<h6 style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://scryfall.com/card/sld/1755/saw-in-half">Saw in Half</a> |Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/maniaks">Slawomir Maniak</a></h6>
<h6 style="text-align: right;"></h6>
<h1>A Deadly Distraction</h1>
<p>I'm sure the hypes and vibes are everywhere right now. <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> just released a few days ago, and everyone's having a blast! In fairness, I am, too. As a precon connoisseur, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/temur-roar-precon-guide-tarkir-dragonstorm">I cannot get over how well built those precons are</a>. Why, I got the set of them with no higher than five upgrades each sleeved up and ready.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, tragedy had to strike and I fell ill, but I'm coming out of it as I'm writing this article. That being said, I'm looking forward to getting some games in with them and enjoying them before that massive meteorite known as <em>Final Fantasy</em> hits shelves. I'm trying really hard to distract myself from it.</p>
<p>Oh, but what's this? Another distraction? That's right.</p>
<h1>April Pools! ...Or is it?</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadpool, Trading Card"></div></div>
<p>Well, well. I guess Tarkir was not the only talk of the town after all. We had our sixth <em>Marvel</em>-themed <em>Secret Lair Drop</em> in Deadpool, the big bad merc who just loves to break the fourth wall. Does he? Let's find out together.</p>
<p>Deadpool was originally an antagonist of the X-Force and the New Mutants but has evolved over time into an anti-hero character, where he enjoys an incredible amount of popularity, even in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe, for those who don't know).</p>
<p>In addition, he comes with a regeneration factor alongside a mastery for close combat (including swords and martial arts). Deadpool also boasts superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes among other things. But, let's face it, his greatest superpower is breaking the fourth wall, but I'm getting ahead of myself.</p>
<p>His card could very well be the most complicated card I've had to work with for an article. For starters, his textbox-swapping ability is seen on only one other card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exchange of Words" href="#" target="_blank">Exchange of Words</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is surprisingly legal. Consequently, he's going to be a rules nightmare for the uninitiated.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the other abilities rarely matter to you; that's for your opponents to worry about instead. Unless, somehow, Deadpool failed to switch textboxes. All this raises the question: how do we get him to work?</p>
<h1>Draw Me Like One of Your Scam Artists</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flamerush Rider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Master, Multiplied"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Saw in Half"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, it's worth noting that Deadpool won't work once you switch the textboxes. Think of him as a clone effect with an extra twist. When I started to make a list, my first attempt was to build it like one of those infamous Scam decks from 60-card formats, but the <em>UB</em> card pool was not in my favor. Then, it hit me eventually: what if I copied Deadpool?</p>
<p>The selection there isn't much, but it'll get us going. Effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twinflame" href="#" target="_blank">Twinflame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Friends to the End; 82978 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamerush Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Flamerush Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (26,976 decks) create temporary copies of Deadpool, so you'll get more chances to steal some textboxes.</p>
<p>The tokens made will be legendary, so they will be sacrificed as part of state-based effects. However, that's not before the text swap happens, so you're essentially "eliminating" a threat in an unorthodox way.</p>
<p>You can also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saw in Half" href="#" target="_blank">Saw in Half</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (91,161 decks) your own Deadpool, so you can text-swap two creatures for the price of three mana.</p>
<p>That said, the best card in the deck is easily <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Master, Multiplied" href="#" target="_blank">The Master, Multiplied</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (21,148 decks). The card spiked in price for a reason, after all. The "legend rule" no longer applies to the Deadpool tokens you create, so they're around forever, and they'll have myriad, ensuring you create even more tokens and become a real headache to your opponents.</p>
<p>Consequently, you likely will have swapped the textboxes to get that effect, so you'd have to get rid of the Deadpooled Master somehow.</p>
<p>Even if you don't have him, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blade of Selves" href="#" target="_blank">Blade of Selves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (84,636 decks) does a good impression, for a whopping nine mana. If you can pay that much and protect both Deadpool and the Equipment, you're off to the races.</p>
<h1>A Thrilling Encore</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harmless Offering"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Too Greedily, Too Deep"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Incarnation Technique"></div></div>
<p>With a small card selection for making copies of Deadpool, I had to turn to some grave means: we're going to reanimate Deadpool over and over again.</p>
<p>Most importantly, if Deadpool were to kick the bucket, send him to the graveyard (don't worry if someone <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s you; you're still able to send him back into the command zone to cast again), then use a reanimation spell to get him back.</p>
<p>You can also do this to any creature you Deadpooled, because it'll have its original textbox back. Failing that, you can always use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmless Offering" href="#" target="_blank">Harmless Offering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,387 decks) to send it to an opponent.</p>
<p>Moreover, we've got a good selection of reanimation spells, from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Death" href="#" target="_blank">Living Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (155,419 decks) to the lowly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (484,613 decks).</p>
<p>Secondly, we've also got access to some reanimation spells unique to <em>UB</em>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Too Greedily, Too Deep" href="#" target="_blank">Too Greedily, Too Deep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (15,420 decks) wipes the board while bringing something back, clearing the way for an attack. If you can connect with Deadpool, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Restart Sequence" href="#" target="_blank">Restart Sequence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (17,997 decks) can be cast for half off its original cost.</p>
<p>Otherwise, four mana isn't too shabby. Some others from the original IP include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Incarnation Technique" href="#" target="_blank">Incarnation Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> [reskinned as Escape Containment (31,814 decks)], which fills our graveyard and reanimates a creature, and, if you take advantage of the demonstrate ability, we can do it again.</p>
<p>In addition, don't worry if your opponents don't have anything worth text-swapping because we can do it to our own creatures, too. That said, Deadpool should be the number one reanimation target. If there's nothing worth copying, feel free to bring out some other beater and hammer your opponents that way.</p>
<p>Lastly, Don't be afraid to use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Bring Out Your Dead!; 167,946 decks) to ditch some big monsters into your 'yard.</p>
<p>You'd be able to reanimate them on a later turn or, if you're lucky, the same turn! If it's not in your graveyard when you cast it, find that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anger" href="#" target="_blank">Anger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (167,616 decks) and get it in there, so your creatures don't become sitting ducks, waiting a full turn to attack.</p>
<h1>Deadpool's Cinema</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-&#039;Pooling Around" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Deadpool, Trading Card
[/Commander]
[Sorceries]
*1 Beacon of Unrest
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Dread Return
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Harmless Offering
*1 Incarnation Technique
*1 Lidless Gaze
*1 Living Death
*1 Reanimate
*1 Restart Sequence
*1 Too Greedily, Too Deep
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Twinflame
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Wake the Dragon
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 The Ruinous Powers
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Anger
*1 Bloodthirster
*1 Cavern-Hoard Dragon
*1 Chaos Defiler
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Flamerush Rider
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Grave Titan
*1 Humble Defector
*1 Inferno Titan
*1 Kardur, Doomscourge
*1 Scourge of the Throne
*1 Shard of the Void Dragon
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 The Balrog of Moria
*1 The Master, Multiplied
[/Creatures]
[Lands]
*1 Billiard Room
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Foreboding Ruins
*1 Haunted Ridge
*1 Lavaclaw Reaches
*9 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Shadowblood Ridge
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*9 Swamp
*1 Tainted Peak
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 War Room
[/Lands]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Blade of Selves
*1 Cloudstone Curio
*1 Confession Dial
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Resurrection Orb
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Bituminous Blast
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crypt Incursion
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Deadly Rollick
*1 Dismember
*1 Go for the Throat
*1 Saw in Half
*1 Terminate
*1 Unexpected Windfall
[/Instants]"></span></div>
<h1>Deadpool? More like Deadcool, Am I Right?</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodthirster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Titan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Balrog of Moria"></div></div>
<p>This decklist tells us one thing: a reanimator deck is absolutely possible within the <em>UB</em> card pool thanks to the <em>Hosts of Mordor</em> precon that came with <em>The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth </em>release.</p>
<p>Consequently, it also gave us some of the beefiest reanimator targets. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavern-Hoard Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Cavern-Hoard Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (67,106 decks) can potentially get us a lot of Treasures. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scourge of the Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Scourge of the Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodthirster" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodthirster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (65,971 and 44,009 decks respectively) can also give us extra combat phases, and <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> (41,661 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as West Tek Tyrant; 68,587 decks) do something when they come in or attack, so they're valuable to have.</p>
<p>Further, it's perhaps best to treat Deadpool as yet another reanimation target, like I mentioned in the previous section. Chances are, you'll end up with a weaker version of your own creature if you Deadpool it, since he'll retain his stat line.</p>
<p>However, there are a few exceptions to this. Copying <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crimson Caravaneer" href="#" target="_blank">Crimson Caravaneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5,825 decks) would enable Deadpool to gain double strike and trample, plus give us Junk tokens to impulse draw when we need it.</p>
<p>The only other exception in the deck list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gimli of the Glittering Caves" href="#" target="_blank">Gimli of the Glittering Caves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (27,572 decks), who also gives him double strike, but also the ability to make Treasure tokens when he hits.</p>
<p>That said, we can always return him to our hand if we need to. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Sorry Jack...Chucky's Back; 96,674 decks) can fish it out of our 'yard.</p>
<p>This is especially useful if someone decides to exile your graveyard. Another way is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudstone Curio" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudstone Curio</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Elessar, the Eflstone; 52,062 decks), which will send Deadpool back to our hand if another creature of ours comes in.</p>
<p>Its application here is more limited, since you ideally don't want to be bouncing your big stuff to your hand. Then again, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Balrog of Moria" href="#" target="_blank">The Balrog of Moria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solemn Simulacrum" href="#" target="_blank">Solemn Simulacrum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (23,846 and 784,945 decks, respectively) are your other best targets for the Curio.</p>
<h1>A Merc's Job Done</h1>
<p>I quite enjoyed the semi-unique spin on Deadpool. Where with in-universe cards, you're making copies of him like he's a rabbit, we're out here reanimating him and other beefy creatures to get the job done. Hopefully one day, a full-on copy/scam build a truly possible with Deadpool, but only time will tell if that can be done.</p>
<p>With Marvel being a long-term crossover, we can expect more content centered on it. However, I'm going to cover as many of the Marvel legends from the first wave as I can. Maybe I can get them out before <em>Final Fantasy </em>hits shelves, but I doubt that. I do have others I want to cover before then, too, especially one that's on my shortlist.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, next time won't be Marvel... but it can be? I could make it a double decklist article, like I did with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Battle-Ready" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Battle-Ready</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer" href="#" target="_blank">Kassandra, Eagle Bearer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the other week.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments if you want me to do that next week If not, it won't be until around June that I get to it next. In any case, tune in next time when we get up to some wizardry shenanigans. Lastly, bonus internet points to any of you reading this article while eating a chimichanga.</p>


Beyond the Multiverse-Deadpool, Trading Card

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Cloud Strife and Sephiroth Final Fantasy x MTG key art | art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/magali_villeneuve/?hl=en">Magali Villeneuve</a></h6>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.wargamer.com/magic-the-gathering/best-selling-final-fantasy-sales">Wargamer</a>, during the Q1 earnings call from Hasbro on April 24th, 2025, CEO <strong>Chris Cocks</strong> reiterated the financial success of Final Fantasy's upcoming <em>Magic</em> release:</p>
<p>“Final Fantasy will be the best-selling set of all time on day one. It already is,” he said. Preorders for Final Fantasy products on Amazon sold out almost immediately after the initial preview stream, and most retailers are marking up Collector Boosters and Collector's Edition Commander decks to $600+ apiece.</p>
<p>Final Fantasy's new best-selling status will no doubt further entrench the decision to make Universes Beyond mainline set releases and products more frequent.</p>
<p>“It’s very clear to us that Universes Beyond as a strategy has increased the total active install base of <em>Magic</em> players, both in terms of reigniting lapsed fans as well as bringing in new fans,” Cocks said.</p>
<h2>What's behind the growth in Hasbro's MTG earnings?</h2>
<p>“It’s difficult to identify just one thing. Really what we’re seeing is an expansion of the playerbase,” Cocks explained. Many players could speculate the rise in Chaos Vault and Secret Lair drops have changed the model for MTG products in between mainline set releases.</p>
<p>As well as this, we can count on recent "nostalgia" sets like Tarkir: Dragonstorm having brought longtime players back into the fold to see fresh takes on old characters, game mechanics and settings.</p>
<p>One thing remains sure, Final Fantasy is bound to have some of the most popular Secret Lair drops of all time, leading to an even greater sales expectation for Wizards' current license of the franchise.</p>
<h3>What Makes the Final Fantasy MTG set so popular?</h3>
<p>Final Fantasy (FF) premiered in Japan in 1987, and with over 30 years' worth of game release across the world and console generations, there are legions of fans who are eager to get their hands on anything FF related. Final Fantasy's many characters and world settings also makes it a perfect fit for <em>Magic's</em> game system.</p>
<h2>When Does the Final Fantasy MTG set Release?</h2>
<p>With a scheduled prerelease date of June 6th and release date of June 13th, Final Fantasy and <em>Magic</em> fans don't have long to wait to meld their favorite franchises together with one of the world's best game systems.</p>
<p>Have you managed to preorder any Final Fantasy product yet? What games or characters are you hoping get the best representation? Let us know below!</p>


Final Fantasy is the Best-Selling MTG Set Before Official Release Date

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credits: Hasbro &amp; Disney</h6>
<p>On Thursday, April 24th, Hasbro announced that it renewed its longstanding licenses with The Walt Disney Company for Disney's Marvel and <em>Star Wars</em> properties. The license extension spans multiple years and will allow Hasbro to continue producing toys, games, and collectibles related to these properties. How will this affect <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>? Read on, and we will explain how this could affect <em>Universes Beyond</em>.</p>
<h2>Hasbro's Dealings With Disney</h2>
<p>According to the press release made on April 24th, Hasbro has historically produced many kinds of toys and games for the <em>Star Wars</em> and Marvel brands. They have made Lightsabers and a plethora of <em>Star Wars</em> action figures, while on the Marvel end of things, they've produced <em>Marvel Legends</em>, preschooler toys based on <em>Spidey and his Amazing Friends</em>, and, of course, <em>Universes Beyond</em>. Under this new extension, Hasbro will continue to be able to produce these toys and games for years to come.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wolverine, Best There Is"></div></div>
<h2>Statements From Hasbro and Disney Executives</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://newsroom.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-extends-long-running-strategic-relationship-disney">press release</a> continues with some quotes from execs at Hasbro and Disney Consumer Products:</p>
<blockquote><p>"It’s an honor to be able to deepen our relationship with Disney Consumer Products to create even more magical play experiences for consumers across the globe," said <strong>Tim Kilpin</strong>, Hasbro's President, Toys, Board Games, Licensing and Entertainment. “<em>Star Wars</em> and Marvel provide an extensive array of captivating content that gives us an unlimited trove of fresh ideas to create from. Our collaboration spans more than half a century, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship by bringing consumers everywhere brand-new play experiences tied to the exciting universes and characters of <em>Star Wars </em>and Marvel.”</p>
<p>"We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Hasbro to evolve our expansive portfolio of <em>Star Wars</em> and Marvel toys that bring these iconic adventures into daily life,” said <strong>Paul Gitter</strong>, Executive Vice President of Global Brand Commercialization at Disney Consumer Products. "From must-have collectibles to Lightsaber toys, we aim to push the boundaries of creativity to deliver innovative products and engaging play experiences that bring our fans closer to their favorite stories and characters.”</p></blockquote>
<h2>Hold Your Horses, <em>Star Wars</em> Fans!</h2>
<p>This licensing extension looks extremely promising for <em>Universes Beyond</em> fans, especially with <em>Edge of Eternities</em> looming on the horizon. However, it is extremely unclear whether <em>Star Wars</em> will receive any <em>Universes Beyond</em> treatments. Yes, <em>Edge of Eternities</em> is a space opera setting, just like <em>Star Wars</em>. However, this extension is fresh. We also know Wizards of the Coast works approximately 2.5 years in advance, sometimes longer, on <em>Magic</em> sets. As such, getting a <em>Universes Beyond</em> license is a tricky prospect. Furthermore, with the <em>Star Wars Unlimited</em> card game gaining traction and popularity, <em>Magic</em> may not get a collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., even if this license allows Hasbro to produce <em>Star Wars</em> toys.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Marvel's continued collaboration with <em>Magic</em> is full steam ahead. As such, we are excited for the upcoming <em>Spider-Man</em> set and all that will entail!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sensational Spider-Man"></div></div>
<p>And now, let's open the floor to you, dear readers. How do you feel about this continued rendezvous between Hasbro and the House of Mouse? Are you excited to see what could come of this license extension? Sound off below!</p>


Hasbro Renews Licenses With Disney For Marvel And Star Wars

Technically Playable - Sauron, the Necromancer

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Martial Coup|40k|189" href="#" target="_blank">Martial Coup</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By <a href="https://www.artstation.com/diegogisbert">Diego Gisbert Llorens</a>)</h6>
<h1>Winner Winner, Chicken Pinger</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to <i>Archetypes of Imagination</i>, the series in which <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/cooper-gottfried">Cooper Gottfried</a> builds decks based on popular Commander archetypes. I'm jumping in to help Cooper out with this edition as we talk about one of my favorite ways to win games and annoy your opponents: pingers!</p>
<p>Today I'll be using<a href="https://tagger.scryfall.com/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Scryfall's tagging system</a> and<a href="https://edhrec.com/tags?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> EDHREC's Tag pages</a> to build a deck around the theme of <a href="https://tagger.scryfall.com/tags/card/pinger">Pingers</a>. These are permanents that routinely deal small amounts of chip damage to our opponents either as activated or triggered abilities.</p>
<p>Sometimes they come stapled onto a creature like the classic, color-pie-breaking, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prodigal Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Prodigal Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Often they're in the form of triggered abilities on enchantments like the wonderful <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>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Sharpshooter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Manabarbs"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guttersnipe"></div></div>
<p>Most players will have one or two pingers in a deck, offering small amounts of chip damage to slowly turn the game in their favor, but oftentimes these Pingers will be one of many rewards for doing what their deck does. Playing lots of lands, drawing lots of cards, or (most commonly) playing noncreature spells:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spitfire Lagac"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Psychosis Crawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firebrand Archer"></div></div>
<h2>A Deck By Pingers, For Pingers</h2>
<p>Today we want to make a deck that doesn't just benefit from playing pingers, but is built around them specifically, and for that end, we're enlisting a friend from <em>Universes Beyond</em> to help us.</p>
<p><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> is an Izzet (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-ur" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) Tyranid Human that cares about sources we control doing exactly one damage to any target. Whenever one of our cards does one damage, Ghyrson will jump in to help out and deal two damage himself to the same target.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph"></div></div>
<p>Ghryson is incredibly powerful as a commander for a few reasons. First of all, he doesn't care how you do your single bits of damage. You could play a burn spell, hit someone with a 1/1 token, or of course have one of our myriad pinger effects trigger. Every time he'll add two more damage on top.</p>
<p>Secondly, Ghryson isn't just adding two damage on top of what's already there, like <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> might. He's actually doing that two damage himself. That means we can load him up with Auras and Equipment that benefit us whenever an attached creature does damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="End the Festivities"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tectonic Hazard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blazing Volley"></div></div>
<p>And lastly, Ghyrson is a "whenever" trigger. No, "only once per turn" or "one or more". He's going to trigger on every single instance of one damage we create. That means cards that deal mass amounts of one damage like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="End the Festivities" href="#" target="_blank">End the Festivities</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will generate an absolutely huge amount of triggers.</p>
<h2>Which Ping is Right?</h2>
<p>There's a few different ways in which we can trigger our pinger effects. We could just have a board full of creatures with activated abilities, forming a gun wall against our opponents. That would be pretty on theme for a <em>Warhammer 40K</em> commander.</p>
<p>We could also focus on slinging spells for our triggers. Use effects like that of <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 try to storm off on our turns with a load of cantrips, dealing a tonne of damage to our enemies.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Howlsquad Heavy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pashalik Mons"></div></div>
<p>To get as much benefit as possible from our commander's ability however, I think we're better off leaning in another direction. For this build we're going to try and flood the board with tokens, largely Goblins. With a wide board we have three different ways in which our board can dish out single points of damage:</p>
<h3>Impact Tremors Effects</h3>
<p>Most often we'll be hitting our opponents with a lot of <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>-style effects. That is, whenever a creature enters under our control we'll deal one (three!) damage to each of our opponents. There's a few different cards available in red that give us this effect, including Tremors itself.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Witty Roastmaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Molten Gatekeeper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agate Instigator"></div></div>
<p>Once you get a few of these on board, even just a couple of creatures entering can cause some serious problems for your opponents. With three on the board, we're dealing three damage to our opponents every time we have a creature enter. With Ghyrson on board as well, that damage triples. Nine damage per Goblin we make? Absolutely rotten stuff.</p>
<p>The absolute queen of this effect, and one that'll provide us both with the tokens we need to make and the tremors effect that we want to trigger, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Kreat, the Boltbringer" href="#" target="_blank">General Kreat, the Boltbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Not only does she have the Tremors-style effect stapled onto her, but she's also going to make us a new Goblin token every time we attack with at least one of our pre-existing Goblins.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="General Kreat, the Boltbringer"></div></div>
<h3>Attack Triggers</h3>
<p>There's not quite as many of these cards in our deck, but a few things exist in red that reward us for attacking with low power creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raid Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Raid Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for example triggers whenever we attack with a creature with power two or less.</p>
<p>We can't always swing out with our board, especially when we need to hold up blockers, but cards like this effectively give us a second hit of Impact Tremors whenever we attack. Albeit, only targeting the player we're attacking.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raid Bombardment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cavalcade of Calamity"></div></div>
<h3>Combat Damage</h3>
<p>Finally, for each of our 1/1 tokens that hit something we get one final bit of single point damage for Ghyrson to add two on top of. Nothing flashy here, basically everything that hits for one, now hits for three! On top of any other fun bonuses we can get from Ghyrson's Equipment and Auras. Speaking of, let's talk about that.</p>
<h2>Kitting Out Ghyrson</h2>
<p>There's a load of different goodies we can fill our deck with to get added benefit from Ghyrson's repeated triggers. With enough tokens on board and pinger effects in play, these should trigger quite a lot to boot. First of all, we should make sure we have a bit of card draw online. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curiosity" href="#" target="_blank">Curiosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a perfect fit to pop onto our commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curiosity"></div></div>
<p>Now, whenever we deal a single point of damage from any source, Ghyrson will add some more on top and also draw us a card. Importantly, this is also a <em>may </em>trigger. That'll save us from accidentally decking ourselves whenever a million of our triggers hit the stack.</p>
<p>Next up, let's make Ghyrson even more lethal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gorgon&#039;s Head" href="#" target="_blank">Gorgon&#039;s Head</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will case any creatures he hits to drop like flies, even if the initial three damage wasn't enough to take them down, by adding deathtouch to the damage he deals. We can also gain life from every instance of his ability with something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or combine those two effects with the nasty <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basilisk Collar" href="#" target="_blank">Basilisk Collar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gorgon&#039;s Head"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shadowspear"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Basilisk Collar"></div></div>
<p>With deathtouch online, we can perform a one-mana board wipe with our commander by casting an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="End the Festivities" href="#" target="_blank">End the Festivities</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style spell. Ghyrson sees all the single points of damage and follows them up with two points of deathtouch damage, killing pretty much everything in sight whilst your board stays untouched.</p>
<h3>Kill/Steal</h3>
<p>Wiping our opponents' boards is of course hilarious, but we can be even funnier with Ghyrson's ability. Using this bizarre old card that I'm sure will be very familiar to those with a paticular fondness for pinging:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Charisma"></div></div>
<p>That's right, 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><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and the cast of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tectonic Hazard" href="#" target="_blank">Tectonic Hazard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can deal three damage to every creature our opponents control and then take control of every creature that survives. After that they'll be wishing you board-wiped.</p>
<p>If each other players' board is big enough, this can quite easily win a game, but don't worry, we've got even more options to mess with our opponents. For even cheaper, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigil of Sleep" href="#" target="_blank">Sigil of Sleep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will activate whenever we trigger our Tremors effects and then add insult to the injury by bouncing creatures back their owners' hands.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigil of Sleep"></div></div>
<h3>Ending the Game</h3>
<p>There's always a few games where one person in your pod gains such a ridiculous amount of life that it's effectively impossible to take them out of the running. This isn't necessarily a deck that wants your games to go long, and lifegain can really slow it down. We definitely won't be swinging in for commander damage any time soon, so we'll need some kind of backup plan.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grafted Exoskeleton"></div></div>
<p>Introducing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grafted Exoskeleton" href="#" target="_blank">Grafted Exoskeleton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that will likely make you the biggest threat on the board as soon as you declare its cast, but also one that will likely win you the game very quickly if your opponents don't have a response. Giving Ghyrson infect will effectively make five triggers of Impact Tremors game over as he deals his damage in the form of poison counters. Ten of those and it's game over for the bearer. No matter how high their life total!</p>
<h2>Build it Yourself</h2>
<p>This deck is sure to gain some ire from those who play against it. Whilst it does rely a lot on the commander being out, the core shell of Tremors effects and Goblin spamming should be plenty strong on its own. If you want to give it a go, you can find a rough decklist I've put together below. Feel free to change it to suit your play style and power level!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Pingers - Archetypes of Imagination" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*1 Agate Instigator
*1 Anax, Hardened in the Forge
*1 Devilish Valet
*1 Enduring Curiosity
*1 General Kreat, the Boltbringer
*1 Goblin Chainwhirler
*1 Grinning Ignus
*1 Howlsquad Heavy
*1 Krenko, Mob Boss
*1 Legion Loyalist
*1 Lobber Crew
*1 Loyal Apprentice
*1 Molten Gatekeeper
*1 Niv-Mizzet, Visionary
*1 Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
*1 Norin the Wary
*1 Pain Distributor
*1 Pashalik Mons
*1 Razorkin Needlehead
*1 Scalding Viper // Steam Clean
*1 Searslicer Goblin
*1 Siege-Gang Lieutenant
*1 Spitfire Lagac
*1 The Locust God
*1 Witty Roastmaster
*1 Roaming Throne
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*1 Cavalcade of Calamity
*1 Charisma
*1 Circle of Flame
*1 Curiosity
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Makeshift Munitions
*1 Quicksilver Dagger
*1 Raid Bombardment
*1 Repercussion
*1 Sigil of Sleep
[/Enchantment]
[Sorcery]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Blazing Volley
*1 Chain Reaction
*1 End the Festivities
*1 Tectonic Hazard
[/Sorcery]
[Instant]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Electrickery
*1 Untimely Malfunction
[/Instant]
[Artifact]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Basilisk Collar
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Fire Diamond
*1 Gorgon&#039;s Head
*1 Grafted Exoskeleton
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Liquimetal Torque
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sky Diamond
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifact]
[Land]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Desert
*1 Eroded Canyon
*1 Exotic Orchard
*10 Island
*9 Mountain
*1 Muraganda Raceway
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
*1 Spirebluff Canal
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Training Center
[/Land]"></span></div>



Archetypes of Imagination - Making a Pinger Deck

<p>For a few years now, <em>Universes Beyond</em> has been hit or miss regarding integration into digital <em>Magic</em> gaming. Whether it was <em>Magic: The Gathering Online</em> or <em>Magic Arena</em>, some sets in <em>Universes Beyond</em> didn't release for the digital interface. This left many players pining for a more paper-like play experience in these interfaces. However, on Monday, April 21st, Wizards of the Coast announced <em>Through the Omenpaths</em>, a new digital-only release that sates those needs. <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> will serve a similar purpose to <em>Universes Within</em>, bringing in <em>Universes Beyond</em> cards into digital <em>Magic</em> spaces with an in-universe aesthetic.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arvinox, the Mind Flail"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadpool, Trading Card"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forge, Neverwinter Charlatan"></div></div>
<h2>Wizards of the Coast's Statement on <em>Through the Omenpaths</em></h2>
<p>In their announcement on <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/through-the-omenpaths-and-digital-universes-beyond-updates">DailyMTG</a>, <strong>Blake Rasmussen</strong> had this to say about the initiative for the digital playspaces:</p>
<blockquote><p>We will not be creating <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> sets mirroring every <em>Universes Beyond</em> set, only the ones that will not be coming to digital platforms. This lets our formats remain mechanically at parity with one another digitally without having to create patchwork solutions here or there. We are also currently only planning to create <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> releases for full sets that are legal in all formats.</p>
<p>For the remainder of 2025, two <em>Universes Beyond </em>sets will be coming to <em>MTG Arena</em> and <em>Magic Online</em>:<em> Magic: The Gathering</em>—FINAL FANTASY and <em>Magic: The Gathering </em>|<em> Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>.</p>
<p>One 2025 set, <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> | <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em> (as well as future Marvel sets) will not be coming to digital <em>Magic </em>platforms. Instead, we will release our first <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> set on September 23. We'll have more information on that set as we get closer to the release date.</p></blockquote>
<h2>The Implications For <em>Universes Within</em></h2>
<p>The announcement of <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> brings some hope for players who want in-universe versions of powerful <em>Universes Beyond</em> cards. Because these newly in-universe cards will have new art and aesthetics paired with mechanics that exist in paper <em>Magic</em>, this is a recipe to bring cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Orcish Bowmasters" href="#" target="_blank">Orcish Bowmasters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dino DNA" href="#" target="_blank">Dino DNA</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Celestine, the Living Saint" href="#" target="_blank">Celestine, the Living Saint</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <em>Universes Within</em> as well.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dino DNA"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Orcish Bowmasters"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Celestine, the Living Saint"></div></div>
<h3>The Potential Financial Impact</h3>
<p>Previously, many members of the <em>Magic</em> community who were critical of the licensing issues behind <em>Universes Beyond</em> have stated that printing mechanically-unique cards in a licensed release makes a pseudo-Reserved List. However, with this new initiative and the hope behind it, this complaint may soon become a much smaller issue. As a result, some <em>Universes Beyond</em> cards may stop carrying as much value on the secondary market. That said, players still need proof of concept from <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> before that idea is proven to hold water.</p>
<h2><em>Universes</em> Within The Digital Playspaces</h2>
<p>The implications of <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> are massive, but the proof that they're effective will have to wait for a few months from now. Nevertheless, it's an exciting prospect for fans of in-universe <em>Magic</em>. It's timely, too, as just three days earlier, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/mark-rosewater-in-multiverse-sets-should-feel-like-magic">we reported</a> on <em>Magic</em> Head Designer <strong>Mark Rosewater</strong>'s statement that in-Multiverse aesthetics need to feel distinctly like <em>Magic</em>. This statement has sparked some discussion about what that means, both for <em>Magic</em>'s Multiverse and for <em>Universes Beyond</em>.</p>
<p>What do you think about <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> as a concept? Do you hope for in-Multiverse versions of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Great Unclean One" href="#" target="_blank">Great Unclean One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megatron, Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Megatron, Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Sound off below!</p>


Through The Omenpaths Introduced For MTGO, Arena

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><em>Magic</em> Head Designer Mark Rosewater | Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>It's not surprising to many that <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em> is selling quite well right now. The sales data that Wizards of the Coast has access to seems to give credence to that idea. However, a few questions happen to spring from this well-received set, one of which we will cover here. In short, <em>Magic</em> Head Designer <strong>Mark Rosewater</strong> is busy on social media answering questions about <em>Magic</em>'s design process and its reception. Very specifically, on <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater">Blogatog</a>, Rosewater's work-oriented Tumblr blog, he has been addressing inquiries about exactly why <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em> has sold so well.</p>
<div class="tumblr-post" data-href="https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/t:DfYWVw3OWM7GYSz0pPuL-Q/781025267501137920/v2" data-did="da39a3ee5e6b4b0d3255bfef95601890afd80709" ><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/781025267501137920/re-ub-has-made-players-want-in-universe-sets-to">https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/781025267501137920/re-ub-has-made-players-want-in-universe-sets-to</a></div>
<p><script async src="https://assets.tumblr.com/post.js?_v=38df9a6ca7436e6ca1b851b0543b9f51"></script></p>
<p>In his most in-depth reply, posted on Thursday, April 17th, Rosewater addressed a slight inaccuracy within his previous answers. In earlier replies, he mentioned the need for <em>Magic</em> sets to push boundaries. However, upon users such as the one in the embedded Tumblr post above calling Rosewater out on this, Rosewater admitted he misspoke. The crux of his point was that players want <em>Magic</em> to feel like <em>Magic</em>. Pushing bounds is still a valid design choice when designing for the game, and that holds true for "in-Multiverse" <em>Magic</em> sets.</p>
<div class="tumblr-post" data-href="https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/t:DfYWVw3OWM7GYSz0pPuL-Q/781082769582358534/v2" data-did="da39a3ee5e6b4b0d3255bfef95601890afd80709" ><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/781082769582358534/just-wanted-to-chime-in-that-im-incredibly">https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/781082769582358534/just-wanted-to-chime-in-that-im-incredibly</a></div>
<p><script async src="https://assets.tumblr.com/post.js?_v=38df9a6ca7436e6ca1b851b0543b9f51"></script></p>
<p>But this brings us to why this all came together the way it did, from all this discussion of bounds and nostalgia to the roaring success of <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em>. During this whole discussion thread, Rosewater mainly tried to say that in-Multiverse <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> sets should, appropriately, feel like <em>Magic</em>.</p>
<p>This is something that <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em> has done exceptionally well in many players' eyes. It is entirely plausible that, to use a bit of redundant speech, <em>Magic</em> players want <em>Magic</em> cards. Many of those players are not particularly enthused by the <em>Universes Beyond</em> initiative or its many tie-ins. And to reuse a slight cliche, they often just want <em>Magic</em> the way its creator <strong>Richard Garfield</strong> originally intended.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breaching Dragonstorm"></div></div>
<h2>Mark Rosewater's Response Is A Good Sign</h2>
<p>Rosewater, addressing these accolades and questions, feels like a good step towards this goal. It at the very least means that the good people at Wizards of the Coast are listening to players' concerns. Does this mean that in the next 2.5 years, we will start getting in-Multiverse sets that definitively feel more like <em>Magic</em> of old? This may be true. At the same time, it could be a shorter span, or even a longer one, until we get that again. Furthermore, some in-Multiverse <em>Magic</em> sets may end up missing the mark on that concept. Such is the way of design-based experimentation. But suffice it to say, we should focus on the here and now and continue to celebrate the critical and commercial successes of <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em>.</p>
<p>Let's open the floor to you. How do you feel about the new set? Do you think it "feels" like <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>? Additionally, what is your opinion of <em>Universes Beyond</em>? Sound off below!</p>


Mark Rosewater: In-Multiverse Sets Should Feel Like Magic

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gallifrey Stands" href="#" target="_blank">Gallifrey Stands</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| Art by <a href="https://geringalex.artstation.com/https://geringalex.artstation.com/">Alexander Gering</a></h6>
<h1>Entering the TARDIS</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome to another edition of <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>, where we dive into the Universes Beyond card pool and assemble decks from it. Today, we have one of two lists that's near and dear to my heart (The other will be coming soon). Above all, it's been a lot of fun to build and play with, and I've sought to reassemble the deck multiple times.</p>
<p>As icing on the cake, there's a flavor challenge that makes this immaculate. As a result, you weren't sacrificing power like we had to for the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/beyond-the-multiverse-whos-that-under-the-sea-spongebob-squarepants">Spongebob article</a> I did the other week, but it's still solid in its own right. Let's walk through the door, shall we?</p>
<h2>Meeting the Doctor</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Fourteenth Doctor"></div></div>
<p>The Doctor himself (at least for this incarnation; I'd be using they/them to address them generally) is a much-beloved figure from the <em>Doctor Who </em>series who travels across time and space on a myriad of adventures. They, hailing from the planet Gallifrey, stop numerous villains from achieving their schemes time and again.</p>
<p>This incarnation, however, was a short-lived one, as he was largely present for the series's 60th Anniversary specials. There, he undergoes a journey which culminates into a showdown with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Celestial Toymaker" href="#" target="_blank">The Celestial Toymaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He triumphs, but not before undergoing a special kind of regeneration that results in both he and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fifteenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fifteenth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> coexisting.</p>
<p>Most importantly, Fourteenth has but a simple request for us: Run as many Doctors as we can. Moreover, he have you look at the top 14 cards of your library, and ditch any Doctors you see in the graveyard, and you choose one for him.</p>
<p>In addition, he becomes that Doctor, only except he has haste. Considering the cards, stretched across three precons and a Secret Lair Drop, we're bound to have several themes mashing together into some wibbly-wobbly mess.</p>
<p>...What's that? You want a focused deck plan? I threw that in a supernova. I simply don't agree with it. However, we're operating under a challenge: Every card in the deck is from the <em>Doctor Who </em>release, and a lone Secret Lair drop, <em>Secret Lair x Doctor Who: Regeneration</em>. However, we won't be using <em>The Masters of Evil</em> precon for today's decklist. That said, I'll have a section for it later in the article.</p>
<h2>Across Time and Space</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rose Noble"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Tenth Doctor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clara Oswald"></div></div>
<p>Going through all of the Doctors, we have a total of 17: First-Fifteenth, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The War Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The War Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (10, 973 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fugitive Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fugitive Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4,299 decks), and with them comes a scattered mixture of effects, reflecting the themes of each preconstructed deck that featured the Doctors: Historic, Time Counters, and Exile/Paradox.</p>
<p>As a result, the rest of our deck has to blend in with them. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Tenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Tenth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (10,919 decks) is one of the best: He suspends cards on attack and, if you can afford it, bring stuff from exile onto the stack quickly. With that in mind, you'd get to demonstrate those spells with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Twelfth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Twelfth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or rack up time counters to make <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The War Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The War Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a serious problem for your opponents.</p>
<p>Further, I would be remiss if I didn't bring up The Doctor's numerous companions. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rose Noble" href="#" target="_blank">Rose Noble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (1,490 decks) not only draws us cards, but can be used in the Command Zone if we choose. You can choose to run Fourteenth on his own, but The Doctor must always have a companion.</p>
<p>Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clara Oswald" href="#" target="_blank">Clara Oswald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6,488 decks) also works, too, and is one of the best of the companions (card-wise), as she doubles up on any triggered abilities the Doctors have. Moreover, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yasmin Khan" href="#" target="_blank">Yasmin Khan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (3,763 decks) "draws" us a card we could cast. In a similar vein, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sarah Jane Smith" href="#" target="_blank">Sarah Jane Smith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9,791 decks) lets us investigate for Historic spells we cast.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jamie McCrimmon" href="#" target="_blank">Jamie McCrimmon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (3,673 decks) is a threat in his own right, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K-9, Mark I" href="#" target="_blank">K-9, Mark I</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (27,659 decks) protects our legendary creatures (and we'll have a lot!). Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tegan Jovanka" href="#" target="_blank">Tegan Jovanka</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5,753 decks) protects an attacking historic creature we control.</p>
<h2>We're in a Library; Arm Yourself</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="TARDIS"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Twice Upon a Time // Unlikely Meeting"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Displaced Dinosaurs"></div></div>
<p>Most importantly, the rest of the deck should help bind all three themes together. The Doctor's famous <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="TARDIS" href="#" target="_blank">TARDIS</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (16,010 decks) is an exemplar of what we're looking for: It's Historic, and casts from exile via Cascade. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspiring Refrain" href="#" target="_blank">Inspiring Refrain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (30,919 decks) is a spell you'll always want to suspend, drawing you cards once every few turns on average.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Into the Time Vortex" href="#" target="_blank">Into the Time Vortex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (15,276 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throes of Chaos" href="#" target="_blank">Throes of Chaos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,187 decks) not only Cascade, but can be cast from anywhere outside of your hand. This works in tandem with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Thirteenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Thirteenth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (16,664 decks) to bolster your creatures, and untap them.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Displaced Dinosaurs" href="#" target="_blank">Displaced Dinosaurs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (22,458 decks) turns the Doctors into major threats. In addition, it's worth noting that the clue tokens we make here can also become 7/7s as well. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twice Upon a Time // Unlikely Meeting" href="#" target="_blank">Twice Upon a Time // Unlikely Meeting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6,703 decks)'s adventure half gets us a Doctor we need, and (assuming we have at least two Doctors out) gives us an extra turn. Speaking of which, this does raise a concern with the deck.</p>
<p>With only 16 Doctors in the 99, we'll need to find as many of them as we can. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="An Unearthly Child" href="#" target="_blank">An Unearthly Child</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5,294 decks) helps us dig for the Doctors, but also searches for their Companions and vehicles, too. However, the best of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Five Doctors" href="#" target="_blank">The Five Doctors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4,241 decks). Unkicked, we get to find up to five Doctors.</p>
<p>That said, if you're able to cast it with the kicker cost, we can get those five into play as well. Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Lord Regeneration" href="#" target="_blank">Time Lord Regeneration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4,708 decks) fetches another Doctor if one should happen to kick the bucket.</p>
<h2>Allons-y!</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-The Rise of Gallifrey" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Rose Noble
*1 The Fourteenth Doctor
[/Commander]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Farewell
*1 Farseek
*1 Impending Flux
*1 Inspiring Refrain
*1 Into the Time Vortex
*1 Search for Tomorrow
*1 The Five Doctors
*1 Throes of Chaos
*1 Traverse Eternity
*1 Twice Upon a Time // Unlikely Meeting
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Gallifrey Falls // No More
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Surge of Brilliance
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Time Lord Regeneration
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Adric, Mathematical Genius
*1 Clara Oswald
*1 Displaced Dinosaurs
*1 Jamie McCrimmon
*1 K-9, Mark I
*1 Sarah Jane Smith
*1 The Eighth Doctor
*1 The Eleventh Doctor
*1 The Fifteenth Doctor
*1 The Fifth Doctor
*1 The First Doctor
*1 The Fourth Doctor
*1 The Fugitive Doctor
*1 The Ninth Doctor
*1 The Second Doctor
*1 The Seventh Doctor
*1 The Sixth Doctor
*1 The Tenth Doctor
*1 The Third Doctor
*1 The Thirteenth Doctor
*1 The Twelfth Doctor
*1 The War Doctor
*1 Yasmin Khan
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 An Unearthly Child
*1 Banish to Another Universe
*1 Day of Destiny
*1 Gallifrey Stands
*1 Grasp of Fate
*1 The Eleventh Hour
*1 The Flux
*1 The Night of the Doctor
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Heroes&#039; Podium
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sonic Screwdriver
*1 TARDIS
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Curiosity
*1 Talisman of Impulse
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Talisman of Unity
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fiery Islet
*2 Forest
*1 Fortified Village
*1 Frostboil Snarl
*1 Furycalm Snarl
*1 Gallifrey Council Chamber
*1 Game Trail
*2 Island
*2 Mountain
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*2 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Thriving Bluff
*1 Thriving Grove
*1 Thriving Heath
*1 Thriving Isle
*1 Vineglimmer Snarl
*1 Waterlogged Grove
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>The Time War Ends</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heroes&#039; Podium"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gallifrey Stands"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Impending Flux"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, I'm sure this decklist looks like a glorified goodstuff mess, but perhaps this is a reason why The Doctor loves humans: Our ability to see patterns that aren't there. Crucially, there are a few ways to win with this deck.</p>
<p>You can go with the combat damage strategy with stuff like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Day of Destiny" href="#" target="_blank">Day of Destiny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> 17,137 decks), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroes&#039; Podium" href="#" target="_blank">Heroes&#039; Podium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (41,061 decks), and the aforementioned Displaced Dinosaurs. Our creatures tend to be small fries compared to what our opponents might be playing, so buffing them is just as important as accruing value.</p>
<p>The rest of the deck, like I stated, pulls a lot of the good stuff (including one of the best mana bases of any given set of precons) in to help give it a leg-up in games. While we have wipes like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (333,945 decks), both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impending Flux" href="#" target="_blank">Impending Flux</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Night of the Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Night of the Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,205 and 8,601 decks respectively) play into our Exile and Historic themes respectively.</p>
<p>In addition to the green ramp spells we have access to, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Search for Tomorrow" href="#" target="_blank">Search for Tomorrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (82,020 decks), we get to use all six Talismans of our colors. Meanwhile, we have The Doctor's handy <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sonic Screwdriver" href="#" target="_blank">Sonic Screwdriver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (51,211 decks), which is a mana rock that also carries a lot of utility.</p>
<p>However, our ultimate way to win is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gallifrey Stands" href="#" target="_blank">Gallifrey Stands</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5,127 decks). Firstly, it pulls all of the Doctors from our graveyard to hand. If we can cast enough of them, we win! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Sixth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Sixth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,154 decks) helps with this by copying each Doctor we play. That said, they won't be legendary, but they still fulfill the needed criteria. However, this is a common plan with Fourteenth, and people will see it coming from miles away, so be prepared to protect your game plan.</p>
<h2>Can You Hear the Drums?</h2>
<p>If you want to make use of cards from <em>The Masters of Evil</em> precon, then there's a few options here. Firstly, you'll gain access to <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> (922,694 decks), which is a good wipe all around. On the other hand, we can make great use of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyber Conversion" href="#" target="_blank">Cyber Conversion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (23,264 decks), one of the best targeted removal spells from this release. Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (338,922 decks) deters attackers while we assemble our board.</p>
<h2>We're All Stories, In the End</h2>
<p>In conclusion, this list is as wild as it is consistent. Further, it's as flavorful as it's solid. I'm quite confident it's a list that can hold up in a Bracket Three pod, though I typically design for Bracket Two. It's been a blast every game I jammed with it, and I hope you feel the same as well.</p>
<p>That said, while you could make the list the ordinary way, it's a dull approach. Moreover, it's also not as flavorful, and isn't as satisfying. Each game feels like you're watching a full episode of <em>Doctor Who</em> play out right before your eyes. Will there be Cybermen or Daleks? Maybe not, but it fits the mold all the same.</p>
<p>What I also like the list is that, even with the smaller than usual card pool, you could find a way to make other cards work. Maybe you want to run your favorite Doctor's Companions. Perhaps, there's a favorite card you'd like to run. Go ahead.</p>
<p>Make your own episode, and however you want it to (doesn't mean winning every game, by the way. Even heroes have to lose at some point). Either way, I'm sure it'll make for some memorable stories down the road.</p>
<p>Join us next time when we (finally!) make our first dive into Marvel. Until then, and I guess if it's my last chance to say it...</p>


Beyond the Multiverse - The Fourteenth Doctor

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commissar Severina Raine" href="#" target="_blank">Commissar Severina Raine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>|Art by <a href="https://jakemurraystudio.com/">Jake Murray</a></h6>
<h1>The Call at Dawn</h1>
<p>Hi, and welcome to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>, where we go outside the <em>Magic: The Gathering </em>universe, and explore outside IPs. Today, we're turning our attention to the <em>Warhammer </em>universe (specifically 40k). That particular release was important as it was the first time we had a major release from <em>Universes Beyond</em>.</p>
<p>Such releases fell in two categories: A full-on set, or the soon-to-be-extinct precon releases. <em>Warhammer</em> fell into the latter category, featuring Necrons, Tyranids, Chaos, and the Imperium.</p>
<p>However, it's that last faction we're looking at today. Of the 99 in that precon, one stood out to me as particularly strong, and being an engine on her own. Also, we're picking a deck that's partially outside my wheelhouse. Without further ado, let's get to it.</p>
<h1>Greeting the Commander</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Commissar Severina Raine"></div></div>
<p>Severina was an Imperial Commissar who served the Astra Militarum, protecting a region known as the Bane Stars from the forces of Chaos. Before she assumed command of her regiment, she executed the previous captain, a well-beloved figure, for going against the Lord General Militant's orders, saying that the mission was a suicidal charge.</p>
<p>Severina would go forward with the mission, commanding the regiment, and securing victory despite heavy losses. However, she had to quell a near-mutiny when she took command, and those troops still harbor a grudge for the death of their captain.</p>
<p>Firstly, Severina wants us to go wide, and on the offensive, because her attack trigger will soften our opponents' life totals before our army even connects. More more you attack with, the stronger the effect. However, she also draws you cards by sacrificing a creature by paying two generic mana. A simple, yet paradoxical card.</p>
<h1>Harboring a Grudge</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bastion of Remembrance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Morbid Opportunist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pitiless Plunderer"></div></div>
<p>I'm going to get this out of the way: I do not like Aristocrats. I despise the archetype for a number of reasons, especially the "death by a thousand cuts" plan. I feel like you're so dependent on assembling an infinite combo to really make cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> shine.</p>
<p>While I enjoyed the Vampire precon from <em>Lost Caverns of Ixalan</em>, that didn't do much to address my disdain for the archetype. There's only one other thing I hate more than aristocrats, so this is number two in a top five list (If you must know, it's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merieke Ri Berit" href="#" target="_blank">Merieke Ri Berit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). That said, I'm writing this for you, readers, so I'll swallow my grudge and carry on.</p>
<p>To begin, we do not have a lot of Blood Artist-like effects, so we'd have to take what we can get. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirkwood Bats" href="#" target="_blank">Mirkwood Bats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (272,056 decks) stands among the best of these, checking for any token that comes in or is sacrificed, which we'll be doing plenty. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanguinary Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Sanguinary Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11,344 decks) pings a target, and gains us a life back.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion of Remembrance" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion of Remembrance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (173,899 decks) gives us a token, and does a good impression of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (using an in-universe example). Lasty, while it's no Blood Artist, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pitiless Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Pitiless Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (219,588 decks) gives us treasure when another creature we control dies.</p>
<h1>Rallying the Creatures</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Securitron Squadron"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captain of the Watch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Death in Heaven"></div></div>
<p>Most importantly, we need creatures to sacrifice, and what better options are there, but tokens? Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain of the Watch" href="#" target="_blank">Captain of the Watch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (27,946 decks) replenishes our board with soldiers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Company Commander" href="#" target="_blank">Company Commander</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (18,366 decks) is best played early on, as its enters ability is strongest when all of your opponents are present.</p>
<p>On the other hand, we also have a number of creatures with the Squad mechanic, which we play premium for an extra copy of the card. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Securitron Squadron" href="#" target="_blank">Securitron Squadron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (18,922 decks), if you pay enough into the Squad cost, is a game-ender. Likewise, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ultramarines Honour Guard" href="#" target="_blank">Ultramarines Honour Guard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (18,417 decks) is another anthem effect that could make our creatures bigger.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death in Heaven" href="#" target="_blank">Death in Heaven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (10,658 decks) is a graveyard hoser and, picking the right target, an army-in-a can. Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entrapment Maneuver" href="#" target="_blank">Entrapment Maneuver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,403 decks) makes our opponent sacrifice a creature, and we get an army for it. Be sure to use it right to get maximum value out of it. Four mana is a lot to leave up, after all.</p>
<p>The myriad mechanic is another good choice, but will not count for Severina's attack trigger, so keep that in mind. However, the one that stands out here is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dalek Squadron" href="#" target="_blank">Dalek Squadron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (15,401 decks), which has to be double-blocked.</p>
<p>Alternatively, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blade of Selves" href="#" target="_blank">Blade of Selves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (76,859 decks), but it'll need the right creature to equip to get mileage in this list. That said, I brought up aristocrats, so what kind of value can we reap from sacrificing our tokens?</p>
<h1>Planning a Strategy</h1>
<p>If there's one thing aristocrat decks tend to gain, it's value. I mentioned the Blood Artist effects earlier, but we have more payoffs. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (126,459 decks) gets us an absurd amount of mana.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Bedivere's Scales; 405,311 decks) does this, too, and it's a free outlet. Those are the ones to immediately slam into the deck (ironically not in this list for a reason I'll explain when we get to it).</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call for Unity" href="#" target="_blank">Call for Unity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,406 decks) is slow to get going, but it can add up. On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morbid Opportunist" href="#" target="_blank">Morbid Opportunist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (164,466 decks) gives us a card if a creature died each turn. In a similar vein, it's best to treat <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (667,040 decks) as a sacrifice outlet if the tokens are 1/1s, as that'll draw us two cards for each one you 'clamp.</p>
<p>Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Golden Throne" href="#" target="_blank">The Golden Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (25,043 decks) gives us three mana if we sacrifice a creature. It also can save us from a lethal strike, but only once, and it puts us at one life, so hope no one pings you, and make you lose in such an embarrassing manner.</p>
<p>Alternatively, swinging out with a big board works just as well. However, you need to have a large number of creatures to make that worthwhile, but don't hesitate if you can land a hit in.</p>
<p>One or two life on attack isn't much, but it can add up quickly. There is this tension between this, and an aristocrats plan, so it's best to know when to lean into one strategy more than the other, then switch it when you're ready to do so.</p>
<h1>Addressing the Deck</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-The Call to War" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Commissar Severina Raine
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 And They Shall Know No Fear
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Darkness
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Entrapment Maneuver
*1 Flawless Maneuver
*1 Galadriel&#039;s Dismissal
*1 Go for the Throat
*1 Lethal Scheme
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unbreakable Formation
*1 Utter End
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 The Golden Throne
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Ballroom
*1 Command Tower
*1 Desolate Mire
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Memorial to Glory
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*10 Plains
*1 Scoured Barrens
*1 Shineshadow Snarl
*1 Silent Clearing
*10 Swamp
*1 Tainted Field
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 War Room
*1 Windbrisk Heights
[/Lands]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Collective Effort
*1 Crisis of Conscience
*1 Dread Return
*1 Everything Comes to Dust
*1 Exterminatus
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Fell the Mighty
*1 For the Emperor!
*1 Increasing Devotion
*1 Martial Coup
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Black Market
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Call for Unity
*1 Dawn of Hope
*1 Death in Heaven
*1 Intangible Virtue
*1 Vault 75: Middle School
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Captain of the Watch
*1 Company Commander
*1 Dalek Squadron
*1 Elder Arthur Maxson
*1 Escarpment Fortress
*1 General&#039;s Enforcer
*1 Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Mirkwood Bats
*1 Morbid Opportunist
*1 Overseer of Vault 76
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Primaris Chaplain
*1 Sanguinary Priest
*1 Securitron Squadron
*1 Sloppity Bilepiper
*1 Space Marine Devastator
*1 The Meep
*1 Ultramarines Honour Guard
*1 Wasteland Raider
*1 White Glove Gourmand
[/Creatures]"></span></div>
<h1>Turning the Tide of the Game</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="For the Emperor!"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exterminatus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Galadriel&#039;s Dismissal"></div></div>
<p>You'll see that, in this list, I made aristocrats a sub-theme, and focused harder on the aggro plan. This is because you're more likely to get Severina's attack trigger than use the activated ability.</p>
<p>Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Meep" href="#" target="_blank">The Meep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (provided you sacrifice a big enough creature; 529 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="For the Emperor!" href="#" target="_blank">For the Emperor!</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,418 decks) are swingy finishers in their own right. It had been my original plan all along, and the aristocrats aspect of the deck just came naturally.</p>
<p>For a token list, there's a lot of wipes, but very few are absolute. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Martial Coup" href="#" target="_blank">Martial Coup</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (79,645 decks) leaves behind an army to work with. Secondly, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fell the Mighty" href="#" target="_blank">Fell the Mighty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crisis of Conscience" href="#" target="_blank">Crisis of Conscience</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (68,710 and 5,119 decks respectively) both ensure that our tokens stick around.</p>
<p>The absolute wipes we do have are a last resort, and should be treated as such. Above all, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exterminatus" href="#" target="_blank">Exterminatus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (besides being absolutely fun to slam down; 7,978 decks) will wipe out everything, except lands.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Everything Comes to Dust" href="#" target="_blank">Everything Comes to Dust</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,284 decks) will help secure our board, if you use the convoke cost. However, be aware that you'll be sparing some of your opponents' creatures, too.</p>
<p>That said, while we have a ton of wipes, the list also carries lots of board protection. The best of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Galadriel&#039;s Dismissal" href="#" target="_blank">Galadriel&#039;s Dismissal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (47,752 decks), which either saves our stuff, or clears the way for lethal damage.</p>
<p>However, that's not to say other cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flawless Maneuver" href="#" target="_blank">Flawless Maneuver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unbreakable Formation" href="#" target="_blank">Unbreakable Formation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (260,956 and 174,495 decks respectively) are slouches, either.</p>
<p>Each one has their uses, be it free to cast or can be used to advance our board state in some way. On the other hand, you might even want the board wiped of threats, or to enable the aristocrats subtheme. Perhaps it's both.</p>
<h1>Going Home</h1>
<p>In conclusion, with the limited but burgeoning card pool we have, we can still make something out of it. Even archetypes I tend to not like can be made here. Who knows? We might even get a Blood Artist reskin down the line. Aristocrats is not an archetype I tend to venture into for reasons I explained, but I hope that the list does a good enough job to convey it.</p>
<p>When building the list, I was originally looking at some of the other options that could fit a similar mold. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colonel Autumn" href="#" target="_blank">Colonel Autumn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would strengthen your tokens, but you need a critical mass of legendary creatures to make him useful. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="MacCready, Lamplight Mayor" href="#" target="_blank">MacCready, Lamplight Mayor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would've worked if we weren't using many anthem effects.</p>
<p>Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elder Arthur Maxson" href="#" target="_blank">Elder Arthur Maxson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who is in the decklist, gives counters to our tokens, and is a free sacrifice outlet himself, mainly to protect himself. I was going to randomize what commander to use before each game, but I eventually settled on Severina, since the others have a niche to them the deck couldn't satisfy.</p>
<p>Maybe one day I can make that work for a different deck (Though, the Boros Equipment deck from last week is a good candidate for this).</p>
<p>Join me next time, when we return to an earlier franchise with a favorite deck in mind. Until then, may you be inspired by what's beyond <em>Magic</em>'s IP.</p>


Beyond the Multiverse - Commissar Severina Raine

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Battle-Ready" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Battle-Ready</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/fajareka">Fajareka Setiawan</a></h6>
<h1>Entering the Smithy</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to another edition of <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>, where we take those <em>Universes Beyond </em>cards, and make decks with them (and them alone, mind!).</p>
<p>Today, we take a look at an infamous color pair with an infamous theme. If you guessed Equipment, you're correct. If you also guessed Bore-os...I mean Boros, that's right, too. We're looking into Boros Equipment this week.</p>
<p>Now, last week, I mentioned I had a surprise for you: We have two decks this time around, and there's a story behind that. I'll explain that later but, for now, let's get acquainted with the first of the two commanders, shall we?</p>
<h1>Armed for Battle</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eivor, Battle-Ready"></div></div>
<p>Eivor hails from the <em>Assassin's Creed</em> franchise, where the Assassins fight the Templars to keep them from acquiring powerful artifacts known as the Pieces of Eden to rule the world.</p>
<p>As for our commander herself, she's a Viking Shieldsmaiden (and a reincarnation of Odin) from Norway who partook in the Viking raids in what is now the UK during the 10th century C.E. Meanwhile, she also worked to take down the Templars's predecessors, the Order of the Ancients.</p>
<p>As for her card, you want to drop as much Equipment as you can, so she can deal some big damage with her attack trigger. In addition, it's also convenient that she has both vigilance and haste, so she can attack right away without leaving you open for a crackback.</p>
<p>However, like I said in the beginning, we have two decks to show off today. Consequently, I'm going to do things a little differently. So, we begin with list #1.</p>
<h1>The First Weapon</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Battle-Hardened" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Eivor, Battle-Ready
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*10 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*10 Plains
*1 Rustvale Bridge
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Wind-Scarred Crag
[/Lands]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Champion&#039;s Helm
*1 Commander&#039;s Plate
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Explorer&#039;s Scope
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Haystack
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Hidden Footblade
*1 Hookblade
*1 Junk Jet
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Pip-Boy 3000
*1 Raven Clan War-Axe
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Silver Shroud Costume
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Armory Paladin
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Brotherhood Outcast
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Chaos Terminator Lord
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Humble Defector
*1 Jenny, Generated Anomaly
*1 Mister Gutsy
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Farewell
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Taunt from the Rampart
*1 Wake the Past
*1 What Must Be Done
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Battlefield Improvisation
*1 Bottle-Cap Blast
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Dispatch
*1 Flawless Maneuver
*1 Inventory Management
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Valorous Stance
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Forge Anew
*1 Wild Wasteland
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h1>Claiming the Treasure</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brotherhood Regalia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodforged Battle-Axe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inventory Management"></div></div>
<p>One thing before I go over the list. The second commander's in there somewhere, can you guess it without scrolling to the end?</p>
<p>This list comes with a number of cheap Equipment that'll help make Eivor a threat in more ways than one. At its heart (and it's also true with the second list), this is a Voltron list, where you bludgeon your opponents with commander damage to eliminate them. We have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodforged Battle-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodforged Battle-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (56,587 decks) that will only amass a lot of copies of itself with time. In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Regalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (76,160 decks) gives Eivor protection and evasion, so she can get through. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commander&#039;s Plate" href="#" target="_blank">Commander&#039;s Plate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion&#039;s Helm" href="#" target="_blank">Champion&#039;s Helm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (133,180 and 62,128 decks respectively) both give her protection (as she's going to be a removal magnet), and a buff to make her more lethal.</p>
<p>Moreover, we have Eivor's signature weapon(s) in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raven Clan War-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Raven Clan War-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (2,959 decks), which gives her a coveted keyword in trample. Further, if you cast it while Eivor's in your graveyard, you can get her back to your hand and save on the commander tax. We also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Totec's Spear; 191,168 decks) that provides even better utility, and give trample at the same time.</p>
<p>Likewise, we have non-Equipment that also help Eivor with her mission. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (75,754 decks) renders her indestructible alongside giving her a small buff. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Terminator Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Terminator Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (6,582 decks) gives Eivor double strike when she's attacking. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bureau Headmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Bureau Headmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14,425 decks) makes Equipment cheaper to cast, and has you pay less to equip them to your creatures.</p>
<h1>A Voyage Through Time</h1>
<p>In summary, Eivor has much going for her, given that you can protect her while she's out. However, I do want to point out one card that was already spoiled, but is not in the list (nor the second one): <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a decidedly good option for the 99, or as the commander (I find a lot of these Boros Equipment legends to fit at the helm, so why not randomize which one before each game?).</p>
<p>I will be doing a write-up for him in the future, so this article will not be the last time we'll tackle Boros Equipment. If you wish to know why, it's because I'll be tackling <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well. I'll have a restriction for both, so at least Cloud's deck won't look like a repaint of this article.</p>
<p>Most importantly, we need to focus on the now, and work with what we have. That being said, let's go further back in time to our second decklist.</p>
<p>The story behind this list is that it was the list I was originally trying to build months ago, but I couldn't quite get there. However, it's been at the back of my brain for a while, and I want to try again. Without further adeu, behold (not the Tarkir mechanic):</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer"></div></div>
<h1>The Second Weapon</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Ancient Arsenal II" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kassandra, Eagle Bearer
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ace&#039;s Baseball Bat
*1 Andúril, Flame of the West
*1 Andúril, Narsil Reforged
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bilbo&#039;s Ring
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
*1 Crown of Gondor
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Glamdring
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sting, the Glinting Dagger
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Furycalm Snarl
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*9 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*9 Plains
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Thriving Bluff
*1 Thriving Heath
*1 War Room
[/Lands]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Monastery Raid
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Taunt from the Rampart
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Wake the Past
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Inventory Management
*1 Olórin&#039;s Searing Light
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Return to Dust
*1 Reverberate
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Valorous Stance
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Armory Paladin
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Bloodthirster
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Rohirrim Chargers
*1 Scourge of the Throne
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Stonehewer Giant
*1 Éowyn, Lady of Rohan
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Forge Anew
*1 Sigarda&#039;s Aid
*1 Vault 101: Birthday Party
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h1>The Odyssey</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Spear of Leonidas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes"></div></div>
<p>To begin, Kassandra, a descendant of King Leonidas I of Sparta is from the same franchise as Eivor, and was a mercenary during the Peleponnesian War.</p>
<p>She also worked to thwart the Cult of Kosmos (another predecessor to the Templars), and the Order of the Ancients. After she received the Staff of Hermes, she would go on to live for over 2, 400 years before relinquishing the Piece of Eden and passing away.</p>
<p>Her card puts greater emphasis on legendary Equipment. As a result, I tuned this list to center around that as best as I could. There are 16 legendary Equipment within the <em>Universes Beyond</em> card pool.</p>
<p>Two of them are black, thus outside out color identity. On the other hand, we're forced to run the rest to take full advantage of her second ability, which draws us cards when creatures connect.</p>
<p>Granted, they must be carrying legendary Equipment to count for her trigger. I could see <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glamdring" href="#" target="_blank">Glamdring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (19,555 decks) being the worst of these, since our instant/sorcery focus is minimal. On the bright side, we're likely to get more options down the road.</p>
<p>However, one of the best card in this list is undoubtedly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Spear of Leonidas" href="#" target="_blank">The Spear of Leonidas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (19,154 decks), which Kassandra conveniently tutors for when she comes in.</p>
<p>It's a great utility pieces that either gets us a blocker, lets us loot, or gives the equipped creature double strike. That last one is doubly important with our commander out, since two hits to your opponents means two cards drawn.</p>
<p>Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes" href="#" target="_blank">Caduceus, Staff of Hermes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (35, 380 decks) makes Kassandra bigger, and offers some good protection.</p>
<h1>The Other Pieces</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Excalibur, Sword of Eden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rohirrim Chargers"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Codsworth, Handy Helper"></div></div>
<p>Alongside the Spear, we have some good legendary Equipment lying around. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (53,820 decks) makes Kassandra a game-ending threat, especially if you give her double strike and evasion as well.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Andúril, Narsil Reforged" href="#" target="_blank">Andúril, Narsil Reforged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (36,589 decks) gives counters to all of our creatures, including our commander.</p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bilbo&#039;s Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Bilbo&#039;s Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,883 decks), like Brotherhood Regalia, protects and grants evasion to our commander (and whatever creature that's equipped it. More on that in a moment), but also gives us a card when we attack.</p>
<p>It's worth noting that we want to be going wide with our strategy to some degree. Consequently, that'll give us dig into our deck a little more.</p>
<p>That said, I included a few tutors to help ensure that you do that with Kassandra's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stonehewer Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Stonehewer Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (30,062 decks) is a bit on the slow side, but it does have vigilance, and thus can be used as a combat trick.</p>
<p>In a similar vein, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rohirrim Chargers" href="#" target="_blank">Rohirrim Chargers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (3,151 decks) guarantees us an Equipment that we can freely attach to it. Just note that it won't untap during your next turn when you do this.</p>
<p>Moreover, a few other noteworthy cards include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Codsworth, Handy Helper" href="#" target="_blank">Codsworth, Handy Helper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (38,639 decks), who, well, comes in handy. Protecting your commander, auto-equipping, and being a mana dork for Equipment? Don't mind if I do. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Éowyn, Lady of Rohan" href="#" target="_blank">Éowyn, Lady of Rohan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,821 decks) cheapens equip costs, like Bureau Headmaster before it.</p>
<p>Further, she also temporarily grants first strike and vigilance to an equipped creatures of your choice. Choose wisely, unless it's the aforementioned Rohirrim Chargers.</p>
<p>They're the perfect target for her ability. Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Taunt from the Rampart" href="#" target="_blank">Taunt from the Rampart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (40,744 decks) is a great finisher that also weathers your opponents down for a killing blow.</p>
<h1>Returning to the Present</h1>
<p>In conclusion, these two lists are different takes on a tried but true archetype in Commander. One wants you to dump Equipment on the board to deal damage, while the other needs you to use legendary Equipment.</p>
<p>However, Voltron is the ideal way to play with both decks. You could always add blue to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain America, First Avenger" href="#" target="_blank">Captain America, First Avenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you wished. I hear equipping him with Excalibur is very bonkers.</p>
<p>The <em>Assassin's Creed</em> release was maligned because of the notorious <em>Aftermath</em>-style release, where each pack came with half as many cards as ones from the average set.</p>
<p>On the other hand, there's a lot of cool designs and cards in there. I did it as an advent calendar last year, and assembled <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with the contents (and some extras). That particular Ezio is on the shortlist, so we can expect him in the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>Tune in next time when we delve into my most hated archetype, something beyond my wheelhouse. Until then, may your board be flooded with Equipment (if so, you'll seriously need some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inventory Management" href="#" target="_blank">Inventory Management</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Sheesh), and may they help you win.</p>


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