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Y'shtola, "Alternate Casting Cost Control"

Commander / EDH WUB (Esper)

jclaust


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Y'shtola, "Alternate Casting Cost Control"

Overview

"Alternate Casting Cost Control" is a control deck focused on Mana Production, Alternate Cost spells that one can reasonably cast using mana if conditions for Alternate costs cannot be paid, and Draw Power. Lifegain is incidental and solely used to weather damage throughout a match.

Note 0 The deck includes 42 3MV or greater noncreature spells to trigger the commander; including, 20 Alternate Casting Cost cards, which have consistently played well.

Mana Base: Land/Ramp/Fixing

Land Base more than meets Mana Curve and Pip Density.

Ramp Package exceeds the Mana Curve and Pip Density. It makes casting multiple spells per turn viable, and it helps cast spells that are meant to be cast with alternate casting costs. Additionally, they help trigger the commander.

Utility Lands are recursion focused: Academy Ruins returns artifacts from the graveyard, Hall of Heliod's Generosity returns enchantments from the graveyard, Mystic Sanctuary returns an instant or sorcery from the graveyard. Cabal Coffers is for mass mana production, while Reliquary Tower provides unlimited hand-size.

Win Condition

Life-drain the opponent below zero. Combat damage and Commander Damage are viable but improbable to finish opponents, unless heavily assisted by the life-loss plan.

Support: Tutor/Draw/Other

No tutors to maintain Bracket 3 expectations.

Draw Power is abundant. 5 Clones and 3 Copy Creature spells are intended to copy the commander without the legendary super-type. Each clone/copy helps to expedite the life-loss and draw power. Curiosity, Ophidian Eye and Tandem Lookout further expedite the process and work well when cards are low. Wizard's Staff works similarly to a Clone/Curiosity effect.

Interaction

Citing the deck name, this deck is dense with a variety of interaction: Counter Magic, Targeted Removal, and Mass Removal. All, except Void Rend, has an alternate casting cost. After playtests, these alternate costs can be paid or cast using mana, making the deck flexible, albeit complex.

General/Commander

Y'shtola, Night's Blessed plays enabler for life-loss, lifegain, and draw power. She is also the primary clone choice. Referring to the former, Delney, Streetwise Lookout and Roaming Throne help end games with the commander and/or clones/copies in play.

Keep brewing.

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