{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"How does (my version of)"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Volrath, the Shapestealer"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" work?"},{"insert":"\nFor 1 generic mana Volrath can turn into "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"any "},{"insert":"other creature on the battlefield with ("},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"any "},{"insert":"kind of) counter on it ("},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"at instant speed!"},{"insert":"). He keeps his high 7/5 stats and the ability to shapeshift again."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"He enables his own ability by putting a -1/-1 counter on any creature at the beginning of combat. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"While a lot of decks build him around these -1/-1 counters, stealing opponents creatures, infect, proliferate, ... I wanted to focus on the unique jank he enables with his shapeshift ability. I specifically wanted to abuse the fact that Volrath keeps his high 7/5 stats when he becomes a copy of something, so we are looking for cards that care about power. More on that later."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIn orde to be able to become a copy of one of our creatures, we first need to put "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"counters "},{"insert":"on them (and preferably not those -1/-1 counters).\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Master Biomancer"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wildgrowth Archaic"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thunderous Velocipede"}},{"insert":" & "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Warden of the Grove"}},{"insert":" all put +1/+1 counters on a creature upon entry."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ride the Shoopuf"}},{"insert":" allows us to put a +1/+1 counter when a land enters under your control."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jenova, Ancient Calamity"}},{"insert":" - Puts counters in the combat phase and can provide sweet card draw when our 7/5s die. Great synergy with Master Biomancer!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tetzimoc, Primal Death"}},{"insert":" is golden in a Volrath list. Pay 1 black, reveal Tetzimoc and put a prey counter on any creature. Repeat. You can now start copying."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Forgotten Ancient"}},{"insert":" - classic card for counter movement."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Animal Attendant"}},{"insert":" grants approximately 30 creatures in the deck a +1/+1 counter upon entry (and is much cheaper moneywise than "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Biophagus"}},{"insert":"). "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nesting Grounds"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Llanowar Reborn"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vastwood Fortification // Vastwood Thicket"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Novijen, Heart of Progress"}},{"insert":" are all lands that help with our counters. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"How do we win once we have our creatures with counters?"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Combat tricks"},{"insert":": \nVolrath can use his ability at instant speed. This means that you could copy Volrath into something else in every step of the combat phase. Say you turn Volrath into a creature with Myriad before attackers are declared (eg. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scurry of Squirrels"}},{"insert":" ), effectively creating 4 more (double myriad) non-legendary copies of Volrath-Squirrel attacking opponents. You want them to go through, so once attackers are declared you can turn a Volrath-Squirrel into an unblockable creature ensuring he goes through (for example "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Invisible Stalker"}},{"insert":" - with a hexproof bonus!). Lastly, before the damage step you change Volrath-Stalker again into a creature that gives you value upon connecting based on damage (see examples below). Even if you don't shift him into a value creature, remember he retains his 7/5 stats and just swings hard! "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nacatl War-Pride"}},{"insert":" is a game ender in this scenario. If you copy Volrath into "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Champion of Lambholt"}},{"insert":" creatures with less than 7 power can't block our creatures. The following creatures particularly like having higher stats in their Volrath form:"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Goldvein Hydra"}},{"insert":" - has a counter on it on entry, becomes a 7/5 trampler with Volrath and gives us loads of treasures upon death."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Faerie Bladecrafter"}},{"insert":" - flying beater that upon death in its Volrath form can drain 7 life from each opponent and gain you 21 life."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Giggling Skitterspike"}},{"insert":" - potentially 7 damage to each opponent for each attack, block or being targeted by a spell."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cold-Eyed Selkie"}},{"insert":" - sorry other blue player, you can now help us draw 7 cards when the Volrath-Selkie hits you."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cephalid Constable"}},{"insert":" - defending players bounces 7 permanents ("},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"yes, this could be mass land denial"},{"insert":")."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Needle Specter"}},{"insert":" - defending player discards 7."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"More Volraths!"},{"insert":"\nThe following creatures can create a permanent non-legendary token copy of Volrath "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"with"},{"insert":" its shapeshifting ability. Assemble your army of Volraths to overwhelm opponents!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spawnwrithe"}},{"insert":" - let Volrath shapeshift into Spawnwrithe. If we attack as 7/5 trampler and deal combat damage, we create a non-legendary 7/5 Volrath-Spawn token copy with the copy ability AND Volrath's copy ability."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scute Swarm"}},{"insert":"- let Volrath shapeshift into Scute Swarm. If we then trigger landfall with 6 or more lands, we create a copy of the original Scute Swarm AND a non-legendary 7/5 Volrath-Scute token copy with the landfall ability AND Volrath's copy ability. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Homunculus Horde"}},{"insert":"- let Volrath shapeshift into the Horde. If we draw our second card for the turn, we create a copy of the original Homunculus Horde AND a non-legendary 7/5 Volrath-Horde token copy with the copy-on-draw ability AND Volrath's copy ability."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Uchuulon"}},{"insert":" let Volrath shapeshift into Uchuulon. When this Volrath-Uchuulon exiles a creature from an opponents' graveyard, we create a non-legendary 7/5 Volrath-Uchuulon token copy with the copy-on-endstep ability AND Volrath's copy ability."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pack Rat"}},{"insert":" let Volrath shapeshift into Pack Rat. Pay the cost to activate its copy ability, we create a non-legendary 7/5 Volrath-Rat token copy with both creatures' copy abilities."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Long story short: while your original Volrath will return to his original (legendary) form at the beginning of your upkeep, your non-legendary clones of Volrath will return to whatever form they entered the battlefield as. Effectively allowing you to have as many as you can/wish on the battlefield."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Not included in the deck, but this trick also works with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Giant Adephage"}},{"insert":"or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Compy Swarm"}},{"insert":". "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Relevant rules for these interactions are in the Comprehensive Rules under 707.2, 707.9c & 111.3."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Note that if you succeed in making copies of Volrath, you care less about your original commander going back to the command zone as you have several different versions of him to play around with. This way you won't win with commander damage, but you cheat on commander tax in quite an original way. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"You want to go crazier?"},{"insert":" When a non-legendary token generation effect is on the stack, you can let the Volrath-XXX become a copy of something else on the battlefield first. When the token generation effect then resolves, you now create a copy of what you shapeshifted into! "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBut always remember: if you can't find anything interesting to shapeshift into on your own board, feel free to copy your opponents' creatures and use their assets against them! Nobody is stopping you from attacking with a Volrath-"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nacatl War-Pride"}},{"insert":" and while the copy effect is on the stack shapeshift into an opponent's "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hare Apparent"}},{"insert":". Do the math! Or profit of an opponent's "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls"}},{"insert":" while waiting for your turn. With blight, saga creatures, general +1/+1 counters strategies, ... there are usually more than enough targets to shift into!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Protection "},{"insert":"- Volrath and Volrath copies can protect themselves in several ways by shapeshifting into another creature at instant speed:\nHexproof:"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Invisible Stalker"}},{"insert":" & "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sylvan Caryatid"}},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Indestructible:"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Giggling Skitterspike"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vashta Nerada"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Barbed Servitor"}},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ba Sing Se"}},{"insert":" & "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Beifong's Bounty Hunters"}},{"insert":" - animate a land and put a +1/+1 counter on it, now Volrath can become a copy of it. However Volrath only copies the base characteristics of the card (Layer 1), turning Volrath into a land and effectively protecting it from all non-land removal spells. Note that if you can still tap that Volrath-land, you can effectively change Volrath back into something else with the 1 mana you generated afterwards."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You want it crazier? "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Earthbend Volrath when he is a land."},{"insert":" Earthbending a land sets up a delayed trigger (CR 603.7) for when that permanent dies or is exiled, regardless of what characteristics it has at that time. Comprehensive rule 603.7c states: A delayed triggered ability that refers to a particular object still affects it even if the object changes characteristics. When killed or exiled, an original earthbended Volrath (not a token version) would be returned to the battlefield tapped even if it wasn't a land at the time it left the battlefield. Keep in mind, however, that an earthbended Volrath reverts to being a 0/0 with counters at your upkeep and not his usual 7/5 stats. He regains those when he shapeshifts."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emergent Sequence"}},{"insert":" ramps us and provides a constant target to protect Volrath at instant speed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Lands like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mishra's Workshop"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mutavault"}},{"insert":" can also serve as 'land protection', however, you will most likely first have 1) animate them and 2) put a -1/-1 counter on them to be operational. We prefer these over "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Inkmoth Nexus"}},{"insert":" as this would be much harder to activate due to the 1/1 stats."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Larval Scoutlander"}},{"insert":" - this spacecraft ramps you when it comes down and can be stationed into a creature-spacecraft instantly when you have a 7/5 Volrath on the board. Because it has counters on it, Volrath can copy it. However, it only copies the base characteristics of the card (Layer 1), turning Volrath into a non-creature artifact protecting it from creature removal. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bender's Waterskin"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":{"card-link":"Urban Burgeoning"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":{"card-link":"Victory Chimes"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":" ensure we always have at least 1 mana available on everyone's turn to shapeshift."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Other notable inclusions/synergies"},{"insert":":\nRamp on death: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Goldvein Hydra"}},{"insert":" & "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rampant Rejuvenator"}},{"insert":" love dying as a 7/5."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Freestrider Lookout"}},{"insert":" - Volrath's identity theft counts as committing a crime in Magic terms. With cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bender's Waterskin"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urban Burgeoning"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Victory Chimes"}},{"insert":" he can do it every turn. That's potentially 4 lands per turn cycle."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A Volrath-"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Barbed Servitor"}},{"insert":" can block as it is not suspected. This puts opponents in an awkward situation. Do they attack into you? Do they let the 7/5 through or do they block and get the damage returned to them anyway?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Professor Hojo"}},{"insert":" makes the first shapeshift of our turn free. Further, you can draw 4 cards per turn cycle by simple hopping identities."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Notable exclusions"},{"insert":":\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Biovisionary"}},{"insert":" - original wincon in EDH, but the card itself doesn't bring anything extra besides begging to be cloned."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Simic Ascendancy"}},{"insert":" - I use this as a wincon in other decks and it would draw too much attention when it's on the table."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A lot of cool legendary targets for Volrath to copy. The legend rule would kick in and force you to sac on of them."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Work in progress: do I play too many 1 toughness creatures, preventing me to put a -1/-1 counter on it if I really need it in a pich?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Inspirations"},{"insert":":\nAll the fans of Volrath in GamefreakSA's Janketeers Discord server!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://commandersherald.com/how-they-brew-it-be-yourself-volrath/ (Michael Celani)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://moxfield.com/decks/4wSzO076vE-RCt2kkucSNg (Michael's version)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://moxfield.com/decks/zOLRJjEX5Eu_P9bvrdRipg (Hamilton))"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://moxfield.com/decks/J3PiA1jekkWtgFecRwZXTA (Wit)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://moxfield.com/decks/GanV7T9p4Eq6fcMlpOKBhw (Wit 3.0)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/volrath-s-bag-of-tricks-50-100-200-budget-commander (Tomer)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://moxfield.com/decks/Jef2xJMJK0qHxYUJqldXxw/primer (possibly the best primer on Volrath's tricks)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/18252680/faceoff (RoamingStorm)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Dragons: https://moxfield.com/decks/ROEiCNPXlEGqBkE-ZzYTgg"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}