<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animar, Soul of Elements" href="#" target="_blank">Animar, Soul of Elements</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> </em>| Art by: <a href="https://www.artstation.com/filipburburan">Filip Burburan</a></p> <p>Hello everyone! I’m Levi from The Thought Vessel, and this is <em>Hidden Gems,</em> the series on EDHREC that looks at commanders from around the format and the cards that are flying under the radar for their decks that need a little love.</p> <p>For a card to qualify as a <em>Hidden Gem</em>, it has to appear in 15% or fewer decks for a commander. This week we are looking at a classic commander of the format that has been around since <em>Commander 2011</em> and is still in the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">top 40</a> to this day.</p> <p>This commander has the versatility to be played as a bracket one deck or a cEDH bracket five deck. The commander I am talking about, of course, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animar, Soul of Elements" href="#" target="_blank">Animar, Soul of Elements</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p> <p>So what does it do to stay so beloved for so long in a world that is constantly looking for the next big thing? Let’s take a look!</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Animar, Soul of Elements"></div></div> <h2>The Commander</h2> <p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animar, Soul of Elements" href="#" target="_blank">Animar, Soul of Elements</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 1/1 Elemental for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" 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 class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> that has protection from white and black.</p> <p>This is a very underrated part of the card, as it keeps our commander safe from popular removal spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Rollick" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Rollick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But the protection isn’t typically why Animar is played.</p> <p>Every time we cast a creature spell, Animar gets a +1/+1 counter. Our creature spells in return cost one less for each +1/+1 counter on Animar.</p> <p>This allows us to either play a +1/+1 counter strategy like with <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/hydras">Hydras</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/combo">Combo</a> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancestral Statue" href="#" target="_blank">Ancestral Statue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or my personal favorite, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/stompy">Stompy</a> with all of our favorite high mana value creatures like <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/dragons">Dragons</a> and <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/eldrazi">Eldrazi</a>.</p> <p>These decks definitely take on their own feel, as the options for cards are practically limitless, but there are some cards that I was surprised to see weren’t being added very much at all. We will get into our list, but first we have an honorable mention.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wave Goodbye"></div></div> <h3>Honorable Mention. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wave Goodbye" href="#" target="_blank">Wave Goodbye</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8.8%)</h3> <p>Our honorable mention is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wave Goodbye" href="#" target="_blank">Wave Goodbye</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is going to have varying degrees of success depending on what kind of build we ultimately decide on, as Wave Goodbye returns every creature without a +1/+1 counter on it to its owner’s hand.</p> <p>It is effectively blue’s version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damning Verdict" href="#" target="_blank">Damning Verdict</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Worst case scenario, we bounce all of our own creatures except Animar and cast them again.</p> <p>If we’re playing a deck like the Hydra build I mentioned earlier, this could serve as a win condition by clearing out all the blockers in our way.</p> <p>I wanted to mention it because I think it can be really strong, but context really matters on this one. But with our honorable mention out of the way, we move onto our list starting with number ten.</p> <h2>Ten Underplayed Cards for Animar, Soul of Elements</h2> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tishana, Voice of Thunder"></div></div> <h3>10.<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tishana, Voice of Thunder" href="#" target="_blank">Tishana, Voice of Thunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8.0%)</h3> <p>Animar is a creature heavy deck. No matter how we want to build it, this <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/elementals">Elemental</a> loves its friends. This can make Animar massive in a hurry and our spells that much cheaper.</p> <p>With all of our spells cheaper, it can be pretty easy to run out of cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tishana, Voice of Thunder" href="#" target="_blank">Tishana, Voice of Thunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help with that. When Tishana enters, we draw a card for each creature in play.</p> <p>This includes tokens too, so if we are playing something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avenger of Zendikar" href="#" target="_blank">Avenger of Zendikar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this could be a huge boost of card draw. It also says we have no maximum hand size and has power and toughness equal to our hand size.</p> <p>We can keep cards back and use our creature as a beater or simply develop our board. Having the option to choose is great either way.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chandra&#039;s Ignition"></div></div> <h3>9. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra&#039;s Ignition" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra&#039;s Ignition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7.8%)</h3> <p>Some commanders have a major problem if they are not able to win the game through combat damage. It could be shut down by a creature like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spore Frog" href="#" target="_blank">Spore Frog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or even a wall of pillows like with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphere of Safety" href="#" target="_blank">Sphere of Safety</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Either way, we want to have something in our deck to deal with this potential problem. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra&#039;s Ignition" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra&#039;s Ignition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a very natural fit here.</p> <p>For <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" 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 class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, we can have any target creature we control deal damage equal to its power to each other creature and each opponent. We can put this on our biggest creature for a sweep or a smaller creature to clear out blockers.</p> <p>There are games in which Animar will simply get big enough that this is a lethal amount of damage for everyone and the game will immediately be over. If you really want to have fun, find a way to give Animar lifelink prior to casting it to launch your life total into triple digits.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Genesis Hydra"></div></div> <h3>8. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genesis Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Genesis Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7.4%)</h3> <p>Some people might call <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genesis Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Genesis Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a win more card for Animar, and they would be correct. But in a Stompy build for casual Commander, what’s a game without a little <em>razzle dazzle</em>? Genesis Hydra cost <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-x" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p> <p>For the value of X, we reveal that many cards from out library and put one into play mana value X or less. It’s a great way to sink all the extra mana and cost reduction into making a massive Hydra, as well as getting a free permanent from the revealed cards. With the right card cheated into play, it’s very possible to win the game from that alone.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evendo, Waking Haven"></div></div> <h3>7. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evendo, Waking Haven" href="#" target="_blank">Evendo, Waking Haven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6.8%)</h3> <p>Animar can reduce the cost of creatures <em>significantly</em>, but having excess levels of mana never hurt anyone. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evendo, Waking Haven" href="#" target="_blank">Evendo, Waking Haven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gaea&#039;s Cradle" href="#" target="_blank">Gaea&#039;s Cradle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with extra steps. Fortunately, with our creatures being as big as they are, it really doesn’t take a lot to get enough charge counters onto Evendo to unlock its ability.</p> <p>This can help cover the mana value for our key noncreature spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greater Good" href="#" target="_blank">Greater Good</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Finale of Devastation" href="#" target="_blank">Finale of Devastation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herd Heirloom"></div></div> <h3>6. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herd Heirloom" href="#" target="_blank">Herd Heirloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6.0%)</h3> <p>I <em>love</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herd Heirloom" href="#" target="_blank">Herd Heirloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It’s an unsung hero in decks that are set up to take advantage of it. Having a mana rock for two mana in the early game for ramp that can become card advantage in the middle and later parts of the game to keep our hand full is always helpful.</p> <p>There really isn’t a turn in a game of Commander where I would be disappointed in drawing it. Even if it isn’t flashy, these are the kinds of cards we want to be putting in our decks.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Equilibrium"></div></div> <h3>5. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Equilibrium" href="#" target="_blank">Equilibrium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5.5%)</h3> <p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Equilibrium" href="#" target="_blank">Equilibrium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, we can use this card both offensively and economically. Every time we cast a creature spell, we can pay one mana to bounce a creature back to its owner’s hand. If we are playing cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre" href="#" target="_blank">Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Nulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can reuse their effects over and over again.</p> <p>If we don’t need those effects, we can bounce an opponent’s creature every time we cast a creature. This level of tempo can really bring the game to a standstill, as blocking becomes very difficult. </p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Steel Hellkite"></div></div> <h3>4. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steel Hellkite" href="#" target="_blank">Steel Hellkite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4.4%)</h3> <p>I’ve spoken about this card before, as I am a big fan of this creature even though it's not a modern pick. There are games where <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steel Hellkite" href="#" target="_blank">Steel Hellkite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be a free cast since there is no colored mana requirement.</p> <p>When it connects for combat damage, we can destroy every nonland permanent with a mana value the defending player controls.</p> <p>If we pick zero, we can clear every token in play. No matter what we pick, we’ll typically remove at least one very good target.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Transcendent Dragon"></div></div> <h3>3. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Transcendent Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Transcendent Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (1.7%)</h3> <p>At <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-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, this is a solid counterspell, as it gives us the chance to take a spell from an opponent and give it to ourselves. When we only have to pay two blue mana thanks to Animar, this becomes significantly better.</p> <p>We get a 4/3 flyer and the ability to cast whatever creature or spell we just countered at the same time. Imagine pulling an uno reverse card on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a haymaker like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hullbreaker Horror" href="#" target="_blank">Hullbreaker Horror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The chance of that happening one time is enough for me to add it to Animar.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunbird&#039;s Invocation"></div></div> <h3>2. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunbird&#039;s Invocation" href="#" target="_blank">Sunbird&#039;s Invocation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (1.2%)</h3> <p>Since we have a deck that is going to have a high mana curve, we might as well take advantage of it. Every spell we cast from our hand lets us reveal the top X cards of our library and cast a spell with mana value X or less, where X is the mana value of the spell.</p> <p>This lets us double up our spells and flood the board with threats. Any creature we cast this way will also put a +1/+1 counter on Animar, speeding up our buildup.</p> <p>These are the type of effects that can really make Animar a powerhouse since we can usually put out more threats than our opponents can use their removal on.</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Earth King"></div></div> <h3>1. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Earth King" href="#" target="_blank">The Earth King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.6%)</h3> <p>Finally at number one on our list, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Earth King" href="#" target="_blank">The Earth King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With our Stompy build, the odds of a creature we control having four power or greater to trigger The Earth King are very high. Every time we attack with a creature with power four or greater, he can put a basic land from our deck into play.</p> <p>This can let us get every basic land out of our deck in only a couple of turns, increasing our chances of drawing into nonland cards to keep the pressure on. We also have the added bonus of having enough mana to cast every spell in our hand every single turn.</p> <h2>Wrapping Up</h2> <p>Animar embodies the old school minimalistic approach to design for Commander cards that lets players take their brews in a variety of different directions. This list is focused more on cards that will be helpful in as many of those different strategies as possible, but this is far from the bottom of the gem mine.</p> <p>There are plenty of cards out there that are amazing for Animar that we didn’t cover today. If you have an Animar deck with a hidden gem you adore, share it in the comments below. We’re here for good vibes and great cards. Until next time, happy brewing!</p> 

Underplayed Cards for Animar, Soul of Elements

Fire and Ice: Which Cards Are Hot and Cold for Kykar, Wind's Fury?

Fire and Ice: What Cards are Hot and Cold for August 15th?

Fire and Ice: What Cards are Hot and Cold for August 8th?

Fire and Ice: What Cards Are Hot and Cold for August 1st?

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Fire and Ice" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Fire and Ice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://www.rahnart.com/">Chris Rahn</a></h6>
<p> Hello, data enthusiasts, and welcome to this overview of the math behind the new <em>Fire and Ice</em> data articles. In this series, we'll we dive into the recent card-playing trends within a given commander and identify the biggest movers as defined as: <strong><em>Cards that are either significantly increasing or decreasing in usage with a given commander relative to other cards played with that commander over the most recent six months.</em></strong> This article will provide an overview of the math behind identifying these "fiery" (trending up) and "icy" (trending down) cards. <strong><em>Why</em> </strong>a given card might be fiery or icy, however, is up to interpretation, and we look forward to speculating wildly in our <em>Fire and Ice</em> series! </p>
<h2>Overview of the Math</h2>
<p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">We start by looking at all cards that are played with each commander aside from those that are very rare (&lt;2.5% of decks) or very ubiquitous (&gt; 97.5% of decks). </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">We calculate the weekly usage of these cards as a percentage of all decks for each given commander for the past six months. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Then, we determine the average change from week to week and summarize the data with a single "extremeness" score (also known as a z-score) as follows:</span> <a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/latex_z_score-2.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-158164" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/latex_z_score-2-300x41.png" alt="" width="300" height="41" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/latex_z_score-2-300x41.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/latex_z_score-2-768x105.png 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/latex_z_score-2.png 990w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a> <em>where x = average weekly change in card usage (% of decks for this commander)</em> We currently identify those cards with extremeness &gt; 2 as "fiery", or having a high Fire Score, and those with extremeness &lt; -2 as "icy", or having a low Ice Score. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ur-Dragon Omnath, Locus of Rage"></div></div> Using these extremeness scores allows us to control for the unique deck-building behavior of each commander rather than using a fixed threshold of average change to identify big movers. For example, a commander that has been around for a while that has fairly predictable deck-building (e.g. <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>) will see very little movement in the usage of each card over time compared to a commander that has more flexibility in its play (e.g. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omnath, Locus of Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Omnath, Locus of Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). This might mean a relatively small uptick for a card played with The Ur-Dragon will have the same Fire score as a card with a large uptick with Omnath. </p>
<h2>An Example</h2>
<p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Let's take a look at card usage in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks over the six month period from December 24, 2024 to June 24, 2025.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> This plot shows a time series of the weekly usage of all 378 qualifying cards across this commander's decks. </span> <a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.24 PM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-158181" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.24 PM-1024x574.png" alt="" width="767" height="430" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.24 PM-1024x574.png 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.24 PM-300x168.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.24 PM-768x430.png 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.24 PM-1536x861.png 1536w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.24 PM.png 2016w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px" /></a> Another way we can look at the data is relative to the start of the time period. Here, we see certain cards emerge more clearly as "big movers". <a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.12 PM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-158182" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.12 PM-1024x561.png" alt="" width="761" height="417" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.12 PM-1024x561.png 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.12 PM-300x164.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.12 PM-768x421.png 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.12 PM-1536x842.png 1536w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-12.41.12 PM.png 2026w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 761px) 100vw, 761px" /></a> If we calculate the average weekly change for each card and look at the distribution across all qualifying Urza cards, we see roughly a bell curve with some extreme values that get flagged as being fiery or icy: <a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-12.54.42 PM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-158713" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-12.54.42 PM.png" alt="" width="729" height="381" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-12.54.42 PM.png 848w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-12.54.42 PM-300x157.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-12.54.42 PM-768x401.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px" /></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Let's once again plot the relative time series graph, this time highlighting the identified fiery and icy cards. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">We can see that these cards clearly have exhibited more extreme changes over the time period than the cards identified as stable:</span> <a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-1.02.44 PM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-158187" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-1.02.44 PM.png" alt="" width="891" height="411" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-1.02.44 PM.png 2284w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-1.02.44 PM-300x138.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-1.02.44 PM-1024x473.png 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-1.02.44 PM-768x354.png 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-1.02.44 PM-1536x709.png 1536w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-07-at-1.02.44 PM-2048x945.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 891px) 100vw, 891px" /></a> The following table shows which cards were identified as fiery and icy, along with their average weekly changes, extremeness score, and the number of decks they were played in over the six month time period. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repurposing Bay" href="#" target="_blank">Repurposing Bay</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes the cake for fieriest card, with a Fire score of 5.85, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the iciest card, with an Ice score of -3.54. The top four fieriest cards (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repurposing Bay" href="#" target="_blank">Repurposing Bay</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mistrise Village" href="#" target="_blank">Mistrise Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unstoppable Plan" href="#" target="_blank">Unstoppable Plan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin, Eye of the Storms" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin, Eye of the Storms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) were released in the examined six-month period and were able to achieve high Fire Scores largely due to starting at 0% usage. Not all newly released cards will show up as fiery if they aren't an obviously good fit for the given commander, but it is a good thing to be aware of. <span style="font-weight: 400;">Icy cards are often less explicable as we often see Commander staples showing up icy; this may be due to potential replacements coming on the scene or any of a number of other reasons. </span> <a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-1.45.05 PM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-158717" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-1.45.05 PM.png" alt="" width="1041" height="316" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-1.45.05 PM.png 1226w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-1.45.05 PM-300x91.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-1.45.05 PM-1024x311.png 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-1.45.05 PM-768x233.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px" /></a> </p>
<h2>What to Expect in the <em>Fire and Ice</em> Series</h2>
<p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">In <em>Fire and Ice</em>, we'll highlight commanders with intriguing fiery and icy cards </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">and comment on why we believe each card is trending up or down. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">We will also provide the Fire and Ice score of each card discussed along with graphs of the relative weekly usage of each card over the specified time period.</span> <strong>Starting today, you'll find brand new <em>Fire and Ice</em> articles out every Friday on EDHREC!</strong></p>


Introducing the Math Behind EDHREC's Fire and Ice Series

 <p style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://www.karlaortizart.com/">Karla Ortiz</a></p> <p>Hello Everyone! I’m Levi from the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5n27ku41qleRMM7CKrWOh3">Thought Vessel Show</a>, and today I am very excited to debut a new series here at EDHREC called <em>Ten Under Twenty</em>, where we take a deep dive on a single commander and find those cards that are simply not getting the respect they deserve.</p> <p>You may find similarities between this series and the “Challenge the Stats” segment on EDHRECCast. The main difference is we are looking for several hidden gems for only one commander at a time. This week, we are looking at one of my favorite commanders of all time, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p> <p>In order to qualify for this list, the card has to appear in less than 20% of decks here on EDHREC. This is a buffet-style list, meaning you can take whatever you like and leave whatever you don't.</p> <p>My goal here is to simply shine some light on some great cards that deserve some love. Let’s jump right in!</p> <h3>10.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delney, Streetwise Lookout" href="#" target="_blank">Delney, Streetwise Lookout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Delney, Streetwise Lookout"></div></div> <p>Starting out our list is an absolute beast of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in Delney, Streetwise Lookout. For starters, Delney’s first ability ensures that Brago cannot be blocked by creatures with power 3 or greater, which makes the chances of Brago being able to connect for damage almost a guarantee.</p> <p>Speaking of that trigger, the Brago blink effect is also copied, meaning you can flicker every nonland permanent you control twice per turn. And those creatures coming into play with power two or less will also have their triggered abilities doubled.</p> <p>Essentially, this means that one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Omens" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Omens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will draw four cards per turn. That’s an incredible amount of value.</p> <h3>9.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%) </h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mightstone and Weakstone"></div></div> <p>Being that this is the second half of the melded combination, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Planeswalker" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Planeswalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> goes under the radar. This card can do plenty on its own without its other half, being repeatable ramp, card draw, and spot removal at the same time.</p> <p>In decks that are taking advantage of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strionic Resonator" href="#" target="_blank">Strionic Resonator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> infinite combo, the mana can be used to activate the artifact and draw your entire deck at the same time.</p> <h3>8.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glen Elendra Archmage"></div></div> <p>In a deck like this, keeping Brago safe from removal is essential. If you can do that with the right pieces on board, you can take complete control of the game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great protective tool.</p> <p>When <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is sacrificed, it comes back into play with a -1/-1 counter. When you blink it with Brago, that ability resets, and you can counter something else and keep <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glen Elendra Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Glen Elendra Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> around. It becomes an extremely effective removal engine.</p> <h3>7.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Hearth and Home" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Hearth and Home</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (10%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Hearth and Home"></div></div> <p> This one is pretty simple compared to the rest of the list. Being able to protect Brago from removal spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can function like hexproof.</p> <p>Blink decks are also mana-hungry, so being able to get that extra land per turn can really add up if the game runs longer. Also, never underestimate being able to blink your best payoff one extra time per turn. Having a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent of Treachery" href="#" target="_blank">Agent of Treachery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to blink in play could make all the difference.</p> <h3>6.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blessed Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Blessed Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blessed Sanctuary"></div></div> <p>This one is more for the bracket two or bracket three style of lists. One of the biggest weaknesses of a blink-style deck is the lack of raw power to use in combat.</p> <p>If Brago were to come across a mono-green stompy deck that had the capability to prevent Brago from connecting with combat damage, this would be a tough spot to work from. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blessed Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Blessed Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would protect against damage-based board wipes like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and also provide a very steady flow of attackers or blockers in the 2/2 Unicorns it makes every time a nontoken creature enters. Off of a Brago trigger, that number could easily be 5–10 Unicorns without a lot of difficulty.</p> <h3>5.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth Conquers Death" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth Conquers Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth Conquers Death"></div></div> <p>Sagas are a really neat inclusion in a Brago deck since Brago has the capability of blinking them and resetting their lore counters to keep them around. On chapter one, you get a very versatile removal spell for any big threats.</p> <p>When it gets to chapter two, you can consistently slow things down for your opponents by making spells cost two more mana. By chapter three, if you want to let it move toward chapter three, you can bring back your best creature or planeswalker from the graveyard to use again.</p> <h3>4.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Parting Gust"></div></div> <p>It’s important in a blink deck to have removal that isn’t tied to a creature in the event that an opponent plays a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines" href="#" target="_blank">Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can completely shut down our entire strategy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the great ability to either be a removal spell or a single-target blink spell depending on what you need at the moment.</p> <h3>3.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5%) </h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scroll of Fate"></div></div> <p>This card is criminally underplayed. With a Brago trigger on the stack, you can manifest a card into play, which will be blinked and come in on the face-up side. This can allow us to cheat a high mana value card or combo piece without giving opponents the chance to counter the spell.</p> <p>At its floor, it can be used to manifest extra lands. Routinely, we can flash in a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Time Raveler" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Time Raveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to prevent players from casting spells on our turns. Since manifest is a more niche mechanic, this card is flying under the radar. Hopefully, that will change.</p> <h3>2.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plagon, Lord of the Beach" href="#" target="_blank">Plagon, Lord of the Beach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.88%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plagon, Lord of the Beach"></div></div> <p>For a super sleeper, we have Plagon, Lord of the Beach. Plagon allows us to draw a card for each creature you have that has a toughness greater than power. With Brago in play, this is a minimum of two cards per trigger.</p> <p>Since blink creatures are usually smaller and a good portion of them do, in fact, have greater toughness than power, Plagon can easily draw 5+ cards per turn. In a lesser capacity, you can also pay one mana to have Brago attack for four damage rather than two.</p> <p>1.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Raven’s Warning" href="#" target="_blank">The Raven’s Warning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.57%)</p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Raven’s Warning"></div></div> <p>Our second saga on the list, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Raven’s Warning" href="#" target="_blank">The Raven’s Warning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is a great card for information. Initially, it will produce a 1/1 flying Bird with some life gain, which when repeated can actually be pretty effective. The second chapter lets you look at each opponent’s hand and draw cards.</p> <p>When playing a deck like this, being able to know the potential threats your opponents are hiding can make you borderline invincible. This card definitely scales with the skill of the pilot, but fair warning: this card does take a lot of time to resolve and can lead to a bit of analysis paralysis.</p> <h2>3 Cards You Don't Always Need for Brago</h2> <p>Now, with all these cards that I am suggesting, it can be intimidating to find cards to cut from the deck to make room. So, in our section, we’ll be looking at some cut candidates.</p> <p>These are good cards, showing up in over 50% of Brago decks here on EDHREC. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it's an undisputed auto-include. Let's start off with a blink staple.</p> <h3>1.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (59%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mulldrifter"></div></div> <p>Ah yes, the flying fish. Drawing two cards per entering the battlefield is indeed a strong ability. If you have a card in hand like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can actually get around the sacrifice portion of the evoke cost.</p> <p>However, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mightstone and Weakstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mightstone and Weakstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plagon, Lord of the Beach" href="#" target="_blank">Plagon, Lord of the Beach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being on the list, we’re simply able to get more bang for the buck with these cards over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p> <p>Card advantage isn’t as much of a problem in a deck like Brago that has so many repeatable card advantage engines in the 99, and it’s good to look for cards that can wear multiple hats.</p> <h3>2.) <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> (53%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reality Acid"></div></div> <p>This is a card that I actually used to run in my personal Brago list. Being able to remove something for three mana repeatedly is a very solid effect. Since you can blink this card, the time counters running out really isn’t as big of an issue as it appears to be.</p> <p>It's also nice to have a removal spell that simply says “permanent” instead of “nonland permanent” or something even more restrictive. The downside of this card is that this is a leaves-the-battlefield ability instead of an enters-the-battlefield ability.</p> <p>This means that any type of ETB-doubling cards in the deck do not impact this card at all. Additionally, with a traditional removal ETB ability like on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this can be used twice in the turn it is cast. You also have to telegraph your next removal target by enchanting it without an effective way of using it again until your next turn.</p> <p>If the enchanted permanent can be removed by sacrificing, for example, then the <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> is taken off the board without any real ability to stop it from happening. Because of this, I’m more cold on this card than the average Brago player.</p> <h3>3.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (54%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghostly Flicker"></div></div> <p>Another staple in blink decks. The main problem with this card is that we simply have access to better cards. For less mana I would want something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for more versatility I want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parting Gust" href="#" target="_blank">Parting Gust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and for a better utility, I want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eerie Interlude" href="#" target="_blank">Eerie Interlude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostway" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at a minimum.</p> <p>In a blink deck that also uses white, I just feel we have better things that we can be doing in the 99 with the exception of using this card as a combo piece to win the game.</p> <p>And there you have it! These are some incredible cards that you might want to consider putting in your Brago, King Eternal deck. If you have a commander that you would like to see in the next <em>Ten Under Twenty</em> article or a card you feel needs some love, leave a comment. Until next time, happy brewing!</p> 

Top 10 Hidden Gems for Brago, King Eternal (And 3 You Don't Need)

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a href="https://scryfall.com/card/otj/11/final-showdown">Final Showdown</a> | Art By: <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CIzzy%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Izzy</a>)</h6>
<p> Welcome back to the finale of the March Magic Madness. Unfortunately, the tournament had to be delayed due to a massive unforeseen Dragonstorm that opened up in the skies above <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strixhaven Stadium" href="#" target="_blank">Strixhaven Stadium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Nevertheless, we will play on and what a final we have for everyone out there. Isn't that right? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arena Rector" href="#" target="_blank">Arena Rector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: That is indeed right. I am so pumped up for this finale, and I think any of the four remaining teams could take home the trophy. What do you say we stop dragging it out and get down and meet our final four teams? I think that is an excellent idea. Let's get into it and meet the teams. </p>
<h2>Scoring:</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Color Multipliers</strong>
<ul>
<li>Colorless 1.6x</li>
<li>Mono 1.5x</li>
<li>Two-color 1.4x</li>
<li>Three-color 1.3x</li>
<li>Four-color 1.2x</li>
<li>Five Color 1.1x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deck Count &lt; or &gt; 15 Thousand</strong>
<ul>
<li>&gt; 15 Thousand 15.1x</li>
<li>&lt; 15 Thousand 14.9x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Original Print Date</strong>
<ul>
<li>Over five years ago, 5.9x</li>
<li>Printed in 202, 5.5x</li>
<li>Printed less than five years ago, 5.1x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Was it a "Design Mistake"</strong>
<ul>
<li>Yes 6.9x</li>
<li>No 7x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Game Changer</strong>
<ul>
<li>Yes 2.5x</li>
<li>No 7x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Salt Score &lt;, &gt; or = 1.2</strong>
<ul>
<li>&lt; 1.2 avg. Salt score 2.1x</li>
<li>&gt; 1.2 avg. Salt score 1.9x</li>
<li>= 1.2 avg. Salt score 2x</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Basketball scores are made with a generator to align with the "math" used.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h2>Final Four.</h2>
<h3>Wedge Region vs. Guild Region</h3>
<p> (2) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> vs. (13) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow Urza, Lord High Artificer"></div></div> The Ninjas, the highest-ranked team left in the tournament and the winners of the Wedge Region, are led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They have cakewalked through this tournament so far, with no match being close. It's safe to say that they're the strongest team left in the tournament and the one to beat, led by an all-star lineup featuring <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fallen Shinobi Silver-Fur Master Ninja of the Deep Hours"></div></div> And a strong bench squad with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nashi, Moon Sage&#039;s Scion" href="#" target="_blank">Nashi, Moon Sage&#039;s Scion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and newcomer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Changeling Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Changeling Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This team has tricks that will make their opponents sick, they have moves that will bring out the a chorus of boos, and their leader is a design mistake that makes their enemies quake, but don't let any of this give you too much confidence, sports fans, because the winners from the Guild Region led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are not planning to roll over. The High Artificers have had as dominant of a tournament as their opponents, making this match-up a battle of behemoths rather than a lopsided affair. Seeds mean nothing this late in the tournament, and Urza and the High Artificers plan to make people remember that. No team in the tournament knows the ins and outs of the rules like the High Artificers. Who would have ever thought about tapping their <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Howling Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Howling Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Or when they ran their <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-0" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>-cost lineup featuring <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lotus Petal Spellbook Welding Jar"></div></div> Their unsung hero of the tournament <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simulacrum Synthesizer" href="#" target="_blank">Simulacrum Synthesizer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> showed what a new card can do. It gave extra reach to this team that it did not have in years past and pulled its weight and then some in the tournament. So, with all this out of the way, let's see how this game goes. <strong>End of First Quarter:</strong> Ninjas 25 - High Artificers 18. <strong>End of Second Quarter:</strong> Ninjas 55 - High Artificers 56. <strong>End of Third Quarter:</strong> Ninjas 77 - High Artificers 69. <strong>Final:</strong> Ninjas 103 - High Artificers 98. It was a fantastic battle all the way through, and after the second quarter, it looked like the High Artificers would take this one home. However, a well-timed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commandeer" href="#" target="_blank">Commandeer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a perfectly cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curtains&#039; Call" href="#" target="_blank">Curtains&#039; Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> brought down the proverbial curtain on Urza and his High Artificers. Punching their way to the Finals of the March Magic Madness tournament is <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow|CMM|690"></div></div> </p>
<h3>Shards Region vs. Blind Eternities Region</h3>
<p> (8) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph" href="#" target="_blank">Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> vs. (13) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy"></div></div> The one and only Universes Beyond commander Ghyrson Starn leads the Kelermorphs out of the Shards Region. Their path was not as easy as Yuriko's or Urza's, but they dispatched all their opponents fairly. The Kelermorphs play with a fast and furious gameplan, embodying the "death by a thousand cuts" style of victory. The key to their victory is often <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>, which makes every player on their team lethal. Every match, the Kelermorphs try to make their opponents <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fear, Fire, Foes!" href="#" target="_blank">Fear, Fire, Foes!</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and turn every <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Playful Shove" href="#" target="_blank">Playful Shove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> punch above their weight. As the only Universes Beyond representative, it was unsurprising that they came into this game with an all-UB lineup. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch Magnus the Red Pink Horror"></div></div> Kinnan and the Prodigies had the most challenging path to the Final Four. This team knows close games and tough battles, but they can close out with one big flip every time, but since big flips are the name of the game for the Prodigies, they come in as the biggest lineup left in the tournament. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tidespout Tyrant Koma, Cosmos Serpent Colossal Skyturtle"></div></div> Often, in close games, the Prodigies had to rely on their Praetorial Powerhouses of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger" href="#" target="_blank">Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur" href="#" target="_blank">Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Big Flips = Big Victories for the Prodigies, but how will they stack up against this undersized but fiercely fast lineup fielded by the Kelermorphs? Let's find out. <strong>End of First Quarter:</strong> Kelermorphs 22 - Prodigies 16. <strong>End of Second Quarter:</strong> Kelermorphs 49 - Prodigies 35. <strong>End of Third Quarter:</strong> Kelermorphs 88 - Prodigies 59. <strong>Final:</strong> Kelermorphs 122 - Prodigies 89. In the end, no matter how big the Prodigies went with their lineup, they eventually fell to the quick gun gaming of the Kelermorphs. They were in control from the start of the game, and with early and often pinging of their opponents set up pieces, the Final is now set with our second entry. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph|40K|124★"></div></div> </p>
<h2>Championship</h2>
<p> The stage is set, and the combatants are ready to go. The first combatant is the most dominant team from the entire tournament. They are a design mistake and one of the most incredible creatures around. You won't see them until it is too late as they strike from the shadows, and the moment you think you have pinned them down, you will learn that it was too late. We welcome <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow|CMM|690" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from the Wedge Region. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow|CMM|690"></div></div> From the Shards Region, we have the creature that might not put the UB in Universes Beyond, but they do put damage into an opponent's face. We welcome <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph|40K|124★" href="#" target="_blank">Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph|40K|124★"></div></div> Nanjas versus Kelermorphs. UB (blue-black) versus UB (universes beyond). This one is a battle for the ages. This one is for all the marbles. Let's get into the game and break it down. </p>
<h3>First Quarter</h3>
<p> The first quarter was a tight battle. Yuriko and the Ninjas got on the battlefield early with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gingerbrute" href="#" target="_blank">Gingerbrute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triton Shorestalker" href="#" target="_blank">Triton Shorestalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Setting up for a commander ninjutsu play, the following turn, the Kelermorphs countered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electrolyze" href="#" target="_blank">Electrolyze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Seeing that the game's speed favored the Kelermorphs, the Ninjas decided to deploy a slower strategy near the end of the first quarter. <strong>End of First Quarter:</strong> Ninjas 22 - Kelermorphs 23. </p>
<h3>Second Quarter</h3>
<p> With a slower strategy in mind, the Ninjas decided it was time for a bit of a secret weapon: the dual threat of Ninja planeswalkers in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaito, Bane of Nightmares" href="#" target="_blank">Kaito, Bane of Nightmares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaito Shizuki" href="#" target="_blank">Kaito Shizuki</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With a way to get a steady stream on ninjas and an emblem giving some breathing room to the constant single-digit damages being thrown their way, the ninjas were setting up for a big second quarter. The Kelermorphs were not going to take this sitting down, and with some chaining of card-damage-based card draw, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flick a Coin" href="#" target="_blank">Flick a Coin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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>, they found their way into a well-timed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flatline" href="#" target="_blank">Flatline</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>... or so they thought. While it is risky, Yuriko met Ghyrson with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse" href="#" target="_blank">An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to save their board before the half. <strong>End of Second Quarter:</strong> Ninjas 45 - Kelermorphs 40. </p>
<h3>Third Quarter</h3>
<p> While unable to stop the constant barrage of one damage being thrown at their small creatures, the Ninjas decided that they would be at least able to get value out of the onslaught of spells being thrown at them. The duo of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Remora" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Remora</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> slowed down the Kelermorphs to a grinding halt. Not out of the game thoroughly, thanks to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quicksilver Dagger" href="#" target="_blank">Quicksilver Dagger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Manabarbs" href="#" target="_blank">Manabarbs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the Kelermorphs knew that this game was slipping away. <strong>End of Third Quarter:</strong> Ninjas 70 - Kelermorphs 62. </p>
<h3>Fourth Quarter</h3>
<p> As a last-ditch play, the Kelermorphs pulled out a bit of a strange strategy in playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Charisma" href="#" target="_blank">Charisma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The plan was to stall and try to hit a last-second play with the help of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thousand-Year Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thousand-Year Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the chaining together of enough game changers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Underworld Breach" href="#" target="_blank">Underworld Breach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to claim victory. Unfortunately for them, the plan was all for naught. Yuriko knew what they had to do to lead their team to victory. Thanks to all the resources they had gathered across the game, one more attack gave them the Yuriko triggers they needed to close it out. They found some of their game changers in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chrome Mox" href="#" target="_blank">Chrome Mox</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While it was not the flashy finish that they wanted, they were able to establish a well-known game-winning play with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tainted Pact" href="#" target="_blank">Tainted Pact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This sealed the deal for the ninjas as they claimed the hardest-fought victory of their tournament to date. <strong>Final:</strong> Ninjas 100 - Kelermorphs 93. </p>
<h2>Winner and Champion</h2>
<p> Congratulations to your winner and this year's March Magic Madness champions <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow|CMM|690" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the Ninjas! From all of us here at the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strixhaven Stadium" href="#" target="_blank">Strixhaven Stadium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and on behalf of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arena Rector" href="#" target="_blank">Arena Rector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we want to thank you for a great tournament season. We hope to see you next year to find out if Yuriko will be defending their crown or if someone from a new universe can step up to the challenge. As always, I've been Nic, and you can find me here on EDHrec. Don't forget to look at all the other fantastic content here and everywhere from the many great minds behind EDHrec.</p>


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