For those who run Xander as a commander (myself included, he's my fav deck to run) Combat Celebrant + Helm of the Host, using Bruvac and Xander on field. Merry Christmas, your whole group hates you now.
@@TheDumbRatMan12 i know this sounds dumb, but only if the deck is odd-numbered. That's why I use Helm to make it an even number when Xander rounds it out
I unintentionally found one of the best and most hilarious combos with him; Eldritch Pact: "Target player draws X cards and loses X life, where X is the number of cards in the player's graveyard." Casually mill half their library then force them to deck themselves AND take the damage. Win in 2 ways.
So use red to make several combat instances and hit each opponent, then cast Eldritch pact, then use red to "copy spell and choose new target" to hit each opponent. Bravo. I love Grixis.
Not only is Lord Xander going to wreck your whole career in commander, but In Pioneer you can play Lord Xander on turn 3 with Sorin, who allows you to cheat vampires into play. Imagine sitting there on turn 3 and being like “aight, discard half your cards and deal with this 6/6 who mills your deck and will wreck your board when he dies”
Hear me out... Went to a local Modern tournament, let the guy shuffle and cut my deck, opened with all 4 copies of Archive Trap and on their first turn they used a fetch land. The look on his face when I told him to mill 52 on turn 0 is a memory I will treasure forever. And now that I know about this guy and all the ways to abuse him I may just have to get back into my old milling ways in commander! Thank you for the ideas!
Reminds me of the Ixalan pre-release when a game went long and we were both just drawing and playing one card per turn, him topdecking and me with one card in hand the whole time. Finally drew my 8th land, played it and cast Zetalpa. He read Zetalpa, blinked a couple times, read it again, then looked up and said "Game 2?"
If you let Xander and Displacer Kitten exist together, you my friend are in for a world of hurt. "Not only NO, but also discard half your hand again for trying to kill my Commander."
Facts! If you pull that extra combat shiz on me you never getting invited to cookout. Please do one on my boy Shorikai, Genesis Engine cause giant robot tribal is my life.
I actually know someone who built their deck around the first and last abilities. They make a lot of token copies of Xander then have to sac them all because of the legend rule. Then after everyone has dumped their hands and sacrificed all their creatures then they start swinging with Xander
They made that thing have Blue, Black, and Red. With Red it's getting extra combat phases, with Blue it's saying "not now" to your counters, and with Black it's just going to explain why you're gonna have a bad time. Like it'll hit everyone at least once, be unlockable for any number of reasons (U/B do that various ways) and will also be beefy as can be while punching everyone.
Right?! I don't have a problem with people milling 3/4 of my deck especially if I run recursion. But discarding cards and sacrificing permanents? Now you're actually hurting me
Exactly! Milling is only bad when you die to it, but it doesn't make you any weaker in the game, as opposed to his other abilities which will actually diminish your overall strength. You might be afraid of losing a good card to the graveyard, but there's just as much of a chance that you get closer to drawing said card. If you happen to have graveyard recursion, this is actually good for you.
Mans really took an issue with the least problematic part of the card. I'd rather have the Xander deck get a bunch of attack triggers than flicker him or sac and bring him back.
We also have some people who play this commander. It's nasty because of its triggers, against which you can't do much. The most efficient way is to prevent the opponent from casting him with a Needle or something. Otherwise GG if he has the mana. Our best tactic: All 3 against the 1 player and then you can enjoy the game.
Im still fairly new at magic but was playing commander with friends. I still cant forgive one of them for making me mill my whole deck with 2 cards. Bruvac and Traumatize
Diminishing returns if you keep milling "half their library". eventually "half your deck" is like "15 cards!", then 7 , then 3, then 2, then 1 and you could have just played bruvac (doubles mill) as a combo before playing Xander instead. Or if you want to play non-combo, play mesmeric orb and make copies of that instead. Or Dreamborn Muse. Also possibly just finish with Brain Freeze (evenn outside storm, just wait for a particularly hectic turn.)
Man, I don't even play M:tG and your videos just keep popping on my algorithm and keep sending it to my friends who do And I just want to say, you're hilarious, but that Calvinball reference sent my sides into yesterday, ain't nobody would remember that 💀
The first and last time I saw Lord Xander played, I was playing Orvar clones. They targetted me with their first Xander trigger. I targetted him with the next 8.
Huh. I never even considered extra combat phases with Xander. I’ve just been using him with a bunch of clone cards. They all summon and then immediately die to the legendary rule. Thanks for the new idea :)
Everybody gangsta until they start playing clone effects and helm of the host and stuff to get multiple of all those triggers off. Great way to get free restraining orders
It's actually graveyard synergy creatures that do all the heavy lifting in my Xander deck funnily enough. One attack from him is pretty much enough to make cards like Drakestown Forgoten, Consuming Aberation and Academy Elite go nuts. Thought i'd put it out as a cool idea.
Bruvac the Grandiloquent scoffs at the word "half." Three attacks from red means the tables mills their entire decks in front of you, and wonders exactly who hurt you, as you turn into Gendo Ikari and declare the end of your turn.
Honestly, I'd just pair him with Liliana Vess as my Planeswalker. Mill half your deck and all creature cards from all graveyards come onto the battlefield under my control, yes please.
I run a Rakdos Lord of Riots Commander deck and I would like to hear more about these extra combat step cards. I think my deck has two cards in it that already do that but two isn’t nearly enough.
Off the top of my head (there may well be more I'm not remembering, but I know the below are all in Rakdos colours. Some are obvs better than others): Godo, Bandit Warlord World At War Aggravated Assault Relentless Assault Combat Celebrant Breath of Fury Seize The Day Zariel, Archduke of Avernus (ult) Karlach, Fury of Avernus Lightning runner Port Razer Savage Beating Akki Battle Squad Bloodthirster Hellkite Charger Morag, Fury of Akoum Scourge of the Throne Fury of the Horde
Not only does Red have multiple combats but blue has plenty of copy effects so if you allow yourself to care about the legend rule, you'll get his etb and death triggers more. Otherwise more attackers!
Bruvac the Grandiloquent (2U) If an opponent would mill one or more cards, they mill twice that many cards instead. _(If they have an odd number of cards in their library, they now have _*_one_*_ card in their library.)_
That half shit in general is something kids back in the early 2000s would never believe. Heartless Hidetsugu from Kamigawa block had the ability that when it swings the opponent halves their life which made for an autokill with Overblaze combo
I know for a fact, that there are cards that say "when you/your opponent mill cards, mill twice that much". Forget multi-attacks, just one shot them with the most disrespectful vampire play since the "exquisite blood/sanguine bond" combo.
As a joke, I played a pioneer deck that dropped Fires of Invention, and then used it to survive into a Mirror March + Thassa + Xander turn (basically, the common Fires shell, but with Xander instead of Agent of Treachery and Mirror March for the ridiculousness of it). The first time I played it with friends, I got 4 coin flips in a row, followed by 2 flips on the Thassa bounce--this caused my opponent to discard half his hand, 6 times, and sac half his permanents 6 times (ie. 7 lands and 7 cards becomes 1 land and 1 card). It was the last time I played that deck...
For those who run Xander as a commander (myself included, he's my fav deck to run)
Combat Celebrant + Helm of the Host, using Bruvac and Xander on field. Merry Christmas, your whole group hates you now.
Jail forever, but I’ll fist bump you as they lock the gate
If you have Xander and bruvac on the field, do you just completely mill your opponents deck out?
@@TheDumbRatMan12 i know this sounds dumb, but only if the deck is odd-numbered. That's why I use Helm to make it an even number when Xander rounds it out
*correction, when the deck is even, not odd lol
You can also use myriad effects so you don't even say fuck you in particular. Fuck everyone all at once.
I unintentionally found one of the best and most hilarious combos with him; Eldritch Pact: "Target player draws X cards and loses X life, where X is the number of cards in the player's graveyard."
Casually mill half their library then force them to deck themselves AND take the damage. Win in 2 ways.
Who hurt you?
@@VivaLaDnDLogs No one, I just found it deeply hilarious.
@@ardynamberglow3124 grixis mindset
So use red to make several combat instances and hit each opponent, then cast Eldritch pact, then use red to "copy spell and choose new target" to hit each opponent. Bravo. I love Grixis.
Oh, this is beautiful! Thank you!
Not only is Lord Xander going to wreck your whole career in commander, but In Pioneer you can play Lord Xander on turn 3 with Sorin, who allows you to cheat vampires into play. Imagine sitting there on turn 3 and being like “aight, discard half your cards and deal with this 6/6 who mills your deck and will wreck your board when he dies”
Hear me out... Went to a local Modern tournament, let the guy shuffle and cut my deck, opened with all 4 copies of Archive Trap and on their first turn they used a fetch land. The look on his face when I told him to mill 52 on turn 0 is a memory I will treasure forever. And now that I know about this guy and all the ways to abuse him I may just have to get back into my old milling ways in commander! Thank you for the ideas!
Reminds me of the Ixalan pre-release when a game went long and we were both just drawing and playing one card per turn, him topdecking and me with one card in hand the whole time.
Finally drew my 8th land, played it and cast Zetalpa.
He read Zetalpa, blinked a couple times, read it again, then looked up and said "Game 2?"
Did the same thing when original Zendikar was in standard. The look on his face when i played all four after cracking was by far my favorite.
I like to teach my family magic and we like comparing the game to Calvin ball. "This card does this which normal cards don't get to do"
I absolutely love these card reviews 😂
Thank you so much! I have a lot more to slowly move over 😂
If you let Xander and Displacer Kitten exist together, you my friend are in for a world of hurt.
"Not only NO, but also discard half your hand again for trying to kill my Commander."
Lord Xander took half the library in the divorce.
Facts! If you pull that extra combat shiz on me you never getting invited to cookout.
Please do one on my boy Shorikai, Genesis Engine cause giant robot tribal is my life.
I actually know someone who built their deck around the first and last abilities. They make a lot of token copies of Xander then have to sac them all because of the legend rule. Then after everyone has dumped their hands and sacrificed all their creatures then they start swinging with Xander
Blade of Selves. Assuming all 3 opponents haven't ragequit yet, just swinging with him makes your opponents sacrifice 75% of their nonland permanents.
They made that thing have Blue, Black, and Red.
With Red it's getting extra combat phases, with Blue it's saying "not now" to your counters, and with Black it's just going to explain why you're gonna have a bad time.
Like it'll hit everyone at least once, be unlockable for any number of reasons (U/B do that various ways) and will also be beefy as can be while punching everyone.
The mill effect on him has to be the most tame part of this card.
Right?! I don't have a problem with people milling 3/4 of my deck especially if I run recursion. But discarding cards and sacrificing permanents? Now you're actually hurting me
Exactly! Milling is only bad when you die to it, but it doesn't make you any weaker in the game, as opposed to his other abilities which will actually diminish your overall strength. You might be afraid of losing a good card to the graveyard, but there's just as much of a chance that you get closer to drawing said card. If you happen to have graveyard recursion, this is actually good for you.
And yet, it's also the easiest to convert into instantly killing a player. It doesn't do anything else on its own, but it's not on its own.
They expect the extra combats by this point. It's the dauthi voidwalker and other stuff making it all exiled that gets em
Calvin Ball. You brought out a super obscure Calvin and Hobbes reference I havent thought of in 20 years. Thank you for that reminder.
"Calvin-ball-like effect" is a DEEP lore cut. Right up there with the Noodle Incident(TM)
Mans really took an issue with the least problematic part of the card. I'd rather have the Xander deck get a bunch of attack triggers than flicker him or sac and bring him back.
You’re a bad person
This is it. You can easily pull an infinite combat/infinite turns combos with a tuned Xander. He's that asshole
@@CradleInTheCrater I mean you could but maybe don't do that with the seven mana commander.
Calvin-ball ass effect is an amazing term
We also have some people who play this commander. It's nasty because of its triggers, against which you can't do much. The most efficient way is to prevent the opponent from casting him with a Needle or something. Otherwise GG if he has the mana. Our best tactic: All 3 against the 1 player and then you can enjoy the game.
Yeah only other option is really to have a counterspell player or destroy their lands so they can never try it
Im still fairly new at magic but was playing commander with friends. I still cant forgive one of them for making me mill my whole deck with 2 cards. Bruvac and Traumatize
That’s a lot of hoops to jump through for this card to still not be that scary
You’re on crack if you aren’t scared of this card
There are mill doublers and such. Now you're milling ALL the cards. That's basically IKEA Phage.
Playing this should be a misdemeanor.
Same with Oko
Extra combats and access to clones in a world where we keep seeing “legendary rule doesn’t apply” more and more.
Diminishing returns if you keep milling "half their library". eventually "half your deck" is like "15 cards!", then 7 , then 3, then 2, then 1 and you could have just played bruvac (doubles mill) as a combo before playing Xander instead. Or if you want to play non-combo, play mesmeric orb and make copies of that instead. Or Dreamborn Muse. Also possibly just finish with Brain Freeze (evenn outside storm, just wait for a particularly hectic turn.)
Bruh Xander with bruvac the grandiloquent is brutal but so satisfying when you pull it off
I swung at somebody with 5 Ulamogs at once, I exiled their entire Library.
3 words. Bruvac, the Grandiloquent. That's an instant kill, ladies and gentlemen
"That is a Calvinball-ass effect." 🤣
Love the clan combos that can proc off the pain daddy colors
Man, I don't even play M:tG and your videos just keep popping on my algorithm and keep sending it to my friends who do
And I just want to say, you're hilarious, but that Calvinball reference sent my sides into yesterday, ain't nobody would remember that 💀
He was so mad about the mill, he completely forgot to mention that Xander can ABSOLUTELY get it.
The reference to Calvinball is straight up awesome.
Loved the Calvin ball reference, made me laugh!
You get a like just for the god damn CALVINBALL reference!! I LOVE Calvin and Hobbes.
Love the Calvinball reference 😂😂😂
Xander with myriad and helm of the host is fun lol.
The first and last time I saw Lord Xander played, I was playing Orvar clones. They targetted me with their first Xander trigger. I targetted him with the next 8.
And that didn't even get into the final level of pettiness if you DO manage to kill him.
Huh. I never even considered extra combat phases with Xander. I’ve just been using him with a bunch of clone cards. They all summon and then immediately die to the legendary rule.
Thanks for the new idea :)
If cloning is your game you should look into Spark Double & Mirror Box
I got a better one; Eldritch Pact: "Target player draws X cards and loses X life, where X is the number of cards in their graveyard."
The worst part of that attack trigger is making me count out half my library every time he attacks. I didn't come here to do math.
Everybody gangsta until they start playing clone effects and helm of the host and stuff to get multiple of all those triggers off. Great way to get free restraining orders
"I'm not scooping the game, I'm scooping out your life."
Black - a bajillion tutors
Blue - Bruvac
Red - extra combat spells/triggers
I play Lord Xander....whoever destroys it, you're the target of his death trigger, lol.
fortunately there are many exile spells in the game
@@SylveonSimp Nooooooooooo!
Lol
love these! would love to see Wilson the refined grizzly and background flaming fist!
Daddy Xander wants HALF!
It's actually graveyard synergy creatures that do all the heavy lifting in my Xander deck funnily enough. One attack from him is pretty much enough to make cards like Drakestown Forgoten, Consuming Aberation and Academy Elite go nuts. Thought i'd put it out as a cool idea.
Two-thirds your library? Nah, I like to get the whole dang thing with Bruvac the Grandiloquent and/or Fraying Sanity on the board before I attack.
This man hates Lord Xander so much that he had to get hammered before he could even bear to evaluate it.
Lord Xander + "when this creature dies, return it to play" cards = "Why do I play this game again?"
Me, an atla palani enjoyer with ulamog, kozilek, worldspine wurm and blightsteel colossus in my deck: this is fine.
Lord Xander: Rules *laughs*
Bitter ordeal and a flash enabler: CONSEQUENCES
I love your card reviews and o was kinda hoping of you would review a personal favorite of mine gisa and geralf
It’ll go in the list my friend!
Not to mention... Blue. Bruvac. NUFF SAID
Bruvac the Grandiloquent scoffs at the word "half."
Three attacks from red means the tables mills their entire decks in front of you, and wonders exactly who hurt you, as you turn into Gendo Ikari and declare the end of your turn.
As a green Stompy deck enjoyer myself, I'm interested to hear what you have to say about Ghalta.
Also fraying sanity to mill their whole deck in one attack
Clone effects and rebirth effects work great too lol
70 cards into my graveyard I’m SALIVATING yes please fill my yard for all the graveyard synergies.
Casually switching to my Eloise deck if Xander's in the command zone. Mill me into my Thoracle. I dare you.
What if they just..mill your oracle ?
This one felt personal like you have a buddy who used it on you 😂😂😂
1/2, 3/4, 7/8, etc of your library. When the set was released, i was so mad when i saw this card!
My mans never heard of Fleet Swallower before 😂
I put him in the 99 of my Obeka Sneak Attack deck 😂
Also, totes waiting for the Nekusar slander
It's all fun and games until old stickfingers comes out after that
Honestly, I'd just pair him with Liliana Vess as my Planeswalker. Mill half your deck and all creature cards from all graveyards come onto the battlefield under my control, yes please.
I love this stuff. How about some turbo storm Feather, the Redeemed?
Who needs extra combats just attack with six Xander clones at once. What are they going to do, block? I've already one and let me just play this bog.
Let's not forget Bruvac, Dark Ritual, and Maze of Ith!
Not only does red have extra combat spells but blue has extra turn spells
Give it myriad too
Lord Xander w/ Fraying Sanity
I made a copy deck using him. So instead of extra combat spells, just more of him period. Works great with mirror box
2 attacks that each remove half or your remaining library would mill 3/4 of the deck not 2/3.
Yes this was back before my wife had taught me basic mathematics
Imagine if he was Mardu instead of Grixis. Toss him in that Isshin deck lol
I run a Rakdos Lord of Riots Commander deck and I would like to hear more about these extra combat step cards.
I think my deck has two cards in it that already do that but two isn’t nearly enough.
Off the top of my head (there may well be more I'm not remembering, but I know the below are all in Rakdos colours. Some are obvs better than others):
Godo, Bandit Warlord
World At War
Aggravated Assault
Relentless Assault
Combat Celebrant
Breath of Fury
Seize The Day
Zariel, Archduke of Avernus (ult)
Karlach, Fury of Avernus
Lightning runner
Port Razer
Savage Beating
Akki Battle Squad
Bloodthirster
Hellkite Charger
Morag, Fury of Akoum
Scourge of the Throne
Fury of the Horde
I mean...I milled someone for 81 from a single tap once
Consuming Abberation plus Phenax God of Deception
*bruvac has entered the chat*
Throw down a fraying sanity on someone and you can literally mill their entire library in one attack…
Me, the sicko who wants my deck in my graveyard: “hahahah 30/4 Crackling Drake go brrrr”
I dont know who pissed in that designer's cheerios that morning... But clearly he was halfway through the bowl when he realized it.
Don't forget: he can get it.
The issue is his personality:
his restaurant is always full, just there are no regulars.
Sounds like a deck that could use a Port Razer with a Blade of Selves equipped 😅😅😅
Fun fact. I played in a 4 player Lord Xander Mirror Match. IT WAS GLORIOUS
Not only does Red have multiple combats but blue has plenty of copy effects so if you allow yourself to care about the legend rule, you'll get his etb and death triggers more. Otherwise more attackers!
humbly requesting Xanathar, guild kingpin
A rare Calvin and Hobbes reference
I like how he doesn't even consider the actual gameplan, which is to copy him roughly 50 times.
Bruvac the Grandiloquent (2U)
If an opponent would mill one or more cards, they mill twice that many cards instead.
_(If they have an odd number of cards in their library, they now have _*_one_*_ card in their library.)_
Sword of body and mind equipped
It also says defending,
I don’t have to attack I can block and ruin your day lol
And imagine the look on there faces when they mill half of a 250 card deck :)
This card definitely came from a divorce, because it takes half of everything.
But can he get it...asking for friend.
That half shit in general is something kids back in the early 2000s would never believe. Heartless Hidetsugu from Kamigawa block had the ability that when it swings the opponent halves their life which made for an autokill with Overblaze combo
I know for a fact, that there are cards that say "when you/your opponent mill cards, mill twice that much".
Forget multi-attacks, just one shot them with the most disrespectful vampire play since the "exquisite blood/sanguine bond" combo.
As a joke, I played a pioneer deck that dropped Fires of Invention, and then used it to survive into a Mirror March + Thassa + Xander turn (basically, the common Fires shell, but with Xander instead of Agent of Treachery and Mirror March for the ridiculousness of it). The first time I played it with friends, I got 4 coin flips in a row, followed by 2 flips on the Thassa bounce--this caused my opponent to discard half his hand, 6 times, and sac half his permanents 6 times (ie. 7 lands and 7 cards becomes 1 land and 1 card). It was the last time I played that deck...
Also, give Xander Myriad and have one of the "ignore the Legend rule" cards, now everyone at the table hates you, even if you only swing once.
But can he get it though? That sweet sweet surrender
*Smiles in Muldrotha*
Not even mentioning his death trigger, huh? Damn, he got to be traumatized...
I feel like if you can get three combat steps lord Zander and bruvac the grandiloquent and your creatures don't die you just win.