Transcript
Zachary Jeblonski: Hello, hello. Welcome to another episode of Midlife's Crisis. I'm joined again by Charles.
ciderspence: How's it going, Zach?
Zachary Jeblonski: It's going pretty good. Do you have a go -to breakfast food?
ciderspence: Oh, I do. I have several. i an o I'm an oatmeal guy as I, you know, advance in age.
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay. Ooh, that was... Just... Finishing my mail. Yeah.
ciderspence: I'm a big... blueberries and strawberries guy this is this is like primarily the spread they have at work and since i work
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay.
ciderspence: So many days I have... basically mimic that at home.
Zachary Jeblonski: Oh. Okay.
ciderspence: i do I do veggies for breakfast. again, because of the advancing age and whatnot. But i'll eat I'll eat, you know, I'm vegan, so I'll eat all sorts of like sauteed vegetables or like cauliflower, broccoli. Brussels sprouts are a favorite. so Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: Wow. In the morning.
ciderspence: Sorry. In the morning, that's right. All day, every day. Let's start the day right.
Zachary Jeblonski: so i don't I don't know if I can do that in the morning. Yeah.
ciderspence: I would recommend against it, actually, if you can. If you can feel good without doing so. I would recommend staying on that path as long as possible. How about you?
Zachary Jeblonski: Now... Yeah, I think right now I'm on oatmeal, but I'm on like. like I loved it. Growing up, and I still kind of do. the uh the maple brown sugar oatmeal packets that That one brand makes that I can't remember.
Zachary Jeblonski: so i've been trying to replicate it myself because like i want to make the macros better So i kind of I'm trying to find a recipe for like, how do I make maple brown sugar? Oh, man. And I got to.
Zachary Jeblonski: i'm Right now I've been experimenting, but I i just got to look up a recipe online. that's
ciderspence: Wait, have you tried versions that are bad like I would have thought okay, you've got your So Quaker, I assume is the brand you're referring to.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, Quaker, that's the one.
ciderspence: they make good oatmeal very good So.
Zachary Jeblonski: there that's the one yeah
ciderspence: You've got the oatmeal. you're just trying to figure out the ratio of sugar and maple syrup to add Or do you think there's something else?
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: Okay. Have you had... versions where the ratio made the May the oatmeal... bad to eat because I would think that those are just good things and you're just deciding how good you want to make it versus how healthy you want to make it.
ciderspence: But I might be off.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, yeah. it's It's like kind of like the balance between health and and and taste. And I'll be honest, I have done very little work. I just slap stuff together in the morning and see how it goes. Cause I'm also putting like chia seeds and.
Zachary Jeblonski: I'm a big fan of nuts in my oatmeal. So I use like sunflower seeds.
ciderspence: Gotcha.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, welcome to i the Magic the Gathering podcast where an aging middle -aged man talking about oatmeal.
ciderspence: That's right one of these days one of these deck builder websites is going to start talking about filling your deck with your oatmeal instead of your veggies. because oatmeal is also important to eat.
Zachary Jeblonski: I know, right? like like I need Moxville to create a recipe calculator so that I can have...
Zachary Jeblonski: So I can check my macros like I check my pips.
ciderspence: Yeah, you need the right balance of spells and lands, of chia seeds and sugar, and then you're gonna find your...
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: your sweet spot.
Zachary Jeblonski: Exactly. Well. We're, we're ostensibly here. to talk about magic, so I suppose that's what we should do. I think you were mentioning earlier that you didn't have quite the magic week you wanted.
ciderspence: I did not. My my week was decidedly non -magical. It was great.
Zachary Jeblonski: Oh.
ciderspence: i I had lots of other you know fun life things, but I only played a single game.
Zachary Jeblonski: Good.
ciderspence: of... Heads Up Commander!
Zachary Jeblonski: Heads up commander
ciderspence: And it was, yeah, just like. All right. I showed up for what I thought was going to be a pot of. four people. It was me and one other guy.
Zachary Jeblonski: Aww.
ciderspence: And then I. you know foolishly decided to just stay and play a two -person game which Kept me from being able to play a four -person game on the same night later.
ciderspence: And then I didn't get any other games in. so
Zachary Jeblonski: That's the worst.
ciderspence: Uh... Yeah, I mean...
Zachary Jeblonski: what what Was this a store we've been to previously that you went to?
ciderspence: No, this was so I've been trying to get together a game at my office
Zachary Jeblonski: Oh, gotcha
ciderspence: And I got in one four -player game. a couple weeks back. And this was my triumphant return. I thought I'd get another. of such games and did not.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: Bummer. This was basically the equivalent of keeping a two -lander and thinking it'll work out. uh it
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: It doesn't work out in gameplay. It didn't work out on Tuesday. And, you know, I mean, mistakes were made. Uh, unfortunately it won't be the last time but Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: I don't know who needs to hear this. and But that two lander will not work. Just remember that. Just remember my voice in the future. That two -lander. Will not work.
ciderspence: I'm starting to think of it as even if it works. What that means is that Your plan for... how you win. probably won't work. Like if the if the miraculous thing that happens to you in a commander game is that you draw your third and fourth land.
ciderspence: then... What are you getting with that? I mean, I guess it's possible that you could have in your hand the stuff you need to win if you just have enough lands, and maybe that plays out.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I think the idea is that your hand is folded.
ciderspence: which are already kind of taxing.
Zachary Jeblonski: gas kind of thing, you know?
ciderspence: Yeah, I don't know you're just taxing the magic gods pretty hard to get those lands when you need them so that I'm not sure you can expect or hope for anything else to turn out your way.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: Bye. I guess.
Zachary Jeblonski: I think... i
ciderspence: Let us know in the comments your stories of how the two lander just dominated. I'm i'm curious.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I think Wait a minute, we have comments? but
ciderspence: and Oh, sorry. I said in the commons. Write these as flavor texts on magic cards.
Zachary Jeblonski: I don't know. I think he said in the comments, I was like, oh crap, is there comments that I haven't been looking at?
ciderspence: I do. i did say in the comments that was just uh yeah i just listened to too much online stuff
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah. but it hit that Hit that bell. Punch that subscribe button.
ciderspence: Like and subscribe.
Zachary Jeblonski: Like and subscribe.
ciderspence: wherever you get your podcasts for free.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, we're all fine, podcasts are sold. I mean, given away for free, I guess. Yeah, i did the the two -lander thing, I think I find myself keeping that when I've mulliganed already, and I'm just like, ugh.
Zachary Jeblonski: I'd rather just keep a two lander than go down to six. But I don't think that's the right meant modality either. so
ciderspence: I do think when you're going down to five it's a conversation.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, when you get down to five, you're really like, all right, just give me the two -lander. I'll figure something out, you know.
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay, well. Is there anything of note that you want to talk about in that game? or
ciderspence: So I tried. a list I had put together for the Queen of Dale. So she is...
Zachary Jeblonski: Oh.
ciderspence: We talked about this a bit offline. Let me pull her up.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, Queen of Dale seems... Really good, especially even in the 99. So I don't know if I'm going to.
ciderspence: Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: Go ahead.
ciderspence: All right, Queen of Dale, one and a white, legendary creature, human noble. Whenever an opponent casts their first non -creature spell each turn, you recruit. Draw a card, then discard a card if you discarded a non -land card. Create a 1 -1 white human soldier creature token. She is a 2 -1.
Zachary Jeblonski: Nice.
ciderspence: Yeah, I mean... This seems good. There's been a lot of chatter about how the recruit mechanic compares to other draw discard type mechanics, how for once per turn.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, notably, like, connive kind of thing.
ciderspence: Yep. Exactly. Instead of putting on counters. Conditionally, you make tokens conditionally. Yeah, she she seemed great. She was... She was fine. I thought the deck... did well but i was matched up against an anti -Ul debt.
ciderspence: Uh,
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay.
ciderspence: And... I'll just read Anteul because it may be apparent. to those who know her. Ward Blight 2. Whenever 1 or more one one or minus 1, minus 1 counters are put on a creature, draw a card if you control that creature. If you don't control it, its controller loses one light.
ciderspence: So it turns out... that a deck whose focus is on making 1 -1 tokens. is a bad matchup. for a deck whose focus is in putting minus one, minus one counters on creatures.
Zachary Jeblonski: That makes sense.
ciderspence: And. That is the kind of the... The. primary theme of that pre -con Uh... I got housed a few times. Uh...
ciderspence: And. within the game. uh you know i kind of went wide i had a couple of uh pumps out but my opponent was able to pick with pick off the pumps, and then my creatures were just easy to...
ciderspence: eliminate with one. counter he also got an early What's that? contagion clasp. And so you have the data to proliferate.
Zachary Jeblonski: Oh, okay. ya
ciderspence: One counter and... go wide with distractions so Uh, I got out to what I thought was. uh hopefully an insurmountable lead turns out totally surmountable uh lost in the end and uh you know
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: I don't blame her. It was definitely a skill issue on my part. but uh she she was good i i look forward to tweaking the deck and playing it in a pot of four Uh, one of these days.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I think Queen of Dale is... I mean is it's Amen. I mean, I'm very low on the Hobbit set in general, but I think that's like one of the few cards I probably will pick up as Queen of Dale. Especially since I don't imagine it's going to get any cheaper than it is now.
Zachary Jeblonski: I think there was a Gleaming Splendors, the other one. Yeah, i'm not but I'm not paying that for that.
ciderspence: Yeah.
ciderspence: Yeah, that one I'm not.
ciderspence: quite as confident. is strong as the Queen of Dale. Bye.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah. Gleaming Splendor, just for the listeners, is an enchantment. It's one and a white. whenever an opponent draws their second card each turn you create a treasure token and then you can pay two and a white two target players each draw a card So for three mana on the activation, you can force the treasure token because you can force the same player whose turn it is to draw a card.
Zachary Jeblonski: I mean, it's really good for two mana. You're probably going to get your your money back pretty quickly. but In real life dollars of $35, I don't know about that.
Zachary Jeblonski: Alright, cool. Anything else you want to talk about with that game?
ciderspence: Nope. Ha!
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay.
ciderspence: How was your week?
Zachary Jeblonski: Mine was pretty good. I got i got a fair amount. And on the Tuesday store. So I guess the highlight I guess I want to I guess I get to first is So, you know the hobbit said didn't really do it for me and I'm certainly happy for everyone. It does you know, was was exciting for them.
Zachary Jeblonski: So I think. partly what i did is as reference to the fact that like the hot set didn't excite me and also the mystery booster commanders are exciting so i ended up printing a bunch of proxies of them And I rule zero to one in on Tuesday.
Zachary Jeblonski: uh because i was really excited to try it out and it also required the least amount of rework on one of my decks to make it work. So the one I. was trying out on tuesday is It's a Zora Lingering Wick. It's a two blue red.
Zachary Jeblonski: It's a little bit of a paragraph, so bear with me. It says... At the beginning of your upkeep, Excel the top three cards in your library. Each opponent secretly chooses a number, zero to or greater. Then those numbers are revealed. Choose an opponent with the highest. and uh with the highest number Its disorder deals that much damage to them. Then they may cast a spell from one of those cards without paying its mana cost.
Zachary Jeblonski: You put a card from one of them that wasn't cast this way into your hand. So essentially you're you're auctioning off the top three cards of your library. So I actually got two games of this because...
Zachary Jeblonski: I got to say this was a hit. People love this commander. And it was really fun to see. Uh... It was really fun to see a situation where people were intentionally not killing him because they wanted to get to the next auction.
Zachary Jeblonski: So that was kind of nice. I... And the first game I played the very first. card or very first card that was among the three cards that we were auctioning was my card of the week.
Zachary Jeblonski: So my card of the week is a card that I didn't even cast myself, but my opponents did off of my deck, which is... improvation Improvisation Capstone Which is a five red red?
Zachary Jeblonski: It's a paradigm card from the Secrets of Strixhaven Meaning that once you cast it... provided you successfully cast it. then you'll recast it every first main phase going forward.
Zachary Jeblonski: And it says exile cards on the top of your library until you exile cards with a total mana value of four or greater. You may cast any number of spells from among them without paying the mana cost. So i for I bought... I bought D30s for this deck for people to vote to auction with.
Zachary Jeblonski: And I forgot them at home. So all I had was D20s. But one of my opponents fired off a... a nat 20 to get this card so they they took 20 damage to cast this thing
Zachary Jeblonski: And they didn't end up winning, but they got a lot of value off of it. And I think that's one of the...
ciderspence: Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah go ahead.
ciderspence: If there's any card that's worth 20, this is close. i mean that
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: it's very good and to think that you know You get to cast it every turn of the game and it's not yours. That's pretty amazing.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, yeah, like... He ended up losing and what I what is it what is interesting and i I really can't wait to play this deck Maura is There's like this weird meta thing happening. We're like I get to see what people think certain cards are worth
Zachary Jeblonski: and it's it's really interesting because like you know capstone came out that guy fired up a d20 like it was nothing he's like give me that i'll half my life total for that But i I even had guys go high on certain things. I had... i had I flipped over a Ponder at one point, which is just a one blue sorcery, and it just says, look at the top three cards of your library, put them back in any order. You may shuffle and then draw a card.
Zachary Jeblonski: I had somebody build nine life on that. And they won. So it's been really interesting to see. What? certain cards are valued at. I didn't win the first time I played him, but I won the second time I played him because I... did ensure that i put win cons in it so i have Crackle of Power, Jaya's... immolating inferno.
Zachary Jeblonski: So the idea is like let people bid down their life totals. And then I come in with a killing stroke with like one of these big sorceries. And it's also... They're both X sorceries, which means that, like, if I...
Zachary Jeblonski: reveal them. as a part of it disorders trigger nobody's going to cast them because X would be zero. So it's been it was really cool. Like it's it's I think it's a really Good experience. I had a lot of fun. And like I said, my opponents were like, yeah, play him again. like Play him again. Yeah, I want to play him again. you know, because it's just it's very engaging.
Zachary Jeblonski: I made sure. For time equity purposes, I made sure that. I took all the cloning effects out. So that it only happens once a turn. So we don't get stuck in like a. uh that's auction five times in a row we're not yeah i took all that out so it just one auction to turn
Zachary Jeblonski: And otherwise... There's not much different from this kind of deck than a normal is a deck. It's just. i just tried to make sure that the cards were generically good so anybody would want them and they would bid for them But yeah, I had a really good time with this commander that's technically not legal yet. it
ciderspence: Nice.
Zachary Jeblonski: And... So I got two games with that. There's my improvisation capstone. Did you talk about your car of the week yet? or Or is it something that...
ciderspence: Oh, I didn't. Yeah, this is a fine spot for that. yeah So my card of the week is a card that I actually didn't have in the deck I wound up playing, but I pulled it when I was opening.
ciderspence: Hobbit cards. Like you, The Hobbit isn't a set that I'm especially excited about. I tried. I went back and listened to the... the audible reading of The Hobbit.
ciderspence: all the way through I read it when I was young and I read it again as an adult.
Zachary Jeblonski: Oh wow, nice.
ciderspence: a while ago. And I liked it. I just, I don't know, i like... and Maybe it's just the juxtaposition of I was so excited about Marvel and I'm... I'm not as excited about The Hobbit, even though I...
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: I kind of actively like The Hobbit in general. But anyway, so I went back, I listened to the whole book. I'm kind of excited. But. Just, I don't know, but the letdown from Marvel was...
ciderspence: was pronounced and very noticeable. But anyway, my card of the week is... The Arkenstone. So this is a legendary artifact that comes with an adventure card seek the heart So Seek the Heart is two and a white, a sorcery adventure. Search your library for a legendary creature card. Reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
ciderspence: Then the Arkenstone, five generic Legendary artifact creatures you control get plus one plus one At the beginning of your end step, Draw a card. So the Arkenstone.
ciderspence: Seems pretty good. Is it worth five mana in your deck?
ciderspence: I don't know. That depends a lot on... Uh, how available mana is. it does at least draw you a card on the end step. And it is buffing your creatures until it gets removed, so... it gives you a little bit of value although I think Your hope is that you get to.
ciderspence: accrue that value over multiple turns so You'd be pretty sad if this got instantly revealed. are instantly removed. That sorcery is the rate that you get on...
ciderspence: There's a snow. sorcery in white that does the same thing.
Zachary Jeblonski: Oh, yeah, I think you're right. Yeah.
ciderspence: And then there's like. creature, Talia's lieutenant, I think. Or Talia's Lancer is one of the two. who's four and a white, who does the same thing when she enters.
ciderspence: You treat her a legendary creature. to your hand. So it's nice to see both those things on the same card. I happened to pull two Arkenstones while I was cracking packs for The Hobbit, so that was kind of exciting.
Zachary Jeblonski: How nice.
ciderspence: One one really fancy art win. So. uh that That's why it's my card of the week because it looks cool and it seems... Seems pretty useful, but I haven't played with it yet.
Zachary Jeblonski: this is a really yeah This is a really fun experiment we're doing, which is when we're both not feeling a set. We're just like, yeah, look. This seems cool, I guess.
ciderspence: it's a very it's a good it's a cool flavor full card in the set like the arkenstone plays a pretty big role in the book so
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: yeah i just I don't know. i mean Lots of people don't like some of the universe's beyond sets and I you know For the ones that I like and they don't like, it's very easy to say, oh wow, just in your face, you don't like it, just wait.
ciderspence: and You know, it's my turn. I'm in the barrel now and it's okay. It's fine. I'm not like mad. I just you know. I just am not into it, and that's okay.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I'm not mad either. you know I'm happy for the people that are happy for... They're feeling it And, you know, like my set that I'm looking forward to is right around the corner, which is I mean, Reality Fracture is the one I'm looking forward to. So that's the next one up. So I've got to wait a little bit.
Zachary Jeblonski: So yeah. Uh... But... Let's see. What else did I get up to? so It was those games I got another game in with my.
Zachary Jeblonski: Quote -unquote bracket four stack stack. It definitely needs some work. I keep stalling out, which is weird because i mean every time I goldfish this, I like end up with like 20 cards in hand and I'm playing.
Zachary Jeblonski: you know, like... Crazy amounts of stuff and all this up, but every time I played in paper, I just keep running stalling out So I gotta figure out what's going on with that
ciderspence: Is it eating a lot of removal?
Zachary Jeblonski: No, that's the thing is like I'm just the detections just not working in paper even though it works So it it literally must be lock like I just got to try it again but I originally designed it in such a way which you know now seems readily apparent is a bad idea. which I really didn't put any board wipes in it.
Zachary Jeblonski: because the idea was that like i was gonna stack everyone out so fast so hard that there wouldn't be anything to board wipe or there wouldn't be much to board wipe. But that's just not the case like it's it's not fast enough to keep up with the fast bracket four decks.
Zachary Jeblonski: So I need to, so I'm gonna, I gotta add a bunch of board wipes. And then I just got to make sure the card draws a little bit more on point. Uh, So I got i gotta gotta to mess with it a little bit. It is really, I will say that. The deck is really good.
Zachary Jeblonski: At stopping. free casting decks specifically i've played it against maelstrom wanderer like three times now And every single time I've completely obliterated that deck because I have so many ways to be like.
Zachary Jeblonski: You know if a player would cast a spell and no mana was cast spent the casted counter it, you know and stuff like that but it's just not very good at dealing with some of the other archetypes. I lost to a goblin deck.
Zachary Jeblonski: And he's not free casting. He's just like. revealing off the top of his library and putting all the goblins on play and and doing combos and stuff like that. so I need to think about a little bit more about like what.
Zachary Jeblonski: pieces I need to deal with. You know, when uh maybe triggered abilities or you know, creatures entering triggers, that sort of thing. i have to I had to do some modifications there.
Zachary Jeblonski: So, so far, I haven't even come close to winning with this deck yet, but I'm going to keep, we're going to keep. Totally worth it. You know, in the in the back of my head, I still think, like... If I can't make this work, I might actually try to make it work with uh queen Caleb and Krug.
Zachary Jeblonski: Because her activation is really powerful. of putting the artifacts into play without casting them. Let me just read that out because i I doubt anybody remembers or not a lot of people probably remember the commander.
Zachary Jeblonski: But I kind of stumbled on this commander when I was building my current boros graveyard escape deck And I realized that she would be really good for the kind of stacks I'm trying to do uh which is She's Queen Caleb and Krug, one red white. She has an activation of form generic tap.
Zachary Jeblonski: Discard all the cards in your hand, then draw that many cards. You may choose an artifact or creature card. The amount of value one you discard this way, then do the same for creature. artifact or creature cards amount of value two and three return those to the battlefield So she would allow me to kind of like fill my deck with like rule of law type effects and stuff like that. because she gets right around that because she just puts the artifacts in the play without casting them
Zachary Jeblonski: Sorry. Like. If I can't make Sith as work, I might switch to Boros and do that. We'll see. But in my journey of having a competent stack stack, i I still think I've got quite a bit of iterations to go before.
Zachary Jeblonski: It actually works.
ciderspence: Yeah, I have a Queen Caleb and Krug deck. and She's very fun. I haven't been able to figure out how to. quite get her over the finish line but I mean, I probably just put in some discard pieces as finishers. and hope that you can get to activate her her activation is only as a sorcery which
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: slows it down a little bit. But yeah, have very powerful effect.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah. that's i mean That's the thing with like when you get into that bracket for CDH point is like... put into play becomes a very important thing. Because it denies your opponents the ability to counter anything or anything like that. Because it's all... That's why, like...
Zachary Jeblonski: Canon is really popular because it's a put into play not a cast
ciderspence: yeah
Zachary Jeblonski: And... And I'm trying to think, was there anything else that I got up to? on. Tuesday I think. Yeah, I think it was Sithus and Itazura.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, that's what it was
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah. All right. So I don't think I have any more. Games of the Week. to go through. Do we want to talk about decks on deck?
ciderspence: Yeah, that's it.
Zachary Jeblonski: All right So decks on deck. Do you want to kick us off you want me to kick us off?
ciderspence: Why don't you lead us off for this one?
Zachary Jeblonski: Alright. So going with my theme of ignoring the hobbit's head and instead of focusing on the mystery booster commanders. The next one I'm probably putting together.
Zachary Jeblonski: is Grizzlegom, Landsmatter. Landsmatter is the, I'm sorry, that's the little the little. tag I put on it. but it's grizzle gum, herloon hero. And this is another paragraph commander. So bear with me listeners.
Zachary Jeblonski: Uh, he's a four, four minotaur warrior minotaur. So he's already got a leg up for me. And he's got Rule Breaker. A deck with this commander can have any land cards.
Zachary Jeblonski: And the reason is, is because when Griselgam... attacks, create a one, one white soldier for each planes you have. Draw a card for each island you control. Each opponent loses one life for each swap you control.
Zachary Jeblonski: Put a 1 -1 counter on Grazagon for each mountain you control, and you gain one life for each forest you control. So when I put him together. It's basically going to mean me shredding shredding my five -color deck.
Zachary Jeblonski: Because a lot of my expensive. triomes or lands with type or dual lands with types and all that stuff that are in the five color deck to try to smooth out that mana curve. And I think I'm at peace with that. I think I don't ever really reach for for my five color deck that much because.
Zachary Jeblonski: I think five colors kind of like. Five color is no color basically because there's you can just kind of do whatever you want So that's fine. So I'm going to raid that. And it's going to be 40 lands.
Zachary Jeblonski: and every single land the way i've prototyped it out has at least two types on it So I think almost all the triumphs then plus a lot. A lot of... dual lands that have types.
Zachary Jeblonski: But it does mean that... Because I'm not trying to put myself in the poorhouse to build this thing the... Almost every land I have in the deck will be coming in tapped so I'll have a lot of ways to Mitigate that I have spelunking which caused my lands to come in untapped tiller engine, which untaps the land when it comes in.
Zachary Jeblonski: And then the other thing to put on there is. cards that give all your lands every every basic land type like dry out of the elysian grove or prismatic omen are going to be in there But when I have... Goldfish this it's been really cool and powerful i mean it very much is like it it very much is a commander deck that hinges on the commander So if people counter my commander, remove the commander, you stop them from attacking, then the deck will... more or less kind of fall apart a little bit. which is fine.
Zachary Jeblonski: But when he does get to attack, it's it's pretty fun. It's pretty fun to get like. Here's seven soldiers, draw six cards, drain everybody for four, gain six life, and Grizzlegum gets like four plus one plus one. So it's like, yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: So I'm looking forward to try that. Of course, it's going to be a rule zero thing. So when I do get the opportunity to try it, it's going to have to be, you know, with the blessing of the table. but Uh...
Zachary Jeblonski: I hope that won't be an issue, but that's kind of the next deck on deck for me.
ciderspence: Nice.
Zachary Jeblonski: What do you have coming up?
ciderspence: The other... The one other deck I'm working on from The Hobbit Is, a dwarf deck and i don't know if i talked about this last time. but There was some.
ciderspence: So the story of The Hobbit focuses on, I think, 13 dwarves and a hobbit. And so it's...
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: a deck that I just want to have all those characters in it. and I didn't find one of the dwarves to be a suitable commander. who's kind of in line with my... deck building philosophies, but I... I did find the commander. who is a dwarf. It is Cole the Forgemaster.
ciderspence: I'll read So he is Red White Legendary Creature Dwarf Warrior. Whenever another non -token creature you control dies, if it was enchanted or equipped return it to its owner's hand.
ciderspence: And creature tokens you control that are enchanted or equipped to get plus one, plus one.
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay.
ciderspence: He's a 2 -2. So. I was able to build this pretty quickly with you know kind of the cards i have around and the members of that named party that I found from what I pulled.
ciderspence: I got a couple more because I got the scene boxes from Hobbit.
Zachary Jeblonski: Welcome.
ciderspence: but There's a little bit of interesting tension here. between flavor. and functionality. So that ability Whenever another non -token creature you control dies if it was enchanted or equipped, return it to its owner's hand.
ciderspence: has a lot of potential for combos. And I'm not. a strict combo player but i I'm not above the notion of a combo finisher and and otherwise.
ciderspence: underpowered deck, which I think this kind of is. And so I... I'm. A little torn between... around so i'm you know i'm committed to putting the 13 dwarves in there So bye.
ciderspence: Every time I pull one of those, it goes in the deck. But there, you know, i I also, it's a typo deck. mostly with dwarves. and so I'm trying to play a lot of dwarves. There are only 13 of those from the story, and the one Hobbit, if I can find him.
ciderspence: So... I'm trying to keep the number of dwarves. above 20, hopefully. 20 to... 25 -ish. I used it to be a strict.
ciderspence: Floor of 30 typo members in every deck that Hypo.
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay.
ciderspence: i've relaxed that a little bit because this also is an equipment deck so i've got to have like 20 to 25 equipment, 20 to 25 dwarves, and then, you know. 10 to 15 cards that make the deck work.
ciderspence: in addition to the lands stack is already kind of low on lines but anyway There are a couple of equipment in there like Skullclamp is obviously very good here. You got a one mana dwarf and some mana You can.
ciderspence: just draw as many times as you want, which is very nice. sorry i said one mana but i meant a one toughness dwarf and there are a few
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: There are a couple of other equipment that let you sacrifice a creature to do something. Lotus Ring is pretty good in this deck. It's three mana. It equips for three mana. It gives the equipped creature, I think, plus three, plus three in vigilance, but you can also tap and sacrifice the equipped creature.
ciderspence: to create three mana.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: So if I've got... a cost reducer on a quick cost and a one mana. Dwarf I can. Go infinite with dives triggers And if I have a... i Very cheap.
ciderspence: Sorry. minus two reduction on the equip cost. I can go infinite in mana, I think, with that. But.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, when you first started... Bringing up this commander. I was like, he seems not whatever. And then the more I've thought about it, like, like. like Even very quickly, I was like an astronaut's altar with a lightning greaves.
Zachary Jeblonski: I'm like, OK, that's that's infinite.
ciderspence: Yep.
Zachary Jeblonski: i'm Like, OK, OK.
ciderspence: Yeah, so...
ciderspence: I don't I think that's how... I want to win, but at the same time, i don't I want to play the deck, but I don't want to play the deck. and have it be so bad that I have a bad time for an hour.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, yeah
ciderspence: So that this may all just suggest that I need another commander. for it. And that's probably... I was looking at I think. bifer There's one of the dwarves.
ciderspence: melodic rider. But I couldn't quite tell if he... If I want to run him or not. But anyway, he's a four. Hybrid boros, hybrid boros. Legendary creature dwarf bard with storied.
ciderspence: If you control three or more artifacts, legendors legendaries, and or sagas, you have an enduring story for the rest of the game. When it enters or attacks, put 1, 1 counter on target creature. as long as you have an enduring story if an ability of a dwarf you control triggers that ability triggers an additional time Use a 4 -5.
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay.
ciderspence: I mean no combo potential there It's... I don't know. That seems so bad that it's probably not worth playing.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, it is six mana, which is a lot.
ciderspence: I mean, he would go in the deck for sure. Yeah, six mana, four, five.
Zachary Jeblonski: and
ciderspence: Panharmonicon for Dwarves. Well, it definitely works with Dwarf Typho, and I guess I could get rid of some of the equipment. I don't know. Maybe I do look harder for this card and try to build around it. But anyway, so that's what, you know, this is probably. One of the.
ciderspence: least enthusiastic decks on decks of all time but you know i guess this this just goes with the theme of not being that into the set.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, we're... Yeah, folks are struggling a little bit this week.
Zachary Jeblonski: But i the I... You know, look. You never know. Like I have built decks with commanders that I was like, I don't know about this. And then they've turned into like long -term. Like Beloved Daxter, right?
Zachary Jeblonski: So... You never know.
ciderspence: Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: Well, I have 30 P's. How about that? I think... Let's see. Next up for my decks on deck. That's probably the closest to coming. Well...
Zachary Jeblonski: It's probably And I... Oh, yeah. And for the listeners, you're going to get a double whammy this week because I forgot to put out the episode from last week. So I'm going to put out both of them today.
Zachary Jeblonski: So I think I mentioned this commander on the last. On the episode that you're going to get as well as this episode. But I'm probably going to put together. All right.
Zachary Jeblonski: Chira all in. She's the mono -red random commander from Mystery Booster. And she has, whenever you discard one or more cards at random, select one or more targets at random, choose one or more modes at random, flip one or more coins, or roll one or more dice.
Zachary Jeblonski: You put a 1 -1 counter on her and create a tap treasure token. When I've goldfish this out. uh It is a little unclear. How? I do.
Zachary Jeblonski: Damage. But I think there's enough in there where I can get over the finish line. But I think this is definitely one of those decks where I need to... Play it in person because gold fishing is just kind of insufficient because of the amount of randomness in it
Zachary Jeblonski: So that's probably the next thing I'm gonna build The good news is it does allow me to. run some cards that i i have seen in other decks that i thought were pretty good And one of them was actually.
Zachary Jeblonski: I found a fancy card that i've actually I saw was actually pretty good. And that's... Umaro Raging Yeti? And it's a five and a red legendary creature, Yeti Berserker.
Zachary Jeblonski: And it's a 6 -6 with trample, and it says at the beginning of combat on your turn, choose one at random, hence why it's in the deck. Other creatures you control get 3 -0 and trample time to turn. discard your hand then draw four cards or umaro deals five damage to any target And I saw this commander actually do pretty good or this card do pretty good. So I'm excited to kind of run it in a shell that. cares about it.
Zachary Jeblonski: And when I have goldfish this is definitely one of the top cards in the deck I would say. But so far, the current issue when I've goldfish this is that.
Zachary Jeblonski: Even without any treasure synergies, really, like I have no like. When I make a treasure, make more treasures or anything like that. I intentionally didn't put any of that in the deck. I just wanted it to be like. straight random and then the treasures are just a little icing on the top Even with that... I make enough treasures where like I'm constantly running out of cards.
Zachary Jeblonski: And this is what... By my count 23 sources of card advantage So we'll see what's going on with that. that's that's a little bit of work in progress but that's probably the next up on the on the production line after Rizzlegum.
ciderspence: Nice. Yeah, I'm kind of
ciderspence: There's like a fine line between randomness and chaos and I I vehemently don't like chaos, but... I... I think a bit of randomness is fun. So I'm curious to... See this deck in action.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, there's no, I didn't sure. I think there's only like one, literally one card in the entire. Dak. That really impacts my opponents like in a chaotic fashion.
Zachary Jeblonski: And that card is a Burning Inquiry. And this is just because it's on rate really, really good. So I kind of have to include it, which is. It's one red sorcery.
Zachary Jeblonski: Each player draws three cards and then discards three cards at random. So it's a draw three, discard three for one red. It's like you kind of have to put it in the deck. But other than that, this deck should not impact my opponent's board too much. i was like That was like another thing I i made sure I did.
Zachary Jeblonski: Was that there's no like. scramble verse effects or anything like that it's The chaos is more or less all on me. But it is like...
Zachary Jeblonski: You know, I'm OK with like, you know. My spell or ability not targeting the right opponent because I had to roll dice or like i'm okay with all that that I just want to make sure that I do have ways to get across the line. and I think I do. And also I have to remember, and a lot of times I forget this when I goldfish is like.
Zachary Jeblonski: Chyra is probably going to get pretty big. So she can probably take out somebody on her own. because she gets a plus one every time. I do something random. So yeah, we'll see. We'll see how it does does an action.
Zachary Jeblonski: But I'm excited to have a red deck that I'm interested in playing because it's been a long time since I've had him on a red deck where I was like really into it. So.
ciderspence: nice well yeah i want that for you i've been very heavy on mono red recently and i've
Zachary Jeblonski: That's all I'm saying.
ciderspence: Been thoroughly enjoying it. So.
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay.
ciderspence: Yeah, hopefully you do too.
Zachary Jeblonski: Hopefully. Maybe I will also join the mono -red crew.
ciderspence: Sounds good. Means we'll be getting more games in.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah. So we get more. Joke's on you, Blood Moon. We're all going to stay here and do nothing.
ciderspence: Not if we're both playing Mono Red.
Zachary Jeblonski: No! My plans! Any other decks on deck?
ciderspence: No, I'm sure I mean I i'm still looking forward to some uh Some of the mystery booster commanders as well. Uh... You may and. Boss.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, you may. I'm really looking forward to it.
ciderspence: offite I'm excited to build. I actually tried to.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: find a proxy of one of them but it looks like my delivery got scuttled but Yeah, i'm I'm hoping to have. some of those ready to go for whenever i can pick up the the actual cards. But yeah, nothing else.
ciderspence: Nothing else in the hop. Well... I saw a... an online game featuring the notary hobbits That's another commander that I might build. But I did not pull one and my local shop doesn't have any copies yet.
Zachary Jeblonski: Oh yeah.
ciderspence: so
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, the Notary Hobbits are interesting.
Zachary Jeblonski: Do you want to read those?
ciderspence: Sure. Uh, The notary. Hobbits.
ciderspence: are three green green. Legendary Creature Halfling Advisor When the notary hobbits enter. If they're not a token, create two tokens that are copies of them, except the tokens aren't legendary.
ciderspence: and The remainder of the text is tap. Add. colorless for each halfling you control. So... If they resolve...
ciderspence: with no tricks, no strings. When they are able to tap, they... tap for a total of 9 mana.
Zachary Jeblonski: They sure do.
ciderspence: colorless. Which is pretty good.
Zachary Jeblonski: That's pretty good.
ciderspence: But it's also a lot of mana and pretty slow So. high upside a lot to build around But. I mean, those are those are kind of...
ciderspence: That makes for it. formula for a an interesting deck. that it's probably fun to play if you support it. with the 99 so Yeah, I could see myself building this one too.
ciderspence: But no no active plans in the work.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I can. Yeah.
ciderspence: But if I if i find a copy, I will. build it.
Zachary Jeblonski: Colorless blink effects? Ugh. Like... Panharmonicon effects? Ugh. You know like thousand -year elixir so they can tap immediately Amen.
Zachary Jeblonski: Green making a lot of mana. Who thought?
ciderspence: Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: I think the the last thing that's majorly considered, I mean, I'm keeping an eye on a variety of the Mystery Booster commanders. So i they're kind of swirling around the ether.
Zachary Jeblonski: I think I'm gonna come down. i I think I want to keep either Summit or Witherbloom because I think they serve similar functions in my head about like kind of what they're trying to do.
Zachary Jeblonski: And I think I'm going to keep Sam on. over weather booms i think summit's a little bit weaker And also like. Kind of makes you work for it a little bit harder. So I think that's going to open up. my Golgari slot. And I think I want to, I want to think I want to be a. uh to use the term the The lingo of the youth, and I'm not going to say the full phrase. but I want to be a basic so -and -so.
Zachary Jeblonski: And I think I I found a Like a month back. I found a marin list. That's all creatures. So no no other card types except for creatures and lands.
Zachary Jeblonski: And I think I want to build that because I've tried an all creature deck. for both Selesnya and Abzan. And they didn't quite get where I want them to be. And I think this one, when I've, when I've tried it out at goldfish, I really enjoyed my time with it. So.
Zachary Jeblonski: I think that'll also be on the... Coming up soon. And sometimes it's nice just to build your. You're you're like.
Zachary Jeblonski: Commander that's doing the thing and it's not. doing something crazy and wacky you know like it's a marin deck full of creatures we you know but sometimes you want at least sometimes i want that sometimes i want just like all right let me uh Let me dial it back and just.
Zachary Jeblonski: a play commander as intended kind of thing, you know?
ciderspence: Yeah, and I'm a big fan of... heavy uh strict deck restrictions
Zachary Jeblonski: I am too, yeah.
ciderspence: I... I have several. Or maybe there's two. to... All creature decks. And they're. They're disjoint colors, so they there's no overlap in them.
ciderspence: they're They're a good time. like It's fun to think about. What will help this get over the finish line? you know what creatures have effects. That I need as staples like it's kind of harder to find you know, your your requisite card draw, your requisite removal.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yep.
ciderspence: One of the decks is in black, so it's not harder to find the removal, but finding the card draws... is tougher. you know finding the main acceleration I find myself relying on my lands more. so that i'm happier to see kind of the staples that i put in most of the decks but you know really shine when you when you otherwise don't have the things that you need or you have limited supply of the things you need. So I think that's a fun. deck building restrictions.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I'm looking for and I get to run a companion. I'm gonna run Umori who requires each non -land card in your starting deck to share a card type. so It's always fun when you can sneak Companion in and Commander. It's so rare to see it.
ciderspence: nice
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, so we'll do get that done But... Yeah, i guess I guess we can move on to, I guess, random topics. We haven't we haven't had the time for this in a while.
ciderspence: Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: So I guess i guess'll I'll start us off. In case there's a topic you really were hot to get to.
ciderspence: No, there isn't
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay, so... i I was talking to my wife a little bit about this over breakfast yesterday. And this is something that like.
Zachary Jeblonski: I've thought about. I've started to think about more and more in the last couple of years too. and Tomer over at MTT Goldfish kind of had He's kind of been talking about this for the last week he put out a video about it and he had like a blue sky thread that I am delaying and stalling for time as I pull up.
Zachary Jeblonski: But essentially the gist of it is the the the impetus or the thing that kind of started this conversation up is that we there is now a new number one most popular commander on EDH Rec. And it's been a while since this has happened.
Zachary Jeblonski: And for a long time, it was the Earth Dragon. I remember when I first started playing, Atraxa was number one. Edgar Markov kind of hangs out up there a lot.
Zachary Jeblonski: But the new number one. and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon is uh ishtola knights blast from the Final Fantasy set.
Zachary Jeblonski: And if you don't know what an Ishtar does, which. might be shocking at this point but I don't want to assume. is it's a esper commander so one white blue black a vigilance cat warlock two four And she has at the beginning of each end step, if your player lost four more life this turn, you draw a card.
Zachary Jeblonski: Whenever he casts a non -creature spell with mana value 3 or greater, his Stola deals 2 damage to each opponent and you gain 2 life. And so she's kind of. you know, advance to the the first rank.
Zachary Jeblonski: And you know, Tomer put out a video on why he believes that is. and i tend to agree with them and and more or less it comes down to if i'm going to distill this argument down, which is that it's a commander that does a lot without requiring much of the the pilot. or or the deck builder.
Zachary Jeblonski: And if you look at... I would say A lot of the top commanders. They are similarly situated where they don't require a lot and they get you a lot of value You know, number two and number three are both eminence commanders between the Urodragon and Edgar Markov.
Zachary Jeblonski: I guess the conversation became like. you know. You know, is this good for the format that the most popular commanders are the ones that require the least of the player to get value out of?
Zachary Jeblonski: I guess before I keep going, Charles, do you have any like feelings one way or the other about this kind of card design?
ciderspence: Yeah, I... I guess I would. push back a little bit. that she doesn't require anything of you i i think there's a pretty clear line in my mind between heard. text and eminence where eminence
ciderspence: gives you value with like eminence gives you value that you don't have to do anything to current.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I would agree with that.
ciderspence: she just tells you what to do she's just i would say that she's a very clear roadmap commander where there's a lot of value. on the card and she tells you very clearly what you need to do to get that value
ciderspence: And so she rewards something. She's she's more like a landfall. More adjacent to a landfall commander, in my mind, where she rewards you for doing something you were probably going to do anyway.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: which is play, you know, spells that hurt. play spells. that give you value. in the uh mana value that she wants right like you you're encouraged to play three mana spells more so than two mana spells you might ordinarily play.
ciderspence: but as long as you do that you get a lot of value off it so you'll probably do that And those are cards that, you know. Would otherwise maybe go on a commander deck so I could see the case that you're getting cheap value or value for stuff that you would do anyway.
ciderspence: And. Like landfall, I can see how that might frustrate people. but This seems fine to me, like I'm - I guess. I don't want to jump ahead, but I don't. I don't feel like this is doom and gloomy. I think she's a. fine card.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I mean, I think. Yeah, I think the... you know i'm present I'm going to present the argument as I understand it, not necessarily from my viewpoint specifically.
Zachary Jeblonski: but Essentially like... Yes, she does require you to cast. a non -creature spell of a matter of value to your creator. but a lot of the staples of the format. are that right so and people are generally thinking about this on the higher power level like So your Fierce Guardianship is three mana. Your Generous Gift is three mana. your smothering tide is, is four mana.
Zachary Jeblonski: And so you're constantly getting rewarded for playing basically commander staples. And then at the same time. you don't have to do anything and if your opponents hurt each other you're still drawing cards, right?
Zachary Jeblonski: So that's kind of the argument there, which is like it's just kind of just this really powerful value engine piece that. Doesn't. Like, you know I'm trying to think of a good example, but like it's not like a typo commander where like it only really works if you're running a bunch of the same type. or or commander that requires you to kind of bend over backwards to get the value out of it. and
Zachary Jeblonski: you know, I'm trying to think of a good example of that, but like, my destiny, my the destined warrior deck I have that, that cares about party. And it really only does stuff that I have a full party, you know, that sort of thing.
Zachary Jeblonski: And the reason reason I kind of want to bring this topic up is like, yeah, I kind of I see their points and all that. And I grapple with those points too. And often when I think about building commanders, I do. consider how easy they are. And we've talked about wither bloom a little bit.
Zachary Jeblonski: But I also have to recognize the hypocrisy that I have. which is my favorite commander literally gives you stuff for doing. very little. which is a Modi. and emoti cascades off of spells that are mana value six or greater So all I have to do is cast spells matter basically greater and I get free cards so like you know I can't hate on the Ishtola players or hate on the Ishtola design.
Zachary Jeblonski: When I have a motive right here. Who is... almost as egregious as your stola maybe maybe slightly less egregious you know So it's been interesting for me to kind of come come to terms with that. And i get I think the answer more or less is just like.
Zachary Jeblonski: We want a mix of that and commander maybe it's okay to have these generic value commanders But you also we want us to want those commanders that make you work for it, you know
ciderspence: Yeah, I don't know. right I kind of just think that Ishola's fine. like i I think that if this is a question about homogenated in the format. then that's one thing. Like, yeah, it would be sad if I were at a pod where it was just three.
ciderspence: You stole players and me. But that's more that...
Zachary Jeblonski: and Could you imagine?
ciderspence: i could I could. I could pretty easily imagine. But i I feel like that's more because I don't want to just see the only one commander. across from me.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: I think this card is just okay. All right. I've seen the store. decks really go off i've seen them struggle uh it doesn't seem overpowered to me It just seems good. And. I think it's fine for... players to pick good cards. This card...
ciderspence: I've seen it about as often as I've seen like Kefka. the the discard Kafka.
Zachary Jeblonski: Wow. Yeah, that that one is, yeah.
ciderspence: I dislike that one a lot less than this one. all right Sorry, I just like that one more than this one. Uh... i'm now i'm Okay, I dislike Kefka more than I dislike Ishtola.
ciderspence: I think it's fine.
Zachary Jeblonski: No, I understand Yeah.
ciderspence: It's just like a... It's a... I think it's fine for there to be decks that... It's a little more readily apparent how to get the most out of them I think the thing that... Separates.
ciderspence: Players who've played a lot from players who haven't played as much and I could see a solo appealing more to players who haven't played as much Although. Certainly. it could be a very strong option for players who do play a lot and want something really high powered.
ciderspence: you know the thing that i found as i played more is i'm more interested in getting a lot out of a card that isn't quite as obvious how to get a lot out of
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: or you know maximizing what I could get out of a card that you know where the limit is is where the ceiling is lower. And she just has a really high ceiling. and a really high floor But that's okay. like i I don't know. That just doesn't bother me. I'm not... philosophically i'm not I have no tension with this card. i think it's Fine. I don't even think I've ever been sad to see any Shola deck.
ciderspence: Whereas there are. many many commanders that i've been very you know, I'm enthusiastic about playing against. This one I think is just fine.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I agree with that. i think I think kind of where I come down ultimately on this is... i think I think there's value in having these generically. value. Commander driven. Man, that is a heck of a sentence I just said. I think there is value in having commanders that require little of the player to get a bunch of value from them.
Zachary Jeblonski: and i think specifically i think it i think it is appealing for newer players getting into the game And I think there's nothing wrong with that. Because I think I think the overall trajectory I've seen from a lot of players you know, both at stores when I've talked to them is like.
Zachary Jeblonski: You kind of start with these generic value commanders and like you get hyped about them. And then as you play the game, you just you you do desire that challenge more of like, well... I want to actually have to work a little bit more for my value here, you know.
Zachary Jeblonski: And so i think it's I think it's good to have these commanders that like more or less function or... do something even if the deck isn't great so that these newer players have an experience where They felt like they did something. Even if they didn't win, they felt like they did something.
Zachary Jeblonski: So I think there is value in that. And to be fair, the vast majority of time I've played against Ustola in the wild. is from players who are relatively new to the format, right?
Zachary Jeblonski: Because, you know, she's a pre -con led, all that stuff. And. Yeah, it just makes sense, right? it's it's It's very simple and easy for... Well, I shouldn't say that. it's easier than probably a lot of other commanders to understand that like If my spell is three or greater, I get this. And if an opponent lost four or more life, I get this. Done. like i don't have There's no other like paragraph of text that I have to reconcile with.
Zachary Jeblonski: So yeah, I think it.
ciderspence: i would also say that the strategy is compact on eustola which i think is also very helpful for new players like they're all
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah. Yeah.
ciderspence: it's It's all related. It's not that it has three or four abilities and it's not Kenrith, right? Where it can do a lot of things and you're not sure when to do what thing or what to put in your deck to be able to do which thing.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yes. yeah
ciderspence: It just tells you. If people lose life, you you draw a card. and when you cast spells people lose life and also you gain life so it's like the thing you have to do which is cast these three mana spells getting your life back so it protects you it deals this damage which draws you cards so you really just have to do kind of the one thing So it's like a very loud.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: Trumpet it's like a loud clarion call. It's like play three mana spells do that and everything will work out if you don't you are I don't know why you're playing this deck. Whereas other things are like...
Zachary Jeblonski: If you don't, I don't know why.
ciderspence: you know you gain life in the circumstance you deal damage in this circumstance you impulse draw in this circumstance and you're just not sure at what point of the game. whether that is what you need. This is like, no, at every point in the game, you're doing this one thing, and it will be good for you as long as your commander is out.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
Zachary Jeblonski: Exactly. Yeah. So yeah, I think... We'll see. I guess the question is like... How often do we want to see these kind of commanders created?
Zachary Jeblonski: I don't have an answer to that you know does every stat have to have at least one commander that's just generically powerful I don't know the answer to that.
Zachary Jeblonski: But we'll see. I mean, I don't... I think the only thing keeping Vivi from being number one compared to Ishtola is the surprise, because I think otherwise Vivi would be number one. And I think Vivi is even more like.
Zachary Jeblonski: I think Vivi's even more egregious than Ishtola, for sure. Like, I would... I'm very scared about somebody rolling up to a pod with a VV. Commander deck.
Zachary Jeblonski: because you're still has a little bit of a limiter on it in that You only have so much mana to cast your mana value through your greater spells, right? where VB very much does not have that mana constraint.
ciderspence: Yeah, I would argue that they're not. They're not that similar. Like I think. Y'shtola is a commander that... I could see being popular because she does a lot.
ciderspence: But Vivi, I think...
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: is. a commander that I guess it's conceivable to play casually for a very new player. But kind of like I was talking about with that. Dwarf Commander who lets me recast my stuff that dies that's equipped it's just like If you...
ciderspence: If you've played Magic... even a medium amount, I think it's... With that card you just think of how to break it and when you break it it's just it becomes Whatever that...
ciderspence: It's like ultra not casual. which is fine if you're you know playing bracket five or you're playing bracket four.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah.
ciderspence: But it's just like, that's a deck that I think is intended to... have Vivi come out quickly and then win the game that turn or the next turn and I don't think that each tool is like that.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah, I think the the only reason I'm... Yes, I agree with that. And the reason I'm bringing up Vivi is that Vivi is ranked number seven. So Vivi is. kind of climbing up. But i think I truly think that the only reason VV isn't higher or isn't number one is just because...
Zachary Jeblonski: He is literally 10 times the price of Ishtola. But yeah, I agree with your take that Vivi is much. different from Estola in that VB is less generically good and more specifically good.
ciderspence: Yeah, I just feel like... If it comes to the question of do we need more of this card? I would say, yeah, I'd be happy with more ashtolas, more things that provide a similar amount of value with a similar clarity of Oh. construction. plan.
ciderspence: But I don't think we need any more BVs. I'd argue we need one less.
Zachary Jeblonski: Yeah. I agree. But I think that's probably a good place for us to kind of wrap it up unless there's anything else you want to talk about.
Zachary Jeblonski: Might have lost our my for a little bit. That's fine. We're going to go ahead and wrap it up. And like I said, listeners. you may notice that there's an... additional episode in your feed today as I will be putting out two episodes, including the one I'm recording right now and the one from last week.
Zachary Jeblonski: that I was traveling while recording. So unfortunately, I just slipped my mind to. finish the post -processing and distribute it. But you'll be seeing that. Charles, you back yet?
Zachary Jeblonski: Okay, well, I'm going to say... Goodbye and good week to the rest of our listeners on behalf of Charles. I assume he would wish you guys a good week, I would assume. But I'm going to certainly do it. And. Thanks for joining us for another episode. We'll be back again next week. And like I said, you'll have a two week. or two episode treat today.
Zachary Jeblonski: And you guys have a good week. A good bye.
