Hormesis
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Commander
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{"ops":[{"insert":"Saruman's ability to Amass Orcs X whenever you cast a noncreature spell is essential to making this deck work so our primary focus before getting him out is ramping and also playing key pieces to commence the \"Type Hack\" aspect of this deck. \n\nUnderstanding what Amass Orcs X even means is important in figuring out the heart of this deck. Amass means to put X counters on an Army creature you control if you control one, otherwise you creature an Army creature token, put X +1/+1 counters on it then it becomes an Orc creature type in addition to its other types. \n\nYes you read that right. Army is a creature type and if you happen to have changelings or other Army creatures present, this means you can pick one of them to Amass the counters on. \n\nThis is where the \"Type Hack\" begins, allowing us to add X +1/+1 counters on any of your creatures whenever you cast a noncreature spell. Due to it being Amass Orcs X, it also becomes an Orc in addition to its other types and also benefits from the Ward 2 from Saruman. Saruman himself is a great target as once your opponents realise how it works will try to remove him from he battlefield. The deck runs a healthy amount of protection and interaction to protect him and other key pieces and also perpetuate your gameplay by also triggering Saruman's Amass ability. Once they become Orcs, they also benefit from the Ward 2. \n\nWith lots of draw pieces and top deck manipulation to find at least 1 of our pieces, we will be able to get the engine running by turn 4/5. Our trigger doublers will compound this, giving you multiple Amass Orcs triggers per spell. Worst case scenario if you never get any of the type hack pieces, you end up with a massive Orc Army beater who can be flung to close out the game. \n\nIf you want clarification, please feel free to consult the Gatherer page for information and reading the rules around Amass and its changes since the Lord of the Rings set as previous instances of Amass implicitly also made Zombie Army creature tokens, which have been errata'd to Amass Zombies. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=620666"},"insert":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=620666"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
Commander
Saruman, the White Hand
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, amass Orcs X, where X is that spell's mana value. (Put X +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It's also an Orc. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)
Goblins and Orcs you control have ward .
Goblins and Orcs you control have ward .
Legendary Creature - Wizard Avatar
Commander
(CTRL to add secondary)
01 Type Hack (Essential)
Leyline of Transformation
If this card is in your opening hand, you may begin the game with it on the battlefield.
As this enchantment enters, choose a creature type.
Creatures you control are the chosen type in addition to their other types. The same is true for creature spells you control and creature cards you own that aren't on the battlefield.
As this enchantment enters, choose a creature type.
Creatures you control are the chosen type in addition to their other types. The same is true for creature spells you control and creature cards you own that aren't on the battlefield.
Enchantment
01 Type Hack (Essential)
(CTRL to add secondary)
02 Double Triggers
Quantum Misalignment
Create a token that's a copy of target creature you control, except it isn't legendary.
Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)
Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)
Sorcery
02 Double Triggers
(CTRL to add secondary)
03 Counters // Amass
Summons of Saruman
Amass Orcs X. Mill X cards. You may cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value X or less from among them without paying its mana cost. (To amass Orcs X, put X +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It's also an Orc. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)
Flashback—, Exile X cards from your graveyard.
Flashback—, Exile X cards from your graveyard.
Sorcery
Twenty-Toed Toad
Your maximum hand size is twenty.
Whenever you attack with two or more creatures, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature and draw a card.
Whenever this creature attacks, you win the game if there are twenty or more counters on it or you have twenty or more cards in hand.
Whenever you attack with two or more creatures, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature and draw a card.
Whenever this creature attacks, you win the game if there are twenty or more counters on it or you have twenty or more cards in hand.
Creature - Wizard Frog
03 Counters // Amass
(CTRL to add secondary)
04 Finisher
04 Finisher
(CTRL to add secondary)
05 Protection
05 Protection
(CTRL to add secondary)
06 Removal
Sorcerous Squall
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for .)
Target opponent mills nine cards, then you may cast an instant or sorcery spell from that player's graveyard without paying its mana cost. If that spell would be put into a graveyard, exile it instead.
Target opponent mills nine cards, then you may cast an instant or sorcery spell from that player's graveyard without paying its mana cost. If that spell would be put into a graveyard, exile it instead.
Sorcery
Volcanic Offering
Destroy target nonbasic land you don't control and target nonbasic land of an opponent's choice you don't control.
Volcanic Offering deals 7 damage to target creature you don't control and 7 damage to target creature of an opponent's choice you don't control.
Volcanic Offering deals 7 damage to target creature you don't control and 7 damage to target creature of an opponent's choice you don't control.
Instant
Widespread Brutality
Amass Zombies 2, then the Army you amassed deals damage equal to its power to each non-Army creature. (To amass Zombies 2, put two +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It's also a Zombie. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)
Sorcery
06 Removal
(CTRL to add secondary)
07 Draw
Ashling, Flame Dancer
You don't lose unspent red mana as steps and phases end.
Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, discard a card, then draw a card. If this is the second time this ability has resolved this turn, Ashling deals 2 damage to each opponent and each creature they control. If it's the third time, add .
Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, discard a card, then draw a card. If this is the second time this ability has resolved this turn, Ashling deals 2 damage to each opponent and each creature they control. If it's the third time, add .
Legendary Creature - Elemental Shaman
Consult the Star Charts
Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.)
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of lands you control. Put one of those cards into your hand. If this spell was kicked, put two of those cards into your hand instead. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of lands you control. Put one of those cards into your hand. If this spell was kicked, put two of those cards into your hand instead. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Instant
Farsight Ritual
Bargain (You may sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token as you cast this spell.)
Look at the top four cards of your library. If this spell was bargained, look at the top eight cards of your library instead. Put two of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Look at the top four cards of your library. If this spell was bargained, look at the top eight cards of your library instead. Put two of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Instant
Ingenious Prodigy
Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature has one or more +1/+1 counters on it, you may remove a +1/+1 counter from it. If you do, draw a card.
This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature has one or more +1/+1 counters on it, you may remove a +1/+1 counter from it. If you do, draw a card.
Creature - Human Wizard
Mystic Remora
Cumulative upkeep (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, you may draw a card unless that player pays .
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, you may draw a card unless that player pays .
Enchantment
Pollywog Prodigy
Evolve (Whenever a creature you control enters, if that creature has greater power or toughness than this creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell with mana value less than this creature's power, draw a card.
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell with mana value less than this creature's power, draw a card.
Creature - Wizard Frog
07 Draw
(CTRL to add secondary)
08 Ramp
08 Ramp
(CTRL to add secondary)
09 Land
Path of Ancestry
This land enters tapped.
: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity. When that mana is spent to cast a creature spell that shares a creature type with your commander, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)
: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity. When that mana is spent to cast a creature spell that shares a creature type with your commander, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)
Land
09 Land
(CTRL to add secondary)
Maybeboard
Hostile Negotiations
Exile the top three cards of your library in a face-down pile, then exile the top three cards of your library in another face-down pile. Look at the cards in each pile, then turn a pile of your choice face up. An opponent chooses one of those piles. Put that pile into your hand and the other into your graveyard. You lose 3 life.
Instant
Lim-Dûl's Vault
Look at the top five cards of your library. As many times as you choose, you may pay 1 life, put those cards on the bottom of your library in any order, then look at the top five cards of your library. Then shuffle and put the last cards you looked at this way on top in any order.
Instant
Memory Deluge
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast this spell. Put two of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Instant
Maybeboard
(CTRL to add secondary)
Tokens & Extras
The Ring
Your Ring-bearer is legendary and can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.
Whenever your Ring-bearer attacks, draw a card, then discard a card.
Whenever your Ring-bearer becomes blocked by a creature, that creature's controller sacrifices it at end of combat.
Whenever your Ring-bearer deals combat damage to a player, each opponent loses 3 life.
Whenever your Ring-bearer attacks, draw a card, then discard a card.
Whenever your Ring-bearer becomes blocked by a creature, that creature's controller sacrifices it at end of combat.
Whenever your Ring-bearer deals combat damage to a player, each opponent loses 3 life.
Emblem
Tokens & Extras
(CTRL to add secondary)
Deck Info
Deck stats
CategoriesQtyOdds
Click charts to focus on cards
Deck extras (0)
Description
{"ops":[{"insert":"Saruman's ability to Amass Orcs X whenever you cast a noncreature spell is essential to making this deck work so our primary focus before getting him out is ramping and also playing key pieces to commence the \"Type Hack\" aspect of this deck. \n\nUnderstanding what Amass Orcs X even means is important in figuring out the heart of this deck. Amass means to put X counters on an Army creature you control if you control one, otherwise you creature an Army creature token, put X +1/+1 counters on it then it becomes an Orc creature type in addition to its other types. \n\nYes you read that right. Army is a creature type and if you happen to have changelings or other Army creatures present, this means you can pick one of them to Amass the counters on. \n\nThis is where the \"Type Hack\" begins, allowing us to add X +1/+1 counters on any of your creatures whenever you cast a noncreature spell. Due to it being Amass Orcs X, it also becomes an Orc in addition to its other types and also benefits from the Ward 2 from Saruman. Saruman himself is a great target as once your opponents realise how it works will try to remove him from he battlefield. The deck runs a healthy amount of protection and interaction to protect him and other key pieces and also perpetuate your gameplay by also triggering Saruman's Amass ability. Once they become Orcs, they also benefit from the Ward 2. \n\nWith lots of draw pieces and top deck manipulation to find at least 1 of our pieces, we will be able to get the engine running by turn 4/5. Our trigger doublers will compound this, giving you multiple Amass Orcs triggers per spell. Worst case scenario if you never get any of the type hack pieces, you end up with a massive Orc Army beater who can be flung to close out the game. \n\nIf you want clarification, please feel free to consult the Gatherer page for information and reading the rules around Amass and its changes since the Lord of the Rings set as previous instances of Amass implicitly also made Zombie Army creature tokens, which have been errata'd to Amass Zombies. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=620666"},"insert":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=620666"},{"insert":"\n"}]}