[Commander's Quaters] "First up let's start with tier number five: Jank.
In my opinion, a Jank commander deck is a deck that has a purpose outside of winning.
These kinds of decks want to tell a story so they'll include specific cards that relate to that story
These cards might not synergize with each other, but that's not the purpose of the deck."
[Spice 8 Rack] Hello spicy people of the Internet
I am Spice 8 Rack aka The Movie "Chef". Apologies about the hand. I got into a fight with a tripod.
[Futch grunting]
[Something snaps] [A scream]
And today I want to talk to you about my favourite format: Commander.
Now, this may work for Binging with Babish, but... I think I need a little bit more isometric up in here.
So, I want to talk to you guys today about how I've got about making a flavorful Commander deck.
One where function can meet character in a way that's both fun to play with and fun to build.
Now, the commander I've chosen is Nikya of the Old Ways.
A centaur druid aligned with the Gruul clans, that allows your land to double their mana
At the cost of not letting you cast noncreature spells.
Now, not much is known about Nikya's story,
maybe we'll find a little bit more about that in the book,
So the deck that I've built is one that reflects her ideals, her ideologies, and her belief systems.
Not sure why I threw that card away. Let me just go pick that up...
Also it bears saying that the entire decklist you are about to see can be found in the description below,
and the footage that began this video comes courtesy of The Commander's Quarters.
A great channel with even greater production values
that's putting out some fantastic content for any budget EDH brewers out there.
They also have their own budget Nikya of the Old Ways EDH deck on their channel.
I highly recommend you check them out. Now, on with the rest of the video:
[Glass crashes]
Immediately. We have a mechanical restriction which can inform some of our flavorful choices.
Spells and Enchantments are the trickery of the metropolitan liberal elite.
Planeswalkers are interlopers into lands that don't belong to them.
Artifacts are representations of modern consumerism that must be crushed.
Anything that isn't a creature isn't allowed. As such we have no noncreature spells as well as no enchantment creatures,
no artifact creatures, no creatures which transform into enchantments or Planeswalkers
Although we do have a couple of transforming cards in this deck that I'll get on to later.
The other mechanical attribute is Nikya's Mirari esque effect.
Whilst this doesn't suggest too much in the way of her character, other than her
appreciation for and skill with calling mana from the land,
It does push this deck in a more "Timmy" esque direction, with big creatures and massive mana sinks.
I... again I have no idea why through that card away
Let me go grab that once more, for God's sake.
Now with her mechanics out of the way
let's move on to how Nikya is presented on other cards.
we can see a lot of the confirmations of her anarcho-primitivistic beliefs on cards such as
Stomping Ground and Rust Scarab
We can also see on Rubblebelt Raiders
a further Anti-society sentiment but tied to a card which rewards aggressive behavior.
On Skarrg Goliath we can see a desire to get away from laws. Laws on Ravnica being pretty synonymous with countermagic.
And on gift of strength
we can see a pretty clear anti-flying sentiment. And finally, we have Nikya herself. On the surface
her flavour text echoes a lot of the same sentiments as displayed on the other pieces of card. However, it also suggests
that, not only society, but the weak themselves ought to be trampled.
All in all, this gives us a pretty clear understanding of Nikya's motivations and trappings
so let's get on with deck building. We can't build a commander deck without some cards so...
Oh, wow! Wow, would you look at that?
Just, please ignore the fact that the vegetables
are on the wrong side of the chopping board, and I'm holding the knife in the wrong... Y- [Sigh] It was a reshoot
Okay. This was a reshoot gag.
I actually ordered all of these from CardKingdom.com which I use whenever I need to buy magic cards in bulk.
It works out a lot cheaper than buying them from most UK retailers
Including shipping and they always have the singles I want... This isn't sponsored by Card Kingdom by the way,-
But it should be.
Now like any good dish our deck needs to have a base and I tried to keep to a budget of less than 25 pounds.
Partly because Nikya doesn't seem much like a big spender,
but mostly because I'm trying to save up enough money to move out of Pleasant Kenobi's shed.
As such we're staying basic:
with 11 basic mountains and 18 basic forests. I've selected cards whose art depicts
civilization being overtaken by the natural order of the world.
Mountain 306 from commander 2016 showcases as a small town being engulfed by lava
and forest 199 from Hour of Devastation depicts a trashed Amonkhet temple being reclaimed by vines and sand
Why didn't I pick any of the lands from War of the Spark?
After all, they do show the city of Ravnica itself being destroyed
Well, yes, but in the most destructive forest art
we can also see an army of eternal warriors at various points throughout the scene and, whilst Domri has no issues siding with Bolas,-
And that worked out absolutely splendidly for you, didn't it Domri?
I can't imagine Nikya's all about that life.
Mountain 261 however from War of the Spark would make a great replacement for the mountains in this deck
Although they were unavailable at the time of recording.
For non-basic lands,
We, of course, have Gruul Turf, Gruul Guildgate. As well as Forgotten Cave and Tranquil Thicket. Rugged Highlands,
Kazandu Refuge, and one Vivid Crag because I just happened to have one lying around.
No Command Tower or cards like Forbidden Orchard however
because the former is a structure of civilization and the latter seeks to control nature.
I have also chosen to pop in a cheeky Memorial to Unity. Being limited by budget and our anti civility theme,
card draw is needed as often as we can get it and
whilst a statue of Eladamri is maybe a bit too on the structural side for Nikia,
the act of sacrificing it could be seen as tearing down the statue for personal gain.
If you wanted to splash a little extra cash in this area
you could pick up Nikya's Stomping Grounds, a Fetch Land, a Sheltered Thicket
Maybe even Throne of the High City provided you sacrifice at the moment you play it as a statement
against the oppressive nature of human normative chairs.
Moving on to creatures, cards like End-Raze Forerunners
Ruric Thar, Gruul Rage Beast and Ravager Wurm are pretty easy inclusions both mechanically and flavour-wise
especially for runners seeing as it is a
B o a r
As is a potentially slept on Gruul card in the form of Sunder Sharman
which hits for an eighth of your opponent's health, has pseudo evasion
and destroys artifacts and enchantments. The cheap and cheerful
original Borborygmos would have made it into this deck too, if he had been beaten into retirement by Domri
and if you lose any form of physical competition to a twink you automatically slip several rungs down the food chain.
Ilharg, the Raze-Boar would also automatically go into this deck if it wasn't $15
however
We're not just limiting ourselves to cards with Gruul watermarks because otherwise we have some real slim pickings
So, Stoneshock Giant, Grave Sifter and Apocalypse Hydra all can go into this deck because they showcase symbols of society being
absolutely merked
You also have Manglehorn, whose replacement effect for artifacts entering the battlefield plays on some of that nature fighting against law sentiment.
Indrik Stomphowler, Acidic Slime
Reclamation Sage, and Polis Crusher all hit Nikya's hated card types and are either visually fighting against society
or pretty categorically labelled as city stompers.
Terastodon has the mechanical flavour of Beast Withining up to three symbols of society that aren't creatures
and Molder Slug eats artifacts on an artifact world.
I think that fits pretty nicely into the deck of someone who hates cities and lives on a city world.
Also another creature from Mirrodin: Tornado Elemental hits fliers and, in its commander 2015 art,
It's on its way to put a serious hole in any and all planned civic picnics.
if you fancied smashing a little extra cash in this section:
Cards like Bane of Progress or Pathbreaker Ibex would make great additions.
But I purposely avoided putting cheap cards like Decimator of Provinces in this deck
despite having pretty anti civilization connotations and being a BOAR.
As much as I imagine Nikya wants to end civilisation,
again, I doubt she'd be down with beings from beyond the stars doing her work for her
Domri, on the other hand, is a capitulating little sh,-
With the main stock simmering, we can now start adding more complex flavours..
It's all well and good hating and wanting to destroy society,
but the Gruul are made up of many people who, at one time or another,
existed, but then relinquished the grasp of society and I wanted to represent those people here.
Firstly, we have a slew of werewolf cards who represent this transition from civil to primal in a very literal way.
Breakneck Rider and Instigator Gang can help attack through your opponent's hordes.
Hermit of Natterknolls and Sage of Ancient Lore punish other players for trying to keep you in check on your turn or for drawing cards.
[Fake Coughing] Blue players. It punishes Blue players.
Daybreak Ranger has decent anti-air creds as well as being an okay removal creature on her flipside,
and Duskwatch Recruiter is great mana sink for when you need card draw.
I've also included one other transforming creature in the form of Budoka Gardner
as a decent ramp card that casts aside the notion that nature can be tamed when he transforms
Other supposedly civil creatures include Kessig Cagebreakers who are all about that eco-terrorism lifestyle.
"Mul-wvul-wani" Beast Tracker,
Drumhunter, Fierce Empath, Voyaging Satyr, Arbor Elf,
Llanowar Elves and Wood Elves who are shown to exist in nature without tainting it with civility
I,-
Well
I mean not, not this copy of Wood Elves.
Like, this copy of what else they've,- they've built houses in the trees. Look. I ordered the wrong version of Wood Elves.
Just- just let me have this, please.
Now, two cards that I've included that bear further explanation are Magus of the Candelabra and Squallmonger.
Both of these creatures utilize an element of society in some way with Magus the veneration of Tawno's artifacts
and with squall is the implication that you'll do what you want for a price. Currency being a symbol of society,-
"I think all those fish in the ocean deserved to die"
With the former are being climbed to focus more on the fact that the character depicted in this artwork
is explicitly referred to as a nature mage and has reclaimed the candelabra with vines.
And with the latter, because any player can activate her ability
she represents the entry point for a lot of other planeswalkers
you'll be battling against into The Old Ways very much in a similar way to Feral Hydra's
"anyone can contribute to this nature boy's ability", which is also in this deck.
Now, I haven't included cards like Farhaven Elf, Ulvenwald Tracker or Yeva, because they're depicted owning animals,
directing them, or having harnesses on them.
Now, some of the animals affiliated with the Gruul have harnesses, such as Skarrgan Hellkite.
But I imagine that provided it's the Gruul themselves doing it, Nikya would be fine with it. It's like authoritarianism
It's never good... Unless I was in charge
I'd do it RIGHT.
and if you wanted to splash a wee bit more cash whilst remaining faithful to the flavour of this deck, Sakura-Tribe Elder,
Fauna Shaman, and Ravager of the Fells would be perfect inclusions in this deck as Would Mondronen Shaman...
But,- but I forgot to order it
So... so that's why it's not in the deck list.
That's... that's literally the only reason.
That brings us on to the main star of the deck. The delicious slow-cooked a jackfruit of flavour
It's all well and good destroying society. But what are we returning to? What world does Nikya want? Where does she want to go?
Simple:
Thorpe Park.
Just south of Slough and north of Woking now with 30
exhilarating rides. Featuring Saw: the ride and Darren Brown's Ghost Train
Order your Thorpe Park season pass today for just £55. Hashtag sponsored content. Hashtag ad.
Hashtag I'm a soulless lackey for capitalism and it kills-
Nature is of course what Nikya wants to return to and we can include Cards which give us card advantage
Whilst also showcasing the unfettered natural state of things like Soul of the Harvest,
Ulvenwald Observer, Regal Force, Deadwood Treefolk, Pelakka Wurm
Garruk's Horde, and
Garruk's Packleader. All cards that you can pick up for less than a quid and most of them
you may already have in your collection. Also,
I am making an exception for animals that are implied to be owned by Garruk because: A)
No harnesses. B) Garruk pretty much is the epitome of anti-civilisation.
and C) they're really good cheap cards and I need more card draw, God dammit
Also, that really hurt my hand what I did that.
Cards like Brutalizer Exarch, Paleoloth,
Spellbreaker Behemoth and Skullmulcher all fit into the survival of the fittest theme
Either only by triggering for large enough creatures, eating smaller ones for gains, or by being part of Vorinclex's Vicious Swarm.
Whilst this technically makes Brutalizer Exarch an invader to the natural way of Mirrodin,
all Phyrexians are still borne out of the plane itself and fighting against the natural order of Mirrodin means fighting against an
artifact centered society. Vorinclex also believes in a totalitarian precept
of survival of the fittest which I think Nikya would be super into if it wasn't for those...
You know arm- arm gaps? What you call those?...
Oh God they're Horrid.
Moving on we have Molten Primordial, Magmatic Force,
Fertilid, and Brawn.
Representing the primal forces of nature and giving us ramp, targeted removal, and other benefits.
Silklash Spider, Cloudthresher and Arbor Colossus also fulfil the roles of symbols of nature that have strong anti-flying kudos
Cloudthresher also has flash which I guarantee will catch people off-guard
As nobody expects the Gruul zoo deck to be able to play cards at instant speed
This also would have been where I put one copy of Great Oak Guardian
however
Some absolutely callous chud bought them all out and now they cost like seven dollars each for some goddamn reason.
Emissary of Grudges and Detritivore may not be 100%, free-range, nature boys
however
they do go that little bit extra way to destroy those symbols of societies being non-basic lands and Instants and Sorceries
Prowling Serpopard would also be a phenomenal fit here
However, it is just over £2, which is too expensive for the budget of this deck
How about we showcase the awesome power of nature with Savageborn,
with Genesis, with Hungering, and with Mistcutter Hydra.
All MASSIVE but equally budget creatures
that you can sink a lot of that Nikya mana into.
And then we have Rampaging Baloths.
If you know anything about the Baloths on Zendikar. They absolutely love to rampage.
We also have Krosan Tusker. Who's a...
B O A R
that can help fix your mana.
Verdant Sun's Avatar is a primordial avatar of nature. That will gain you a non-insignificant amount of life,
and Zhur-Raa Ancient acts like a replacement Nikya in a pinch.
Which, much like Squallmonger and Feral Hydra,
can show your opponent's the benefits of utilizing the power of the natural world
But that's not where the flavour ends
We need to protect our new deck. Now a Gruul mage would probably sleeve their deck using discarded furs,
Or wottled leaves. But I couldn't find any literal garbage lying around that would fit my cards
So I used Ultra Pro instead.
Also, just as a PSA. I didn't know this before sleeving the deck,
But the plastic Ultra Pro uses on their Deck Protector (tm) sleeves is so thin,
that not only can you tell when a card in this sleeve is a flip card
But on many of the cards you can clearly make out the art and the subtype on it if you look hard enough
This is some frankly abominable "quality"
Now, you may be wondering "Oh, next step is a deck box,"
"What kind of deck box are you using?" and to that I'd say: a Box?
A Manufactured Cube? A symbol of human engineering nananana, we're using what the Gruul would use, baby:
Belt.
Bloody Belt.
There we go. Just gonna put that... around around there. Oh, there we go
Ultimate Guard eat your heart out.
Slip that in there we- And there we have it!
One perfectly flavorful and perfectly secure
EDH deck ready for your commander to slip right into I hope you guys enjoyed this vid... I...
[Concentrated and precise mumbling]
Okay, I hope you guys enjoyed this video. In the spirit of indoctrinating the civilized folks into the way of the wild
I'll be giving this deck to one of my best friends who is yet to get into the game
But if you want to see more of this kind of video, maybe I'll do future giveaways, who knows.
I will be getting back into these specific stories and worlds of magic the gathering after War the Spark Drops.
I'm trying new stuff out, seeing what works, seeing what doesn't
I've only made 10 videos for this channel so far and I'm still finding my feet
But thank you all so much for supporting me on my silly endeavors thus far
Speaking of stick around after the credits for an exciting announcement
Thank you all so much for liking these videos, for sharing them, for commenting on them. Thank you also to my patrons, including
Adam Gable, Jonathan Fisher, Joshua M Stefan
PappaTitan14, Sasha Evelyn Francis, KeezyPeezy, Sky Johnson,
Stingray, Jabachi,
Ryan Morgan, Chris DeVos, there are so many of you right now. Good lord er, Bryan Berg
Mama Pose
Frederick Sass, Anthony Baker, Turhan Brache III, I hope I got that right
Eldritch Eri, Shane Beyor, and David Wah-Shu Wang and to everybody else who has donated
Any amount of money to my patreon it is overwhelming to have your support
Thank you all so much for helping make channel happen...
As for that exciting announcement:
I'm gonna be at magic fest in London from April 25th to April 27th
You mean 26th-28th you Goddamn Baboon.
Hanging around playing some drafts, playing some commander with you guys
If you happen to be at that event, please do come and say "Hi"
I've had a couple of people ask me to sign cards and I am 100% down for that. So please do come along
I'm gonna be hanging out with some other wonderful creators like JungleFiver,
Dijitalllama, Abbi from Masters of Magic and a bunch of other cool people
I hope to see some of you there and, as always stay spicy!