Blasphemous Act

Sorcery

This spell costs {1} less to cast for each creature on the battlefield.

This deals 13 damage to each creature.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Freeform	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (49)

Makin.Bacon.Pancakes on Nive Mizzet, UR Combo Instants & Sorceries

6 hours ago

• Ophidian Eye infinite niv combo
• Tandem Lookout infinite niv combo
• Niv-Mizzet, Visionary infinite niv combo
• Arcanis the Omnipotent good draw
• Arcane Denial counterspell with draw
• Blasphemous Act board wipe
• Invoke the Firemind more draw / utility

tinhead on Gut Shot

2 weeks ago

These are all great suggestions, thank you! They’ve been very helpful in focusing my top end more. If I’m committed to keeping the curve cheap and tight, the big threats need to close out the game fast!

• Taking extra combats is an angle I hadn’t considered. For this, my cards of choice are Karlach, Fury of Avernus and Great Train Heist. The former is one of the best versions of this effect on a permanent, and the latter is a very strong and versatile one-shot effect. Other contenders include Grim Reaper's Sprint and Fury of the Horde.

• Ramp, board wipes, and protection are all important aspects of slower decks that expect to play into the mid to late game. This deck is trying to be low to the ground and convert cards into damage as quickly as possible. I may add some standout cards like Blasphemous Act and Cursed Mirror, but for now I’d like to try this aggro angle. I don’t like playing protection cards just for the sake of keeping my commander around — if Gut becomes a “kill on sight” card, I’ll rebuild the deck. Similarly, the “steal and sac” direction would be lots of fun in the version of this deck that goes bigger, and will stay out of this version for now.

• I think the vehicles that are in the deck already (Smuggler's Copter and The Regalia) are especially strong since their stats/abilities are above rate and anything can crew them. I’m not sure that other vehicles really fit this bill, but will keep them on my radar as options.

• All great token generator options. I added Urabrask's Forge since it scales and is resilient in the face of board wipes. Squee, Dubious Monarch is also in since it can be cast from the graveyard. More may come if I eventually go in the swarm direction later.

• Skullclamp should have been in the deck from the start, added!

clayperce on Gut Shot

2 weeks ago

Very cool deck! I've can't recall ever seeing Gut partnered with Popular Entertainer before (seems like she's always hanging around with Agent of the Iron Throne or Inspiring Leader), but I really like it.

The deck seems to be running as you like, so please take these more as "brainstorming ideas" rather than actual suggestions:

• In playtesting, I found I often had a hard time deciding whether to sac' one of our existing creatures for a Skeleton or to leave it ... to help make that decision easier, I might lean a bit more into Treasure tokens and maybe add some Treason effects. Good options incl J. Jonah Jameson, Bloody Betrayal, Seize the Spotlight, Treasure Nabber, and Hijack.
• I was lucky enough to draw Vehicles in a couple playtests and found them REALLY good in the deck (partly as it gives the Goblins with "attack each combat if able" something to do when we don't want them to attack ... but mostly bc sac'ing a Crew member for an attacking Skeleton really ramped up the Power of my attacks). Careening Mine Cart and Hoard Hauler come to mind first, but there are oc a ton of options available ...
• I personally prefer a little more ramp, interaction (incl boardwipes), and protection. If your meta shifts and you find yourself wanting more too, some favorites incl Ruby Medallion, Fire Diamond, Fellwar Stone, Abrade, Blasphemous Act, Chain Reaction, Lightning Greaves, and Swiftfoot Boots.
• I'm not sure if you want more Token generators ... but if so, maybe Legion Warboss, Siege-Gang Lieutenant, or Urabrask's Forge?
• One final thought: I'm a big Skullclamp fan, for almost any deck with X/1s.

Cheers and a big +1 to you!

DreadKhan on Kaervek, the Enchantress

1 month ago

This is coming from a filthy heretic speaking blasphemy, but have you ever considered a big ol nuke? It preserves all your Enchantments, but it is filthy blasphemy from the mouth of a heretic.

CommanderNeyo on The Ultimate Warriors (Updated)

1 month ago

I love Mardu! My favorite deck plays a lot like this one.

Below are some of my recommendations, but I would mostly recommend you check out the CommandZone on Youtube - they have a deckbuilding guide that is very good. Also, for some ideas on cards, you can check out EDHREC, which is a database for deckbuilding.

Anywho, here are some of my recommendations:

== ADD ==

Isshin, Two Heavens as One and Windcrag Siege double all your attack triggers.

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death and Terra, Herald of Hope if you face a lot of removal.

Swords to Plowshares, Damn, Blasphemous Act, and Ruinous Ultimatum for removal.

Boros Charm for protection.

Voice of Victory, Bone-Cairn Butcher, Infantry Shield, and Dalkovan Packbeasts for more Warrior tokens.

Hardened Tactician, Raiders' Spoils, Mindblade Render, Skullclamp, and Zurgo Stormrender for card draw.

Professional Face-Breaker for ramp and card advantage. Boros Signet, Orzhov Signet, Rakdos Signet, Talisman of Conviction, Talisman of Hierarchy, and Talisman of Indulgence for more ramp.

Shared Animosity, Fiery Emancipation, and City on Fire for buffs.

Reconnaissance to remove any creature your opponent blocks so it won't die, and Redoubled Stormsinger to double your tokens.

33 Lands is very low, especially since you have so little card draw and a high average cmc of 2.67. I recommend at least 38, if not 40 - you generally want to be playing a land every turn for the first 5 turns.

== CUT ==

Here are some cards I recommend cutting:

Aeronaut's Wings, Colossus Hammer, Greatsword of Tyr, Inquisitorial Rosette, Mardu Monument, Team Pennant, Amazing Alliance, Cartouche of Solidarity, Rally the Ranks, Shared Triumph, War Effort - Most of these provide modest buffs or require too much mana to use in one go. Most equipment are better in dedicated equipment builds, while Zurgo is generally more about going wide. If you do want to play equipment, I would recommend ones that provide utility (like Sword of the Animist, which you already have) or provide large buffs (like Blackblade Reforged). Cards that only buff your damage by 1 are generally underpowered.

Chromatic Lantern, Commander's Sphere - Your commander is 3-mana, so it is nice to have 2-mana ramp so you can still play your commander on curve.

Diabolic Tutor and Mastermind's Acquisition are a lot of mana for a tutor, and I would generally recommend cutting them.

Anywho, that's a lot, but let me know if any of it was helpful!

Doombeard1984 on The First Skep

2 months ago

Good morning Tulsasaurus_Rex, and thank you for sharing your hive with us.

I have a brood of my own, and much like yourself have had an affinity for Tribal decks, and especially Slivers for the better part of nearly... 2 decades (dang... now I feel old). So I would like to maybe make a couple suggestions if thats ok?

Creatures:

• Sedge Sliver - I would probably remove Crypt Sliver for this as Crystalline Sliver switches this Sliver off. It also works with all those shock lands you have as they have the appropriate land types.
• Quick Sliver - Having flash on all your slivers can be so powerful. I'd take out Blur Sliver. You have haste enablers on Cloudshredder Sliver Heart Sliver and Thrumming Hivepool which are just better. Blur seems like a wasted slot.
• Basal Sliver - Big fan of Basal (goes great in pasta...), as means you can sacrifice those tokens for mana etc. I would remove Winged Sliver as again, you have flying from Cloudshredder Sliver and Galerider Sliver.

Non-Creature spells:

So these I am less sure on what to remove, but will give some explanation as to why I think they may help:

• Eerie Ultimatum - Can see you have Patriarch's Bidding in your maybe board, but I offer this is way better. You get all your things and you opponents get nothing. You even get all your other non-Slivery things.
• Boros Charm - You are playing Slivers, and therefore you are going to attract a board wipe. Boros Charm is the classic "go-to" for making your board indestructible, all for the low price of {W}{R}.
• Removal - Going to mention a few cards here that are just good. Assassin's Trophy, Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile. Trophy is another hit anything card, and Swords and Path both exiles tricky creatures your opponents have. All super low cost, to let you spend your mana on better things.
• Card advantage - So I think something like a Mirri's Guile or Sylvan Library just lets you have some card selection of advantage every turn. Lets you make sure you are hitting those land drops, or if you are flooded, you can make sure you are getting gas to help power your deck forward.
• Ramp - Id be looking at maybe Three Visits and Nature's Lore as they can get you any forest type shock land into play, and if you want untapped by paying the 2 life. Id also look at other mana rocks (Ichor Elixir and Fractured Powerstone don't seem that great). Any of the Talismans (Talisman of Hierarchy, Talisman of Unity etc - there is a full cycle) would give you access to colours at only {2}, and up until recently I ran Chromatic Lantern to help with smoothing out any mana issues. Yes it costs {3}, but can be really useful with how mana intensive Slivers can be where {W}{B}{U}{R}{G} is concerned.
• Blasphemous Act/Austere Command - I love these cards. Sometimes you will need to answer a board. Austere Command is modal so gives you lots of flexibility. And if you have Sliver Hivelord on the board, your Sliv's are safe. Blasphemous Act can win you the game if you have a Spiteful Sliver with a board state. Means you can ding 13 damage to any target should this fire, and again may be safe with a Boros Charm or a Sliver Hivelord.

Hope this helps, and have given you a +1. Please feel free to hope on over to my Hive and have a browse (Sliver Overlord - Predatory Super-Organisms)

trippy_mcfly on Cumly Cube

5 months ago

Introducing Cumly Cube 1.3! Two years ago, Cumly Cube was updated to Cumly Cube 1.2, creating a balanced cube and wonderful play experience for all involved. Despite these changes, there remained some minor flaws in the card pool. I am now pleased to announce that, after extensive research and design, Cumly Cube has reached a final form. No card is too powerful. No card is too weak. Synergy is abundant. Both the draft and play experiences are dynamic, exciting, and new. There will be no more major updates to Cumly Cube 1.

120 cards have been removed, and 120 cards have been added. Here are the changes, provided with brief justifications:

REMOVED:

ARTIFACT

1. Everflowing Chalice: mana rocks should cost 3 or have a drawback
2. Glass of the Guildpact: too weak
3. Heraldic Banner: encouraged mono-colored decks
4. Illuminated Folio: too weak
5. Jayemdae Tome: too weak
6. Loreseeker's Stone: too weak
7. Mind Stone: mana rocks should cost 3 or have a drawback
8. Null Rod: too much of a hate card
9. Pithing Needle: too powerful with Urza's Saga
10. Pyromancer's Goggles: too narrow
11. Retrofitter Foundry: too powerful with Urza's Saga

CREATURE

1. Bomat Courier: too powerful against slow starts
2. Deathpact Angel: creates a Cleric token, not a supported creature type
3. Dimir Cutpurse: too powerful
4. Elves of Deep Shadow: too obvious of a choice as a cumly
5. Golos, Tireless Pilgrim: too powerful
6. Hostage Taker: too powerful
7. Kalamax, the Stormsire: too powerful
8. Loyal Retainers: too obvious of a choice as a cumly
9. Monastery Mentor: too powerful
10. Moonveil Dragon: pumping the team makes for anticlimactic endings
11. Murktide Regent: we’ve seen enough of this card already in other formats
12. Ornithopter of Paradise: too obvious of a choice as a cumly
13. Phantom Tiger: too weak
14. Risen Reef: too powerful
15. Shadrix Silverquill: creates Inkling tokens, not a supported creature type
16. Tatyova, Benthic Druid: too powerful
17. Thraben Inspector: we’ve seen enough of this card already in other formats
18. Toxrill, the Corrosive: creates Slug tokens, not a supported creature type

ENCHANTMENT

1. Alpha Authority: hexproof makes for less interesting games
2. Favorable Winds: too weak
3. Offspring's Revenge: too narrow
4. Pernicious Deed: too powerful of a board wipe
5. Rally the Ranks: too weak
6. Song of Freyalise: too typical a card for green

LAND (types are grouped together in this list)

1. Tolarian Academy: too powerful
2. Arid Mesa: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
3. Bloodstained Mire: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
4. Flooded Strand: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
5. Marsh Flats: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
6. Misty Rainforest: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
7. Polluted Delta: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
8. Scalding Tarn: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
9. Verdant Catacombs: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
10. Windswept Heath: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
11. Wooded Foothills: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
12. Badlands: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
13. Bayou: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
14. Plateau: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
15. Savannah: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
16. Scrubland: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
17. Taiga: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
18. Tropical Island: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
19. Tundra: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
20. Underground Sea: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
21. Volcanic Island: mana-fixing should not be so easy in Cumly Cube
22. Hissing Quagmire: creature lands are too versatile and discourage disciplined drafting
23. Lavaclaw Reaches: creature lands are too versatile and discourage disciplined drafting
24. Lumbering Falls: creature lands are too versatile and discourage disciplined drafting
25. Shambling Vent: creature lands are too versatile and discourage disciplined drafting
26. Needle Spires: creature lands are too versatile and discourage disciplined drafting
27. Raging Ravine: creature lands are too versatile and discourage disciplined drafting
28. Stirring Wildwood: creature lands are too versatile and discourage disciplined drafting
29. Wandering Fumarole: creature lands are too versatile and discourage disciplined drafting

INSTANT

1. Abnormal Endurance: too typical a card for black
2. Aerial Predation: too narrow
3. Alchemist's Gift: too weak
4. Arbor Armament: too weak
5. Autumn's Veil: too narrow
6. Betrayal of Flesh: too weak
7. Bladebrand: too typical a card for black
8. Brainstorm: we’ve seen enough of this card already in other formats
9. Cathartic Pyre: too much utility for an instant
10. Comet Storm: one-sided board wipes need to be focused on creature type
11. Consider: too typical a card for blue
12. Crippling Chill: too typical a card for blue
13. Crush: spot artifact removal is not to be part of Cumly Cube
14. Dawn Charm: other cards in Cumly Cube fill this role better
15. Dive Down: hexproof makes for less interesting games
16. Divine Offering: spot artifact removal is not to be part of Cumly Cube
17. Dragon's Fire: too typical a card for red
18. Electrify: too typical a card for red
19. Fell the Pheasant: too narrow
20. Gainsay: too narrow
21. Gut Shot: too weak
22. Heroic Intervention: other cards in Cumly Cube fill this role better
23. Hold the Line: too narrow
24. Into the Core: spot artifact removal is not to be part of Cumly Cube
25. Lash of Thorns: too weak
26. Make Your Mark: too weak
27. Opt: too typical a card for blue
28. Overload: spot artifact removal is not to be part of Cumly Cube
29. Pitfall Trap: too narrow
30. Repulse: too typical a card for blue
31. Scrap: spot artifact removal is not to be part of Cumly Cube
32. Seedtime: too narrow
33. Shatter: spot artifact removal is not to be part of Cumly Cube
34. Smash: spot artifact removal is not to be part of Cumly Cube
35. Smashing Success: spot artifact removal is not to be part of Cumly Cube
36. Smite: too narrow
37. Turn to Frog: turns a creature into a Frog, not a supported creature type
38. Unsummon: other cards in Cumly Cube fill this role better

SORCERY

1. Blasphemous Act: too typical a card for red
2. Chart a Course: too much utility
3. Cleansing Wildfire: too much utility
4. Cultivate: too typical a card for green
5. Disentomb: too typical a card for black
6. From the Ashes: too narrow
7. Funeral Rites: too much utility
8. Gitaxian Probe: too typical a card for blue
9. Necromantic Summons: too typical a card for black
10. Nighthaze: other cards in Cumly Cube fill this role better
11. Persist: too typical a card for black
12. Pirate's Prize: too much utility
13. Ponder: too much utility
14. Reanimate: too typical a card for black
15. Recover: other cards in Cumly Cube fill this role better
16. Serum Visions: too typical a card for blue
17. Spitting Earth: too typical a card for red
18. Thoughtcast: too typical a card for blue

ADDED:

ARTIFACT

1. Coat of Arms: encourages building around creature types
2. Patchwork Banner: encourages building around creature types

CREATURE

1. Arahbo, the First Fang: supports the Avatar and Cat creature types
2. Avatar of the Resolute: supports the Avatar creature type
3. Autonomous Assembler: supports the Assembly-worker creature type
4. Bag End Porter: supports the Dwarf creature type
5. Breya, Etherium Shaper: supports the Human and Thopter creature types
6. Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider: supports the Human and Pirate creature types
7. Captivating Unicorn: supports the Unicorn creature type and supports enchantment decks
8. Centaur Battlemaster: supports the Centaur creature type and functions as a strong payoff for prowess decks
9. Chronicler of Heroes: supports the Centaur creature type
10. Conclave Cavalier: supports the Centaur and Elf creature types
11. Conclave Mentor: supports the Centaur creature type
12. Crosis, the Purger: supports the Dragon creature type
13. Fear of Exposure: supports the Nightmare creature type and supports enchantment decks
14. Ghostly Changeling: supports all creature synergy decks
15. Gimli of the Glittering Caves: supports the Dwarf creature type
16. Glissa Sunseeker: supports the Elf creature type
17. Graveshifter: supports all creature synergy decks
18. Gwenna, Eyes of Gaea: supports the Elf creature type
19. Haunt of the Dead Marshes: supports the Elf and Nightmare creature types
20. He Who Hungers: supports the Spirit creature type
21. Heedless One: supports the Avatar and Elf creature types
22. Jungle Creeper: supports the Elemental creature type
23. Jungle Delver: supports the Merfolk creature type
24. Kataki, War's Wage: supports the Spirit creature type and functions as artifact hate
25. Keiga, the Tide Star: supports the Dragon and Spirit creature types
26. Kiora's Follower: supports the Merfolk creature type
27. Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca: supports the Merfolk creature type
28. Lagonna-Band Trailblazer: supports the Centaur creature type
29. Marwyn, the Nurturer: supports the Elf creature type
30. Master Skald: supports the Dwarf creature type
31. Mine Layer: supports the Dwarf creature type
32. Neighborhood Guardian: supports the Unicorn creature type
33. Promised Kannushi: supports the Human and Spirit creature types
34. Realmwalker: supports all creature synergy decks
35. Reveka, Wizard Savant: supports the Dwarf creature type
36. Seraphic Steed: supports the Angel and Unicorn creature types
37. Soul of Zendikar: supports the Avatar and Beast creature types
38. Steadfast Unicorn: supports the Unicorn creature type
39. Stingmoggie: supports the Elemental creature type and functions as artifact hate
40. Sygg, River Cutthroat: supports the Merfolk creature type
41. Vineshaper Mystic: supports the Merfolk creature type
42. Wistful Selkie: supports the Merfolk creature type
43. Yargle and Multani: supports the Elemental and Spirit creature types
44. Zacama, Primal Calamity: supports the Dinosaur creature type

ENCHANTMENT

1. Aura of Silence: functions as artifact and enchantment hate
2. Aura ShardsGC: functions as artifact and enchantment hate
3. Blessed Sanctuary: supports the Unicorn creature type
4. Corrosion: functions as artifact hate
5. Embargo: interesting prison piece for stasis decks
6. Font of Fortunes: card advantage at a fair price for Cumly Cube
7. Gate to Phyrexia: functions as artifact hate and supports the niche but possible sacrifice deck
8. Impending Disaster: a useful piece for aggressive decks or niche graveyard decks
9. Shared Animosity: supports all creature synergy decks

LAND (types are grouped together in this list)

1. Drowned Catacomb: completing the full set of check lands
2. Glacial Fortress: completing the full set of check lands
3. Hinterland Harbor: completing the full set of check lands
4. Sulfur Falls: completing the full set of check lands
5. Cascade Bluffs: completing the full set of filter lands
6. Graven Cairns: completing the full set of filter lands
7. Mystic Gate: completing the full set of filter lands
8. Sunken Ruins: completing the full set of filter lands
9. Wooded Bastion: completing the full set of filter lands
10. Darkwater Catacombs: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands
11. Desolate Mire: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands
12. Ferrous Lake: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands
13. Fire-Lit Thicket: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands
14. Flooded Grove: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands
15. Overflowing Basin: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands
16. Skycloud Expanse: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands
17. Sunscorched Divide: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands
18. Viridescent Bog: completing the full set of Odyssey filter lands

INSTANT

1. Accelerate: supports prowess decks
2. And They Shall Know No Fear: supports all creature synergy decks
3. Artifact Mutation: functions as artifact hate and supports the Saproling creature type
4. Bandage: supports prowess decks and is also funny
5. Brokers Charm: charms are an important part of Cumly Cube
6. Charge Through: supports prowess decks
7. Cremate: supports prowess decks
8. Mirrodin Avenged: supports prowess decks
9. Poison the Blade: supports prowess decks and offers deathtouch in green instead of its typical color, black
10. Pressure Point: supportsli prowess decks and offers tapping in white instead of its typical color, blue
11. Steady Progress: supports prowess decks as well as slower proliferate decks
12. Sugar Rush: supports prowess decks and offers power boost in black instead of its typical color, red
13. Treacherous Greed: supports the niche but possible sacrifice deck
14. Turf Wound: a strange tempo card that fits the ethos of Cumly Cube
15. Warriors' Lesson: supports prowess decks and might end up as green Ancestral Recall

SORCERY

1. Altar of Bone: supports the niche but possible sacrifice deck
2. Aphetto Dredging: supports all creature synergy decks
3. Apocalypse: total game resets are an important part of Cumly Cube, because you end up playing more Cumly Cube!
4. Ashen Powder: a more situational and odd piece for reanimator decks
5. Blood for Bones: a more situational and odd piece for reanimator decks
6. Breath of Life: offers reanimation in white instead of its typical color, black
7. Broken Bond: functions as artifact and enchantment hate yet also ramps
8. Channel the Suns: a strange yet useful mana-fixer. Out with fetch lands, in with sorcery WUBRG!
9. Cloak of Feathers: supports prowess decks
10. Crippling Fear: supports all creature synergy decks
11. False Dawn: supports prowess decks and might offer mana-fixing in niche situations? Even if this card is pretty useless, it screams Cumly Cube
12. Grim Tutor: tutoring is a small part of Cumly Cube but very important in the right decks
13. Growth Spasm: offers ramp, mana-fixing, and supports the Eldrazi creature type
14. Hymn of Rebirth: offers reanimation in green and white instead of its typical color, black
15. Ice Storm: land destruction is a small part of Cumly Cube but a necessary balance, and not usually in green
16. Jace's Triumph: there are Jace planeswalkers in Cumly Cube
17. Mana Vapors: a strange tempo card that fits the ethos of Cumly Cube
18. Many Partings: offers mana-fixing and food
19. Migratory Route: offers mana-fixing and supports the Bird creature type
20. Obzedat's Aid: offers reanimation in black and white
21. Ordered Migration: supports the Bird creature type
22. Raise the Palisade: supports all creature synergy decks
23. Resourceful Return: a more situational and odd piece for black graveyard decks and artifact decks
24. Ribbons of Night: offers direct damage in black instead of its typical color, red
25. Rise of the Witch-king: a more situational and odd piece for reanimator decks
26. Riveteers Confluence: similar to a charm
27. Safewright Quest: offers slight mana-fixing in green and white
28. Solve the Equation: tutoring is a small part of Cumly Cube but very important in the right decks
29. Sweep the Skies: supports the Thopter creature type
30. Temporal Machinations: supports artifact decks
31. Unnatural Restoration: supports proliferate decks
32. Urborg Repossession: a more situational and odd piece for black graveyard decks

StopShot on In your opinion: what was …

5 months ago

What came before the first Commander product.

The first Commander product, Commander 2011, came out after New Phyrexia, with the Scars of Mirrodin block being infamous for creating the keyword Infect which is an incredibly powerful keyword in the Commander format, but can be argued was not designed with Commander in mind because of how it was obviously meant for 20 life formats and has never shown up as a keyword in any base commander product since its debut.

What came after the first Commander product.

Just like how powerful infect could be, after Scars of Mirrodin came the Innistrad block which would create Commander staples still used today like Blasphemous Act, Craterhoof Behemoth and Laboratory Maniac, but could you argue WoTC pushed these cards for Commander players? I don't think what Commander staples printed in a set is an apt indicator of what influence Commander has on any given Standard set, after all Avacyn Restored released Griselbrand, a card WoTC would never have created in today's Standard sets given how much the Commander format plays a role in their current set design.

How the Griselbrand standard may answer this question.

I think a more appropriate metric is to apply what I would dub the Griselbrand standard when assessing Standard sets. The Griselbrand standard is cards or mechanics that would be fine in a 20 life 1v1 block constructed format but would obviously have no business ever being in a marketed product for a 40 life multiplayer format, with other examples of the Griselbrand standard being infect, Serra Ascendant, Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, etc. Not every Standard set needs a Griselbrand-like card or mechanic to determine if the Commander format played a role in its set design. Instead, it should be asked, at what point did the Griselbrand standard die in MTG Standard set design to make way for the Commander format? I feel this is a more appropriate question to ask to determine when Commander started to take effect on Standard set design, and I'm curious to hear what set you think would best mark this transition into the Standard sets we see today.