Card Corner: Narset, Enlightened Master

Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme- What's that sound?

It's Card Corner time!

Happy New Year's Zoners. I know I reserved this column to talk about niche, questionable, or sometimes downright awful EDH technology, but today we're going to talk about Narset, who is, in my opinion, the best Commander of 2014.

Yeah, as impossible as it may seem, the American wedge finally has a "bobsled team." And it's led by a 6-cost, 3/2 with hexproof.

All of these weird things I'm saying are cinematic allusions from the 90's oddball masterpiece Cool Runnings, where John Candy plays a coach who seeks Winter Olympic redemption by bringing an unlikely group of Jamaicans into the bobsledding scene. And it works!

I think that's the theme for Narset here. Despite being in a difficult color combination, despite being undersized for her converted mana cost, I find that the sum of her qualities work to create a pretty powerful dose of combat-infused value akin to some of Commander's biggest and baddest.

Where most people see these weaknesses, there is actually strength, leading to a strong relational design. What I mean is that the abilities feel pre-meditated, planned, and developed well in testing so that she yields high potential energy without being innately overpowered.

Anyone who's been playing on Cockatrice or MTGO has probably seen this deck accomplishing what Jeleva was attempting to do last year- cast every Time Warp and Relentless Assault- spell imaginable. And chances are, they're going "21 and done" at a strangely consistent rate.

This is because Narset, as I mentioned, is more balanced than Zur and Jeleva. What she lacks in evasion she makes up for in power, toughness, and static abilities. Her 3 power gives her a meaty first strike and an amount of damage that could be left unblocked on a first swing. Hexproof nerfs targeted removal, ensuring opportunity for attack and forcing your opponents to play more Wraths, Edicts, and/or Arcane Laboratory if they want to have answers to the Jeskai Khan.

Perhaps the biggest pitfall is her converted mana cost. It's a lot sure, but it's actually my favorite part. Costing six, combined with an alternate set of static abilities makes her a prime target for all three Scourge Dragon enchantments- Dragon Scales, Dragon Breath, and Dragon Wings.

Not only are these cards cheap to cast, but they have the potential to always be free, attaching to Narset every time she comes in, granting her any combination of Haste and Firebreathing, +1/+2 and Vigilance, or Flying and Cycling. Unlike some of the other enchantress deck options, the power is always at its maximum, thanks to Hexproof and CMC. Short of a Torpor Orb or Hushwing Gryff, these are always going to be relevant enablers in conjunction with ye olde Swords of X and Y, and all the other free non-creature spells you're going to flip and cast.

Overall, I believe this makes Narset the "Most Voltron" Voltron General ever printed, as well as a deck that can enable successful creatureless builds.

Again, enjoy January 1, Zoners. Feel free to share your thoughts with Narset or any of the new Fate Reforged spoilz in the comments below. Have a good one, and always remember- Friends Don't Let Friends Play The Mimeoplasm.

Pass.
-UL