He's in my wife's Zedruu deck, and is a great fit there as a group-hug card to fuel draws, get recurred with Sun Titan, and draw fire away from her precious enchantments and life total. In some ways he's the best Jace for EDH - he doesn't draw instant hatred and attention like Jace, the Mind Sculptor tends too, but he has more versatility than Jace, Architect of Thought does (Architect being an all-or-nothing, "cast with Doubling Season up or don't cast it" kind of card). But he actually does work for a modest cost that makes him recurrable with Titan and other effects, which beats the pants off of Jace, Unraveler of Secrets and Jace, Memory Adept. If you are just looking for a Blue arena I consider him ever so slightly better than Dictate of Kruphix despite the greater fragility since you can choose to not let everyone else draw.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sufferer of EDHD
Commander - Currently Playing: RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G) RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B) WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
I'm going to call Beleren "Baby Jace" until I die. Just because Wizards decided to come along and print a tinier one...
I have a soft spot in my heart for Beleren. Blue doesn't actually get that many incremental draw effects, so if you're looking for one, he's pretty good.
A blue Phyrexian Arena isn't a perfect description but it's close enough. People seem pretty polarized about that card recently, but I for one think it's good in the right sort of deck.
Its a good workhorse card that fits really well in certain decks. Some interactions have already been mentioned, and letting your opponents draw a card for every 3 cards you draw is a really good rate. Its break even in 4 player, which of course works in your favor because while its 3 cards for 3 cards, you have more options sitting at 3 cards than your opponents each with one. Jace becomes outright great in team games, because he draws your teamates cards. If you can get the classic -1-1+2-1-1+2 chain going, your in a great spot, but even 3 cards over three turns off of 3 -1's is good. He's also one of the best group hug cards because he can hug when you want him to and can only benefit you when you don't. This flexibility lets a group hug player control the flow of the game, and makes the kind of hug decks that look to get more out of the hug than their opponent's possible.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The Meaning of Life: "M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations"
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Whether its blue players countering your spells, red players burning you out, or combo, if you have a problem with an aspect of Magic's gameplay, you can fix it!
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
OG Jace is very well balanced for a 3 mana walker. Not able to take over a game like Lilly of the Vale can, but can easily push you to victory through card advantage. Through use of the +2, opponents can sometimes be lulled into not killing Jace, simply because they think the cards they get are worth the risk of keeping him alive.
I'm not interesting in running Divination in my decks and I almost never get 3 cards from him, and I rarely want to plus him. He's been decent one or two games but not consistent enough for me to keep him. That being said, he's probably better in less answer-heavy metas than the one I usually play in.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
UG Arixmethes Combo UGR Wanderer UGB Tasigur Control URB Jeleva Storm RW Gisela Control
I think he's the best of the Jaces for EDH. He usually acts as a 1 card a turn enchantment and opponents won't usually burn resources to get rid of him.
I don't think I have ever minused him at all. I've really only played him in my most political-oriented deck, so that is a limited subset. In the typical multiplayer EDH games I play, being a target is the worst thing possible. Often, someone will go out of their way to kill him and the other players in the game focus on the guy who "took their free cards away".. lol
One of the best tools swarm decks have to punch through pillowforters. Also gets past Torpor Orb and friends. Being an elf doesn't hurt either.
Not the most splashable of cards, but very good in a variety of archetypes.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
While there are better options, this card can allow Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis with an Assault Formation to sneak through, if that kind of thing is your EDH Jam. Also it's a dwarf, which is always a bonus.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Hilariously strange. Works fine as a backup Goblin Tunneler if you've got the kinda deck that needs that. I actually really dig the Kynaios and Tiro wombo combo. The same deck can run Indomitable Ancients for even better value than Doran...
Meekstone is also underused in "toughness matters" decks, and really does the whole "blocker elimination" thing better IMO. Or Skeleton Key.
Soratami Mirror-Guard is another one for Kynaios and Tiro, and has the benefit of bouncing lands if you're playing landfall.
3/10 Goblin Tunneler exists, blue decks have dozens of "target creature can't be blocked" variants, decks that are neither blue nor red have Trailblazer's Boots, Prowler's Helm, Whispersilk Cloak, and Tawnos's Wand (man, that's an obscure card), so unless you're in some bizarre dwarf tribal deck, I don't see the point.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
Meekstone is also underused in "toughness matters" decks, and really does the whole "blocker elimination" thing better IMO. Or Skeleton Key.
Soratami Mirror-Guard is another one for Kynaios and Tiro, and has the benefit of bouncing lands if you're playing landfall.
3/10 Goblin Tunneler exists, blue decks have dozens of "target creature can't be blocked" variants, decks that are neither blue nor red have Trailblazer's Boots, Prowler's Helm, Whispersilk Cloak, and Tawnos's Wand (man, that's an obscure card), so unless you're in some bizarre dwarf tribal deck, I don't see the point.
Agreed. I was looking at a Depala, Pilot Exemplar deck and rating all the dwarves in existence for a Tribal deck and even in that very specific archetype I am not sure this card would make my 99. It's a bit of a nonbo with a Dwarf Lord commander, after all, and even in a tribe starved for playables I feel like I could do better.
Meekstone is also underused in "toughness matters" decks, and really does the whole "blocker elimination" thing better IMO. Or Skeleton Key.
Soratami Mirror-Guard is another one for Kynaios and Tiro, and has the benefit of bouncing lands if you're playing landfall.
3/10 Goblin Tunneler exists, blue decks have dozens of "target creature can't be blocked" variants, decks that are neither blue nor red have Trailblazer's Boots, Prowler's Helm, Whispersilk Cloak, and Tawnos's Wand (man, that's an obscure card), so unless you're in some bizarre dwarf tribal deck, I don't see the point.
Agreed. I was looking at a Depala, Pilot Exemplar deck and rating all the dwarves in existence for a Tribal deck and even in that very specific archetype I am not sure this card would make my 99. It's a bit of a nonbo with a Dwarf Lord commander, after all, and even in a tribe starved for playables I feel like I could do better.
One thing with Depala though, Dwarven Bloodboiler is maybe the best tribal dwarf effect outside of Depala herself, so giving a small dwarf unblockable can translate into some decent damage. If Depala isn't out he hits most dwarves, but once she's out its a nonbo (Though you can play her after you give a 2 power dwarf unblockable).
Outside of dwarves, Goblin Tunneler is better as others have said, and you don't need more than one of this effect.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The Meaning of Life: "M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations"
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Whether its blue players countering your spells, red players burning you out, or combo, if you have a problem with an aspect of Magic's gameplay, you can fix it!
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
Meekstone is also underused in "toughness matters" decks, and really does the whole "blocker elimination" thing better IMO. Or Skeleton Key.
Soratami Mirror-Guard is another one for Kynaios and Tiro, and has the benefit of bouncing lands if you're playing landfall.
3/10 Goblin Tunneler exists, blue decks have dozens of "target creature can't be blocked" variants, decks that are neither blue nor red have Trailblazer's Boots, Prowler's Helm, Whispersilk Cloak, and Tawnos's Wand (man, that's an obscure card), so unless you're in some bizarre dwarf tribal deck, I don't see the point.
Agreed. I was looking at a Depala, Pilot Exemplar deck and rating all the dwarves in existence for a Tribal deck and even in that very specific archetype I am not sure this card would make my 99. It's a bit of a nonbo with a Dwarf Lord commander, after all, and even in a tribe starved for playables I feel like I could do better.
One thing with Depala though, Dwarven Bloodboiler is maybe the best tribal dwarf effect outside of Depala herself, so giving a small dwarf unblockable can translate into some decent damage. If Depala isn't out he hits most dwarves, but once she's out its a nonbo (Though you can play her after you give a 2 power dwarf unblockable).
Dwarves never really took off in Magic as a weenie race. But they do have some fun land-destruction-on-legs cards like Dwarven Blastminer, Dwarven Miner, and Dwarven Driller. I even had a 60 card deck based on Pardic Miner, Solfatara, and Turf Wound that consistently made people mad. Dwarven Warriors variants are just bad though.
Slam-dunk in Foglio-art.dec. It's semi-political, but the impact is just too low to do anything serious with it unless you got something granting deathtouch out.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
It's a two-mana, three-toughness pinger. In black. Drawback, schmawback. You can make a bizarre Voltron out of this, Basilisk Collar, and Mark of Asylum and do it as early as turn 3 with a little accel.
RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR
WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG
GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG
GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G)
RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW
UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B)
WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
I have a soft spot in my heart for Beleren. Blue doesn't actually get that many incremental draw effects, so if you're looking for one, he's pretty good.
A blue Phyrexian Arena isn't a perfect description but it's close enough. People seem pretty polarized about that card recently, but I for one think it's good in the right sort of deck.
Draft my Peasant Cube.
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
Just call the 2 mana Jace "FetusJace" and you're good.
UGR Wanderer
UGB Tasigur Control
URB Jeleva Storm
RW Gisela Control
Marath, Will of the Wild
Friendly Kess Twin Combo
Tatyova - Sir Bounce A Lot
Gonti's Luxury Pie
Prime (Eldrazi) Speaker Zegana (Retired)
One of the best tools swarm decks have to punch through pillowforters. Also gets past Torpor Orb and friends. Being an elf doesn't hurt either.
Not the most splashable of cards, but very good in a variety of archetypes.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
GRUAnimar, Soul of CreaturesGRU
GWGW Tokens: Rhys,Tolsimir, or Trostani GW
BMarrow-GnawerB
BGSkullbriar, All's fun in the GraveBG
RWBAlesha, Who Smiles at DeathRWB
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
On phasing:
While there are better options, this card can allow Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis with an Assault Formation to sneak through, if that kind of thing is your EDH Jam. Also it's a dwarf, which is always a bonus.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Soratami Mirror-Guard is another one for Kynaios and Tiro, and has the benefit of bouncing lands if you're playing landfall.
3/10 Goblin Tunneler exists, blue decks have dozens of "target creature can't be blocked" variants, decks that are neither blue nor red have Trailblazer's Boots, Prowler's Helm, Whispersilk Cloak, and Tawnos's Wand (man, that's an obscure card), so unless you're in some bizarre dwarf tribal deck, I don't see the point.
On phasing:
Agreed. I was looking at a Depala, Pilot Exemplar deck and rating all the dwarves in existence for a Tribal deck and even in that very specific archetype I am not sure this card would make my 99. It's a bit of a nonbo with a Dwarf Lord commander, after all, and even in a tribe starved for playables I feel like I could do better.
That Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis synergy is pretty amusing but even there I think this card would struggle to make my 99 compared to Goblin Tunneler, Rogue's Passage, Break Through The Line, Key to the City, Ethereal Usher, Whispersilk Cloak, Jhessian Balmgiver, and Hot Soup alongside stuff like Meekstone and Crackdown that de factor make my team harder to block. I might go so far as to say it is a 2/10 card.
RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR
WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG
GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG
GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G)
RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW
UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B)
WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
One thing with Depala though, Dwarven Bloodboiler is maybe the best tribal dwarf effect outside of Depala herself, so giving a small dwarf unblockable can translate into some decent damage. If Depala isn't out he hits most dwarves, but once she's out its a nonbo (Though you can play her after you give a 2 power dwarf unblockable).
Outside of dwarves, Goblin Tunneler is better as others have said, and you don't need more than one of this effect.
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
http://www.commandercast.com/category/articles/generally-speaking
Follow me on Twitter: @generalspeak
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Slam-dunk in Foglio-art.dec. It's semi-political, but the impact is just too low to do anything serious with it unless you got something granting deathtouch out.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Current Decks
GTitania midrange
RGThromok tokens/goodstuff | UB Grimgrin zombie tribal
GW Sigarda enchantress | R Godo voltron
U Braids aggro | WR Kalemne punisher
RU Mizzix storm | BUG Mimeoplasm competitive reanimator | UG Ezuri infect