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Genesis Hymn - Jeskai Alarm | *Primer*

Commander / EDH Infinite Combo Ramp Storm Tap/Untap

GregariousG


Sideboard

Sorcery (1)


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Art by Josu Hernaiz

Introduction

One of my favorite parts of EDH is creating decks based off of Standard, Modern, or Legacy decks. During Khans of Tarkir standard, Jeskai Ascendancy was one of the decks I enjoyed playing the most. It’s powerful and deterministic. Thus, this is my Five Color Jeskai Ascendancy/Intruder Alarm combo deck. Mana dorks, like Elvish Mystic , are some of the strongest cards in Magic: the Gathering. These creatures act as a creature-based land drop that enables explosiveness early on in the game. However, the ramping capabilities can be abused via untap effects. Thus, Jeskai Ascendancy and Intruder Alarm come into the picture. If you are looking for an intricate, spellslinger deck, I welcome you to give this build a try.


Golos, Tireless Pilgrim

Golos, Tireless Pilgrim is here due to his second ability. For , exile the top three cards for the library and play them this turn without paying their mana cost. With infinite or large amounts of mana, this repeatable mana sink digs through my deck to find my win condition. Golos is the piece that was necessary to make this deck more consistent. However, let us not ignore his first ability, which tutors any land onto the battlefield tapped for the cost of . Golos is also great on the defense because of his 5 toughness and his ETB effect dissuading my opponents from removing him. Golos is just a solid commander.


Wait, What Happened to Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix

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Kydele was the previous star of this deck. For , Kydele is a mana dork that adds per card drawn. This doesn’t seem like much until you are able to draw a large amount of cards. This is easily achievable by playing draw spells, such as Compulsive Research . Yes, Thrasios, Triton Hero is better, but I was dedicated to using Kydele. For a period of time, she was great and was a critical piece of my game plan. However, I made the decision to switch to Golos for a few reasons.

    Reason 2: This deck struggles most during the in between of creating infinite/large amounts of mana and comboing off. Kydele is great for making infinite , but not much after that. I need a commander that can bridge the gap, which Kydele can’t do. There have been many times where I’ve established infinite mana and fizzled. It feels real bad.
    Reason 3: Kydele only makes . This fact has come back to hurt me more often than it helps. After playing this deck numerous times, I feel that Kydele is best in a symbol shell or utilizing a mechanic that is specifically like cycling. Adding more colors hurts Kydele more than it helps.


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Jeskai Ascendancy is my favorite card from Khans of Tarkir. Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, untap creatures you control, buffs the team by +1/+1, and you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card. This untaps all of the mana dorks and loots, which synergizes with all of the mana dorks in the deck. Be careful, though. Looting is card replacement, so eventually you will run out of cards unless you play an actual card draw spell. However, the looting effect can create continuous casting of non-creature spells.


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This is another engine piece in the deck and opens up easy combos with mana dorks. When a creature enters the battlefield, untap all creatures. However, I wanted Intruder Alarm to synergize with the rest of the Jeskai Ascendancy package. Thus, the deck runs non-creatures spells that produce creatures. Cards like Reality Shift and Finale of Devastation satisfy the untap requirements for both Jeskai Ascendancy and Intruder Alarm . Adding Intruder Alarm adds consistency for comboing.

Entering the Infinite: Creating Infinite Mana

  • Emry, Lurker of the Loch + Lotus Petal + Jeskai Ascendancy

    Infinite with at least mana

  • Isochron Scepter with imprinted Dramatic Reversal + mana dorks
  • Selvala, Heart of the Wilds + Umbral Mantle + : This example assumes that Selvala, Heart of the Wilds has the highest power of 2 among creatures I control. With Umbral Mantle equipped and available, tap Selvala for and whatever other color needed. Now, use another and the two mana created by Selvala to untap her. Selvala now receives +2/+2 until the end of the turn, making her a 4/5. Use again to tap Selvala again to produce , with at least one of the mana being . Untap Selvala again using , with one of a color left over. This will make Selvala a 6/7 and capable of sustaining the combo herself and can create infinite colored mana.
  • Infinite with at least mana

  • Umbral Mantle + Blood Tender/ Faeburrow Elder
  • Umbral Mantle + Vizier of Tumbling Sands / Kiora's Follower + Lotus Field with Wild Growth / Gaea's Cradle / Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
  • Umbral Mantle + Sanctum Weaver with 3 other enchantments

    Infinite with at least mana

  • Bloom Tender / Faeburrow Elder + Staff of Domination
  • Vizier of Tumbling Sands / Kiora's Follower with Gaea's Cradle / Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx + Staff of Domination

  • Maintaining the Infinite: Finding the Finisher

  • Staff of Domination : Besides Golos, this is the main card I’m searching for to win the game. Staff of Domination bridges the gap by producing infinite creature untaps, card draw, and life. This allows you to maintain infinite mana and dig to a win condition that is most appropriate at the time.
  • Jeskai Ascendancy / Intruder Alarm + Kykar, Wind's Fury : Kykar produces a spirit when a non-creature spell is cast. With Intruder Alarm, the spirit token untaps all creatures on the battlefield.
  • Retraction Helix + Jeskai Ascendancy / Intruder Alarm : Helix allows me to trigger either one of the mentioned enchantments by bouncing my own permanents. One of the mana dorks, Golos, Lotus Petal , Spellseeker , Utopia Sprawl , and Wild Growth are the great bounce targets.

  • Releasing the Infinite: Winning the Game

  • Aetherflux Reservoir : This is my preferred finisher. Aetherflux Reservoir deals 50 damage to target creature or player. This seems like a hefty price to pay unless you can establish infinite life. Luckily, you can gain infinite life with Staff of Domination + infinite mana or Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal with Reservoir already on the field. Even without comboing off, Reservoir works great with all of the cantrips.
  • Finale of Devastation + Kykar, Wind's Fury : After creating a large amount of spirit tokens via Kykar, I can play Finale for any mana cost more than ten, give all my creatures haste, and overrun my opponents.
  • This deck needs multiple moving pieces required for it to work. It wants ramp first, infinite mana enablers second, then win cons. If this order isn’t followed, the deck fizzles. In addition, this deck is primarily offensive. Though there is plenty of removal, at no point is the deck looking to sit back and control the board. That requires a long game and that’s not what I’m tryin to do. Like most storm decks, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben -esque cards, Kambal, Consul of Allocation , and Ruric Thar, the Unbowed puts a damper on deck. Eidolon of Rhetoric and Spirit of the Labyrinth just stops the deck completely if left unchecked. However, the deck is hard to stop once it gets going due to the sheer power of Jeskai Ascendancy .

  • Ad Nauseam : This trades in life for putting cards from the top of my deck into my hand. The average CMC is around , which permits for safer digging into the library.
  • Brainstorm , Growth Spiral , Manamorphose Ponder , and Preordain . Each of these have additional effects along with the ability to draw cards.
  • Echo of Eons and Time Spiral . To be fair, these cards do more than just draw seven. Both shuffle everyone’s hands and the graveyard into the library then draws seven. Due to the low mana cost of the deck, having the capability to restock after playing my hand is great.
  • Song of Creation : Thank you, Ikoria, for this powerful card. This enchantment has text that I value the most; “play X, draw two cards.” Song of Creation is risky due to the discard the hand clause. I fully understand that discarding the hand is back breaking and makes it difficult to restart the storm run. However, I don’t plan on going to my end step if I play this card. The draw two effect when playing any spell is so good at maintaining the storm run.
  • Mystic Remora : Mystic Remora draws a lot of cards, seeing how no one plays the . Dropping this card early pushes the advantage very hard.
  • Rhystic Study : A classic stax piece and card draw enchantment. Rhystic Study is best for setting up before storming off
  • Sorcerer Class : This enchantment earns a stop because of Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 is Izzet Charm upon entry. Level 2 gives all my creatures a tap ability to add or to cast instants/sorceries or to gain a class level. Yes, Level 3 can be a storm win con. However, Aetherflux Reservoir handles that better and for a cheaper cost.
  • Wheel of Misfortune : The poor man’s Wheel of Fortune . Besides the weird conditions, this is a cheap way of refilling the hand for .
  • Whirlwind of Thought : Another storm enabling enchantment. Whirlwind draws a card when a noncreature spell is cast. This turns removal into cantrips and cantrips are put into overdrive. Take note: this is not a may trigger.
  • Windfall : This deck wants to empty its hand as fast as possible and Windfall is the perfect follow-up.
  • Narset, Parter of Veils : Each opponent can't draw more than one card each turn is a strong effect. It is even better when I Windfall or Time Spiral . Narset is a stax piece with card selection in the appropriate colors. There is no way I’m not playing this card.
  • Silence : I don’t want other players to stop me while I’m storming off. For , I can get the personal space I need to end the game.
  • Counterspells: Arcane Denial , Counterspell , Delay , Dovin's Veto , Flusterstorm , Negate , and Swan Song . I try to save my counters for things that disrupt my game plan.
  • Cyclonic Rift : A stable sweeper.
  • Removal: Assassin's Trophy , Nature's Claim , Path to Exile , and Swords to Plowshares . Cheap and effective removal cards.
  • Synergistic Disruption: Beast Within , Generous Gift , Reality Shift , Rapid Hybridization , and Swan Song : This cards trigger both Intruder Alarm and Jeskai Ascendancy .
  • Crop Rotation : I always want to see Lotus Field / Gaea's Cradle / Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx , even if I can’t have Golos.
  • Destiny Spinner : This makes my important cards, which are my creatures and enchantments, uncounterable. The activated ability to turn one of my lands into a creature is useful for adding the appropriate mana for storming off.
  • Eldritch Evolution : This is a one time use improved Birthing Pod . Prime targets are Bloom Tender , Emry, Lurker of the Loch , Faeburrow Elder , Kykar, Wind's Fury , and Selvala, Heart of the Wilds .
  • Emry, Lurker of the Loch : Emry has utility even outside of the combo. Emry digs through the library by four and provides recursion for my artifacts, which helps end the game via Staff of Domination and Aetherflux Reservoir .
  • Enlightened Tutor : There are plenty of artifacts and enchantment pieces I’d like to see every game. This card lets me fetch them.
  • Finale of Devastation : I prefer the Finale of Devastation over the previous Eladamri's Call because it targets the library and graveyard and puts the creature onto the battlefield.
  • Intuition : Tutor three cards and an opponent puts one in your hand. In combination with Sevinne's Reclamation and Underworld Breech, I can increase the likelihood of getting the card i actually want, which will be Jeskai Ascendancy .
  • Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy : Kinnan makes my mana rocks and dorks even more potent and increases the speed that this deck can ramp into a win. Kinnan’s ability for hits most of the important creatures. It will miss Avacyn's Pilgrim , Vizier of Tumbling Sands , and Noble Hierarch .
  • Kykar, Wind's Fury : This is probably my favorite card that was released in M20. Kykar creates a 1/1 spirit token whenever a noncreature spell is cast. In addition, each spirit can be sacrificed for . This not only triggers Intruder Alarm , but it also acts as a mana refund effect for every non-creature spell played. By utilizing both aspects of the combo, Kykar increases the success of storming out significantly.
  • Mystical Tutor : A classic tutor for instant and sorceries.
  • Neoform : Similar to Eldritch Evolution but doesn’t exile itself, more restrictive, and only costs .
  • Sevinne's Reclamation : Almost every card is one of two things: a noncreature spell under or a creature under . Sevinne’s Reclamation recurs most of the best cards in the deck and is even better when flashed back
  • Kiora's Follower and Vizier of Tumbling Sands : These cards untaps another permanent, which is powerful with the many untap effects this deck is utilizing. Vizer makes the cut because of her ability to cycle, which draws a card and untaps a permanent.
  • Wargate : Tutors for any permanent and puts it into play. Most of the time, I grab one of the win cons or important cards.
  • Underworld Breach : Breach is here for redundancy and consistency. The low mana cost of the deck makes paying the escape cost more reasonable.
  • Vampiric Tutor : For 2 life, tutor for anything and put it on the top of the deck. This is the best tutor in the deck and one of the main reasons I choose to make this deck five colors.
  • 7.12.2021

    Sorcerer Class is a great addition to any storm deck. Esika is good, but I rather have Sorcerer Class at this point.


    6.5.2021 Modern Horizon 2

    Modern Horizon 2 printed some great mana dorks. Ignoble Hierarch is just better Elves of Deep Shadow and provides much needed and . Sanctum Weaver is just better than Sylvan Caryatid . The only thing that Caryatid has over Sanctum Weaver is just Hexproof. Sanctum Weaver’s ceiling is so much higher, tapping for any per enchantment.


    5.11.2021

    Even with Golos, I want plenty of draw engines. Growth Spiral , Manamorphose , Whirlwind of Thought , Ad Nauseam , and Wheel of Misfortune get slotted into the deck. Thassa's Oracle gets cut because I don’t need a third win condition. I tend to gravitate towards Aetherflux Reservoir or making massive creatures with Finale of Devastation . Incogruity is nice, but I’ve missed on Incubation / Incongruity way too many times. I really like Beck and Call , but Ad Nauseam is just better in every way. There have been many games where I wanted gas and drew a mana dork, making me quite sad. Thus, Elvish Mystic was the weakest of the dorks. Assassin's Trophy is better all-around removal and I have plenty of Pongify -like spells.


    3.20.2021

    Idyllic Tutor and Fabricate are out because Vampiric Tutor and Enlightened Tutor are just better. I always want Gaea's Cradle , even if I don’t have access to Golos, thus why Crop Rotation is in the deck. Emry, Lurker of the Loch + Lotus Petal is another infinite mana and infinite cast outlet with Jeskai Ascendancy . Priest of Titania is hit or miss, but Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy is great all the time. I’ve learned that I rather have the explosiveness of Mana Vault over the redundancy of Llanowar Elves . Even though I like the effect of Sylvan Awakening , I rarely play this card. Destiny Spinner makes my most important cards, which are creatures and enchantments, uncounterable.


    2.9.2021

    Fish is just better than Jace, Wielder of Mysteries . I should have changed this a long time ago.


    1.30.2021

    Because Golos is at the helm, certain cards lose their value. I don’t need the drawing power of Sea Gate Restoration   or Frantic Search if I already have Golos out. I’m looking to cast Golos as fast as possible, thus why I added more mana dorks and Gaea's Cradle from another deck of mine. Generous Gift is just good removal.


    1.16.2021

    Golos is now at the helm of this deck. Kydele is good, but I needed a consistent outlet for the mana I produce. Now with in the deck, the appropriate adjustments to lands were made. I also cut cards like Manamorphose because they don’t do enough in comparison to Golos’ ability.


    09.24.2020

    Dig Through Time is interesting. It's a great mid to late game play for card selection. However, it technically doesn’t draw cards, which has hurt me more than it has helped. Veil of Summer is good, but I’ve never needed it. Silence has just been better most of the time. Gitaxian Probe draws a card for free, but I want more interaction. Finally, switching Plains to Sea Gate Restoration   is free.


    5.29.2020

    Selvala, Heart of the Wilds is just an upgrade to Marwyn, the Nurturer . Both produce more mana based on power. However, Selvala can produce any color mana. With the addition of Selvala, Ley Weaver is no longer needed. The combo of Ley Weaver + Lore Weaver was cute, but unnecessary. My original thought was that I wanted access to a creature-based Staff of Domination . Turns out I rather just have Staff and protect it. Eternal Witness replaces Regrowth due to Retraction Helix synergy. Neoform , Flusterstorm , Veil of Summer is added for consistency and protection.


    05.01.2020

    04.24.2020

    With the addition of Song of Creation / Whirlwind of Thought , I definitely need more enchantment tutors. I find that Jace's Archivist , though it fits with the deck, is a card that looked at cutting for a while. It is a windfall that gets weaker the longer the game goes on. On the other hand, Treasure Cruise bad early and great late. However, there are other things I could be doing for the cost of Treasure Cruise . So, I replaced both of these cards with Ley Weaver / Lore Weaver . Lore Weaver is tutored anytime Ley Weaver enters the battlefield. Thus, I now have another infinite mana outlet that is very easy to tutor.


    04.10.2020

    Chord of Calling is still a good card. However, Wargate is just better a majority of the time. In addition, Song of Creation / Whirlwind of Thought are just engine pieces from Ikoria that are great for this deck.

    Feedback

    Thank you for visiting. Any suggestions and +1s are greatly appreciated! I read every comment and try to reply back to everyone. This deck is constantly evolving and it’s great to have other people submitting their input.


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    Revision 43 See all

    (2 years ago)

    -1 Elves of Deep Shadow main
    +1 Ignoble Hierarch main
    +1 Sanctum Weaver main
    -1 Sylvan Caryatid main
    Date added 6 years
    Last updated 2 years
    Legality

    This deck is not Commander / EDH legal.

    Rarity (main - side)

    8 - 0 Mythic Rares

    57 - 1 Rares

    16 - 0 Uncommons

    17 - 0 Commons

    Cards 100
    Avg. CMC 2.21
    Tokens Beast 3/3 G, Bird 1/1 W, Bird 2/2 U, Elephant 3/3 G, Frog Lizard 3/3 G, Manifest 2/2 C, Spirit 1/1 C, Spirit 1/1 W, Zombie 2/2 B
    Folders EDH I'm Playing, EDH, Cool EDH Ideas, Commander, copy/paste, Favs, EDH
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