#vadrik

[roguedeck]

From the Vault #4: Vadrik | Equip to Cast

Building Izzet decks is hard.

You either end up with an underpowered deck that throws around Lightning Bolts and Brainstorms (but can't ultimately close), or you storm off/combo win. There's really no in-between.

And the sad part is, there are really cool Izzet commanders.

This deck started off by trying to build a fair Mizzix spellslinger deck. That was impossible. Mizzix is so busted that no mater what you do, you're going to dominate the game.

Where Mizzix incents you to storm off, from the surface, Vadrik encourages you to play big spells. And getting there, gives you a ton of fun options.

A lot of people want to double-down on Vadrik by pumping him with instants and sorceries. It's a perfectly fine approach to beef him up with Haze of Rage, Seething Anger, or Lunar Frenzy. That's fine for a turn, but it encourages you to win on the spot - and you are screwed if your Vadrik gets removed mid-stream.

I wanted something that encouraged a more interactive game - and had more staying power. That's why I went with equipment. Suiting up Vadrik means you can reliably cast bombs turn after turn.

I started with cards like Time Stretch and Mizzix's Mastery, but ultimately those got cut. They made the game a race to see how quickly you could go (effectively) infinite.

In their place, I'm anchoring on Surge to Victory. Surge is still an expensive bomb, but it encourages building up a board presence - and it let's you reuse all the other ridiculous spells in the deck.

Key cards

Hero's Blade | Blackblade Reforged | Grafted Wargear | Heirloom Blade: Here's the equipment package. Wargear and Hero's Blade are effectively free equips. Blackblade let's you ignore casting cost for the rest of the game. Heirloom Blade gives you some wizard tribal advantage.

Trophy Mage: Goes and gets Wargear and Heirloom Blade, as well as Cloudstone Curio and the Celestus.

Cloudstone Curio: We've got a decent wizard tribal theme going on here - and most of them have useful EtBs. Very little is better than Casting Master of Waves and bouncing a Snapcaster Mage.

Harmonic Prodigy: Is bonkers in this deck. He procs whenever Vadrik triggers and he doubles up all the EtBs.

Whispers of the Muse: When combined with Storm-Kiln Artist, Whispers of the Muse goes effectively infinite (Vadrik can discount buyback).

Triskaidekaphile: An alt win con and draw engine all in one. Sometimes you can't rely on Vadrik to get you there - or maybe your wizard army was annihilated. You can still Blue Sun's Zenith eot and pull out the win.

Check out the full deck list.

[overyoptimisticopinions]

This is perhaps the best Izzet spellslinger commander, and perhaps the best day night commander in the game (i don't like werewolves). I just really like the playstyle this gives.

With 3 opponents, it will probably always be day at the start of your turn, since at least one of them is most likely going to cast 2 spells. That means that for optimal value, you're going to pass most of your turns.

In a creature heavy deck this is a problem, but with a good focus on instants, you can get around it. If you want untapped mana anyway, for counter spells and bolts, then this is just free value.

I play this commander, and my deck is about 20% creatures, like roil chaser and Archmage Emeritus, just to give me some board state, and then most of my other nonland slots are instants.

building this to get the most cost reduction is also tricky, Both the og bolt and conterspell cost only coloured mana, so their cost can't be reduced. But you can probably find 4 damage for one and a red , even with a potential upside. with Vadrik on the board, this is just bolt but better. Similarley, while counter spells for one and a blue are often pretty limited, there are lots of great counterspells for 2 and a blue, with upsides, and these turn into counterspell but better as soon as you play vadrik, and become one mana counterspells by the end of your turn.

I'll mention 2 other cards, and that's Hall of oracles and storm kings thunder. Hall of oracles is a land which can tap for colourless, tap to colour fix for 1 mana, and, if you've played an instant or sorcery this turn, it can tapp to put a +1/+1 counter on every creature. You've always played an instant, so this is a free +1/+1 counter every turn, which you can drop on Vadrik for even more reduction.

Storm kings thunder is x and 3 red to coppy your next instant or sorcery x times. once Vadrik's power is really big, and you have lots of lands, you can cast this at x = 10 or 11, and turn anything into a win condition. 11 extra turns with alchemists gambit, or 3o damage to face from 10 lightning bolts.

That's how i've built this commander, but I'm willing to make changes, so please make some suggestions. I realy recomend this commander, it's great fun.

[minnie-mystery]

My commanders

[mtgtips]

What should I call my Vadrik, Astral Archmage Deck Voltron deck? (its win condition is combat damage.)

Magic the Gathering tip: “This is my Vadrik deck come closer so i can show it to you and definitely not punch you in the face”

[gartharthestout]

Full Art Vadrik + ficha de dia e noite 🌞🌙 IG: gartharthestout

[jones-friend]

In an Effort to Archive my Decks here is every list.

Sai, Master Thopterist - MonoU Thopter Artificing

Daretti, Scrap Savant - MonoR Artificing

Lathliss, Dragon Queen - MonoR Dragons

Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter - MonoG big n tall

The Council of Four - Azorius Profiteering

Tajic, Blade of the Legion - Boros Damage Redirection

Tasha/Sygg - Dimir Theft

Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - Dimir Mill

Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver - Dimir zombie tribal

Vadrik, Astral Archmage - Izzet Spellslinget

Jori En, Ruin Diver - Izzet Cantrips

Athreos, God of Passage - Orzhov Aristocrats

Obzedat, Ghost Council - Orzhov Lifegain

Prosper, Tome-Bound - Rakdos Treasures

Chainer, Nightmare Adept - Rakdos Reanimator

Prime Speaker Zegana - Simic Counters

Ixhel, Scion of Atraxa - Abzan Poison

Kathril, Aspect Warper - Abzan Keyword Counters

Kestia, the Cultivator - Bant Auras

Roon of the Hidden Realm - Bant Fair-er Flicker

Aminatou, the Fateshifter - Esper Topdeck

Sharuum the Hegemon - Esper Artificer

Zurgo and Ojutai - Jeskai Combat Control

Sidisi, Brood Tyrant - Sultai Self Mill

Riku of Two Reflections - Temur Hug

Maelstrom Wanderer - Temur Topdeck

Horde of Notions - 5c Elementals

Ramos, Dragon Engine - 5c Casting Tribal

The Ur-Dragon - 5c Dragons

[niuttuc]

New “budget” Commander cards: March of the Machine Edition: Red

Fire, anger and speed. All the cards are, at time of writing, under $2.

A wheel that keeps your access to your current hand is VERY potent in a wide array of strategy, and the back lets you keep a moderate amount of instant-speed interaction at all times while also digging for more action, an excellent card overall.

They keep adding more to these common equipments. Getting more damage, more evasion, and some ramp out of a one drop equipment is quite efficient.

Once again, ignore the planechase text. If you can reduce the cost on this, with a Mizzix or Vadrik or similar spellslinger, you get to cycle out your hand while also being mana positive, which is quite strong.

6 mana is a lot, but this goes nuts very easily, particularly if you can make copies of it in other ways, since each copy will copy every single modified attacking creature AND trigger from them AND make more modified creatures, which red has gotten much better at in the past few years. It needs support, but with even a little bit of it, it has the potential to end games.

Sometimes you don't need fancy card draw or ramping, being very good at attacking is enough.

Another wheel effect? Yeah, and this one offers many more options, including a safety against go-wide token decks.

Is this card good? No. But it deserves a mention just because it's fun.

[dndwithaerin]

Part 1: The Story Begins - Session 0.5 and 1

    One day at school, Laura was introduced to a classmate by the name of Orlaith El by way of a group assignment.  Upon learning that she was at once a sorceress, natural telepath, AND a descendant of the legendary wizard Elminster, Laura was naturally fascinated and determined to learn as much as possible about her.  After class they ascended the school's tallest tower to visit the observatory, and home of the school's more specialized divination courses, attended by Professor Vadrik.  While there she was introduced to a strange new method of magic notation, related to the stars and constellations.  Never passing up an opportunity to learn a new spell, she accepted the professor's challenge to perform Augury for her young, unaware courier that had come to deliver some correspondence.  Despite a rather... uncomfortable divining, she was awarded with a spell scroll, which she wasted no time copying in to her book.

    One piece of correspondence in particular struck her with great surprise.  News of a simple reagent shoppe in the slums of the city, purportedly attended by a relative of the one and only Otiluke, purveyor of many spherical magicks.  Accompanied by her new friend Orlaith, and donning a masterful disguise, the two managed to take their first steps in to the city's underbelly.  The reagent shoppe did not prove difficult to find, navigating through the unwashed masses was a new and exciting experience for Laura, who had seldom been out of the Cloud District.  Once inside the shoppe they were greeted by a rather eccentric old man, known as Old Man Otiluke, particularly enthusiastic about pickled provisions.  He was quite surprised to learn of Laura's purpose for visiting, but was none the less eager to offer advice to the young mage.  When crafting a new spell, one must have clarity of mind and purpose.

    As the discussion went on, a young man by the name of Sean wandered in, a friend of the old man it seemed, carrying a peculiar instrument.  Was he a bard perhaps?  No, the instrument showed no traces of magic, at least to the naked eye.  Their conversation was soon interrupted by Sean's sister, Angie bursting through the door, begging the old man's help with an incident in the steam works.  Otiluke showed no hesitation in going to investigate the scene, and perceiving an opportunity to see a master at work, Laura was just as eager to follow, Orlaith and Sean in tow.

    Once in the steam works they were greeted with a truly frightful sight.  A large beast with snake-like body and insectoid torso and claws, being engaged by the dwarven foreman and a small goblin-looking creature.  Laura showed absolutely no hesitation in engaging the fiendish beast, but alas, she was not quick enough.  With two swipes of its terrifying claws, and what appeared to be a fair dose of the creature's poison, the dwarf was slain before their very eyes.  Despite trembling with fear, she knew she had to help stop the beast so it could not wreak further havoc on the citizenry of the slums.  Through their combined magical might, Laura, Orlaith, Otiluke, and the goblin, Blirix, felled their foe.  Laura fell to her knees as the guards finally arrived on the scene.  Unfortunately she could not obscure her identity further, and was escorted back to her home after providing the guards with a statement of the events that had occurred.  One thing was clear in her mind though.  The people of the slums do not deserve to live in fear of horrors like that.  Something must be done.

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Table of Contents

[pearly-plays-mtg]

Okokok So I think I figured that one poll out. But also I need time to think it over.

I'm going to list each of the cards name by name.

The first one listed is clearly Immerwolf. Like, I don't think it can get much clearer.

Rolling a D12 is something from that clock from AFR/Baldur's Gate, almost certainly. I'll find the card later.

Abyssal Persecutor my beloved

Boldwyr Intimidator my beloved (also obligatory Lovisa mention)

I think this one is the trick- it's meant to remind us of Ugin's Nexus, but UN says if A PLAYER or if Anyone would begin an Extra Turn, skip it instead. Also, that would shut off any turns.

This immediately reminds me of Death Wish, but Death Wish is optional. Maybe there's some kind of Mastermind's Acquisition effect in another color? Or anything that's not optional?

I know this next one because I'm building a Vote Tribal deck. Death or Torture would be the Tyrant's Curse (two mana edict or something 4?) This one I think is Capital Punishment- 6 mana gets you sacked creatures or discarded cards, or something like that.

You Control No Suspected Skeleton- I don't know any cards with this.Scryfall says this is a 'Curse of the Stashed Skeleton', but that's kinda mean using a card that got previewed YESTERDAY. Do better.

Brain says this is Body of Research, or some such effect- I don't think it's Phyrexian Librarian, since that's more about stacking cards. (Invincible Hymn! Dang it, Shards of Alara!)

Chaos Ensues- Missy, or any of the 'Path of the Planeswalker' cards.

Apex Devastator- quad city cascaders.

Last one could be Celestus or Vadrik, but there's a bunch of cards that say that IIRC.

Cards below (and I will reblog with an image of the poll)

[prosperity-post]

Vadrik, Astral Archmage is the Lunar Mystic from Avacyn Restored? Cool but we could have used a reprint in the set.

[ourlittleforever]

love putting all my dads in one picture. look at these guys

[roguedeck]

You should be playing #10 - Sword of the Chosen

Stronghold might be the low-key best Magic set for Commander.

It's just full of bonkers and interesting cards that you don't see anymore.

You already know my undying (sic) love for Tortured Existence, but Stronghold also brings us bangers like Ensaring Bridge, Heartstone, Constant Mists, Intruder Alarm, Grave Pact, Horn of Greed, Volrath's Stronghold, Reins of Power, and so much more.

What an insane list.

But one of my favorite cards from this set is one that I forgot about until building Tymna + Anara - Sword of the Chosen.

I get why this card was forgotten back in the day. Tempest block had a few legends, but nothing to write home about - and definitely nothing that needed a temporary p/t boost.

But you know what format is guaranteed to have a bunch of legends...

Yep. That one.

How many Commanders would like a +2/+2 bonus? That's nothing to sneeze at. It completely changes the math on Commander damage by taking 5 and 6 power commanders to 7. It also gives you an outlet for early game damage and damage triggers.

And the best part - it's not an Aura. You don't lose this when your legend dies.

More importantly, the ability is completely optional. You can threaten to pump your commander, or save it for one of your other legendaries (which Commander decks tend to incidentally have a bunch of anyway). Do you keep it back in case of damage based removal? The options are basically endless.

Coming down on turn two, Sword of the Chosen puts you opponents in a bind. Do they block and risk losing a dude? Do they let you get in for the damage trigger?

Also, not completely irrelevant, but Sword of the Chosen is also a legendary card for you Sisay and Reki players.

This random artifact from the before times comes down for basically nothing and maintains impact throughout the game. It's only in 749 EDHREC decks. You should definitely be playing more of it.

Pairs nicely with:

Sisay, Weatherlight Captain

Tymna the Weaver

Fynn the Fangbearer

Sygg River Cutthroat

Vadrik, Astral Archmage

Sidar Kondo of Jamura

Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh

Soul's Fire

Tana the Bloodsower

Xyris the Writing Storm

[strider-marie164]

He finally has a name

Lucius Ostrum

[postsfromtheorderofsainttraft]

Rem: Would anyone know any good vendors for professional-quality brass knuckles? Vadrik: I know you’re serious, but you say the scariest shit sometimes.

[stxnsia]

;; Innistrad is now the plane of the gays. WotC confirmed. We did it

[bacejelerenvorthos]

The Lore of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt - Vadrik, Astral Archmage

“Vadrik of Nephalia is a widely respected astronomancer. His research into the movements of the moon has proven to be a great boon for the people of Innistrad. Greater knowledge of the moon means greater protection against werewolves. While his expertise lies in the stars, he is also an amateur artist. His hand-drawn star charts are commonly found in the packs of travelers across the plane. Although he prefers to draw his maps from the comfort of his home, a favor for his old friend Jenrik, calls him into the field.”

Art by Kieran Yanner