Smaug the Impenetrable: Rain Fire and Treasure

Technically Playable - Zalto, Fire Giant Duke

Too-Specific Top 10 - "And Each Player"

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damnation" href="#" target="_blank">Damnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.artofmtg.com/artist/kev-walker/">Kev Walker</a>)</h6>
<h1>Colorology</h1>
<p>Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to <em>Grapple With the Past</em>, a series in which we look back at the set pages for old releases to discuss the cards that made it and the cards that fell into obscurity in EDH. Once a set releases, Commander players write and read reviews, test out the new cards, and incorporate winners into their EDH repertoire. But with the constant stream of new products, it’s easy for cards to slip through the cracks. I’ve found that by exploring set pages on EDHREC, I frequently stumble upon cards that could easily find a spot in one of my decks. In this series we look for irregularities in the data, try to identify sleeper cards from formats past, and discuss the legacy of particular sets in Commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma, Angel of Fury"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The <em>Magic: the Gathering</em> releases that I most enthusiastically and unerringly love are the ones that play with my understanding of the game. I started playing around the time of the original <em>Mirrodin</em> block, but I took a break from <em>Magic</em> after <em>Dissension</em>. As such, <em>Planar Chaos</em> has been a blind spot for me. The game has changed considerably in the last thirteen years, and yet, looking back through EDHREC, there are still cards and ideas that surprise and delight me from this set.</p>
<p>At a glance, the most salient feature of <em>Planar Chaos</em> is its ambition. It reappropriated mechanics among the colors, reimagined popular characters, and printed some of the weirdest cards I've ever seen. In what other world would <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temporal Extortion" href="#" target="_blank">Temporal Extortion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> even be possible? And all in one set!</p>
<p>These qualities also make it an interesting set for EDH, a format where color identity and the effects available to any given color matters more than anywhere else. Let's take a look at the cards that make waves and which remain under the surface for Commander from <em>Planar Chaos</em>.</p>
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<h2>The Commander Class</h2>
<p>While the commander options on display from this set may be outclassed in this day and age, some are still quite playable. Others, however, are an interesting window back into an older version of EDH.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Intet, the Dreamer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Braids, Conjurer Adept"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Radha, Heir to Keld"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I remember running into the old three-color cycle of Dragon commanders fairly frequently. Nowadays, it's easy to look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Intet, the Dreamer" href="#" target="_blank">Intet, the Dreamer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teneb, the Harvester" href="#" target="_blank">Teneb, the Harvester</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Numot, the Devastator" href="#" target="_blank">Numot, the Devastator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and dismiss them on how expensive and slow they are, but they were pretty popular generals when I started playing EDH. I would love to build and play some of these Dragons today, but it just isn't interesting anymore now that there are so many more efficient commander options.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Conjurer Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Conjurer Adept</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on the other hand, is today the most popular commander from this set. I haven't played against a Braids deck before, but I would bet that some of this additional popularity is due to publicity from Jumbo Commander. He has a very <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0FZfSawZjU">fun Braids deck</a>.</p>
<p>The rest of the commanders here are pretty innocuous. One time I played against a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radha, Heir to Keld" href="#" target="_blank">Radha, Heir to Keld</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mana dork tribal deck, but I can't say I've seen any of these others in the wild.</p>
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<h2>The Top 10</h2>
<p>This set is immediately recognizable based on its top ten cards. Even if you've never heard the name <em>Planar Chaos</em> before, you've been exposed to some of these cards. Not only is the card quality from this set perfectly pitched for Commander, it also distributes much-needed effects among the colors.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harmonize"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Damnation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pongify"></div></div>
<p>What a murderer's row for EDH. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonize" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best generic card advantage in green. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pongify" href="#" target="_blank">Pongify</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is some of the best creature removal for blue. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damnation" href="#" target="_blank">Damnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is second only to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in terms of black board wipes. I won't dwell too long on these staples in the top ten. We know them. We love them. They're still among the best options in the format. This isn't even mentioning the other staples in the top ten including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mesa Enchantress" href="#" target="_blank">Mesa Enchantress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teneb, the Harvester"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyrohemia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necrotic Sliver"></div></div></div>
<div></div>
<div>In what may seem like a strange turn, two of the aforementioned Dragons also make their way into the top ten. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Intet, the Dreamer" href="#" target="_blank">Intet, the Dreamer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teneb, the Harvester" href="#" target="_blank">Teneb, the Harvester</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both find themselves in the 99 of 5% or more of possible decks. Both see play primarily in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scion of the Ur-dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Scion of the Ur-dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrotic Sliver" href="#" target="_blank">Necrotic Sliver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> finds itself here based on its play in Sliver tribal decks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyrohemia" href="#" target="_blank">Pyrohemia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on the other hand, seems like an outlier. It sees play in more decks than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pestilence" href="#" target="_blank">Pestilence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> by more than 2000 decks. Is this effect really that much more valuable in red? In <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Neheb, the Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Neheb, the Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torbran, Thane of Red Fell" href="#" target="_blank">Torbran, Thane of Red Fell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks, this card is a star.</div>
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</div>
<h2>Think Twice</h2>
<p>There are so many interesting cards to dissect from this set that this article could turn into a novela if I'm not careful. Because of this, I'll only focus on nine of my favorites, cards that I've played and been impressed by.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dreamscape Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reality Acid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rebuff the Wicked"></div></div></div>
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<div>
<p>If anybody at <em>Wizards</em> reads this, please note that Spellshapers are my favorite creature type and I would love a <em>Spellshaper</em> general in any subsequent Commander product. The idea behind Dreamscape artist is compelling. You can essentially transform any card in your hand into a blue <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrow" href="#" target="_blank">Harrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. As with most Spellshapers, this is very good in any blue deck that plays with its graveyard. If you can discard a <em>Flashback</em> or <em>Jump-Start</em> card with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dreamscape Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Dreamscape Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deep Analysis" href="#" target="_blank">Deep Analysis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chemister&#039;s Insight" href="#" target="_blank">Chemister&#039;s Insight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you're already producing above-average value and ramping lands in blue.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reality Acid" href="#" target="_blank">Reality Acid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been an all-star in my blink decks. Blinking this enchantment with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aminatou, the Fateshifter" href="#" target="_blank">Aminatou, the Fateshifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful control engine.</p>
<p>Finally, I really like surprising players in white. Over time, people I've played with have gotten wise to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lapse of Certainty" href="#" target="_blank">Lapse of Certainty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rebuff the Wicked" href="#" target="_blank">Rebuff the Wicked</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is still unexpected. While this card is actually most similar to <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> rather than most counterspells, it can still protect a key piece of your board in a pinch, whether it be a creature, an artifact, or even a land. It's been a long time since <em>Wizards</em> has played with giving white counter magic, but I think the effect fits the color well.</p>
</div>
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<div><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Imp&#039;s Mischief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kor Dirge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Treacherous Urge"></div></div></div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>
<p><em>Planar Chaos</em> gave <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toshiro Umezawa" href="#" target="_blank">Toshiro Umezawa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a few gifts. If you still haven't hopped on the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imp&#039;s Mischief" href="#" target="_blank">Imp&#039;s Mischief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> train, I'm here to advocate for it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shunt" href="#" target="_blank">Shunt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects are sorely underrated in EDH, especially in removal-heavy metas. This effect is a perfect way to punish a player for messing with your board. Outside of that scenario, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imp&#039;s Mischief" href="#" target="_blank">Imp&#039;s Mischief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also good when there is a clear archenemy at the table. Any removal spell that they cast can be used against them. It can even clear up counterspell wars. Because EDH players tend to favor cheap removal, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imp&#039;s Mischief" href="#" target="_blank">Imp&#039;s Mischief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> won't even make you lose too much life. It's just good.</p>
<p>In a similar vein, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kor Dirge" href="#" target="_blank">Kor Dirge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great you-did-this-to-yourself style of removal spell. You can use it to blank an attack or blank a block. It's much more limited in its application than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imp&#039;s Mischief" href="#" target="_blank">Imp&#039;s Mischief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it still has a place in some decks.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treacherous Urge" href="#" target="_blank">Treacherous Urge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun card that reminds me of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mindclaw Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Mindclaw Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Hand disruption in EDH usually isn't great, but if it provides you with significant value, it can work. Think <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syphon Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Syphon Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. You would run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syphon Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Syphon Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> even if it didn't make your opponents discard. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treacherous Urge" href="#" target="_blank">Treacherous Urge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is amazing in pods with players that like ramping into haymakers.</p>
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<div><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Porphyry Nodes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mantle of Leadership"></div></div></div>
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<div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Porphyry Nodes" href="#" target="_blank">Porphyry Nodes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is and always has been an underrated card for enchantment decks. It doesn't play well with enchantresses, but it can really control a board, especially if you already run a lot of removal. And for one mana, you can't get a better deal. Consider this in enchantment-focused decks that want to draw out a game, decks that already play cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luminarch Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Luminarch Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mantle of Leadership" href="#" target="_blank">Mantle of Leadership</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a house. I play this in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and it can turn my Bird into a one-shot Voltron commander all on its own. Consider this card in decks that produce a lot of tokens all at once. This should be played in almost every <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Siona, Captain of the Pyleas" href="#" target="_blank">Siona, Captain of the Pyleas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck from here on.</p>
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<h1>Up Next</h1>
<p>That's that for <em>Planar Chaos</em>. I am very sorry that I couldn't get to your comments in a timely fashion last week: I was moving across the country and rarely had internet for that week. I'll be engaged in the comments of this article as usual!</p>
<p>What do you all think of this set? What cards do you run? Most importantly, what is your favorite colorshifted effect? Which colorshifted effect belongs in its new color? Is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonize" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> appropriate as a green card? Should white receive more counterspells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rebuff the Wicked" href="#" target="_blank">Rebuff the Wicked</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Is blue a good home for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrow" href="#" target="_blank">Harrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Finally, what important character from <em>Magic</em>'s history deserves to be colorshifted like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma, Angel of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma, Angel of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? I would love to see some of the Gods colorshifted. Not Heliod, he should stay white. Maybe a white Bontu or a black Hazoret. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!</p>
<p>What set do you want to see next? Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


Grapple with the Past - Planar Chaos

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cunning Sparkmage" href="#" target="_blank">Cunning Sparkmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.waynereynolds.com/">Wayne Reynolds</a>)</h6>
<h1><strong>The Last Cookout of Summer</strong></h1>
<p>Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to <em>Monomania</em>. In this article series we build mono-colored decks as a way to explore ramp and draw packages that are synergistic with our particular deck’s strategy, and challenge staples and misconceptions about the color pie.</p>
<p>I’ve been impressed by quite a few of the non-white mono-colored commander options from <em>Throne of Eldraine</em>, and I plan on tackling a few of them in the coming months in a subseries: <em>Monomania Takes on Eldraine</em>. Today, let’s fire up the grill. Summer is over, but the weather is still right for a barbecue.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Torbran, Thane of Red Fell"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>My experience watching and playing EDH in the last month has revealed an unprecedented proclivity for life total manipulation. Between all of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greven, Predator Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Greven, Predator Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks on the loose, it seems more common than ever for players to sit at 15 life without worry. This is the perfect time for a commander like Torbran to turn up the heat and make these players sweat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyrohemia"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>While burn strategies have never scaled well to EDH, Torbran changes the calculus on previously unplayable damage-based spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyrohemia" href="#" target="_blank">Pyrohemia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is being included in 72% of Torbran lists on EDHREC, and it perfectly illustrates why this commander is appealing: sources that persistently deal small amounts of chip damage are incredible with our commander. Every time we activate Pyrohemia’s ability, we’re tripling the amount of damage that it deals. And because Torbran has four health and only affects our opponents, we can activate Pyrohemia three times every turn without killing him. That adds up to nine damage to each of our opponents and their creatures for three mana every turn. The key to Torbran’s power is how he breaks symmetry: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamebreak" href="#" target="_blank">Flamebreak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slagstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Slagstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can clear a board while leaving our general on the field. If we cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electrickery" href="#" target="_blank">Electrickery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with our commander and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repercussion" href="#" target="_blank">Repercussion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the board, not only will Electrickery deal 3 damage to each creature our opponents control, but it will also deal 5 damage to our opponents for each creature dealt damage this way.</p>
<p>There is a multitude of possibilities with Torbran: small goblins suddenly become potent attackers, blockers, and threats to our opponents’ life totals, so we could fill our deck with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mogg Fanatic" href="#" target="_blank">Mogg Fanatic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Siege-Gang Commander" href="#" target="_blank">Siege-Gang Commander</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impact Tremors" href="#" target="_blank">Impact Tremors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There are also a suite of effects in red that tax our opponents with damage such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harsh Mentor" href="#" target="_blank">Harsh Mentor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Immolation Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Immolation Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zo-zu the Punisher" href="#" target="_blank">Zo-zu the Punisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I personally decided to make this something of a sequel to my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashling the Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Ashling the Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/monomania-nuclear-codes/">deck</a> previously featured on Monomania. While these decks share a central theme, new cards and Torbran's particular qualities actually make them significantly different. If all goes according to plan, we’ll be slinging spells and putting our opponents on a rotisserie.</p>
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<h2><strong>Fire Up the Grill</strong></h2>
<p>This deck has a very low curve, topping off at six mana. As such, our ramp package should be focused on small, early-game jumps. Our goal with this ramp strategy is to cast our commander consistently on turn three. We’re running six ramp effects that cost two or less.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coldsteel Heart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ruby Medallion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Star Compass"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Here we have three of these ramp effects—each of them cost two mana and will allow us to cast our commander on turn three. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruby Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Ruby Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the clear haymaker in our style of deck. With all of our rummage effects and low-cost spells, we'll be able to cast multiple spells a turn and net the discount on all of them. Once we get our deck’s engine online, this cost reduction will stack and permit us to capitalize on explosive turns.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Amulet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyromancer’s Goggles"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>These cards need no introduction, I'm sure — they're both powerhouses in EDH. Any one-color deck with a high quantity of spells wants these two cards. Both grant some sort of ramp and allow us to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> our spells. This can lead to more burn or enhanced draw with rummaging effects.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Keep the Heat On</h2>
<p>Now let’s examine how we’re going to squeeze card advantage out of this mono-red shell. We’re focused here on wheeling and looting. We aren’t emphasizing overall hand size, we're emphasizing keeping a well-constructed grip.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bag of Holding"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glint-Horn Buccaneer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reforge the Soul"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Up first, we have a set of effects that capitalize on rummaging. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bag of Holding" href="#" target="_blank">Bag of Holding</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has quickly become one of my favorite colorless card advantage effects for mono-colored decks. In this deck in particular, where we will be discarding at a high frequency, we can quickly juice Bag of Holding’s last ability. It is a surprisingly potent draw effect that outclasses most others. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glint-Horn Buccaneer" href="#" target="_blank">Glint-Horn Buccaneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will allow us to rummage, and is itself a payoff for rummage effects. If we cast the always stellar <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reforge the Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Reforge the Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with the Buccaneer and our commander on the battlefield, we can hit our opponents for nine, twelve, fifteen, or more damage in one go.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrill of Possibility"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathartic Reunion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magmatic Insight"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As I covered in my article on Ashling, cards that rummage are extremely good in Spellslinger strategies that run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. For anybody who hasn’t yet heard about this particular interaction, if we fork a rummage spell that causes us to discard as an additional cost, the copy will not cause us to discard. Just as we don’t have to pay the mana cost of a copy, we also don’t have to pay any additional costs, we only copy the spell after all costs have been paid.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Needle Drop"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shake the Foundations"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Finally, we have two cards that cycle themselves when we cast them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Needle Drop" href="#" target="_blank">Needle Drop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful card in our deck; for one mana, we can <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> something <em>and</em> draw a card. It’s no secret that Lightning Bolt isn’t very good in EDH, but stapling "draw a card" onto it swings the needle just enough. This card is an innocuous inclusion, but it has such a low opportunity cost that it absolutely deserves a spot in our deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shake the Foundations" href="#" target="_blank">Shake the Foundations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> scales well here, as well. Dealing three to all of our opponents’ creatures wouldn’t be powerful enough to warrant an inclusion in this list, but because it replaces itself, it should perform well for us clearing not only tokens but early-game creatures as well.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>The Deck</strong></h2>
<p>With all that set and sorted, let’s put the pieces together with a deck list. The name of the game is death by a thousand cuts. We want to keep chipping away at our opponents’ life totals until they’re cooked through evenly. Grab your spatula and, as per usual, season to taste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sulfuric Vortex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flame Fusillade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karplusan Minotaur"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Among the other notable inclusions here we have a slew of effects to capitalize on Torbran’s damage amplification. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sulfuric Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Sulfuric Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a staple in Group Slug strategies, and it's an imperative inclusion here: it will drain our opponents for 1/10th of their starting life total every turn with our commander on the battlefield. What’s more, it'll shut down the lifegain strategies that try to pull out of reach. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flame Fusillade" href="#" target="_blank">Flame Fusillade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the resident sleeper of this deck. Currently, it only sees play in 61 decks registered on EDHREC, but with Torbran it has found its forever home. This card is an absolute house, transmogrifying all of our innocent permanents into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kamahl, Pit Fighter" href="#" target="_blank">Kamahl, Pit Fighter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If the game goes late, this spell will end the game in a flash.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karplusan Minotaur" href="#" target="_blank">Karplusan Minotaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun political tool in this deck. If we win a flip, we get to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the target of our choice. If we lose a flip, one of our opponents has to decide whether to point 1 damage in our direction, or 3 toward a scarier opponent. Any player that enjoys value will choose the latter. Karplusan Minotaur exemplifies a compelling nuance to this deck: the more we can split up damage, the more value we can squeeze out of Torbran's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inferno Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Inferno Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, gives us a choice to deal 5 damage to one target, 4 damage to one target and 2 to another, or 3 damage to three targets. This principle holds for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaws of Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Jaws of Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well. If we play Jaws with six <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mountain" href="#" target="_blank">Mountain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s on the battlefield, we could deal 8 damage to one target, 3 damage to six different targets, or any favorable combination in between. Be democratic—hit all of your friends and enemies equally to most effectively milk Torbran's ability.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cinder Pyromancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firebrand Archer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vulshok Sorcerer"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The backbone of this deck is a suite of creatures that slowly ping our opponents to death. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firebrand Archer" href="#" target="_blank">Firebrand Archer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guttersnipe" href="#" target="_blank">Guttersnipe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are powerful in <em>Storm</em> decks, but the rest of these cards cards are suboptimal when they only deal one damage. With our commander, however, they become much more potent; these cards are our most likely path to victory.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Char Broiled" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Electrostatic Field
*1 Firebrand Archer
*1 Thermo-Alchemist
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Cinder Pyromancer
*1 Cunning Sparkmage
*1 Glint-Horn Buccaneer
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Magus of the Wheel
*1 Rampaging Ferocidon
*1 Sin Prodder
*1 Vulshok Sorcerer
*1 Karplusan Minotaur
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Backdraft Hellkite
*1 Neheb, the Eternal
*1 Inferno Titan
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Chandra, Fire Artisan
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Elecktrickery
*1 Needle Drop
*1 Increasing Vengeance
*1 Price of Progress
*1 Reverberate
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Arcbond
*1 Shake the Foundations
*1 Volcanic Fallout
*1 Sulfurous Blast
*1 Wild Ricochet
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Wheel of Fate
*1 Magmatic Insight
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Mizzium Mortars
*1 Tormenting Voice
*1 Wild Guess
*1 Flamebreak
*1 Light Up the Stage
*1 Slagstorm
*1 Flame Fusillade
*1 Ignite the Future
*1 Past in Flames
*1 Reforge the Soul
*1 Jaws of Stone
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bag of Holding
*1 Basilisk Collar
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Star Compass
*1 Primal Amulet
*1 Pyromancer’s Goggles
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aria of Flame
*1 Repercussion
*1 Spellshock
*1 Sulfuric Vortex
*1 Aether Sting
*1 Burning Earth
*1 Manabarbs
*1 Pyrohemia
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Desert of the Fervent
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Ghitu Encampment
*29 Mountain
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Smoldering Crater
*1 Spinerock Knoll
*1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>A quick and important final note: every land in the history of Magic is colorless (the only exception being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dryad Arbor" href="#" target="_blank">Dryad Arbor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). While we are running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle" href="#" target="_blank">Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Torbran only increases damage from red sources you control, so Valakut will not benefit from this effect. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shivan Gorge" href="#" target="_blank">Shivan Gorge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is currently in 16% of Torbran decks on EDHREC and it seems underpowered here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghitu Encampment" href="#" target="_blank">Ghitu Encampment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on the other hand, turns into a potent blocker with Torbran, dealing 4 first strike damage as a red creature.</p>
<p>What do you think of Torbran? In what direction would you have taken this commander? Is Group Slug an appealing strategy to you? Sometimes, after a two-hour game, I know I like to play a live-fast, die-young deck so that everyone can get to bed on time. Let me know in the comments. Remember to EDHREC responsibly: always dig a little beyond the statistics. I’ll see you all on down the road.</p>


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