready for.</p>
<h3>Harrow</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harrow"></div></div>
<p>Let's keep this ramp train rolling with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrow" href="#" target="_blank">Harrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. At instant speed you can sacrifice a land to go search for two basics and put them on the field untapped.</p>
<p>As I mentioned with the last card on the list, getting Sin out early can help throw the tempo of the table off. Doing that while also adding a land to your graveyard is just icing on this recursion cake.</p>
<h3>Foreboding Landscape</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Foreboding Landscape"></div></div>
<p>If you plan on putting this deck together, adding as many lands to the deck that either cycle or sacrifice themselves for any reason will be great to keep your engine going. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foreboding Landscape" href="#" target="_blank">Foreboding Landscape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the perfect land to represent those effects.</p>
<p>Even though it’s a common it still packs a major punch in this deck, since it has two ways to get into your graveyard, while also just tapping for mana if you really need it at the time.</p>
<h2>Payoff Cards</h2>
<p>Now let’s take a look at some of the great payoff cards we can run in this deck to ensure that when <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> hits the battlefield it’s even more impactful.</p>
<h3>Tireless Provisioner</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tireless Provisioner"></div></div>
<p>One of the best Landfall cards in the game is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tireless Provisioner" href="#" target="_blank">Tireless Provisioner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Creating a Food or a Treasure whenever a land hits your field is a powerful effect at its base level, letting you build up your board as early as turn three.</p>
<p>However, if your commander hits the table while this is out, you could be making a huge number of tokens for each land copy you make. If you make Treasures with the Provisioner, that helps you dodge the drawback of those copy tokens entering tapped, since you can use that new mana right away.</p>
<h3>Kheru Goldkeeper</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kheru Goldkeeper"></div></div>
<p>If Treasures is what you want, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kheru Goldkeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kheru Goldkeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help you get them! Since Sin’s exile ability could repeat over and over again, you’ll make a Treasure for every card that left your bin when all those triggers resolve.</p>
<p>On top of that, if this creature ends up in your graveyard, and you want to get it out of the way for your commander’s ability, it has its own way to exile itself with that Renew effect.</p>
<h3>Spelunking</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spelunking"></div></div>
<p>A card that's found a home in plenty of deck lists since its release is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spelunking" href="#" target="_blank">Spelunking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (even if they don’t include any Caves). The main text that people have fallen in love with for this enchantment is allowing your lands enter play untapped.</p>
<p>If Sin’s ability does make you a whole chunk of land tokens, they will unfortunately be tapped, which is why Spelunking can be so pivotal, giving you the chance to use all that mana right then and there.</p>
<h3>Iridescent Vinelasher</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Iridescent Vinelasher"></div></div>
<p>Another way to utilize those lands is with Iridescent Vinelasher, since it turns all of those <em>landfall</em> triggers into direct damage to your opponents life totals.</p>
<p>Since Sin’s ability happens when it enters and attacks, you could get yourself in a spot where you regularly fill your graveyard, move to combat, and then make a whole bunch of land copies turn after turn. Also, don’t overlook that offspring ability, since that can speed up the burn process if you really need it.</p>
<h3>Second Harvest</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Second Harvest"></div></div>
<p>Closing out the list today, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Second Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Second Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When Sin exiles all those cards from your graveyard, they enter as token copies. So, that just means you can wait for when the time is right and fire this off at instant speed, making you a copy of every token you've made over the course of the game to surprise the table.</p>
<p>This spell also works great with all the Treasures, Food, or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iridescent Vinelasher" href="#" target="_blank">Iridescent Vinelasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offspring tokens you made along the way!</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>Well, there you have it, <em>fourteen cards for under $14</em> you can pick up to get you started on your very own deck built around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments which cards you would add to this list, that way we can help our fellow players build out their 99s. Also, be sure to check out my <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/tyler-bucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent <em>Bulk Up</em> articles</a>, where I cover the best commons &amp; uncommons from the new <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Final Fantasy</a></em> set.</p>
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Building A Sin, Spira's Punishment Deck on a Budget

Final Fantasy Deck Tech: Professor Hojo

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel|FIN|249" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/pencillien" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thanh Tuan</a></em></p>
<p>Friendly greetings and welcome to an Exhibition (Bracket 1) deck tech for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! I'm John Sherwood, and I <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=%28game%3Apaper%29+legal%3Acommander+is%3Abear" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bear</a> tidings of low-power, five-color fun.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Wandering Minstrel|FIN|403"></div></div>
<p>I love set mechanics, and this deck is full of them. Instead of foraging for pieces to support a single set mechanic, I built a deck that snatches the set mechanic picnic basket.</p>
<h2>What Does The Wandering Minstrel Do?</h2>
<p>The Wandering Minstrel hits a trifecta with static, triggered, and activated abilities. First, the static ability causes your lands to enter untapped, which is fantastic for a budget five-color mana base.</p>
<p>Next, the triggered ability makes a token creature as a payoff for controlling five or more Towns. Of the 23 new Town lands, 17 always enter tapped. In other words, The Wandering Minstrel overules the Towns' primary downside, then rewards having the Towns with incremental value.</p>
<p>Then there's the activated ability. The Wandering Minstrel is an <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28game%3Apaper%29+legal%3Acommander%28invoker%29&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invoker</a>, with an activation cost of <em>eight</em> mana. Three generic plus WUBRG is a lot for an activation, but the payoff is a hearty +X/+X to the whole team.</p>
<p>Immediately after reading this card, I felt an urge to build a deck that's been simmering on my backburner. Truth be told, Sealed is my favorite way to play <em>Magic</em>, and one pillar of limited play is the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bear with Set&#039;s Mechanic" href="#" target="_blank">Bear with Set&#039;s Mechanic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bear with Set&#039;s Mechanic"></div></div>
<p>The bears (2/2s for two mana) that inspired my favorite meme card appear in every <em>Magic</em> set to support limited deck archetypes. As a two-drop that cares about a <em>Final Fantasy</em> set mechanic, The Wandering Minstrel is two-thirds of the way to singing the bear necessities. Sadly, the Wandering Minstrel is not a 2/2, so the commander can't fully commit to the bear bit.</p>
<h2>Bear Necessities</h2>
<p>I committed to including every Town in the deck, to capitalize on The Wandering Minstrel's triggered and activated abilities. With the 23 Towns from <em>Final Fantasy</em>, plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thespian&#039;s Stage" href="#" target="_blank">Thespian&#039;s Stage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planar Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Planar Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, over a quarter of the deck supports the commander just by making land drops. With the bulk of the mana base solved, I moved on to creatures.</p>
<p>There are hundreds of bears to choose from. Of the creatures that made the final cut, these are some of the ones I consider essential to the deck:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conclave Guildmage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skarrg Guildmage"></div></div>
<p>Two of Ravnica's three Guildmage cycles are in the list, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conclave Guildmage" href="#" target="_blank">Conclave Guildmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skarrg Guildmage" href="#" target="_blank">Skarrg Guildmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are key. They grant trample, pairing with The Wandering Minstrel's power/toughness boost for a build-a-bear overrun. Other bears grant evasion, but these are the most efficient.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grenzo, Dungeon Warden"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grenzo, Dungeon Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Grenzo, Dungeon Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s activated ability is an odd sort of card advantage in this deck. Conveniently, there's no need to pay anything into Grenzo's X cost because every creature in the deck is power 2. With the number of creatures that made the final cut, Grenzo will hit frequently.</p>
<h2>Picnic Baskets</h2>
<p>Initially, I picked about 80 bears with set mechanics, intending to find synergies and work out a secondary theme for the deck. As I curated that list of creatures, I connected five dots that led me in a new direction.</p>
<ol>
<li>Bears have a mana value of two.</li>
<li>Many bears have different mana symbols in their casting cost.</li>
<li>All bears are creatures.</li>
<li>Two is an even number.</li>
<li>Plenty of bears have activated abilities.</li>
</ol>
<p>Spelled out another way:</p>
<ol>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lurrus of the Dream-Den" href="#" target="_blank">Lurrus of the Dream-Den</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umori, the Collector" href="#" target="_blank">Umori, the Collector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyruda, Doom of Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Gyruda, Doom of Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zirda, the Dawnwaker" href="#" target="_blank">Zirda, the Dawnwaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ol>
<p>My name might be John, but I'm not cut out to be a ranger. I'm Yogi in this over-played metaphor, and I'm not listening to Boo-Boo.</p>
<p>When I say I'm getting a picnic basket, I mean the final version of this deck meets the building restrictions for five different <a href="https://edhrec.com/companions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">companions</a>. Paying three mana to put a companion in hand fits neatly into the mana curve of a deck with no three-drops. I think it would be fun to embrace variety and pick a different companion at random every time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zirda, the Dawnwaker"></div></div>
<p>Depending on the chosen companion, the deck pivots into very different play patterns. My top picks would be Zirda, Lurrus, or Jegantha, in that order.</p>
<p>The six-mana investment to play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zirda, the Dawnwaker" href="#" target="_blank">Zirda, the Dawnwaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will quickly pay for itself with the discount on activated abilities. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lurrus of the Dream-Den" href="#" target="_blank">Lurrus of the Dream-Den</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a nice insurance policy, and there are some sacrifice outlets in the deck to develop a reanimator engine.</p>
<p><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> practically guarantees enough mana to activate The Wandering Minstrel's pump ability.</p>
<h2>How Does The Wandering Minstrel Win?</h2>
<p>The primary game plan is go wide to go tall. The commander should always be out on turn two, helping to smooth the tempo before producing creature tokens.</p>
<p>Casting other creatures is a priority until there's enough mana to leverage activated abilities in combat. The best-case scenario is overrunning opponents with multiple pumped creatures. However, decks with this many activated abilities can adapt.</p>
<p>An evasionless, one-power creature is not a a realistic commander damage threat. Fortunately, there are enough combat trick abilities in this deck to make The Wandering Minstrel a sneaky combatant. Many of the deck's creatures either make target creature bigger, grant evasion, or both, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Korozda Guildmage" href="#" target="_blank">Korozda Guildmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Korozda Guildmage"></div></div>
<p>Three mana is a poor rate for a temporary +1/+1; that cost is too high for Voltron to be a primary game plan. However, this deck's curve is really low. There should be plenty of mana available to chain activated abilities together, or play a key ability on repeat.</p>
<p>When the life totals are low and the win is on the line, a little threat of activation makes a big difference.</p>
<p>As much as I love the combat phase, there are some edge cases in the deck to watch out for. Some of the activated abilities may occasionally tip the scales toward victory. There are eight cards in the deck with non-combat methods of reducing opponents' life totals.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rix Maadi Guildmage"></div></div>
<p>Rix Maadi Guildmage might be creature or player removal if needed. Eliminating a player with a card like this is a fun achievement to unlock.</p>
<h2>The Wandering Minstrel Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>I'll keep hoping for the bear commander of my dreams, but I could see myself sleeving this up in the mean time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Wandering Minstrel Bears" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 The Wandering Minstrel
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Arcus Acolyte
*1 Biomancer&#039;s Familiar
*1 Black Market Tycoon
*1 Bonebind Orator
*1 Bounty Agent
*1 Butch DeLoria, Tunnel Snake
*1 Cartel Aristocrat
*1 Caustic Bronco
*1 Clan Guildmage
*1 Cliffside Rescuer
*1 Combine Guildmage
*1 Conclave Guildmage
*1 Cult Guildmage
*1 Dawntreader Elk
*1 Dismissive Pyromancer
*1 Duskmantle Guildmage
*1 Goblin Cratermaker
*1 Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei
*1 Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
*1 Heartfire Immolator
*1 House Guildmage
*1 Intrepid Paleontologist
*1 Jenson Carthalion, Druid Exile
*1 Kiora&#039;s Follower
*1 Korozda Guildmage
*1 League Guildmage
*1 Legion Guildmage
*1 Legion Vanguard
*1 New Prahv Guildmage
*1 Nivix Guildmage
*1 Osteomancer Adept
*1 Pippin, Guard of the Citadel
*1 Priest of Fell Rites
*1 Qasali Pridemage
*1 Ragged Playmate
*1 Raucous Entertainer
*1 Rix Maadi Guildmage
*1 Rootcoil Creeper
*1 Saheeli, the Sun&#039;s Brilliance
*1 Senate Guildmage
*1 Skarrg Guildmage
*1 Sprouting Goblin
*1 Sunhome Guildmage
*1 Swarm Guildmage
*1 Syndicate Guildmage
*1 Tender Wildguide
*1 Thraxodemon
*1 Treasure Dredger
*1 Twitching Doll
*1 Undergrowth Leopard
*1 Vermin Gorger
*1 Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage
*1 Vizkopa Guildmage
*1 Voracious Varmint
*1 Wight of the Reliquary
*1 Zameck Guildmage
[/Creatures]
[Lands]
*1 Access Tunnel
*1 Adventurer&#039;s Inn
*1 Balamb Garden, SeeD Academy // Balamb Garden, Airborne
*1 Baron, Airship Kingdom
*1 Cactus Preserve
*1 Capital City
*1 Cascading Cataracts
*1 Clive&#039;s Hideaway
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crossroads Village
*1 Crystal Quarry
*1 Dark Depths
*1 Demolition Field
*1 Eden, Seat of the Sanctum
*1 Escape Tunnel
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Forest
*1 Gohn, Town of Ruin
*1 Gongaga, Reactor Town
*1 Guadosalam, Farplane Gateway
*1 Insomnia, Crown City
*1 Ishgard, the Holy See // Faith &amp; Grief
*1 Island
*1 Jidoor, Aristocratic Capital // Overture
*1 Lindblum, Industrial Regency // Mage Siege
*1 Maze of Ith
*1 Midgar, City of Mako // Reactor Raid
*1 Mountain
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Plains
*1 Planar Nexus
*1 Plaza of Heroes
*1 Rabanastre, Royal City
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Sharlayan, Nation of Scholars
*1 Starting Town
*1 Swamp
*1 The Gold Saucer
*1 Thespian&#039;s Stage
*1 Treno, Dark City
*1 Vector, Imperial Capital
*1 Windurst, Federation Center
*1 Zanarkand, Ancient Metropolis // Lasting Fayth
[/Lands]
[Companions]
*1 Gyruda, Doom of Depths
*1 Jegantha, the Wellspring
*1 Lurrus of the Dream-Den
*1 Umori, the Collector
*1 Zirda, the Dawnwaker
[/Companions]"></span></div>
<h2>The Berenstain Bard</h2>
<p>The moral of this story is versatility. The Wandering Minstrel isn't just another set mechanic commander. The Town mana base takes up a mere quarter of the deck, leaving seventy-five cards that could be anything. The Wandering Minstrel isn't a mainstage headliner like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golos, Tireless Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Golos, Tireless Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (RIP), but they jam to the same music.</p>
<p>If smooth mana production and open ended brewing potential are on your playlist, then give The Wandering Minstrel a chance. Tell us about your Minstrel brews in the comments below.</p>
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The Wandering Minstrel Exhibition Deck Tech

Balthier and Fran Gruul Vehicles Commander Deck Tech

The Most Unique Commanders in Final Fantasy

<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vaan, Street Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Vaan, Street Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://jakemurraystudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Murray</a></span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello hello! Welcome to another <em>Final Fantasy</em> deck tech! This set is full of interesting, powerful commanders, and I'd like to walk you through a brew with one of my favorites. I've long been a fan of mono-colored decks, so it's no surprise that I've been drawn to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vaan, Street Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Vaan, Street Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vaan, Street Thief"></div></div></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This commander is super interesting, and the typal grouping he encourages will make for some interesting deckbuilding.</span></p>
<h2>What Does Vaan, Street Thief Do?</h2>
<p>This Human Scout costs <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and essentially turns each of our Scouts, Pirates, and Rogues into a worse version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Whenever they deal combat damage to one of our opponents, we'll impulse draw the top card of that player's library. If we don't cast that card, we get a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. And, when we do cast a spell this way (or any other spell that we don't own), we'll get to buff up our whole board of creatures.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vaan reminds me of some of my other favorite commanders. He encourages us to cast spells from exile and hands out +1/+1 counters like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inti, Seneschal of the Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Inti, Seneschal of the Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p>I'm also reminded of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mari, the Killing Quill" href="#" target="_blank">Mari, the Killing Quill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who groups together a few creature types like Vaan does, and provides us with an incentive to deal combat damage to our opponents frequently.</p>
<p>But Vaan is most reminiscent of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Olivia, Opulent Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Olivia, Opulent Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both of these commanders care about multiple creature types, make treasures, and provide +1/+1 counters to our whole team. Decks built around these commanders will have a lot of overlap, so we'll be drawing inspiration from their EDHREC pages as we go!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inti, Seneschal of the Sun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mari, the Killing Quill"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Olivia, Opulent Outlaw"></div></div>
<p>This commander, and the others that its similar to, provide us with a pretty clear direction: we'll fill the deck with cheap and evasive Scouts, Pirates, and Rogues, pair those creatures with some artifact and non-hand casting synergies, and look to end the game with a buffed-up board of similarly-typed creatures.</p>
<p>Let's get brewing!</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Vaan, Street Thief</h2>
<h3>Cheap and Evasive Creatures</h3>
<p>Let's talk about the cheap and/or evasive creatures that we'll use to trigger our commander's abilities.</p>
<p>First, and my pick for the strongest of the bunch, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card feels tailor-made for the deck: it's got evasion, it makes us extra Treasure tokens, and it even deals extra damage to an opponent when it attacks.</p>
<p>I'm also a big fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gemcutter Buccaneer" href="#" target="_blank">Gemcutter Buccaneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will provide us with a stream of Treasures and convert those Treasures into extra damage. There's a total of 14 Pirates in the deck (and a few ways to make Pirate creature tokens), so this card will be a good value engine.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Generous Plunderer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gemcutter Buccaneer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Robber of the Rich"></div></div>
<p>Lastly, I wanted to shout out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Robber of the Rich" href="#" target="_blank">Robber of the Rich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This was the first one I added to the deck's 99, because it just fits so perfectly. Reach is always nice to have on a creature, and haste means that this guy can start providing card advantage the turn we cast him.</p>
<p>I was surprised at how many creatures fit this deck's game plan and had relevant types, but the deck's creature suite came together quite nicely.</p>
<h3>Artifact and Treasure Synergies</h3>
<p>Next, let's talk about our artifact and Treasure synergies. Red decks have no shortage of these cards, so I had a nice pool to draw from.</p>
<p>First, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Laurine, the Diversion" href="#" target="_blank">Laurine, the Diversion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a sweet control piece (and a Rogue, notably) for a deck that lacks significant removal. While we may not be able to destroy an opponent's big creature, we can certainly sacrifice a spare Treasure to ensure it doesn't swing our way.</p>
<p>And if we want to turn those spare Treasures into aggression, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swashbuckler Extraordinaire" href="#" target="_blank">Swashbuckler Extraordinaire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do so easily. Plus, double strike works extremely well with Vaan's combat-focused abilities.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Laurine, the Diversion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swashbuckler Extraordinaire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fathom Fleet Swordjack"></div></div>
<p>There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fathom Fleet Swordjack" href="#" target="_blank">Fathom Fleet Swordjack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This creature will take a big chunk out of an opponent's life total when it attacks, and it just so happens to be a Pirate! It's a great fit here.</p>
<p>There's a whole bunch of other Pirate-centric synergies in the deck, too. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeches, Eager Pillager" href="#" target="_blank">Breeches, Eager Pillager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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> work well with our supporting cast of crewmates, so there's sure to be a good deal of Pirate synergies on our battlefield at any given moment.</p>
<h3>Casting Spells From Exile</h3>
<p>Now, let's talk about the ways we'll gain advantage by casting the spells we steal from our opponents.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Passionate Archaeologist" href="#" target="_blank">Passionate Archaeologist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keeper of Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Keeper of Secrets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and [/el]Flaming Tyrannosaurus[/el] will each hit our opponents for some significant damage when we cast spells from exile.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Passionate Archaeologist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Iraxxa, Empress of Mars"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild-Magic Sorcerer"></div></div>
<p>Next up, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iraxxa, Empress of Mars" href="#" target="_blank">Iraxxa, Empress of Mars</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide a lot of tokens over the course of the game. Plus, her attack trigger can be a difference maker in clogged board states or close games.</p>
<p>And finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild-Magic Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Wild-Magic Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will give us one of our own spells for free after we cast one of our opponents' spells. It's no surprise that this card is good in any deck that casts spells from exile, but I find it particularly interesting that we still get the cascade trigger off of casting a spell we don't own.</p>
<h2>How Does This Vaan, Street Thief Deck Win?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This deck ultimately wins through damage. It can sometimes ping our opponents life totals down over time with a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keeper of Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Keeper of Secrets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it'll more often win through combat damage with an army of Scouts, Pirates, and Rogues. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vaan provides a lot of +1/+1 counters over the course of a game, and that can lead to a victory in the mid/late game.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glóin, Dwarf Emissary"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Caught in the Crossfire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return the Favor"></div></div>
<p>I'm happy to say that, despite being mono-red, this deck has a good few ways to control the battlefield. Through goad effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glóin, Dwarf Emissary" href="#" target="_blank">Glóin, Dwarf Emissary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one-sided board wipes like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caught in the Crossfire" href="#" target="_blank">Caught in the Crossfire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and redirection effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return the Favor" href="#" target="_blank">Return the Favor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can protect our board state pretty well.</p>
<h2>Vaan, Street Thief Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Making a Vaan, Street Thief Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Vaan, Street Thief
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Angrath&#039;s Marauders
*1 Breeches, Brazen Plunderer
*1 Breeches, Eager Pillager
*1 Broadside Bombardiers
*1 Captain Lannery Storm
*1 Charming Scoundrel
*1 Coercive Recruiter
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Dargo, the Shipwrecker
*1 Dire Fleet Daredevil
*1 Fathom Fleet Swordjack
*1 Flaming Tyrannosaurus
*1 Fortune Thief
*1 Gemcutter Buccaneer
*1 Generous Plunderer
*1 Glóin, Dwarf Emissary
*1 Goblin Guide
*1 Goldspan Dragon
*1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
*1 Hellspur Posse Boss
*1 Impulsive Pilferer
*1 Iraxxa, Empress of Mars
*1 Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
*1 Keeper of Secrets
*1 Kellan, Planar Trailblazer
*1 Laurine, the Diversion
*1 Nalfeshnee
*1 Party Thrasher
*1 Port Razer
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Prosperous Bandit
*1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
*1 Robber of the Rich
*1 Rose, Cutthroat Raider
*1 Swashbuckler Extraordinaire
*1 Taurean Mauler
*1 Tin Street Dodger
*1 Treasure Nabber
*1 Wild-Magic Sorcerer
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Beamtown Beatstick
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Inspiring Statuary
*1 Maskwood Nexus
*1 Staff of Eden, Vault&#039;s Key
*1 Tarrian&#039;s Soulcleaver
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Gamble
*1 Reckless Handling
*1 Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Bottle-Cap Blast
*1 Caught in the Crossfire
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Fiery Cannonade
*1 Great Train Heist
*1 Lightning Bolt
*1 Return the Favor
*1 Siege Smash
*1 Untimely Malfunction
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Alchemist&#039;s Talent
*1 Charred Foyer // Warped Space
*1 Daring Piracy
*1 Passionate Archaeologist
*1 Powerbalance
*1 Uncivil Unrest
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Exotic Orchard
*30 Mountain
*1 Mutavault
*1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks for reading this <em>Final Fantasy</em> deck tech! Before you go, there's a few odd inclusions I wanted to point out. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First among them is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While this creature seems better suited for aggressive decks in 60-card formats, it actually works quite well in this deck. It's a Scout with haste, so it works well with our commander's abilities, and its attack trigger means that it can clear lands off of the top of our opponents' libraries.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Guide"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We'd much rather impulse draw one of their spells than one of their lands, so this one-mana 2/2 slots right into the deck.</span></p>
<p>In the course of building this deck, I came across a card that I'd never seen before: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fortune Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Fortune Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This creature can prevent us from losing the game due to damage, potentially letting us untap and win the game on the crack back from an opponent's big attack. Plus, it's a Rogue! Vaan loves Rogues.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fortune Thief"></div></div>
<p>In all seriousness, paying <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" 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> for a 0/1 creature (or <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>+<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> if we Morph it) is a tough rate. But given that this deck is lower power, it's got room for some fun cards like this.</p>
<p>That's all I've got for this week! I'll see you all again next week for another deck tech.</p>


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