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This is not normally the kind of deck I'd make, but Hazezon Tamar -- you know, let's just call him Hazy -- makes Sand Warriors, which are sort of the coolest thing in the multiverse, so I decided I'd make an exception. Also, it gave me an excuse to try out a Naya deck in EDH.

The main reason I wouldn't normally make this deck is that it relies on ETBs, which are insanely powerful in EDH (think Deadeye Navigator + Mystic Snake). These abilities are so powerful that they warranted two answers from WotC in the form of Torpor Orb and Hushwing Gryff . If you want to try this deck out yourself, you can expect it to be dominant. Granted, these answers shut this deck down, but with the removal available and the likelihood that those cards won't see the light of the battlefield, it's virtually moot.

If Sand Warriors weren't enough, one strong aspect of this deck unrelated to ETBs is that it relies on land ramping. Lands are a heck of a lot harder to destroy than the typical means of ramping in EDH, be they artifacts or creatures. Land ramp is also usually stronger, ranging from Tempt with Discovery to Boundless Realms on the strong end to Three Visits/Nature's Lore on the weekend -- er, weak end. Ramping in EDH also enables you to do much more powerful things more quickly, which suits most Timmies just fine.

Something the more astute of EDH players among you may have picked up on is that Hazy basically looks like a weaker Avenger of Zendikar with a Nayan color identity in my command zone. Well, he pretty much is, but there are a few key differences. One is that Hazy makes tokens the upkeep after he ETBs, which sucks because they're summoning sick that turn (without a Fervor effect that is). Another is that Hazy betrays the bodacious Sand Warriors whenever he takes a nap in the command zone. When I saw this, I realized a couple things: that he could be Cloudshifted for 2x Sand Warriors, none of which are exiled because they haven't been made yet; and that your opponents lose all their equally bodacious Sand Warriors. What do you mean, nobody plays any Sand Warriors and they'll just kill Hazy anyway? In that case, float a white because Shields of Velis Vel + Hazezon Tamar is going to make your opponents play some Sand Warriors real quick. Unlike Hazy, where Avenger's tokens grow with your land count, Hazy's need... supplements (read: steroids) to reach their maximum potential. Avenger also is nonlegendary and is friends with benefits with Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker. Another difference between Hazy and Avenger is that the Sand Warriors are tricolored. That's right, and what better reason to play 4 Lieges: Boartusk Liege, Wilt-Leaf Liege, and Balefire Liege !? The fourth, of course, is Knight of New Alara .

I like tribal decks as much as the next guy, but when I realized I was playing to flood the board with Plants and Sand Warriors and use Knights to pump them, I couldn't put Coat of Arms (now Shared Animosity) in fast enough. I also a couple of my favorite sac outlets: Goblin Bombardment and Spawning Pit, both of which are amazing and underrated. Pit can get rid of anything for free, and put half as much stuff back for 1 mana each, making it an excellent wrath response. Saccing Hazy before the delayed trigger resolves is also a play. Mirror Entity, being cool enough to chill with the Sand Warriors and Shared Animosity is also in attendance.

On to the moment we've all been waiting for.

  • Allow me to reiterate: Hazezon Tamar + Shields of Velis Vel is just too good to overlook.
  • Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Solemn Simulacrum: Kiki combos with everything nonlegendary we have (see Archon of Justice + Kiki for a better Mangara of Corondor + Karakas ), but this is dirty to the extreme. I've seen these two cards pull games from nowhere.
  • Kamahl, Fist of Krosa + Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite: Overruning is good on its own, better when you can make more targets, and best yet when you play the LD card and go all-out Spike on their mana base.
  • Hazezon Tamar + Urabrask the Hidden: Urabrask is an example of an aforementioned Fervor effect, and a freaking awesome one at that. Other pseudo-Fervors include Fires of Yavimaya, Anger, and Sarkhan Vol , which brings us to...
  • Domri Rade + Sarkhan Vol : A match made in Gruul heaven. While not a real combo, they make for some genuinely Melvin interactions. Each one's +, -, and ultimate correspond!
  • Smokestack + Assemble the Legion: The Unspeakable. Don't even suggest using Stack with Hazy tokens; these cards were made for each other.
  • Alright, now for some stand-out cards!

    Tragic Arrogance: It's pretty hysterical. Imagine a Cataclysm optimized for board states common to Hazy. You can also play it and leave some pretty good combos up, hint hint.

    Stony Silence: Almost everyone plays heavily into mana rocks in EDH and Voltron is also popular. Occasionally this card can screw you too, but it does excellent work in any deck not dependent on trinkets.

    Sol Ring: I put this one here just to make this list as ironic as possible. In all -- well, somewhat more -- seriousness, this card is really preference in this deck. Damn right Sol Ring, I'M A STRONG, INDEPENDENT MAGIC PLAYER AND I DON'T NEED NO ROCKS! While this line of thought might be more fun, the explosive starts this card grants are undeniable.

    Vedalken Orrery: This card belongs in every nonblue EDH deck with noninstant cards in it.

    Mind's Eye: This card is great in nonblue decks too, but it's good enough that even colors that aren't card-hungry like it.

    I am aware of the number of infinite combos I'm excluding from this deck, which I'm doing by choice. Neither I nor the online community like them and we believe they take all the fun out of the game. That's all! Play them if you will.

    So far, I've really been enjoying this deck. However, I'd enjoy it more knowing what you guys think of it, so let me know!

    Suggestions

    Updates Add

    As of late, I went out and splurged on the few expensive cards I've been missing from this deck. I've only got through a few games, but it plays like a dream! I got lethal on T4 against one opponent and had the game within 2 more turns. Although some hands are slow, it prevents the deck from being punished for overextending.

    As for changes, The Great Aurora counts tokens when determining the number of cards you draw, which makes it pretty appealing. The doublers have also been insane, so I'm thinking Gisela, Blade of Goldnight might find her way in too ;)

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    Date added 8 years
    Last updated 8 years
    Key combos
    Legality

    This deck is Commander / EDH legal.

    Rarity (main - side)

    10 - 0 Mythic Rares

    41 - 1 Rares

    17 - 0 Uncommons

    9 - 0 Commons

    Cards 100
    Avg. CMC 4.11
    Tokens 2/2 C Artifact Creature Spawn, Beast 4/4 G, Copy Clone, Dragon 1/1 RG, Dragon 4/4 R, Emblem Domri Rade, Plant 0/1 G, Sand Warrior 1/1 RGW, Soldier 1/1 RW, Soldier 1/1 W
    Folders Freaking Sand Warriors, Duh!, Commander Ideas, Decks to make, EDH - Hazezon , EDH
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