A Fair and Reasonable Review of Sauron, The Dark Lord (MTG)

[@MrBe56]

"Allowed then to draw 4 cards every time they conceptualized a boob" was not a phrase I ever thought could happen in Magic, but we are here now and I am all for it.

[@kadenfaust3806]

It is the best phrase

[@thatguyintherain3168]

Whats scary about his Ward is you can stack other Ward effects on it like with that one artifact that gives your stuff Ward 2. Plus he has blue so he can use counter spells in addition to a massive ward cost.

[@maldhound]

Imagine sacrificing your commander to his ward just to get spell pierced

[@RoxyGotMoxy.]

​@@maldhoundimagine sacrificing a legendary equipment to target this only to get your killspell Commandeer'd so you kill your commander as well, then look across and see your opponent gently putting a counter on their army and going "and what have we learned?" In the most shit-eating way possible.

[@PaladinLostHour]

@@maldhound Nah dawg. I sac my commander to commander to cast Path of Ex - Mental Misstep. Well, it cost me two life, Timmy. That'll be $200.

[@Exile559]

He's the embodiment of "how many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?"

[@DarkX64]

@@maldhound AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH WHY WOULD YOU HURT US LIKE THIS, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGDHSFJKD

[@christopherpatricklizares5306]

As a cEDH player, I was excited to play this as soon as he was spoiled. It's hilarious to be able to admit you're the Ad Naus deck at the start of the game, but no one wants to attack you because you somehow have 21 power on-board by turn 3. "I'm the combo deck, but today I woke up and chose violence."

[@maldhound]

Lethal damage true combos into a game win

[@thes1lv3rwolf27]

I put a bunch of taxes whenever a player cast a spell boom 1/1 boom card draw boom take 5 dmg or discard everytime *everytime* they cast a spell then it just gets worst if you pair the amass with a sac outlet like goblin bombardment and a card that says whenever a creature dies your opponents sac a creature now everytime they cast something I draw a card make an army kill the army do 1 dmg to their face they sac a creature then they either pay 5 life or discard a card then just for shits in gigs I imprison in the moon the planeswalker they literally had to walk through hell to get to the battlefield 😂

[@belurso5179]

@@maldhound Is there a better combo than just repeatedly bludgeoning enemies to death with your Orc Army*? *which they paid for lmao

[@FanOfMostEverything]

He was once beautiful. That got smacked out of him around when he got a continent sunk. Also, I do love how if you have a random 1/1 Ring-bearer, you can send them on a suicide mission to destroy the Dark Lord with his own power.

[@chiffon788]

Just like in the book!

[@jessehunter362]

honestly. numenor’s sinking? that’s on ar-pharazon. sauron shouldn’t be blamed for that one.

[@quigojr6783]

Very fair, very balanced.

[@maldhound]

Honest Magic Gaming

[@The_medicine_frog]

Can't wait for some ashnod's alter mirkwood bat's bs. Combine this guy with atchfiend of ifnir and call of the ring and he's even more busted.

[@mofomiko]

​@@The_medicine_frogthat's just bustedness of the cards themselves, he himself ain't exactly. Lord of the nazgul however...

[@OMAGAICE122]

Continuing to prove that the more balanced a card, the more unstoppable any combos using it become.

[@Ceracio]

@@The_medicine_frog Mirkwood Bats seem even more OP in a Treasure deck.

[@nhogan84]

Watching your reviews has become a bit of an event for me and my partner, we both love your wit and reviews. Thank you for giving us something to enjoy together!

[@maldhound]

I’m so glad you like them! I’m very happy to be able to provide that.

[@rdmages]

Thinking about Pillow Princess Sauron is making my day

[@parkerdixon-word6295]

Now I want to see "Ward- tap a creature" where the cost isn't mana, but part of your board presence, *and* it's an absolute pain to kill for decks that don't run any/many creatures.

[@SirBearingtonSupporter]

Ward - tap an untapped creature, it doesn’t I tap during your next untap step. Commitment.

[@nerd_mor]

@@SirBearingtonSupporter the structure is there with stun counters.

[@nerd_mor]

May I suggest you read Nine-Fingers Keene?

[@VivBrodock]

Forge, Neverwinter Charlatan has Ward- sacrifice a creature, but he is a secret lair card I could see not liking that MIshra, Tamer of Mak Fawa has Ward- Sacrifice a Permanent I like the ones that require you to discard or pay life (special shoutout to Phyrexian Fleshgorger and Nine-Fingers Keene) I think putting a mana cost on it is just the lamest option, and also the one we see the most of.

[@Not_Morgoth]

@@VivBrodock I think the mana cost variant, though boring, can make itself pretty oppressive with tax effects on top. I think ward costs with colored pips would be a touch more interesting than generic but maybe it would be too strong in certain matchups.

[@echowolf4230]

Sauron cannot get it? But consider this: until the day you die you can tell everyone that you did it with Sauron....That alone is enough to convince me that he can get it.

[@ILockhartI]

It will BE the day you die if you do it with Sauron.

[@maldhound]

This is an incredible benefit I did not give enough weight to

[@Red-Tower]

I mean, first off he's definitely a sadist, so he *WILL* get it if he wants it. That pillow princess nails comment though also got me thinking he gonna have you "servicing" him however he wants.

[@jessehunter362]

Sauron is canonically the second hottest person in lotr canon.

[@GigaBoost]

It would he incredibly cool if they experimented with beneficial Ward abilities that provide your opponent upside - like you mentioned (punch CEO in the face).

[@EvanFarshadow]

Luigi Mangione just be paying the Ward costs

[@pencilwatchesstuff791]

Sauron is just missing "whenever a player plays with you, they owe you $200"

[@Julia-iw8dd]

More like whenever a player plays with you, sacrifice that player as your friend.

[@stroodlepup]

​@@Julia-iw8ddit does not regenerate. There, amended sir

[@Cutie_Amor]

​@stroodlepup nah they can regen but with a finality counter

[@paulcurran302]

Sauron the Dark Lord is a card I’ve been keeping my eye on ever since spoilers started coming out. Now that the sera’s out, it seems even more egregious now than even before. Grixis battlecruiser commander with a super interesting and unique wars effect that builds massive orc armies and then uses them to wheel? Fuck this guy for being so cool. Also a huge flavor win for Sauron, which I love. He also synergizes so well with every card he’s supposed to canonically synergize with, such as all the Saruman’s and the Nazgûl’s, and it’s clear they planned a huge chunk of the set around this card in specific. I both love it and hate it. I love everything about him, I hate how many tools he gets and how powerful he has the potential to be.

[@PsychoDiesel48]

This card took me to my very first precon/sealed/draft 1st place finish ever. Will always remember it for that.

[@maldhound]

God bless our dark lord

[@GeekTalkwithMerg]

One does not simply refuse to smash the dark lord.

[@benjimancasebeer7747]

It wasn't simple. He gave 2 very valid reasons. If the Dark lord wants to get it he'll have to see a plastic surgeon and learn how to put in personal effort. Just because you have someone at your beck and call doesn't mean you should always use them.

[@GeekTalkwithMerg]

@@benjimancasebeer7747 know your meme.

[@TKTigerkat]

Watching my Judith wipe out Sauron, his nazgul, and the army he just created in response to my End the Festivities, all while ignoring that ward, is one of the best experiences I've had in this game.

[@fafunir]

Asking for Jin-Gitaxias // The Great Synthesis. As a blue player who wants to touch every card in my deck in a single turn, I feel you'd enjoy this one

[@ryanbollinger1759]

I use him as my mono blue commander, and I can confirm this is accurate. He’s absolutely busted and I haven’t lost very many games with him at my LGS. The card draw is absurd and nobody can keep their creatures down, and Jin is 100 percent committing mass tax fraud with omniscience on the back and Omniscience in the 99.

[@glitch3141]

Why don’t you just shuffle your deck after ramping like all the green players?

[@fafunir]

@@glitch3141 I don't like stompy creatures & I like to play control / combo

[@anannoyedpanda]

@@fafunir Eweeee you're gross. Control players should not be a part of the game.

[@joshuawhitney9414]

LOL oh how much the CEO joke has aged.

[@OatmealTheCrazy]

Perfectly

[@jasonreimer5736]

Each one of these shorts is better then the last. Thanks for the great content man.

[@catbot6037]

Seeing this sauron in the command zone gives me the same vibes as seeing big sheodred in the zone. It by itself IS a massive dumb threat, creates an additional massive orc army by the wnd of the turn cycle, and that army becomes deadly if someone at the table decides to be a spellslinger. I think the most egregious part of this is that it costs 6. 6!! This crap feels like it's at home on an 8 or 9 drop!

[@Red-Tower]

I played him with some friends when the set released (did a LOTR cards only game on cockatrice), trust me when I say he ends up costing 9 mana real quick because once you cast him once you become the archenemy even if someone else is *clearly* more likely to win than you. That said I did end up winning because of a lack of boardwipes/removal at the table, but it was very close.

[@Caveman13126]

0:52 this inspired recent events

[@jayemdaewarehouse9027]

That looks like a terrifying Commander with all of the shenanigans an Aristocrat player could do. Mix with Korvold for maximum hilarity. Also, I’d love to see Karona, False God one day.

[@solemashi]

the elevated version of these videos is you in front of a green screen - then edited to look like its a Comedy Central Roast and put the MtG card in the chair ~ dont forget to having Lisa Lampanelli & Jeff Ross in the bkgnd. love the vids - youtube kept suggesting them and im glad - everyone needs a comicstrip kinda vibe in their day

[@maldhound]

Thank you for the idea, and I’m glad you liked them so far!

[@solemashi]

@@maldhound the work you put in shows. excellent roasting. another idea - get in drag and read the card to filth. library scene

[@Zero_The_Crow]

My only issues is that none of the Saurons make a coveted jewel type artifact that your opponents will fight over.

[@duncanjala]

That's because Sauron didn't make the Silmarils

[@trizkit995]

Bro your content gets better every roast! Your outro on shuffle up and play was comedy gold.

[@parkourse2457]

"consider the power a magic player would hold if you allowed them to draw four cards every time they conceptualized a boob." considered, contemplated, and conceptualized. a boob. well, two boobs.

[@slayinderp7501]

Draw 8.

[@DRfreehugs]

So i get to conceptualize a boob AND draw 4? Let's goooo

[@SeanicalMan]

"Perfectly balanced, as all things should be." - Sauron, the Dark Lord

[@angrypotato2526]

This is the best review yet

[@maldhound]

Thank you so much! I’m always hoping to make them a little bit better

[@RoxyGotMoxy.]

Idk, Venom Symbiote Tinkerbell was right up there for me. I nearly spat my drink out laughing.

[@shantheman9922]

What's cool about the ward ability is that when the ring tempts you and you select a creature as your ring bearer, it becomes legendary. So, you can use it to pay for the ward cost.

[@CowgirlShebop]

Pillow princess nails fucking got me.

[@angelangelis8362]

As someone who runs a Green/Black/White deck, I can confirm that the Graveyard is not a problem. Much like nukes for the Blackwatch, death is just an inconvenience. There is a reason I named my deck the Revolving Door Graveyard deck.

[@Kaiyuni]

I really like his villain identity. A lot of the "good" Grixis commanders just aren't what I'm looking for. And you'd think with so many of them there would surely be one that I like! But there's always 1 part of the card I don't like or it promotes a style of play I dislike. Meanwhile mother fucking Sauron here reads: - Make a big guy for basically free, but it's cool in a way that you don't make it, your opponents choose to make it for you. - You want to swing with that big guy rather than hold onto it for defense all the time. - You get card draw all the time (really good card draw, at that). And to top it all off, this card has unique protection that will keep it safe from most decks although all decks can still out the card, it's just painful to do so. So it still feels fair.

[@921moocow]

The pillow princess nails 😂😂😂

[@Arcanewerewolf]

I actually enjoy that they are starting to give certain cards these very interesting ward costs, even though the kasmina deck I'm running doesn't really care about it as I just try to sprint to her ult via proliferation to just cheat out the thicc spells (this is also me just playing baby mtg via mtga historic brawl)

[@yugijak]

The fact it could be practical to do Mizzix mastery with this as your commander and basically just mill your own deck into the graveyard to return it for more armies is *terrifying*

[@darkanayer5867]

On the "can he get it" department, consider that Sauron was a Damm good shapeshifter. If he could turn into a balrog for shits and giggles, be sure he could turn into your dream twink if you manage to convince him to do so. He may monkey paw it and get barbed down there in exchange tho. That sounds like sauron to me

[@BalooSJ]

He was said to have lost the ability to take "fair" forms after having had his physical body destroyed by the fall of Númenor though. So while he can shapeshift, he's always going to be horrible. Some people are into that sort of thing though.

[@Distortia1994]

@@BalooSJConsider: Tentacles.

[@Crushanator1]

Sauron has so many simps he's got a dedicated mouth guy because he's simply to busy

[@Arvensa]

this is probably the Grixis Battlecruiser commander I've been waiting for (additional note: not only does doing aristocrat things with each amass trigger provide your aristocrat shenanigans with fuel, it also keeps your Army as a 1/1 so that as soon as you get the ring on it the first time, it becomes much easier to get through and trigger additional tempts. Or you can just let it grow big enough to threaten any given blocker regardless)

[@sethmunro6575]

Would love to see your take on G.O.AT. himself; Sethron, Hurloon General. Nothing more fulfilling than an overwhelming stampede in Rakdos.

[@alexgilmore5941]

This is a hit video, I keep coming back to watch it again. Wizards who can box...

[@petardoynov1703]

Do Sliver Gravemother pls. Loved the last roast on the mutated maggots, would love for their granny to catch some fire as well!

[@evafox9696]

My man how are you coming up with these banger lines like "Ward: punch the nearest CEO"

[@Dominus13]

When the algorithm gives you exactly what you want. Deserved sub as soon as i get the tears out of my eyes

[@maldhound]

Thank you! 🙏 I am glad you enjoyed

[@Scorn_XIII]

Saruman of many colors has just as cool of a ward cost in the set as well wanna note, and fucking god damn do I love seeing more and more of these cool ward costs and not the basic 1 mana tax ones

[@DZ-DizzyDumm]

I wanna see "Ward - Disturb the peace

[@otakuamerican5190]

I just built him as a commander, and to put him, one of my opponents cast his commander and then kenrith’s transformation it. Just the thought one of the most evil powerful beings in middle earth turning into an elk made me laugh

[@clayandros2038]

There are 3 unique wards in mtg i know of the strixhaven card that forces them to pay 3 life to target it(the weakest one), the black werewplf that says your opponent has to discard a card to target it (not anything super amazing but its unique enough in that youre forcing a choice that could potentially hurt them), and this card(by far the best and most powerful of the bunch) i hope to see more of this one powerful cards in the future.

[@byrontheusurper6505]

I love amass, I rlly wanna make an amass deck but all I have are the cards from the lotr precons because I only actually pulled LotR like 3 times

[@rawerthanraw]

Your doing the Lord's work with this channel. Glad to see the Dark Lord is our savior in mtg

[@sinistar816]

It would be grand to see a review of my favorite Jank commander, Lazav, the Multifarious walking through his carefully cultivated graveyard of things like Eater of Days, Leveler, and Blighted Agent.

[@jeanfrancosolaricespedes8744]

Josjos😂 ,, que buena Descripcion y divertido analisis de lss cartas , ✌️👍👍👍

[@stevenburkett2403]

love these man, keep it up!

[@vasylpark2149]

I just played him yesterday. I threw it together with some random amass cards and he gets out of hand QUICKLY. Only weakness that army is easily blocked and flying creatures easily deal damage to you. If you have dreadhorde invasion and you make the zombie army. You can start gaining life back at crazy amounts in two turns. Had a 19/19 army. Plus that card draw and the ring tempting you is icing on the cake. Our dark lord can indeed get it.

[@Jtblake]

The minute I saw this card get spoiled I knew I had to build an Amass commander deck for him. It is jank, it is probably not good, but gods damn am I going to feel like the leader of an actual horde when I finally get the cards for it.

[@Pelargir117]

'Our' Dark Lord. I like the phrasing there lol. All Hail.

[@Eramiserasmus]

This Sauron is such a menace. Especially with the blue mana meaning counterspells are available.

[@WhizzerdSupreme]

I still think that he should have an ability where at the beginning of the end step (for balance, otherwise I'd say lore-wise it should be instantaneous) if you control him and the One Ring, you win the game. Cuz, y'know...

[@Samagachi]

I would say at the beginning of your next turn

[@Mtg_MoBrocks]

Loved the shopping cart reference 😂

[@BurnByMoonlight]

I’ve taken to calling my Sauron deck “Fire Emblem”, as I’m sacrificing armies like I’m Marth. As a friend, you are replaceable.

[@xenocross6597]

Based on

[@simonchi5372]

That ward was fun to face against at the pre release.

[@japhettheprophet4619]

God I can’t wait for a review of my boy Reaper King

[@impp18]

Very rarely have felt so relived by a "cannot get it". Also, roast Kresh pretty please.

[@CO2Tenor]

Absolutely fair and of course, extremely reasonable! Great Video!

[@maldhound]

Thank you!

[@PokemonGO-nl1qf]

I buyed the mordor commander Deck and a set box. Got 3 of this Sauron in this one box! Thats crazy

[@musiclistener13]

Love the video, and would love a video on the ring tempting. But sir that's only one Sauron, what about the others?

[@Elbleino]

Now I wanna see something that special to my heart. You may not have seen or played against him, but how do you feel about my boy, Gargos and all of his many headed friends?

[@lordeldon8383]

The Amass effect negates any Sacrifice Cards you could play against the board to avoid his ward effect aswell. 100% the king of the LOTR MTG expansion.

[@grim66]

Sauron's ward makes sense in the context of the LotR set where you can just make any creature token legendary by having the ring tempt you but is absolutely hellish when released from that containment. There really should be something on Sauron that causes the ring to tempt opponents for some trigger, which would also make flavorful sense.

[@notz104]

I took the precon commander deck, subbed this guy in for commander, then swapped a few cards to make a reanimate sub theme where I can also keep anger & wonder in the grave for bonus evasion and haste. We got something so fun that I have been requested to never play it again on multiple occasions 😅

[@Dot_Eleven]

My one commander win with Zethi was against double Sauron's. I had both a Swords to Plowshares and a blue bounce spell with kick counters on them and just would cast all my spells with the final ones resolving being to bounce/exile the orc tokens they amassed during my casts.

[@majindavid7495]

Would love to see your review of my 1st commander Atla Palani. Or Trynn and Sylvar

[@Fausto_4841]

"go punch the nearest CEO" there aren't any bath houses or massage parlors near my LGS

[@rubyseverinwhitworth9066]

As much as I love this ward, Saruman of Many Colours ward loading up his second ability is still my favourite

[@kitcoakley1357]

Missed opportunity to quote Boromir "One does not simply give it to the dark Lord."

[@kalamander8563]

He may not get it, but he'll sure as hell try and take it from the rest of the pod.

[@bobfrank9267]

Ward is a great mechanic for an unset

[@jacobjordan6521]

Is anyone else looking at the smeagol helpful guide card? Load that thing up with some ring-tempts, landfalls, and a bit of graveyard, recursion and you’re looking at a mean mill deck

[@lissythearchitect]

It might be fun to try to create a deck around the 2nd-4th abilities, but with the need for some many colors and mana (as well as the legendary status), I am uncertain that it would be competitive with a deck without this card. Optimistically, we're talking about turn 14-15 before it's out unless you focus on mana production, which has its own costs. Then the question becomes why you or your opponent were unable to do slightly less than 2 points of damage to their opponent on the average turn, thus ending the game before this card even comes out.

[@IrdFir]

Wizards who can box, a proud partner of Rogues that can lift like Varragoth

[@scrungozeclown836]

Btw maskwood nexus makes him an army, therefore he can put counters on himself with amass, and he tempts eith himself :)

[@CallMeFako]

Waiting for a card with "Ward - Quit your 6 figure job", but the cowards at Wizards won't pull the trigger on it :(

[@maldhound]

TRUE

[@nerd_mor]

Since we're talking about Ward: take a look at Nine-fingers Keene. They have ward AND have green. I'm curious what you will say ;)

[@azaelvonhohenheim9570]

"they can't get it" Because you aren't brave nor strong enough for beign tempted, Mald. Also: please, i want to see Nath of the Gilt-leaf 😢

[@PepegaSanya]

Honesty, big lore L for Wizards for not making a card depicting Sauron in his elf form (maybe a saga, because that was in the past). In that case, we'd be talkin'

[@azaelvonhohenheim9570]

@@PepegaSanya i like the actual design even if it's too much Elesh Norn but yeah, i agree.

[@SiegfriedDrachentoeter]

Second that Nath of the Guilt Leaf

[@azaelvonhohenheim9570]

@@SiegfriedDrachentoeter stax elf gang

[@jacopoweber3848]

I laughed a lot thank you man😂

[@CeltiesSin]

Is “Sauron is a pillow princess” a hot take we’re running with here? Lmao

[@maldhound]

Is it even hot? Bro sits up in his tower all day waiting for other people to get the ring for him

[@alexdraco9926]

Sarumans ward is fun because it actively feeds his ability

[@BloodyAltima]

I must inform you that, canonically, Sauron fucking *gets it,* and gets it more and harder than any other legend you've reviewed thus far combined. Fucker's got *PULL.*

[@badmangames5735]

Very good review. Would still love a doran the siege tower.

[@travismurtland3257]

Pillow Princess nails lol

[@PowerGio42]

I'd be happy to see you roast Urza lord high artificer

[@michaelalridge1509]

Me wonder where the sisay weatherlight captain video is

[@Gusta_Gustav]

The best part about sauron is that every ability combos into the next The first let's him last long enough for the 2nd, the 2nd gives you a unit that can activate the 3rd, and the 3rd triggers the 4th. I think it's a pretty neat and cool design

[@SlackerXYZ]

This video was made over a year ago and "ward: rip off a hang nail" still haunts me

[@deathcore1097]

Avacyn angel of hope, sen triplets and oloro ageless ascetic. Need to see videos on them

[@samanderson6488]

Can we all just agree, as much as I love the card review, I'm only really here to find out who can get it or not! Better even is the reasons why!

[@drowsyCoffee]

This is one of the most terrifying Commanders i've seen in a while holy fuck

[@RisinTyson]

Stares in Herald of secret streams

[@toasted8323]

What are your thoughts on The Gitrog Monster?

[@ninjaman0003]

I was against the new ward costs but if “ward - punch a CEO” is printed, I’m all for it!

[@ramenofshadows]

Imagine sacrificing a blocker to kill him, and then the single +1+1 gave that army enough to get exact lethal :/

[@terranceoneill2158]

I want to hear your thoughts on Lydia cheerful Tormentor

[@FappleJackity]

I love your sense of humor. I actually laugh at loud. Also as a Miirym player, I agree ward-anything is a sure sign of a dickhead.

[@maldhound]

Thank you! For both the compliment and being real about ward