I haven’t built a Commander deck in a while. Let’s try to fix that, shall we?
Commander
While the Magic world is currently enthralled by the World Championship and the Season Four Invitational coming up in two weeks (more on that later), today
I’m going to seep back into my favorite 100 card format and deliver upon you my latest creation.
But how should I go about choosing a new direction for all eyes to look to? I didn’t have a
particular color combination I wanted to explore, and we’ve already heard a lot about the five planeswalkers from Commander 2014, but I didn’t want to be
late to the party.
But what if I could wind back time where I could be first to the party? In the next set, Fate Reforged, Sarkhan travels to a Tarkir 1000 years in
the past to meddle with all the wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff. I figured I would do the same and create a deck for a Commander that isn’t even out yet,
and won’t be for another -1000 years. There are only two cards spoiled so far from Fate Reforged, and I sure as heck am not going to write about Crux of
Fate (to the dismay of fans of Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund everywhere). No, today I shall be writing about a khan that existed long before Surrak (is he a
descendant of her?) performed his first Ambush Viper Impression: Yasova Dragonclaw!
Not Just an Alpine Grizzly
As with most of my decks, I like to create a unique environment based around my Ccommander in order to wreak good natured havoc upon my somewhat-suspecting
frenemies. While this deck neither has the sheer power level of Maelstrom Wanderer, nor the Orzhov busting creature synergy of Animar, Soul of the
Elements, this deck particularly likes to battle, harnessing the Izzet League’s affinity for theft (both temporary and permanent) and green’s affinity
for….dudes. Well, 100 cards don’t make themselves, so let the construction begin!
Miss Dragonclaw likes to take things (like the Mrs. does, if I actually had a Mrs.). Eventually though, she has to give them back.
Or so she thinks.
These cards all allow us to sacrifice our temporary ally for some benefit or another. Jalira, Master Polymorphist is especially fun, as spinning the wheel
is what the format is all about! Plus she’s sorta like a new age blue Jaya Ballard. Given that she received multiple cards in M15, I wouldn’t mind visiting
her plane sometime.
But you got me: this deck is really just an excuse to play Bazaar Trader. It’s both fancy and functional! I have purposely left out blink effects such as
Ghostly Flicker, since this deck has a martial tint, and I’d like to use as little mana as possible, as I’m already expending three mana to activate her
ability. Speaking of her ability…
Here is how we can maximize her activations. I seem to be adding Illusionist’s Bracers into more and more decks just because of how sweet that card is.
After the initial mana investment, go crazy! Rings of Brighthearth can be particularly scary. It’s silly with fetchlands, transmute, Birthing Pod, and a
host of other crazy interactions. While Bonesplitter is certainly no Trusty freakin’ Machete, it still is the cheapest way for us to overcome that
frustrating little power restriction on her threatening glare. Now if there was only some way that we could activate her ability more than once…
These cards let us double up on her triggered ability multiple times on the same turn. I wouldn’t be surprised if Breath of Fury was looked at, and
somebody decided to create Yasova as the perfect card to pair with it. Beastmaster Ascension meanwhile is one of the few ways that we can pump up all our
critters. In theory, we’re stealing what little resistance opposes us with Yasova, so there shouldn’t be much…right?
Sol Ring is too good! Every deck plays it! While these two sentences might be right, these cards are my only real form of mana ramp, as most mana ramp
spells cost at least two, and my commander only costs three! So much like my wisdom teeth, they are useless and need to be taken out! But then it hurts a
lot and you can’t think straight because anesthesia has made you confused that you’re not playing Rampant Growth in a big dumb green deck.
I love Birthing Pod. Actually I just love NPH. And the New Phyrexia set too. So while this deck is running an above average number of creature tutors, I’m
not doing anything busted. I’m not finding Hermit Druid or Avenger of Zendikar or Craterhoof Behemoth. That would be lame and would be how the game would
end almost every time. What I am finding is Bane of Progress to not die to my opponents’ superior cards, or Dominus of Fealty to steal EVEN MOAR
THINGS!!111, or Phantasmal Image to copy your Sun Titan, to Birthing Pod it away to find Garruk’s Horde which lets me cast…yeah you get it. I love
toolboxes. So sue me! No please don’t. I don’t have any money.
“Hey, this guy just said he’s not playing Maelstrom Wanderer because it’s too good. He’s a big fat phony!”
Actually, I just want to give my creatures haste. There aren’t a lot of creature-based ways to do that, and since I’m not running black I can’t play with
the card that has some of my favorite flavor text: Madrush Cyclops.
Besides, I can’t wait to cast Maelstrom Wanderer into double one mana spells. VALUE.
I also love clones. They allow you to play off of your opponent, explore lines that are unavailable with just your deck alone, and create awesome stories.
I think every game should have copy effects in it; the only snag is that they’re confusing to remember. A digital medium makes better sense for this sort
of effect, as staring at a board of various 0/0s gets confusing after a while. In addition, you can clone an opposing commander, and then steal theirs with
Yasova to kill it!
The rest of the deck is filled with random good stuff to flesh it out, and sweet lands that do all sorts of kooky things. All with the intent of taking
your opponents to value town. Or maybe Brown Town. Some sort of town. No it doesn’t like seeing a Wrath of God and doesn’t have a lot of card draw or
ramping effects. But it does look like a lot of fun!
Creatures (41)
- 1 Llanowar Elves
- 1 Solemn Simulacrum
- 1 Birds of Paradise
- 1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
- 1 Anger
- 1 Arcanis the Omnipotent
- 1 Eternal Witness
- 1 Trinket Mage
- 1 Loaming Shaman
- 1 Body Double
- 1 Sower of Temptation
- 1 Dominus of Fealty
- 1 Glen Elendra Archmage
- 1 Vithian Renegades
- 1 Acidic Slime
- 1 Hellkite Charger
- 1 Oracle of Mul Daya
- 1 Bazaar Trader
- 1 Fauna Shaman
- 1 Sylvan Ranger
- 1 Urabrask the Hidden
- 1 Phyrexian Metamorph
- 1 Garruk's Horde
- 1 Phantasmal Image
- 1 Maelstrom Wanderer
- 1 Diluvian Primordial
- 1 Prime Speaker Zegana
- 1 Molten Primordial
- 1 Progenitor Mimic
- 1 Elvish Mystic
- 1 Prophet of Kruphix
- 1 Bane of Progress
- 1 Xenagos, God of Revels
- 1 Scourge of the Throne
- 1 Soul of New Phyrexia
- 1 Jalira, Master Polymorphist
- 1 Yisan, the Wanderer Bard
- 1 Reclamation Sage
- 1 Clever Impersonator
- 1 Surrak Dragonclaw
- 1 Feldon of the Third Path
Planeswalkers (1)
Lands (36)
- 1 Forest
- 1 Wooded Foothills
- 1 Gaea's Cradle
- 1 Reflecting Pool
- 1 Mountain
- 1 Island
- 1 Volcanic Island
- 1 Tropical Island
- 1 Taiga
- 1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
- 1 Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers
- 1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
- 1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
- 1 Yavimaya Hollow
- 1 High Market
- 1 Keldon Necropolis
- 1 Miren, the Moaning Well
- 1 Skarrg, the Rage Pits
- 1 Steam Vents
- 1 Stomping Ground
- 1 Breeding Pool
- 1 Dryad Arbor
- 1 Tolaria West
- 1 Fire-Lit Thicket
- 1 Cascade Bluffs
- 1 Flooded Grove
- 1 Misty Rainforest
- 1 Soaring Seacliff
- 1 Raging Ravine
- 1 Command Tower
- 1 Kessig Wolf Run
- 1 Desolate Lighthouse
- 1 Alchemist's Refuge
- 1 Rogue's Passage
- 1 Frontier Bivouac
- 1 Flamekin Village
Spells (20)
- 1 Sol Ring
- 1 Goblin Bombardment
- 1 Bonesplitter
- 1 Ashnod's Altar
- 1 Fabricate
- 1 Savage Beating
- 1 Helm of Possession
- 1 Altar of Dementia
- 1 Survival of the Fittest
- 1 Greater Good
- 1 Breath of Fury
- 1 Rings of Brighthearth
- 1 Beastmaster Ascension
- 1 World at War
- 1 Mimic Vat
- 1 Green Sun's Zenith
- 1 Birthing Pod
- 1 Mass Mutiny
- 1 Illusionist's Bracers
- 1 Bident of Thassa
There are multiple ways you can build Yasova, and I’ve just explored my interpretation. You can go deep with Training Grounds and creatures with activated
effects (make Skill Borrower proud!), or you can be real nasty with Rings of Brighthearth and play Strip Mine and the like. You gotta watch out for
Homeward Path, that card is a real nice one against you. At least you probably don’t have to worry about Brutal Suppression.
Of course, maybe Commander isn’t the most pertinent format on the horizon. December has finally greeted us with its Icy Blast, and you all know what that
means (besides me finally able to sing The Muppet Christmas Carol songs without getting weird looks): The Season Four Invitational is coming up! Of course
next weekend is the penultimate tournament in this year’s circuit in scenic Portland, Oregon, and I’ll be there battling! But what should I, and by
extension my plethora of readers, be playing?
Standard
It’s a midrange world out there, and you’ve gotta learn to fight it.
Remember when we were talking about the upcoming format of Khans of Tarkir Standard, and you needed to choose between Goblin Rabblemaster and Courser of
Kruphix?
Well it looks like we’re still living in that world. We’ve just extended the range to Mardu and Abzan.
So if our target is midrange creature based decks, what do we do?
Go Under It
If you really want to try to slip under Siege Rhino and friends, sure, sleeve up some Hammerhands. I’ve certainly died to it before, and if nobody
connects with Siege Rhino, Whip of Erebos, Jeskai Charm, Seeker of the Way, or a plethora of other cards, you’ll be fine! But then what’s happening when
you don’t capitalize on stumbles? If your name isn’t Tom Ross, maybe you should leave those Titan’s Strengths at home.
Go Slightly Bigger
Out-midrange the midrange! Cards like Thoughtseize get invalidated by continued draw steps, and let’s be real, Courser of Kruphix isn’t exactly getting
people dead any time soon. If you can untap with a planeswalker on an empty board and tick up, you should be able to reap the rewards of your loyalty-based
ally as burn spells are weak, and there are fewer Hero Downfalls flying around.
Also, ask yourself if your deck can beat a Hornet Queen. If it can’t (and odds are it can’t), then why aren’t you just buzzing?
Invalidate It
All this means is to play cards that make their cards look bad. Sylvan Caryatid looks silly when you overextend into an Anger of the Gods or an End
Hostilities. Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver is absurd in this format right now, and Lightning Strike is awkward versus her and no amount of Murderous Cuts can
kill him (yes, my pronouns are correct). Or maybe you should just cast Jeskai Ascendancy and laugh in their face as you proceed to draw your entire deck
and make them realize why they shouldn’t forget to prepare a sideboard for the only combo deck Standard has had since Splinter Twin ruled the roost.
So there you have the scoop from the most qualified person in the world to talk about Standard. Okay, maybe second most qualified. But let’s move on to the
purest Magic format imaginable, and the one that much like Pokefloats in Smash Bros., separates the men from the boys.
Prismatic
Khans of Tarkir’s gold cards have catapulted the Pyroconvergence/Urza’s Filter deck into Tier 1 status.
Wait, we don’t have $50,000 tournament for formats where you have to have a specified number of cards for each color? Just give it time…
Legacy
Yeah yeah, Treasure Cruise is good. If you read my last article, I talked
about it some. This time, let me give you the scoop on my current Legacy viewpoint:
Yeah, these cards don’t look very good. I am right with resident non-pugilist Cedric Phillips when he says that these decks all look terrible on paper, but
then people win with them.
You don’t have blue cards!
How are you consistent?
Without Force of Will, how do you beat combo?
Thanks to my good buddy Glenn Jones (soon to give up the Magic-playing lifestyle for the
Magic-working lifestyle, how unlucky), I’ve been able to play in some local tournaments with Maverick. And I’ve yet to lose to a Treasure Cruise deck, and
it often boils down to this.
I cast a Mother of Runes. Do you not have a bolt? You lose.
I cast a Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. Do you not have a bolt? You lose.
I cast a Knight of the Reliquary. Do you not have a bolt? You lose.
And this is just on turns 1-3 and assuming that I don’t have two fetchlands in the graveyard for my Knight.
Yes you can also Force of Will these dinky creatures. But you gotta have that too, and they can’t always have all of it. And don’t even get me started if I
have a Cavern of Souls.
See, people have in their head that cantrips and card advantage make a good deck. After all, if you just 1 for 1 your opponent, then peel three. Surely
you’re ahead!
But there’s a real cost to these things. Cantrips (besides the irksome Gitaxian Probe) cost time. During that time, my creatures can come online and
invalidate your approach.
Card advantage is the most overvalued important rule in Magic. It doesn’t matter if you draw more cards if the cards you are drawing are bad or interact
poorly with your opponent. You can be flicking around a full grip of six or seven cards, but I’ve been in this scenario multiple times with my ragtag band
of Advisors and Wizards, and it’s not as impossible as it seems to beat Ancestral Recall with Maverick.
Of course, it’s not all drinking Ovaltine and watching James Bond movies with this deck.
I literally can’t even.
Yes, I have Gaddock Teegs and Thalias. I can even tutor for them. Yes, I can shore up matchups with a bunch of hatebears in the sideboard, like the newly
minted Containment Priest (why does this have flash? I have no idea!). But these decks have their own ways of winning and will be prepared for me. Not for
my deck per se, but for my hate cards. It’s not like I kill them particularly fast, as 1/1s for one can only do so much.
If people want to beat this deck they can. Black spot removal and spells such as Dread of Night and Virtue’s Ruin or Nature’s Ruin can be real headaches.
Plus, I don’t get to cast Brainstorm. I often just sit with my two cards on the table as my opponents get to have fun making all the decisions, and I’m
just here casting white creatures. What a joke.
Hopefully, you’ve gleaned something from all this in my grand quest to have the most hashtags associated with one piece, and I’ve made it worth your
valuable time. Now get out there and play some Magic! Feel free to stop by and say hi to me either this weekend in Portland, or the following weekend when
the Season Four Invitational is in my new backyard! I really just moved here to get a home court advantage and save on travel costs.
Now, I just gotta find some Chains of Mephistopheles …