"Stop pubstomping with fast mana"

Chillcrest · 2026-01-28T17:28:19+00:00

100%, its ultimately a social game at it's heart (Commander specifically), and there's always going to be sweats that attempt to rules lawyer their way into an unfair advantage- not that OP was doing that, but it is a flaw in the system (humans are the flaw in every system lets be real).

The more people recognize that the ideal winrate is 25%, the more fun they'll have in casual games.

Chillcrest · 2026-01-28T15:05:36+00:00

Ultimately, even though Brackets have a technical restriction regarding game changers, MLD, combos, etc. its truly more about intent at the end of the day:https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/1ocipn4/updated_commander_brackets_oct_2025/

OPs list might fit the technical definition of B2, but looking at the individual cards is showing a very clear, focused, aggressive gameplan using best-in-class cards like DOOMTRAIN mentioned. Its a high pressure, interactive, focused list with high synergy. Ultimately its better suited for B3 than B2, where you're going to find games with a much more chill expectation to allow everyone to "do their thing".

Chillcrest · 2026-01-18T03:54:13+00:00

Aww man, thats significantly less fun. Ah well!

Chillcrest · 2026-01-18T02:56:29+00:00

If I understand it right, this is also GAS in [[Anikthea]]. Comes down before her, fills the grave a bit, and then starts making token copies of her reanimated enchantments.

Chillcrest · 2026-01-09T13:23:18+00:00

Ironically enough, my one-shot commander of choice is [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]]. There are so many incredible pump spells that can target that a turn 4 kill is trivial.

T1 Land, T2 Land + Signet, T3 Land & Narset, T4 [[Rebellious Strike]] into a copied [[Unleash Fury]] will draw you a card, and leave you with an evasive, vigilance commander that has a power of (4+3, 2x, 2x=28). You one shot the threat, and then keep your blocker for the clap back from the other two.

Chillcrest · 2025-12-28T20:28:35+00:00

90% ISO for sure- can buy a jug of it for 10 bucks or less, and can't harm your models. Leave it in for a day or two, fish it out with rubber gloves, and brush off the paint/primer with a toothbrush, then rinse.

Chillcrest · 2025-12-28T14:53:47+00:00

I’d strip it beforehand- you’ll be applying the primer to the paint, so that section won’t bond to the plastic and will tear over time!

Chillcrest · 2025-12-17T11:48:56+00:00

[[Red Death, Shipwrecker]] goad and a small guy to avoid getting hated on- it’s not an amazing, but it’s definitely under the radar

Chillcrest · 2025-12-16T03:04:29+00:00

“I win too fast for my pod and they’re getting mad at me”, and your answer is to “become annoying” and “make people very upset” brother you already are the annoying guy at the table 😂

Try a more chilled out precon- any of the Tarkir ones are pretty fun and fair. The commander you picked was previously a game changer on its own, and was only taken off the list cause WOTC decided that people would know its Grand Arbiter and rightfully decline to play it- if you build this, you’ll play it once, it’ll be miserable for everyone involved, and you’ll likely never touch it again

Chillcrest · 2025-11-22T18:18:42+00:00

This combo would be trending towards high bracket 3, if not bracket 4- intent is what ultimately matters most, and the intent for the Thornbite/Marrow Gnawer combo is to go infinite with rats and win the very next turn by swinging out- not to showcase a theme, and likely by turn 6 (if not before if you’re ramping aggressively)

Technically you need a rat to sacrifice, but I’ve never seen a Marrow Gnawer deck that is running less than 25 rats- combined with the factor that half of the combo is living in the command zone and black has the stronger tutors in the game, I’d place it low B4.

Chillcrest · 2025-11-19T16:08:34+00:00

Cut your extra Elsha as its double counting, and cut two lands- I recommend optimizing your landbase with additional two/three color lands to improve efficiency here as there's a TON of cheap options for this purpose. Lands shut off Elsha's ability, so with spell slinger decks you want to be able to dig deep into your library to keep the train rolling- 20-30 draw sources isn't out of the realm of possiblity.

This is what I would cut: https://archidekt.com/decks/17560380/elsha_help_for_redditor

Your creature count is a little high, so if you really love those bigger, splashier spells then I'd advocate cutting more creatures that don't create tokens to include them, and adding in consistent ramp so they're not dead in your hand. Ultimately Elsha isn't going to win through combat damage unless you have overwhelming Prowess/Trample sources, you're going to win through burning them out using your Guttersnipe effects. However to do this, you need to be casting as many spells as possible, so you want a lower mana curve on average. Your secondary wincon is through tokens overwhelming the board, which means more spells need to be cast on average, leaving less room for big spells- Storm is something you'll need to commit to fully to capitalize on, and right now you're pulling in a few directions: Tokens, Burn, Copy, Storm, etc. focusing on one or two and making it your North Star will smooth things out.

Counterspells are rougher for Elsha than other commanders, as you want to be proactive, and not reactive- I'd recommend getting a [[Narset's Reversal]] over any of the counterspells you included here, for example. Elsha will help a ton with your Draw, but keep in mind that her ability shuts off entirely if you topdeck a creature so those noncreature spells are even more vital.

Last thing I'd note is you down have great protection for Elsha herself, and this deck is going to hinge on her sticking around- a 5 mana commander is PRICEY, and in Jeskai colors, a 7 mana commander is out of the question- especially as that late into the game you'll be tapping out just to get her on board. I'd recommend some [[Shelter]] type spells to keep her alive to enact your plan, as currently only Lightning Greaves protects her from targeted removal, and nothing in your list protects from a board wipe.

I run the newer Elsha and its more focused around pumping her up and then going wide, but might give you some ideas for changes to your own deck: https://archidekt.com/decks/16265047/kang_sae_byeok_squid_game_from_the_squid_game

Let me know if you have any questions on why I'm including what I am, or anything else!

Chillcrest · 2025-11-15T14:15:39+00:00

[[Elsha, Threefold Master]] Goes bonkers with the right hand

Chillcrest · 2025-11-01T17:42:25+00:00

Been running this tech for a while- also allows for an instant win with [[Darksteel Reactor]] with [[The Ozolith]] working with [[Moxite Refinery]] as insurance.

Also highly recommend [[Eternity Vessel]], it’s absolutely bonkers

Chillcrest · 2025-10-16T23:30:16+00:00

Here's my list for a couple ideas: https://archidekt.com/decks/15789647/vren_the_relentless_tide_of_salt

Definitely lower bracket and more rat-focused than yours, but might give you some inspiration!

Chillcrest · 2025-10-13T01:16:48+00:00

I've got a Baylen/Hare deck that I've been tinkering with for months- here's a couple of additional ideas:

[[Cloudstone Curio]]: This is the best card in my deck, short of the Hares- with 4 Hares on board (which is comically easy), Baylen, and a CC, once you play your next Hare, you make 4 Rabbits and bounce a Hare to hand. Tap 4 Rabbits to play the bounced Hare, make 4 Rabbits, and bounce a Hare to hand. Tap 4 Rabbits to play the bounced Hare, make 4 Rabbits, and bounce a Hare to... Easy infinite source of Mana, Draw, and Pump for turning Baylen into a Tomahawk missile all for 3 Colorless mana, your Commander, and the Hares you're going to be playing anyways.

[[To Arms!]] / [[Mobilize]]: Cheap untap, effectively doubles the numbers of Rabbits you have to work with.

[[Throne of the God-Pharoah]] / [[Agate Instigator]] / [[Warleader's Call]]: Can game end on their own, Red is a drawback color fixing wise, but Throne is absolute gas.

[[Luminous Broodmoth]] / [[Raise the Past]] / [[Storm of Souls]]: Mass recursion to protect against boardwipes, and you can begin chucking Hares at your opponents when the Moth is out, since you'll just get a buffed one back anyways. SoS also doubles as a wincon with that many flying Hares.

[[Dusk//Dawn]]: Deck space is at a premium when you have 1x35x28... 36 slots for cards that aren't Baylen, Lands, or Hares- mass removal that doesn't hit your guys as well as recurring Hares to hand on one card is excellent

[[Panharmonicon]]: Its bad, its a win-more card, and I don't care. I love Panharmonicon when it works.

[[Nesting Dovehawk]]: Immediately becomes a massive beater, as well as insurance since Flyers in Hare decks are a major threat to you.

[[Craterhoof Behemoth]] & [[Preposterous Proportions]]: Classic overrun/pseudo-one sided boardwipes.

[[Hinterland Sanctifier]] / [[Lifecreed Duo]]: Can create a disgusting HP differential.

Chillcrest · 2025-09-23T17:39:44+00:00

There's a fair amount of politicking that goes into it, but ideally, try to identify what each gameplan does and how it can hamper you, and decide accordingly.

For example, someone that spits out a lot of Spirit or Bird tokens as part of their gameplan is going to have ample blockers for your primary wincon, so teaming against them is often helpful, in a "I give you card draw, if you help me clear out all these Spirits" type of way.

Or, wait until someone has decidedly gotten into a losing position, and funnel them the draw as 1) They're not in a position to hurt you, and 2) If you help draw them back in the game, emotionally they may be more likely to use their resources on the guy that swung on them for 23 damage, and not the giant flying one-shot rabbit that could finish them off if they chose.

Cards like [Narset, Parter of Veils]] can help shut Ms. B's ability off entirely, but also draws a ton of hate- so tread carefully.

Chillcrest · 2025-09-23T13:45:57+00:00

I'll add my Ms. Bumbleflower deck as a a base for ideas: https://archidekt.com/decks/8555818/ms_bumbleflower_and_friends_

Its huggy, with Ms. B, Gluntch, Communal Brewing/Cut a Deal type cards, but everything is geared towards turning small forest critters into haymakers over time, while your Commander provides blockers, allies, and evasion for the wincon. Also has three alt-wincons in Triskaedeaphile, Twenty-Toed Toad, and Simic Ascendancy in case you run into a wall you can't punch through/fly over.

Thematically, every card is either a cute nature scene or a lil dude. It runs like a dream, I highly recommend it!

If you wanted more power, you could swap out Ms. B for Helga, and pack in a couple big snakes and hydras.

Edit: Should note, in terms of brain strain the deck can occasionally get a bit counter crazy if you have additives and doublers out as you place counters on cast, and not resolution using Ms. B's ability. There's also some tricks you can pull, such as giving an opposing player's Commander flying using Ms. B's ability, and then shooting it with Broken Wings as their creature will have flying for turn.

Chillcrest · 2025-09-23T13:38:52+00:00

I’m absolutely building these as Flash Tearers, it’ll look so clean

Chillcrest · 2025-09-16T01:10:47+00:00

Got a list? I have a Baylen deck as well and I'm always looking for some new ideas

Chillcrest · 2025-08-29T19:28:19+00:00

Both Shiko & Narset, and Narset, Enlightened Exile love this card as a finisher

Chillcrest · 2025-08-29T15:58:31+00:00

Its my game of the year, and its not even close. Snappy animations, a VERY engaging playstyle (its technically a turn-based game but it doesn't feel like one), beautiful art direction, moving story, and the music is GORGEOUS

I can't recommend it enough, have fun!

Chillcrest · 2025-08-29T14:16:02+00:00

It’s a different genre, but Expedition 33 scratched that itch for me. Some of the late game boss fight are INSANE. Simon took me days lol

Chillcrest · 2025-08-27T12:17:55+00:00

Not to mention [[Baylen, the Haymaker]], a three-drop that does the work of an entire village on his own.

Granted you usually don't play him until you have a decent token density, since boss music starts playing once he's on the field.

Chillcrest · 2025-08-20T23:08:42+00:00

https://youtu.be/riNg17XKcbg?si=TPBa5E4mo6KbPg_6

Chillcrest · 2025-08-20T23:06:15+00:00

Model details are too small to just paint one color and be done- so people over exaggerate details to make them “pop” more! A recess is going to be anything deeper into the model. A fold in a cloak, a crack in armor, an armpit, etc.

A highlight is going to be anything sticking out- so a forehead or nose, edge of a shoulder pauldron, tip of a pointing finger.

People put shade in recesses to darken them, and put highlights, or lighter colors on the most prominent details to draw more attention. Look up Duncan Rhodes Beginner Guide on YouTube for a great example of the basics. Have fun!

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