Victimize

I've played this in: Nothing, yet

This card is awesome. Sacrificing a creature isn't a big deal in EDH, and I'm surprised that a spell which brings back two creatures doesn't see more play. Maybe I just haven't played with enough different people, and this card is already a thing, but when I think about all the G/B graveyard decks out there, Victimize seems like it would fit right in. So, I'll certainly be picking up a copy and trying it out next time I bolster my EDH collection. I look forward to combining this with Eternal Witness, Anarchist, or Archaeomancer for many, many enter-the-battlefield effects.

Fossil Find

I've played this in: Nothing (yet)

This is just a cool card. Reordering your graveyard almost never matters (only thing I can think of is Corpse Dance), and randomness isn't your best friend in Magic: the Gathering -- but one of the nice things about EDH is that it allows some flexibility in the quality of cards you want to play. I've played and watched a lot of Hearthstone this year, and it's really interesting to see how that game makes RNG (random number generator, A.K.A. randomness) feel exciting and fun. Coin flipping and random selection in paper Magic is a little more of a chore, but I think there's still some fun to be had in gambling with cards like Fossil Find. And the real reason this card caught my eye is for playing with Wort, the Raidmother, whose ability obviously raises the power level of the card significantly. Still, it could be good in the early game when you only have a few cards in your graveyard, and costing one mana makes it pretty reasonable in my mind.

See you tomorrow, technicians!

Angel of Finality

I've played this in: Lavinia of the Tenth (of course)

Well, it's finals week for me, so I looked for cards with Final in the name and Angel of Finality is a pretty sweet one that I've actually played before! To be honest, I try and avoid Commander-specific cards like the plague because I think most of the designs are kind of ham-fisted and they don't really speak to me - but this angel is pretty nice. Maybe worth noting that she doesn't interact well with her sister Restoration Angel due to the creature type. Still, it's a solid flying body with a very relevant effect for EDH, and I like it.

Hindering Light

I've played this in: Lavinia of the Tenth, Daxos of Meletis

Hindering Light is not so much about the card itself, but the family of cards it represents. We're talking Rebuff the Wicked, Turn Aside, Intervene, Confound -- and while you're not going to play all of them in a deck, one or two can really turn the tide of battle. Unfortunately, EDH has a plethora of board sweepers as well, which circumvent these protective measures entirely. Still, especially if you're playing kind of a voltron style, an efficient counterspell can be the difference between a victory and a loss.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I'll be back on Monday with another fresh, hot Magic card!

Feed the Pack

I've played this in: Vhati il-Dal

Sometimes, you just need to get HUGE. I think I first saw Feed the Pack in my friend Bryce's Jund chaos deck (with Xira Arien at the helm), with the dream being to sacrifice a Furyborn Hellkite. I've since adopted it in my MTGO deck, trying to sacrifice my old pal Moldgraf Monstrosity -- we started playing during Innistrad if you couldn't tell -- and it's been surprisingly good. Sometimes your opponents will have the sweeper, but sometimes they just won't have an answer to an enormous pack of wolves, and you'll be able to give said pack three square meals.

I've also been slowly brewing a Princess Mononoke theme deck with Tolsimir Wolfblood for a while, and it would be nice to sacrifice a Woolly Razorback to Feed the Pack. Okay, that's enough for today.

Sudden Death

I've played this in: Every black deck for the last few months

Today's post will be just a split second: Sudden Death kills Prophet of Kruphix.

Have a great Wednesday, everybody.

Void

I've played this in: my dreams

Wow, this card is savage. Now, I'm also a fan of playing Ratchet Bomb wherever possible -- I just think the "converted-mana-cost-matters" theme is fun. And, like Ratchet Bomb, Void can also blow up hordes of tokens in a pinch. I'd definitely run it alongside my good buddy Anarchist, for recurring total destruction. Also, can we mention the extremely awesome artwork on Void? Enough said.

To be honest, Red + Black doesn't have quite as many EDH playable cards as other two-color combinations, because it houses a lot of aggressive cards that have no place in a 40-life format, and there's no efficient way to kill enchantments (even with this card). Still, it's powerful, punishing effects like Void that give me hope for Rakdos yet.

Vulshok Battlemaster

I've played this in: Tajic, Blade of the Legion

Vulshok Battlemaster is pretty niche, since he basically has two uses: stealing other people's equipment, and carrying your own equipment on the cheap. Needless to say, he is fantastic with the Swords of X and Y, as well as more costly equipment, like Argentum Armor or Worldslayer. In EDH there are a couple pieces of equipment that tend to crop up in all kinds of decks: Lightning Greaves and Skullclamp. You'll have plenty of opportunities to steal a pair of shoes with the Battlemaster, which isn't particularly useful on a 2/2 body, but it's a nice way to open up an important creature to targeted removal. Still, while there are lots of cute interactions like that, and potential for a blowout if your opponent happens to be playing great equipment, I'd only recommend this card in a deck that is running powerful gear of its own.

Have a nice day and build some weird decks.

Sweet Isochron Spells: Rakdos Charm

I've played this in: Shattergang Brothers

Quite a few of the Return to Ravnica charms are good in EDH, and almost all are excellent on Isochron Scepter. I say almost because Gruul Charm is just... not... but of all the charms, the one with arguably the most utility is our good friend Rakdos Charm. I've talked about my obsession with cards that serve as efficient, but narrow hate spells, and Rakdos Charm is in that vein, but it stands out because it has three very different, very efficient ways to foil your opponents' plans. It doesn't need to be paired with Isochron Scepter by any means. However, a tokens player is unlikely to survive repeated use of the third mode.

Some of the criteria to look for in truly sweet Isochron spells are:

• Flexibility - modal spells - (e.g. charms and split cards)
• Card draw/card selection - for when you're "goldfishing" - (e.g. Brainstorm)
• Powerful, oppressive effects (e.g. Silence / Counterspell / Boomerang)

Generally if a card fits any one of these bills, you'd be happy to put it on a Scepter, and two is outstanding. I've racked my brain and I can't really think of any that meet all three criteria. Rakdos Charm is definitely flexible, and can be highly oppressive against all-in strategies with artifacts, graveyards, or tokens. "Let all feel joy in pain," indeed.

This wraps up the "Sweet Isochron Spells" theme. Hope you enjoyed some of the picks this week; I know a couple weren't totally Isochron-specific, but I think there's some good tech in there regardless. This weekend I'll be doing homework/projects, so expect new posts to start up again on Monday! In fact, I think I'm going to switch to posting on just weekdays from now on, but I'll try to make up for it with some high quality picks and discussion. All right, thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

Sweet Isochron Spells: Bind

I've played this in: Tasigur, the Golden Fang

Bind is an interesting one for Isochron Scepter since it has a relevant ability, and draws a card each turn -- so far, so good -- but unfortunately it's all dependent on someone else activating an ability each turn. Of course, you could counter your own abilities in exchange for a card, but that seems mostly, well, counter-productive. What we end up with is a decent kind of "rattlesnake" (something that lingers on the board, just threatening to ruin someone's day, e.g. Seal of Doom and friends), but not the efficient source of card advantage that maximizes the Scepter's potential. That's why you'll mostly see Isochron used with cantrips like Brainstorm or oppressive spells like Counterspell or Go for the Throat.

However, when you're building with Isochron Scepter, you're typically going to pack your decks full of good targets, so it's not that likely that Bind will be your only option. As a standalone card, Bind can be very helpful in shutting down planeswalker activations, or key creature/artifact activations. You can even live the Stifle dream and be that guy to counter someone's fetchland in the early game. This is another one of those highly efficient, but situational counters that I think are the most fun to play with in EDH. Give it a shot if you feel your green deck is lacking some fast interactions.

See you tomorrow with another sweet instant!

Sweet Isochron Spells: Due Respect

I've played this in: Tajic, Blade of the Legion

While I'm talking about really cool Isochron Scepter spells, I've got to pay my respects to the frustrating lockout angle, like preventing your opponents from ever playing things at sorcery speed with Silence. Due Respect is kind of in that vein, but obviously much less oppressive. It also hits the cantrip spot, so you can start drawing a card every turn, and the fusion of these two powers makes a really neat, effective spell that seems to be built for the Scepter.

Without Isochron, it really is just a cantrip to fire off on an opponent's upkeep, or to save for that turn the Maelstrom Wanderer player has been building up to the whole game. Not a very powerful effect all things considered, but sometimes the cards that speak to me the most are the more subtle ones that are just within the realm of playability.

Sweet Isochron Spells: Annul

I've played this in: Ambassador Laquatus

Annul is pretty sweet, especially if you don't have access to green or white. Both of those colors have a wealth of great disenchant effects that you should totally be running. Some of the most powerful effects in the format come in the form of artifacts and enchantments. If you're in blue, this is a cheap and effective way to shut those down -- and you haven't lived until you've countered a turn 1 Sol Ring (Okay, I'll be honest, I haven't done it either, but it's a dream of mine). I think the conditional counters are my favorite to play in EDH. For example, I have jammed Dispel in many, many lists.

As for Isochron Scepter, well... yeah, it's a little loose. Annul is probably way too conditional to use your precious scepter on; you're better off with an actual Counterspell or something that draws cards, since you're opening yourself up to a big card disadvantage if an opponent has their own artifact removal. So maybe this steps outside the week's theme a little bit, but it's a neat one-mana instant that you should consider playing.

See you tomorrow, with a much sweeter Isochron target!

Sweet Isochron Spells: Bound / Determined

I've played this in: Tasigur, the Golden Fang

Before I get into this card, I just want to apologize for taking the whole week off after saying I might take the weekend off. I was traveling and spending time with friends/family for Thanksgiving; kind of dropped the ball there. But, I got to play some EDH over the week and discover some new tech! Including today's card, Bound / Determined.

In fact this card is the first in this week's theme of "Sweet Isochron Scepter Spells." Lots of split cards fit in here just because they bring so many options to the table, including the ability to cast a greater-than-2-converted-mana-cost side. Bound / Determined is a card I honestly wouldn't include in many decks because both halves are so niche, but when you jam it on an Isochron Scepter, suddenly you have crazy protection from counter magic, a pseudo-All-Suns'-Dawn every turn if you can spare some creatures, and consistent card draw if all else fails. I've just included this in my new "Flashigur" brew, and I haven't gotten to cast it, or imprint it, but I'm excited at the possibility.

Honorable mention for this spot: Research / Development if your playgroup allows you to actually add cards from outside the game, like maybe 4 Biovisionaries each turn.

Planar Guide

I've played this in: Lavinia of the Tenth

I really like one-drops. Even though Planar Guide is realistically a five-drop if you plan on using it, I'd still put it among my favorite one-drops. I know it seems pretty specific to a blink deck, but it has some other interesting uses like clearing tokens or serving as an overpriced Fog. If you're in white, chances are you're playing some powerhouse ETB creatures like Sun Titan, Karmic Guide, and even little old Wall of Omens, and getting to re-use those effects provides a lot of value. You can even permanently exile things with Fiend Hunter if you play it right. Planar Guide's unfortunate downfall is that it exiles itself, so it's a one-and-done effect. If it was a legend, I'd make it my general in a heartbeat.

I might not have a card for you tomorrow just because I'll be driving for 12 hours up to my native land of Washington state. If that's the case, have a wonderful weekend, and play with some cool cards!

Wildwood Rebirth

I've played this in: Vhati il-Dal // decklist

A lot of people completely dismissed this card when it came out in RTR block because it could only return creatures. In Gatecrash limited, that's a fair judgement, because that format was way too fast to be playing around with the graveyard, and you're less likely to have an insane creature in limited. However, I think it's a decent option for an EDH deck that runs a lot of creatures, like my grindy dredge/Necrotic Ooze combo deck I play on Magic Online. It's an instant-speed Regrowth, for Pete's sake! And unlike other instant-speed recursion options, it actually goes directly to your hand. If you're a dirty Prophet of Kruphix player, or you're running creature-based combos, I think Wildwood Rebirth deserves another look.

Have a wonderful rest of your Thursday, and as always, may you beat people with cards they've never heard of before. qB^)

Cryptic Annelid

I've played this in: Lavinia of the Tenth // decklist

Cryptic Annelid is a beast, in more ways than one. I can't really decipher what is going on in the artwork, but an "annelid" is a worm, so it makes sense that it would be doing a lot of digging. It seems like the scry ability is really bad when the card you're digging for is the very first on top, but it's hard to complain when you just have what you need. And for those times you're scrying away five or six cards to get something useful, it's a life saver. Obvious synergies with blink effects and top-of-library manipulation, two main themes in my Lavinia deck. Four toughness isn't too bad either, offering blocks for 3/3 Beast or Elephant tokens.

If you're planning on durdling a lot, give this mysterious segmented worm a shot. Bars.

Relic Seeker

I've played this in: Tajic, Blade of the Legion // I actually have a Decklist for this one

This guy will probably always be seen as just a kind of sad Stoneforge Mystic. It's not really fair to compare the two though... I mean Relic Seeker is probably not planeswalker material. However, if your deck is running powerful equipment, including the ubiquitous Lightning Greaves and Skullclamp, I think the Seeker deserves a look. Renown is not a very abusable mechanic, although he does work well with Sun Titan or Reveillark bringing him back from the 'yard. As a turn 2 play, especially in multiplayer, it's pretty likely he'll get his hit in, and you can get a powerful equipment to your hand early on. Later in the game though, it's pretty hard to get the value, so you decide if the early game advantage is worth it in your deck.

See you tomorrow, fellow technicians!

Death Pits of Rath

I've played this in: Gallowbraid, Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis (same deck, different generals)

Death Pits of Rath is primarily a combo card used to stop anyone from attacking, used with Noxious Field, Caltrops, and a myriad of other effects. That's the only way I've used it so far, but I love the idea of just using it for sweet value in a token deck, like Nath or Endrek Sahr. Basically it just gives all creatures super-deathtouch when you have no combo pieces, and having a bunch of 1/1's obviously has its advantages with an effect like that. I can't speak for its effectiveness in that capacity until I try it myself, but as a fun (for you) way to create attrition-y board states, it's a ten outta ten.

*I originally wrote "have a great weekend" here, and after publishing it I now realize it is Monday. So, uh, hope you had a great weekend? See you tomorrow.

Lifegift

I've played this in: Wort, the Raidmother, Sir Shandlar of Eberyn, and probably more

I don't know about anyone else, but in my playgroup, if you have the most life, you are the one being attacked. It doesn't matter if there's a combo player sitting in the corner slowly amassing card advantage, so long as their threats are not on board. It's kind of common courtesy to just attack whoever has the most life and keep everyone even. So, you might be wondering, "why is Lifegift, an incidental life gain effect that is at its best in the early game, when I have no blockers, something I should be playing?" And here's my answer: it's sweet.

No, really, if you're playing multiplayer EDH, the life you will gain off this card is no joke, especially if you're not the only green player at the table -- people will be popping out lands left and right. It's worth the occasional poke from someone's Mulldrifter to buffer your life total, especially if your deck has life gain themes, or is capable of playing out lots of lands, which most green decks are. Plus, no one wants to expend precious enchantment removal on this card. Give it a try, let me know how it goes.

Entomber Exarch

I've played this in: Glissa, the Traitor, Vhati il-Dal, and probably some non-green decks too

This card was actually in the very first intro deck I ever purchased (the Red/Black one from New Phyrexia) so I've played with it a lot casually. Entomber Exarch has two great options: Duress or Raise Dead. It's not the cheapest way to get either of those effects obviously, but the choice between the two is unique, and being stapled to a creature is a big plus. If you're like me and you enjoy targeted hand disruption, or you need some more creature recursion (and what black deck can get enough), I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the Entomber.

Oh yeah, unfortunately I have to admit I've cast this card recently and tried to tutor for a creature, confusing it with its big, green brother Brutalizer Exarch -- don't try that.

Cloud Cover

I've played this in: Lavinia of the Tenth

What a cool ability! In my Lavinia deck, pretty much all of my permanents do something when they enter the battlefield, so replacing opponents' removal with my own recursion is very powerful. While it has no resistance to enchantment removal itself, Cloud Cover very seldom draws hate because it doesn't really have an impact on the game until you play out major threats to protect with it. As a result, your Sol Ring and your Sea Gate Oracle are safe from incidental removal spells that tend to crop up in multiplayer EDH.

Highly recommend this card as a cool enchantress or blink deck inclusion. See you tomorrow!

Flamecast Wheel

I've played this in: Theros limited? Maybe?

Sorry, this isn't a real suggestion as much as it is an excuse to tell you about the dream I had last night. In this dream, I snuck into a Taylor Swift concert and edited her big speech to talk about using Flamecast Wheel as a Trinket Mage target instead of, you know, whatever her speech was about. I was actually thinking about running this card the other day, which I'm sure prompted the dream, but Flamecast Wheel is just a couple mana too expensive to be useful (though I am always looking for cards that can kill Prophet of Kruphix). Compare to Brittle Effigy.

"Cool Trinket Mage targets" is an entire article in itself, so I'll leave it at this for today. Thanks for reading!

Fanning the Flames

I've played this in: Wort, the Raidmother, Latulla, Keldon Overseer (and probably more)

Look, people play counter magic in EDH, there's no getting around it. You're better off playing Banefire if you want to snap off a guaranteed kill. Heck, you're better off with Devil's Play in that case. But that's not what Fanning the Flames is for. This card has helped me eek out value, or a win, in multiplayer games with a clunky, big-mana, mono-red deck multiple times -- and it's great. Granted, it's a bit of a niche deck that wants this instead of Comet Storm or either of the aforementioned fireballs, but that's all I'm looking to provide with this blog: some offbeat picks to make your hot new brew really shimmer.

I'll be putting up a new card each day, for as long as I can remember to do this! See you tomorrow.