Kykar, Transformation's Fury

Commander / EDH Combo Competitive Control Primer RUW (Jeskai, America)

rinaldoneto007

Instant (30)

• 1x Brainstorm
• 1x Chain of Vapor
• 1x Counterspell
• 1x Cyclonic Rift
• 1x Delay
• 1x Dispel
• 1x Divergent Transformations
• 1x Dovin's Veto
• 1x Dramatic Reversal
• 1x Enlightened Tutor
• 1x Flame Sweep
• 1x Flusterstorm
• 1x Force of Negation
• 1x Force of Will
• 1x Frantic Search
• 1x Mana Drain
• 1x Mental Misstep
• 1x Mission Briefing
• 1x Muddle the Mixture
• 1x Mystical Tutor
• 1x Narset's Reversal
• 1x Opt
• 1x Pact of Negation
• 1x Pyroblast
• 1x Red Elemental Blast
• 1x Silence
• 1x Swan Song
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Wear / Tear
• 1x Whir of Invention

Creature (2)

• 1x Elsha of the Infinite
• 1x Spellseeker

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Narset, Parter of Veils

Land (31)

• 1x Arid Mesa
• 1x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x City of Brass
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Exotic Orchard
• 1x Flooded Strand
• 1x Forbidden Orchard
• 1x Hallowed Fountain
• 1x Mana Confluence
• 1x Marsh Flats
• 1x Misty Rainforest
• 1x Plateau
• 1x Polluted Delta
• 1x Prismatic Vista
• 1x Scalding Tarn
• 9x Snow-Covered Island
• 1x Snow-Covered Mountain
• 1x Snow-Covered Plains
• 1x Steam Vents
• 1x Tundra
• 1x Volcanic Island
• 1x Windswept Heath
• 1x Wooded Foothills

Sorcery (10)

• 1x Earthquake
• 1x Gamble
• 1x Gitaxian Probe
• 1x Merchant Scroll
• 1x Ponder
• 1x Preordain
• 1x Rough / Tumble
• 1x Timetwister
• 1x Wheel of Fortune
• 1x Windfall

Commander (1)

Artifact (15)

• 1x Azorius Signet
• 1x Chrome Mox
• 1x Fellwar Stone
• 1x Grim Monolith
• 1x Isochron Scepter
• 1x Izzet Signet
• 1x Mana Crypt
• 1x Mana Vault
• 1x Mind Stone
• 1x Mox Diamond
• 1x Sensei's Divining Top
• 1x Skullclamp
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Talisman of Creativity
• 1x Talisman of Progress

Enchantment (10)

• 1x Back to Basics
• 1x Blood Moon
• 1x Copy Artifact
• 1x Goblin Bombardment
• 1x Mystic Remora
• 1x Rest in Peace
• 1x Rhystic Study
• 1x Smothering Tithe
• 1x Stranglehold
• 1x Verity Circle

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Introduction

Kykar, Wind's Fury is a Jeskai (URW) legend released in Magic Core Set 2020. The ability of creating tokens everytime you cast a non creature spell is very useful for a control deck, since mana is one of the principal constraints on multiplayer.

This color combination on cEDH is something rare since we have only 9 legends (not counting partners), of which 4 have viable builds.

So why should you play Kykar, Wind's Fury over the other 3?

• Narset, Enlightened Master - Narset is a unusual combo commander, since it want to win using commander damage over multiple combat steps and turns. Very different from what Kykar, Wind's Fury has to offer.


• Zedruu the Greathearted - Zedruu is usually build as a stax commander, slowing the other players on the table and giving those stax pieces in order to abuse it's ability. Also very different from what Kykar, Wind's Fury has to offer


• Elsha of the Infinite - This one is hard to beat, Future Sight for non creature spells on a commander is very appealing. This allows for a artifact centered approach, since with Sensei's Divining Top and a cost reducer for artifacts (like Cloud Key ) to draw your entire deck, assembling a multite of win conditions. Elsha has a Adaptative game style, as it can easily switch between control and combo.

What Kykar, Wind's Fury has to offer over those 3 is:

Pros:

• While Kykar, Wind's Fury is on the battlefield, you gain back R for each non creature spell casted
• Multiple bodies for attacking, sacrificing or comboing
• Very compact win condition, using Divergent Transformations, using less slots, increasing card quality.
• Ways to use efficient stax card without hurting our main gameplan.

Cons:

• Our combo has inherent weakness, like casting from the top of the deck ( Grafdigger's Cage ), not being able to use Kykar, Wind's Fury's activated ability ( Cursed Totem ), or even removing the creatures while Divergent Transformations is on the stack.
• Divergent Transformations is hard to tutor on our colors, and manually assembling the combo is also hard.
• As a control deck, we depend on the other decks having interaction, since we will be overloaded by multiple fast combo decks.

Gameplan

As a control deck, we want to slow down the game. while keeping in mind our weaknesses. By all means make the opponents spend interaction as much as possible, anwering the least as possible. The answers can be stax pieces, counters, boardwipes, or targeted removal; but it will depend on the decks your opponents are playing.

The opening hands this deck looks for is 1-2 lands, 1-2 mana acceleration, 1-2 counters, and 1-2 draw.

We spend the early turns slowing the game down, developing our mana, and drawing some answers. Avoid tapping out, play safe, analyse the field before deploying stax pieces.

On the mid game, we want to stabilize, and dig for Divergent Transformations.

For the late game (we hope to get there), look for a window to cast Divergent Transformations, or manually assemble your win.

Combo Lines

Divergent Transformations

(Mana used on this step) - [Total of mana required from outside combo sources] - {Mana in pool}

This will require Kykar, Wind's Fury in play, at least 2 more creatures (most of the time will be spirits created by our commander) and 3RW to start the combo. You can perform the entire line at instant speed.

1. Cast Divergent Transformations, target two creatures you control. Kykar, Wind's Fury will trigger, creating another spirit token. Divergent Transformations resolves (hopefully), searching for the only two creatures on our deck: Elsha of the Infinite and Spellseeker.
   (3R) - [3R] - {One spirit token}
2. Spellseeker triggers when enters the battlefield, tutoring Enlightened Tutor (If you have already used it, you can tutor for Missions Briefing, it adds UU to the combo cost).
   (0) - [3R] - {Two spirit tokens}
3. Cast Enlightened Tutor, search Sensei's Divining Top to the top of your deck. This will trigger Kykar, Wind's Fury to create another spirit token.
   (R) - [3RW] - {One spirit token}
4. Using Elsha of the Infinite static ability, you can cast Sensei's Divining Top from the top of you deck, sacrificing one spirit token for mana. This will trigger Kykar, Wind's Fury to create another spirit token.
   (R) - [3RW] - {One spirit token}
5. Use Sensei's Divining Top ability to draw a card, putting itself on top of the deck.
   (0) - [3RW] - {One spirit token}
6. Repeat 4-5 until you find Isochron Scepter on top of your deck.
   (0) - [3RW] - {Two spirit tokens}
7. Cast Isochron Scepter using two spirits tokens. This will trigger Kykar, Wind's Fury to create another spirit token.
   (RR) - [3RW] - {One spirit token}
8. With Isochron Scepter Imprint on the stack, exile Dramatic Reversal from your hand. If Dramatic Reversal is in the deck, repeat 4-5 until you draw it.
   (0) - [3RW] - {One spirit token}
9. Activate Isochron Scepter, creating a copy of Dramatic Reversal. This will untap all non land permanents and trigger Kykar, Wind's Fury to create another spirit token. This means that you need only 2 mana from mana rocks, since with every activation, you will create another token, increasing you mana sources.
   (1R) - [4RW] - {Infinite spirit tokens}

Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal

(Mana used on this step) - [Total of mana required from outside combo sources] - {Mana in pool}

This will require Kykar, Wind's Fury and mana rocks that generates at least 2 (mana) in play, Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal in hand, and 3 (mana) to start the combo.

1. Cast Isochron Scepter. This will trigger Kykar, Wind's Fury to create another spirit token.
   (2) - [2] - {One Spirit Token}
2. With Isochron Scepter Imprint on the stack, exile Dramatic Reversal from your hand.
   (2) - [2] - {One Spirit Token}
3. Activate Isochron Scepter, creating a copy of Dramatic Reversal. This will untap all non land permanents and trigger Kykar, Wind's Fury to create another spirit token. This means that you need only 2 mana from mana rocks, since with every activation, you will create another token, increasing you mana sources.
   (2) - [3] - {Infinite spirit tokens}
4. If you have Sensei's Divining Top, you can tap if for it's ability, activate Isochron Scepter in response, untapping all non land permanents. Tap Sensei's Divining Top again, so when the stack finishes resolving you draw one card and Sensei's Divining Top. Repeat until you draw your deck.

Finishers

Timetwister + Narset's Reversal

This line requires being able to draw your deck and 2UUU for each loop.

1. Cast Timetwister, and hold priority.
2. Cast Narset's Reversal, targetting Timetwister. Let the stack resolve.
3. Narset's Reversal bounces Timetwister to your hand, creates a copy of Timetwister, then goes to the graveyard. So when the Timetwister's copy resolves, will shuffle both Narset's Reversal and Timetwister on deck.
4. Draw your deck, then cast Chain of Vapor on an opponent permanent.
5. Repeat 1-4 until all opponents have no permanents.
On the end step, hold 7 counters and pass the turn. Each opponent will not be able to do much with no permanents and you with 7 counters. Win on your next turn with combat damage.

Swords to Plowshares + Earthquake

This line requires XRW (where X is the highest life total from opponents) and Elsha power equal to X+1-Your life total.

1. Cast Swords to Plowshares, targetting Elsha. Gain life equal to it's power.
2. Cast Earthquake for X = highest life total from opponents.

Goblin Bombardment

This line requires X spirits, where X is equal to the sum of your opponents life totals.

1. Cast Goblin Bombardment.
2. Activate Goblin Bombardment, sacrificing one spirit token. Deal one damage for an opponent. Repeat this until all opponents are dead.

Notable Exclusions

• Trinket Mage - This little wizard can find Sensei's Divining Top, and can do the same job (on the combo) as Spellseeker, but makes the combo sorcery speed and that is why did not make the cut.


• Niv-Mizzet, Parun - This is part of an alternative Divergent Transformations combo, involving Tandem Lookout. You cast any instant or sorcery and start pinging people. Being way too heavy to cast if gets on hand and having no further use outside the combo this is why did not make the cut.<


• Tandem Lookout - This is part of an alternative Divergent Transformations combo, involving Niv-Mizzet, Parun. Is only good with Niv, so if the previous is cut, so does Tandem.


• Jeskai Ascendancy - This plus Banishing Knack or Retraction Helix can make infinite spirits and infinite P/T on those birds. But requires a extra turn to win, and the 2 spells are not good without the enchantment. So, making the card quality worse to include another combo is not that good. Can be used on a very budget build.

Single Card Discussion

• Flame Sweep , Rough and Earthquake - All of those boardwipes have something in common: they don't hit flyers. Considering that our spirits have flying, it makes all of those (most of the time), a one sided wipe. Earthquake does double duty, as boardwipe and win condition.


• Rest in Peace - Our deck has literally one card that used the graveyard, Mission Briefing , and we have combo lines that don't involve Timetwister loops. Being able to hit multiple decks (Flash Hulk, Gitrog, Kess, etc), low CMC and not hindering us makes this a great card to play.


• Blood Moon and Back to Basics - Our manabase is designed to not be so affected by those cards, and it hits all the best decks on the format pretty hard (except Gitrog I guess?). We need all good "slowing power" we can get our hands on. Can be less good depending on your meta.


• Stranglehold - The ideal card here would be Aven Mindcensor , but because of the Divergent Combo, we cannot have more than two creatures on the deck. This is the second best card with this effect in Jeskai colors, and is harder for opponents to interact with.


• Verity Circle - Jeskai has a serious issue of card advantage, and since we cannot use Cursed Totem , we might as well draw some cards instead.


• Brainstorm - Brainstorm is a busted card, and we know it. On the instant combo line (Divergent Transformations), Brainstorm can be also used to cast sorcery/enchantment at instant speed, meaning we can put back either Goblin Bombardment or Earthquake back to the top of the deck.

Budget

Here is a decklist under $500 (on the time of writing), without losing much power: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/cedh-budgeted-kykar/

Discord

If you've got any questions, new spicy tech, or you simply want to talk about Kykar, Wind's Fury, join [The Bird Wizard Tower](https://discord.gg/bm83yne/) Discord server.

Thanks

Thanks for ShaperSavant and ColdRamenGX for the primer review, and The Bird Wizard Tower Discord for throwing ideas and lines.

Date added	4 years
Last updated	4 years
Exclude colors	BG
Splash colors	WR
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	9 - 0 Mythic Rares 47 - 0 Rares 18 - 0 Uncommons 15 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.09
Tokens	Bird 2/2 U, Spirit 1/1 C, Spirit 1/1 W, Treasure
Folders	cEDH Primers, decks i like, Budget cEDH