5-Color Tolarian Community College-Guided Kenrith

Commander / EDH Dragons Flying Tokens

MTGBurgeoning

Land (39)

• 1x Arid Mesa
• 1x Blood Crypt
• 1x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Breeding Pool
• 1x Command Beacon
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Exotic Orchard
• 1x Field of the Dead
• 1x Flooded Strand
• 1x Forbidden Orchard
• 1x Forest
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Hallowed Fountain
• 1x Island
• 1x Mana Confluence
• 1x Marsh Flats
• 1x Misty Rainforest
• 1x Mountain
• 1x Overgrown Tomb
• 1x Plains
• 1x Polluted Delta
• 1x Reflecting Pool
• 1x Reliquary Tower
• 1x Sacred Foundry
• 1x Scalding Tarn
• 1x Snow-Covered Forest
• 1x Snow-Covered Island
• 1x Snow-Covered Mountain
• 1x Snow-Covered Plains
• 1x Snow-Covered Swamp
• 1x Steam Vents
• 1x Stomping Ground
• 1x Swamp
• 1x Temple Garden
• 1x Temple of the False God
• 1x Verdant Catacombs
• 1x Watery Grave
• 1x Windswept Heath
• 1x Wooded Foothills

Creature (18)

• 1x Beledros Witherbloom
• 1x Courser of Kruphix
• 1x Dockside Extortionist
• 1x Dragonlord Dromoka
• 1x Dream Trawler
• 1x Eternal Witness
• 1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
• 1x Hellkite Tyrant
• 1x Kaervek the Merciless
• 1x Koma, Cosmos Serpent
• 1x Samut, Voice of Dissent
• 1x Seedborn Muse
• 1x Shriekmaw
• 1x Solemn Simulacrum
• 1x Sun Titan
• 1x The Locust God
• 1x Wurmcoil Engine
• 1x Xanathar, Guild Kingpin

Enchantment (11)

• 1x Animate Dead
• 1x Asceticism
• 1x Curse of Opulence
• 1x Dictate of Erebos
• 1x Exquisite Blood
• 1x Land Tax
• 1x Outpost Siege
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Rhystic Study
• 1x Search for Azcanta  ^Flip
• 1x Smothering Tithe

Artifact (8)

• 1x Altar of Dementia
• 1x Arcane Signet
• 1x Fellwar Stone
• 1x Lightning Greaves
• 1x Mana Crypt
• 1x Skullclamp
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Vedalken Orrery

Commander (1)

Instant (12)

• 1x Beast Within
• 1x Chaos Warp
• 1x Counterspell
• 1x Cyclonic Rift
• 1x Dig Through Time
• 1x Enlightened Tutor
• 1x Hero's Downfall
• 1x Heroic Intervention
• 1x Mystical Tutor
• 1x Rapid Hybridization
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Teferi's Protection

Sorcery (10)

• 1x Austere Command
• 1x Blasphemous Act
• 1x Cultivate
• 1x Debt to the Deathless
• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Gamble
• 1x Kodama's Reach
• 1x Toxic Deluge
• 1x Vandalblast
• 1x Wrath of God

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Narset, Parter of Veils

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This is an EDH/Commander deck derived from the Professor's series of Top-8 Must Have Color Specific cards from his YouTube Channel (Tolarian Communinty College). In each of these five videos he suggests the quintessential eight cards from each color that must be played in an EDH/Commander deck supporting those colors. The following YouTube videos are the Professor's explanations and break-downs of these selections:

The Top 8 Must Have Commander Cards in White:

The Top 8 Must Have Commander Cards in Blue:

The Top 8 Must Have Commander Cards in Black:

The Top 8 Must Have Commander Cards in Red:

The Top 8 Must Have Commander Cards in Green:

The Professor did an excellent job in presenting these cards and justifying their "must-have" inclusion status. I recommend watching these videos.

These 40 cards (eight cards from each of the five colors) are the base of this deck. Then I added ten popular and highly-played artifacts in the format (with assistance from EDHREC). Next I chose ten gold-colored win condition cards (one from each color pair/guild). These ten additions were answers to the question: "What card from this guild provides me the best opportunity to win?" MTG Burgeoning answered that question ten times. With 40 cards remaining the deck needed a leader and 39 lands. I selected Kenrith, the Returned King as the General/Commander of this deck in addition to 39 lands. The in-depth construction of this deck can be seen in this YouTube video:

Kenrith, the Returned King EDH/Commander Deck Tech:

GAME PLAY #1

The deck's initial game was victorious in a three-person match of EDH/Commander against an Animar, Soul of Elements deck and a Superfriends Kenrith, the Returned King deck. Admittedly, this initial test-drive was assisted greatly by early turn Smothering Tithe and Rhystic Study plays. From the experience of this game, I opine that Dream Trawler is one of the most powerful creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This sphinx, along with Kaervek the Merciless and Samut, Voice of Dissent kept my opponents hampered throughout the match. I am certain that I will enjoy piloting this deck to more victories!

GAME PLAY #2

Another victory in a three-person match of EDH/Commander against Niv-Mizzet Reborn and another Kenrith, the Returned King deck. This match was more of a struggle than Game #1. Similar to the inaugural game, turn 3 Rhystic Study into turn 4 Smothering Tithe convinced me that this game would be smooth-sailing. Those enchantments were dispatched by Heliod's Intervention on turn 5. Shortly thereafter, with both Samut, Voice of Dissent and Dream Trawler on the battlefield I was sure of victory. Then Ugin, the Spirit Dragon was cast and everything on the battlefield that was at least one color and 6 converted mana cost or less was exiled. Dream Trawler got neutralized! My opponents had a lot of answers in game #2. As the game transpired, an arsenal of removal spells was deployed from my hand to keep my opponents in-check. A well-used Heroe's Downfall finally rid the battlefield of Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. Oona, Queen of the Fae was our next threat. I was able to end-of-turn activate her twice before her demise. The first time I paid {12} and was rewarded...two faeries. The second time I paid {13} and was rewarded...one faerie. Oona, Queen of the Fae is not good against five-color decks. Shortly thereafter I cast Sun Titan and recurred Eternal Witness. Eternal Witness chump-blocked while Sun Titan attacked, each time recurring either a fetch land or Eternal Witness. Eventually I had enough mana to cast Debt to the Deathless for the win. The early-turn removal of Rhystic Study, Smothering Tithe, Samut, Voice of Dissent and Dream Trawler forced this match into a marathon.

GAME PLAY #3

In this three-person match I played against a Zacama, Primal Calamity deck and another Kenrith, the Returned King deck. In the category of "understatements of the millennium," Seedborn Muse and Kenrith, the Returned King on the battlefield together is absurd. Phyrexian Arena is awesome. Reliquary Tower coupled with these cards is almost unfair. Unfortunately, the cards in my hand were not useful against Ghired, Conclave Exile after he and his trampling rhino buddies hit Opponent #1's battlefield. On the other side of the battlefield Opponent #2 cast Ghalta, Primal Hunger for only {1}{G}{G} as he had Kenrith, the Returned King and Pristine Skywise under his control. On my turn and at 13 life after getting attacked in consecutive turns by Ghired, Conclave Exile and multiple trampling rhinos and then by Ghalta, Primal Hunger and Pristine Skywise, I draw Wrath of God. This game was lost if I didn't draw Wrath of God. I cast it and pass the turn. Opponent #1 follows-up with Desolation Twin and Opponent #2 re-casts Kenrith, the Returned King. Opponent #1 has 20 power on the battlefield and Opponent #2 has the ability to bring back Ghalta, Primal Hunger on his next turn with Kenrith, the Returned King (he was one mana short of bringing the dinosaur back because of commander tax). I untap and draw my two cards. Unbelievably, it's another top-deck draw: Animate Dead. I cast it to bring Ghalta, Primal Hunger onto the battlefield under my control, re-cast Kenrith, the Returned King in addition to Courser of Kruphix. Opponent #1 does not attack on his next turn, instead opting to activate and sacrifice his Idol of Oblivion and then cast Second Harvest. Four creatures. Forty power. Also, Opponent #2 decides to activate Kenrith, the Returned King and put two +1 +1 counters on the original Desolation Twin. Opponent #1 passes to Opponent #2. Opponent #2 returns Pristine Skywise from his graveyard through Kenrith, the Returned King and leaves mana open. He only has two cards in his hand. I presume he has counter-magic or removal. He passes to me. I need something. I draw my two cards. Unreal. Chaos Warp and Pernicious Deed. I cast Pernicious Deed and activate it for {0}, eliminating the three tokens of Desolation Twin. I hold Chaos Warp and swing with Ghalta, Primal Hunger. I leave {G} open for +1 +1 counters in case Opponent #1 blocks with his 12/12 Desolation Twin. Opponent #1 does not block and his life total drops to under 20. I pass. Opponent #1 untaps and casts Zacama, Primal Calamity. He pings Courser of Kruphix and attacks with Desolation Twin. I Chaos Warp it and he gets a Plains. Opponent #1 passes to Opponent #2. Opponent #2 draws and plays a land. He attacks me with Pristine Skywise. I have no fliers or reachers and take damage. Opponent #2 passes the turn. I untap, draw my two cards. I've got a chance. Two bigguns. Two FLYING bigguns. I cast Oona, Queen of the Fae and Gisela, Blade of Goldnight. No counter-magic. I give my creatures haste and trample through Kenrith, the Returned King and swing out, sending Ghalta, Primal Hunger and Kenrith, the Returned King at Opponent #1 and Oona, Queen of the Fae and Gisela, Blade of Goldnight at Opponent #2. No removal spells. I have {G} mana in case I need to add +1 +1 counters, but it was unnecessary. Gisela, Blade of Goldnight doubled the damage and it was enough to get the victory. Without multiple top-deck draws this game would have been Kenrith's first loss. WHEW! 3-0!

UP & UP SERIES #1

Mana Crypt replaces Commander's Sphere.

Mindleech Mass replaces Oona, Queen of the Fae.

Spiritmonger replaces Pernicious Deed.

Koma, Cosmos Serpent replaces Thrasios, Triton Hero.

Command Beacon, Temple of the False God, Reflecting Pool, Forbidden Orchard, Mana Confluence, Indatha Triome, Raugrin Triome, Savai Triome, Zagoth Triome and Ketria Triome replaces Plains, Plains, Island, Island, Swamp, Swamp, Mountain, Mountain, Forest and Forest.

UP & UP SERIES #2

Appearing in an installment of MTG Burgeoning's UP & UP Series, this Kenrith, the Returned King gets some UPdates & UPgrades to the land base, Guild cards and artifacts:

Snow-Covered Plains replaces Plains.

Snow-Covered Island replaces Island.

Snow-Covered Swamp replaces Swamp.

Snow-Covered Mountain replaces Mountain.

Snow-Covered Forest replaces Forest.

Xanathar, Guild Kingpin replaces Mindleech Mass.

Beledros Witherbloom replaces Spiritmonger.

Wurmcoil Engine replaces Swiftfoot Boots.

Altar of Dementia replaces Thought Vessel.

DECK TECH

With the following deck tech, this Kenrith, the Returned King build enters into the Burgeoning Commander Catalog, and this video also becomes the starting point of a Kenrith, the Returned King EDH deck primer series:

Date added	4 years
Last updated	11 months
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	15 - 0 Mythic Rares 53 - 0 Rares 18 - 0 Uncommons 4 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.61
Tokens	Beast 3/3 G, Frog Lizard 3/3 G, Gold, Insect 1/1 UR, Koma's Coil 3/3 U, Pest 1/1 BG, Spirit 1/1 C, Treasure, Wurm 3/3 C w/ Deathtouch, Wurm 3/3 C w/ Lifelink, Zombie 2/2 B
Folders	MTG Burgeoning's EDH/Commander Decks, Tabletop Tryouts, Liked Decks, Burgeoning Commander Catalog