Yeah. I was referring to things like Alloy Animist, which is like the only thing I can find that isn't blue that animates artifacts. So really, the animation thing had always been blue, especially en masse, so Bello is really unique and I have to wonder why they bent the color pie so hard with him. I like the card, just feels very different.

All good suggestions. If I'm going to surprise infect, I'd go Tainted Strike. That will cut down on build up time as well. I like that as nice one off strat. And yeah, I forgot Mauler during my research and then found a copy in a box a couple days after I did the video. It's a good one too.

To each their own but personally, I dislike Approach of the Second Sun. It's too easy to win with. There's no build up, you cast it twice and it just happens, and I don't like alternate win cons like that (I'm looking at you Thassa's Oracle). At least with Simic Ascendancy, Twenty-Toed Toad, and those kind of win cons, you have to telegraph it a bit and it feels earned when you pull it off. As for being a target, if that happens, that group doesn't like fun. I love pouring gasoline onto a game with a group hug deck and watching the ensuing chaos. When played right, you should be at the very least, the last one to go down playing group hug, if not winning because you played your politics correctly and set yourself up to win via the alternate win cons. And hell, in this deck, you could just have a big flying beater come in and finish off the last survivor. Either way, it's going to be a good time.

Kwain is in the precon and I left him in. This deck surprised me a bit as I broke it down. I didn't have much interest in it at first but now I actually really like it and I'm thinking about picking it up myself since I own most of the additions already.

Now that's a use of Rat Colony I can get behind. Marrow-Gnawer just seems blah to me.

@@twilightscallmtg Same feeling here. Is Marrow-Gnawer good yes he is really good, but just doesn’t pack the Wow factor I would like. But Wick is a rat I can stand behind.

Yeah. I already have a Chatterfang deck and I'm likely picking up a copy just because there's so many new pickups I'd slot into that deck anyhow.

Glad you enjoyed the video. I liked Wick because it doesn't ask you to spam Rat Colony and use that to overwhelm and win the game like most Rat decks tend to do. Instead you're tasked with charging up what is essentially an explosive snail, which is just fun to me.

Sword of the Squeak wasn't revealed when I did the recording, but I would include it for sure (a hazard of starting brews prior to final previews). The issue I have with most equipment, is the ones that do solid boosting for this, cost a lot to either cast or to equip, slowing you down from casting other stuff or even using Wick's ability right away if needed. Creature type-shifting enchants can do well but I was kind of not wanting to use them here because I've used them A LOT for my Assassin's Creed content as of late, but that can work as well, but I would want to have more ways of spreading counters around in the deck. At the end of the video, I do recommend a couple equips to give Wick lifelink to get back bursts of life, and someone recommended Whip of Erebos which is good as well. Hatred is a good recommendation if you can find a copy that's reasonably priced. I try not to recommend Reserved List pieces unless I'm showing some of my personal decks where I own the card and can include the card, since some of them are astronomically priced.

For example, I think a card like raise the alarm would be a good include in this kind of build

It's likely too many. From this list, I'd probably shave 3 of the 5 drops (probably Witch of the Moors, Vogar, and Alharu) and add 2 rocks and Land Tax.

You're correct. When I made the video, I didn't realize it was a delayed trigger. Many more games with her in paper made me realize that potential. She's such a good commander but I think Auras scare off a lot of players.

Glad you liked it. Right after I did the precon video and did the prerelease I was rubbed the wrong way with how the focus of the precon wasn't outlaws like advertised and that there's just more outlaw support in blue.

That was one of my biggest issues with this precon. The Commanders in it are treasure focused instead of outlaw focused, which is what the deck was meant to be. I like to try and highlight the focus of the deck when I do these "upgrade" videos, be it power or theme upgrades.

That's another good way to go about it, especially if you don't own a Shadowspear, which is on the pricier side of things. Lots of ways to get the desired effect. Thanks for the recommendation for the deck.

Ironically, I found a copy of Taurean Mauler in a pile I was digging through last night. The older changelings will be great to fill in holes for the underrepresented creature type synergies.

Glad you liked it. I had considered Piper, but decided against it as I've tried it in the past for other rat decks and it's super slow in creating tokens and it draws a boat load of hate before I could use it to steal anything. Probably because of the theft part.

Thanks for tuning in. I think the thing with Rats has always been centered around Rat Colony being the bulk of the design space, but there's still a decent amount of non-Colony rats available, especially now that we gain access to blue for the deck. This will be a Commander that will get better over time as more rats (or rat supporting cards) get printed into the game.

Glad you liked it and I appreciate the encouraging words.

They'll only count as creatures if you animate them with something like Tatyova. However, animating one with an everything counter will then give them all creature types, so any kind of bonuses granted to specific creature types can them apply to the animated lands as well.

@@twilightscallmtg but an Elf creature with an everything counter from Omo makes it count as a land creature to get flying from tatyova's ability?

@@jorgegarza2746 Ok, so I rushed to answer originally. I was wrong. Here's the way it works. Non-land creatures get the creature types off Everything counters. Everything counters grant all land types to lands and all creature types to creatures. They don't make creatures into lands or lands into creatures and what I said before about granting creature types to land creatures is wrong, as I forgot the non-land creature part of the card.

@@twilightscallmtg thanks for your answer

Thank you kindly

Yeah, it's slim pickings directly from the set to get a completely coherent deck out of. I REALLY wish they would have just done what they did with Fallout and sold precons with theme printings and the new cards in them. It would have made for a better experience overall and the set would be better received.

I wanted another token copier, and being a new toy it works nicely since we have lots of lifelink in the deck, although it doesn't auto equip them for us. The bonus is that if you can get another token copier online with it, it'll double up each of the copied equipment. I didn't include a game in the video (because it was a long slog) where I had Danitha suited up with a bunch of stuff, with Anointed Procession and the Ocelot. So I was getting cloned tokens Sigil of Valor and Sword of Forge and Frontier directly on her, then at end of turn, I'd get copies of each created by the Ocelot, which I'd equip the next turn and it would make even more on the next swing. In the end, I was at 154 life, Danitha was a 65/65 with First Strike, Vigilance, Lifelink, and Indestructible, and they scooped because the game wasn't going to end in their favor with her ever growing.

It helps loving both games. I wanted to give a brief lore because so many players were either dismissive or had no idea what to make of the cards.

That's a good one.

Thank you very much.

It can be. But Nim Deathmantle is more for the pump and reanimation. The intimidate is a bonus for when you can use it. My group has a G/W counters deck so it works well against them. Build to how your group is comprised. So many choices, and if no one in your group is vulnerable to it, then swap the mantle for something else.

@twilightscallmtg thats fair for the recursion and pump Intimidate is best on mono colored things but it's niche otherwise

Glad you liked it. I decided to do a little character background since I saw a lot of players saying stuff like, "I don't even know who these characters are." or "All I know about this game is you run around in a hood." I love the games for their attempts to blend historic events and characters into the story narrative, and I want people to be interested in trying the card versions of the characters out.

Not sure either. I just spent 20 minutes thinking about how it could work and I'm not seeing it because you're only getting the 1 cast trigger. You aren't casting the copies because the way both cards are worded, and that was deliberate. Otherwise one spell could infinitely re-trigger either Echoes or Ulalek. At most, if you copied the Echoes with Ulalek first, I think you only get up to 8 total (1 for the original cast, 3 from Ulalek triggering and paying 6 into it (per rulings that say 2 echoes causes 3 triggers from other colorless permanents), and 4 from Echoes seeing each other and making them each trigger the spell copy line twice. It's a lot of tokens but not infinite.

@@twilightscallmtg Yea its very confusing I asked some judges and they said that that specific combo does not end on an infinite in itself. But if you already had infinite mana, you apparently can Keep infinitely copying the stack

@@twilightscallmtg Still trying to understand it myself im pretty new to the game, this is very confusing, I tried to play out an opening hand scenario and let a judge check if my stack looked correct and he said it looks right. This is only with 7 colorless mana starting the stack, so with a lot more or infinite even it gets so wild. This is what I wrote: Colorless mana left after initial eldrazi creature cast 7, and then increments of paying ulalek trigger cost 5>3>1 On field: ulalek, reflections of littjara and 3 echoes of eternity eldrazi creature spell littjara trigger to copy creature spell ulalek trigger (pay 2 colorless) echoes #1 copy ulalek echoes #1 copy creature spell echoes #2 copy ulalek echoes #2 copy creature spell echoes #3 copy ulalek echoes #3 copy creature spell Resolve echoes 3 copy creature spell Resolve echoes 3 copy ulalek (paying 2 colorless) stack update: eldrazi creature spell littjara trigger to copy creature spell ulalek trigger echoes #1 copy ulalek echoes #1 copy creature spell echoes #2 copy ulalek echoes #2 copy creature spell coppied eldrazi creature spell coppied littjara trigger to copy creature spell coppied ulalek trigger coppied echoes #1 copy ulalek coppied echoes #1 copy creature spell coppied echoes #2 copy ulalek coppied echoes #2 copy creature spell Resolve coppied echoes #2 copy creature spell Resolve coppied echoes #2 copy ulalek (paying 2 colorless) stack update: eldrazi creature spell littjara trigger to copy creature spell ulalek trigger echoes #1 copy ulalek echoes #1 copy creature spell echoes #2 copy ulalek echoes #2 copy creature spell coppied eldrazi creature spell coppied littjara trigger to copy creature spell coppied ulalek trigger coppied echoes #1 copy ulalek coppied echoes #1 copy creature spell another copied eldrazi creature spell another copied littjara trigger to copy creature spell another copied ulalek trigger another copied echoes #1 copy ulalek another copied echoes #1 copy creature spell another copied echoes #2 copy ulalek another copied echoes #2 copy creature spell another copied coppied eldrazi creature spell another copied coppied littjara trigger to copy creature spell another copied coppied ulalek trigger another copied coppied echoes #1 copy ulalek another copied coppied echoes #1 copy creature spell then resolve entire stack? Since no mana left other ulaleks in the stack dont copy anymore, loop is broken.

The issue is you aren't casting the copies. They are simply created. Once the original set of triggers resolves, there's no more ways to copy. You can't keep paying into Ulalek at will to keep copying. It triggers one cast, even with Echoes doing copying stuff. So once you resolve Littjara, multiple copies of Echoes, and copied triggers off Ulalek, you would need the mana to restart copy stack with a brand new cast spell and reactivate Ulalek for that cast. So with your initial scenario, you will have the original creature, 5 Ulalek copy opportunities (original + Echoes trigger copying), and 9 Echoes copies (each one sees the other 2 and triggers 3x), and the Littjara trigger, so 16 creatures created then it should stop and need a new cast to restart and copy a different creature 16x (if you have the mana). I hope I have that right. Copy effects are crazy difficult when they start multiplying.

@@twilightscallmtg haha yea indeed, but a copy of ulaleks trigger with echoes does initiate another stack copy once that choes copy of ulalek resolved, granted you do still have to pay colorless. Im not 100% skilled in this but I asked in a judge discord, perhaps you can discuss the correct ruling with them, perhaps they are wrong?

The backside of flip cards counts for color identity in Commander. So all the MH3 "flipwalkers" are one color on the creature side but technically are 2 colors because of the Planeswalker side of the card, Ajani being red and white.

It's fine. I'm pretty laid back on comments unless it's something that's offensive.

Been a while since I visited this one. We've seen several printings (and reprints of some insanely expensive cards) since I did this video. In no particular order, these are the demons (and one devil) printed (or reprinted) since Dominaria United that I would look into adding some where: Archfiend of Despair (NOW AFFORDABLE!), Bloodletter of Aclazotz, Rakdos, Patron of Chaos, Rakdos, the Muscle, The Balrog, Durin's Bane, and Pyretic Prankster. I'd also look into some newer support spells, such as Rakdos Joins Up, Pyretic Rebirth, Calamity, Galloping Inferno (Copying Archfiend of Despair or Bloodletter sounds like a recipe for some crazy plays), Lavaspur Boots, Connecting the Dots, Judith, Carnage Connoisseur, Bitter Triumph, Lich-Knight's Conquest, Virtue of Persistence, Call of the RIng, Spiteful Banditry, and Mithril Coat. Not all of this will fit, but it's all the stuff since I did the video that I would consider good additions somewhere depending on what your budget is and what you want to do with the deck.

I've not done a revisitation to old precon upgrade videos before, but I'll give you my list of cards from the new precon and MH3 mainset I would consider here and a few sure-fire cards I would use as well. From the precon, I'd consider Twins of Discord, Eldrazi Confluence, and Ulamog's Dreadsire. Couple more big Eldrazi for Zhulodok to double Cascade with and the Confluence can be use to handle indestructible creatures as well as simply ramping up to the bigger Eldrazi ahead of schedule. From the mainset, I'd consider Devourer of Destiny, Ugin's Labyrinth, Kozilek, the Broken Reality, and Ulamog, the Defiler. I think the only thing that would keep me off most of these cards, is current pricing for Ulamog and the Labyrinth currently being $100 combined. For sure, from both the precon or mainset, I'd use Eldritch Immunity, Selective Obliteration, It That Heralds the End, Idol of False Gods, and Echoes of Eternity. Immunity is the cheapest way to protect the creatures in a colorless deck, Selective Obliteration is a really good wipe, Herald and Idol are great ramp in a deck like this, and Echoes copies any cast triggers off the Eldrazi and even causes Zhulodok's Cascade trigger to copy.

Glad you liked them.

You're correct. I didn't remember it was a top of deck tutor effect when I was rounding up cards. It's still worth running to get your Eldrazi of choice that fits the game, but not worth copying. Thanks for pointing out my goof. Pinning this so it's pointed out.

Good idea there.

It can, but you have to wait on the cards and a wipe means you get 1 card and nothing more. It's why I prefer Reclaimation. Just personal preference.

to add, you went for token copying effects and a bit of additional proliferate, but did you think of Copying the triggers instead, to make the deck less reliant but still grateful for satya? I speak of Panharmonicon and Virtue of Knowledge. both will copy effects like Guide of Souls, Ghonti's Aetherheart, etc, alongside any ETB triggers the creatures would have on their own. Guide of souls being able to make creatures into Angels can also call for putting in a Roaming Throne, naming angel, though you can name human to a decent effect too. to copy triggers. I personally threw in Lithoform Engine and Strionic Resonator for the trigger ability copy for 2 mana, given that i ran with an ETB trigger heavy deck styling.

Boots are a good suggestion. I mostly like Key as it does allow for draw filtering but Boots are totally valid (barring lots of mono colored decks in your pods). I do try to avoid infinite comboing, but I didn't think much about it with the Virtuoso as I was researching. It can be useful, but I just haven't gotten a lot of mileage out of it when I've messed with it in the past (I've tried using it in the Fallout precon before, which is where the idea of it being wasteful to spend energy on it comes from). I'm possibly jaded. Now maybe this has enough toys with the Guide and other new stuff in the main set to push it to be great, but past results weren't great for me. If it works for you, great to know that it may now be a consideration to leave in the deck.

Panharmonicon was left on the cutting room floor. I literally had it laying on my desk as I was trying to come up with a slot for it and I decided to cut it as it gets overused in a lot of lists. Resonator and Engine are good alternatives that don't see nearly as much play.

@@twilightscallmtg oh, yah with the fallout precon I 100% agree that whirler would not be worth the energy when that deck had a lot of energy payouts and not nearly enough generators. with my playtesting of Creative energy, energy generation is obscenely high where making 3 thopters to block is nothing, since with Satya you can have 2 - 3 Rocs or Guides on the board fairly quickly. which also help greatly offset the cost. its actually one of 2 infinite combos that come in the precon (whirler + decoction module + Gontis = infinite for turn 4 win / lightning runner with enough generation to get infinite combats)

@@twilightscallmtg didnt help that madison Li does not trigger on ETB but on cast, making her generation not count towards the thopter either

I get the logic but I don't like that it essentially forces you to pay 3 energy or give them back a token as the copies die, which then gives them blockers for Satya later. A little counterproductive. As for All Will Be One, it would be a good include since I don't see a way to do infinite silly with it in this deck and it could compliment Aether Revolt pretty well.

Combat celebrant CAN send it infinite or any other "take another combat phase" card

You could do that. I try not to do that and curb my spikier impulses when building because it's no fun to build up to something for someone to suddenly pop off infinitely on turns 4-5 and end the game before you've actually had a chance to play anything of consequence. But those choices are up to the player, their preferences, and whatever power level they are aiming for.

Absolutely. Play whatever fits your table. I have just been doing a lot of theory crafting around this deck the last few days to find the sweet spot.

Thanks for the kind words.

Altar could be fun. If a Goyf is going to die anyhow, sac it, mill and get more on the board. Nice suggestion.

A surprise Maze's End win is appealing.

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

Fixed. Thanks for the heads up. Archidekt can time out from time to time and not save changes so it might have happened there.

I had to limit myself on what creature type synergies I wanted to mess with, so I went with the Shifting Sliver simply for the blocking and not the other abilities that could have been used as well. I think I need to get more hexproof or just shroud for Omo to keep her safe. She seems harmless and then she not and becomes a target.

Considering you're running domain, scion of Draco would be a neat card. Gives hexproof to blue dudes and trample to green dudes. Also works if you doppelgang your opponents creatures as well

Just finding this comment (Thanks YT!). That's a good suggestion, and I had it in a preliminary list (along side of the original Draco) and I was having trouble coming up with cuts I wanted to make, so I cut them in favor of what did make the list.

I like to try and explain my thought process behind the choices. Magic is a complicated enough game without just tossing out card names and being like, "Good luck figuring it out!"

Yup. Someone else mentioned it. I forgot about the card as I haven't used it in a few years where I had a copy Awakening close at hand and thought it would be an include that you don't see often. I'd likely go with Existence over it simply for the better synergy. But great recommendation none the less.

He does, but that part of him is negated if a Goyf gets milled with Disa out. It's a little disharmony for the deck but still a good card.