Prosper, Tome-Bound | Upping the Average

[@PZcryptic1]

I've been playing Prosper since it released and I have to agree with all of this, even the cutting of cards I like playing (Sol Talisman, Profane Tutor, Fevered Suspicions). Cut//Ribbons is shockingly something I just completely missed and will be immediately adding it, as well as the Volcanic Torrent, which I have continually misread as only dealing the damage to one target. Prosper being the most popular Rakdos commander of all is no surprise, and this is in a year where I think they've got Rakdos legends perfect. Kardur, Prosper, new Olivia, and I know they were in 2020, but Juri is fascinating too. As always, really enjoy every installment of Upping the Average. Just this time I'm heavily invested because Prosper was a card that immediately enamoured me during spoiler season.

[@hiddenleaf414]

I got extremely lucky when building my Prosper deck after he got spoiled that I had a Cut//Ribbons just lying around. Which lead me to X spell finishers like Ribbons and Torment of Hailfire. I know it’s boring but it’s consistent. What’s your wincon for the deck?

[@meyeneetuks4680]

@@hiddenleaf414 i know my wincon was either revel in riches or hellkite tyrant. i always end up with like 18 artifacts instead of 20 to win😫. Ill just use cut to ribbon

[@hiddenleaf414]

@@meyeneetuks4680 I would say both of those are also great wincons. If I could find my Revel in Riches it would for sure be in the deck! My problem with Hellkite Tyrant is I doubt it would survive in my meta.

[@billcypher564]

I ordered an Elkin Lair. It's a 4 Mana World Enchantment that exiles a random card on each player's upkeep from their hand. They can play that card that turn, if they don't it goes in the bin. You exile a Land? Boom extra treasure. You exile a spell you wanted to cast anyway? here have a treasure.

[@YaBoyEdGames]

I thought the same thing too. Picking one up asap

[@Luke_Powers]

Isn’t that card aggressively bad? 4 mana enchantment with the sole benefit of giving you a treasure when you play a card exiled with it, which won’t be every turn. To even make up for the cost of the enchantment you need 4 turns with it out and working.

[@billcypher564]

@@Luke_Powers You still need to count in that you turn your opponents cards in impulsive plays. They either play that card that turn or lose it forever.

[@Luke_Powers]

@@billcypher564 That's very marginal value, and you have to do the same thing.

[@MightyMaik1031]

@@Luke_Powers Uba Mask, Blood Moon, and Elkin Lair all make a pretty rude ass stax play. You have to imagine the max value of this card coming out turn 2 off the back of a sol ring or dark ritual.

[@SkellyBobRoss]

Hellkite Tyrant is one of my favorite cards in my Prosper deck. I've won several times with it much like Revel in Riches.

[@AndrewLamotheott]

Play Draugr Necromancer even without snow lands. The clause states the snow lands can use any color, but you can still cast them with treasure if you don't have the snow lands / colors! The keyword in the text is "and" !

[@wildcardde]

Exactly! Was about to mention that too. I've seen a lot of content creators misread that. I love how you can even use treasure for the card you steals activated abilities. Doesn't come up often but damned if it's not sweet. Love this commander.

[@bustedwolf]

A fun include is Fathom Fleet Swordjack, especially if you let it go to the graveyard

[@Besmudged]

I just found this channel and am already in love with the content. So many of your changes and comments make a lot of sense and I totally agree with, props

[@aishiw7434]

I've seen a lot of Prosper videos at this point, and this one had the most exciting recommendations imho!

[@jordanbenoit6282]

I really like the points on cut // ribbons and bolas' citadel. I passed both of them up originally but I have had the misfortune of exiling a win con and not being able to play it. Didn't think about actually winning with the activated ability of citadel either, I usually gloss over that, but it makes a ton of sense here.

[@mikeprokop1306]

Consistently the best commander content on KZbin.

[@jackos5d851]

the line at the end about possibility storm costing social capital instead of actual capital reminded me about how my brother recently scrapped his lavinia deck so i decided to grab his knowledge pool and omen machine from it and i like how those have both been working for prosper

[@Voiidpriince]

This commander (and his stock deck) was my first, and my first ever purchase getting into magic. He's since had an altered deck, but I LOVE playing this dude. This with cascade creature/enchantment cards and tons of spells really makes it pop off super hard. I've play abt 4-5 other commander decks, but this is my number one fave.

[@mntalcesjr.4307]

Your alliteration gives me life :D

[@crovax1375]

A few cards that I love in my Prosper deck are Conspiracy Theorist and Ingenuity Engine. Also Possibility Storm is a great stax piece in with Prosper!

[@Skel_cat63]

I'd also highly reccomend author of shadows. It's some great graveyard hate, while also being able to steal your opponents cool spell from earlier.

[@YaBoyEdGames]

As a new prosper player, I have been waiting to see how this episode would play out. Shoutout to the secret tech of viridian longbow as an option. I have an exile centric prosper deck where the treasures are more incidental bonuses that are awesome. One funny card in my deck that’s more late game is Hedonist’s Trove. If I could flicker it somehow then ooof it would be insane but still. Also from the new set. Predators’ hour in the vampire precon is very spicy indeed and might be slept on.

[@diegoperezsommariva2509]

Thornbite staff is also great here

[@kiritokaguya9180]

OMG, I love this build. Did want to make a Prosper Deck for this hole year but didn't get to it, well maybe I will start now :)

[@ethanvetter7289]

I picked up Uba Mask about 3 years ago from a dollar bin at a local card store that recently closed down cuz i read it and was like “wow this is stupid i love it”

[@sanfranfan53]

I think Bitter ordeal is an incredibly powerful card in a Prosper deck. From a floor of removing a few key cards in 1-3 decks, to a ceiling of just downright haymaking the most threatening player at the table with all of those sacrificed treasures. Straight justice! Prosper should be able to prosper, too!

[@SeanThomas1992]

The music change is *chef’s kiss* !

[@Skel_cat63]

My version of this deck leans a little more towards storm with aetherflux reservoir. A pretty good card for that strat is scrapheap. Turning all my treasures into life as well as mana can not only help stabilize, but also get me close to the lazer beam total of 50 life.

[@BadFiend]

You don't actually need the snow lands to run the draugr, since your treasures can produce mana of any color already.

[@satpiegaming6756]

I quite enjoy Brass’s bounty in Prosper, also Elkin Lair does similar work to Uba Mask, hosing many blue players 😁

[@nidozng1144]

While playing the deck, I happened to love Robber of the Rich. Unlike Ragavan, Robber exiles the cards when he attacks and the cards are not lost : they can be cast later if you attacked with a Rogue. Which is pretty cool, especially since Dauthi Voidwalker is one (and that it's one of the only creature with Shadow)

[@Carolyn510]

Always love this series...AND...I have a Prosper deck. Ty

[@Pathologiques]

One of the biggest combos of my Prosper deck is the inclusion of Void Mirror and Possibility Storm. Already on its own PosStorm can make your opponents decks random to the point of uselessness, but if combined with void mirror it makes it so they cannot play anything from their hand without the resulting PosStorm card being countered. This of course can hurt us too as we also cannot play cards from our hands, but when playing Prosper we don't want to be, and since we most likely will already have built up a system for getting cards into exile more than just prosper himself at this point in the game it gives you major advantage as you are (jn theory) the only play to be able to play any cards.

[@diegoperezsommariva2509]

Ive been playing prosper a lot since it came out and one card that has been amazing is Quicksmith Genius. And if you couple it with containment construct or conspiracy theorist is just bonkers. Also, Basilisk Collar. Love it in the deck, makes reckless fireweaver heal a ton and makes cards like mayhem devil just kill everything.

[@privettk]

Love the video! I think you actually can run Draugr Necromancer without switching to snow lands because the treasures can make any color.

[@stevestoked2598]

Two cards that I had a good time with in my Prosper deck were Robber of the Rich and Cunning Rhetoric. I actually had an opportunity to steal either a tutor or an extra turn spell off of two players decks with Robber, and Rhetoric was shockingly good at keeping people from attacking me. Definitely agree with cutting the suspend cards. In theory they sound great but impulse exiling them makes for major bad feels. Actually thought of running Torment of Hailfire but Cut to Ribbons sounds a lot safer honestly.

[@sbabenco]

hailfire is 3 dmg per mana put into x so while it is possible to sack/discard resources to cushion the blow a bit id rather they lose a resource to not take 3 then just take 1 damage. if you sink 15 mana into hailfire it triggers 13 times dealing at max 39 dmg so ur probably taking at least 1 person out an severely crippling the others ether from a huge health loss or by forcing them to give up there hand/board

[@sbabenco]

an with all the tresaures, rocks an cards like cabal coffers an crypt ghast getting it to 15 isnt hard

[@rorixcreations4770]

I have like 6 tutor effects in the deck to make sure I don't exile my torment of hailfire lol. But I have 5 other wincons just in case too 😆

[@Solemnyty]

Academy Manufactor is one of the cards that really made me want to build a Lonis, Cryptozoologist investigate deck. When I started to research and build the deck though it started looking more like an ETB/ Blink deck much like Roon. Then I was instantly disappointed and stopped building it. I wanted “Investigate matters” not “ETB matters”. That being said, I would still be quite interested to see your take on Upping the Average. Also, it could be an interesting topic for the podcast. What are some legends you initially thought were exciting, but as you started building them ended up being more generic than at first glance?

[@Millus1987]

I run Academy Manufactor in my Galazeth Prismari deck and its soo good

[@ericr4677]

I bought this deck just to put grim hireling in my najeela deck. I was going to sell the deck to someone in my play group. No one seemed interested so I upgraded it w/o replacing the hireling. It’s become one of my favorite decks to play

[@RedCometNurse]

Definitely going for some of the recommendations in this video. Can you do Elsha of the Infinite though?

[@cannibaletiquette5038]

literally just used prosper xorn academy combo off marionette to deal 64 damage in a quad taking down 2 players simultaneously. anyone watching this should try the deck and at least half the suggestions. you can even turn goad into forced suicide with right cards.

[@timlanigironu]

I won my first game with Prosper this exact same way. It's insanely good value when hit. Academy Manufacturer is a house.

[@Abraktil]

The problem is to survive to commander hate until this moment

[@quayo90]

Nooooo you can’t post inspiring statuary! It was, “Oh wow!” Mind blown card in my Prosper deck. It’s such a monster with either Xorn, Academy Manufactor, or both to storm off

[@FasFas160]

Would love to see your take on Sidisi brood tyrant! It's such a big deckbuilding challenge that I've been struggling with

[@Dirpman42]

I run alot less creatures but alot more protection in my list. 9 times outta 10 Prosper rightfully gets murdered as soon as he hits board. Malakir Rebirth, Kaya's Ghostform, Undying Evil, and the newer Fake Your Own Death are great! I agree with Cut to Ribbons alot but I still think another game ender such as Torment of Hailfire and the positives of Profane Tutor I think outweigh the negatives. If you couldn't rub cards due to small chance of inconsistency I'd cut Stolen Strategy and the other cast opponents random cards.

[@darthdespot5120]

Been playing this Precon for the last week. Wasn’t sure if I would like it, but it might be my favorite deck now. The mana and card draw advantage I get is just insane. Only problem is it seems to lack from solid win cons.

[@gelomakoy4751]

I hope you guys update the decklist with the new cards from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.

[@sbabenco]

crypt ghast an urborg tomb of yagmoth are both super good in this

[@ip1849]

highly recommend Emergence Zone if you wanna ever pull off the Revel In Riches play without having to worry about it surviving til your next upkeep

[@makoygelo]

Hoping you guys update the deck again 😅

[@derickquintana4236]

Uba mask at one time cost 4 bucks. I bought it when it shot to 7 because I knew it would only get worse

[@DeltaDrakon]

If you want things to get ridiculous fast, add Helm of The Host. The last game I played with my Prosper deck I managed to get 2 extra token copies of him by turn 5, built an insane field of treasure, and then Exsanguinated my opponents for the victory! I do think people are sleeping on Fevered Suspicions because it will still net you 4 treasure if you hit it on one of your impulse draws. 1 from itself and 3 from your opponents' cards, plus it is much easier to cast in this deck than just about any other deck it could fit in thanks to the ridiculous amounts of mana production. Honestly I don't even run cards like Marionette Master in my deck because I'd rather cast big flashy spells like Fevered Suspicions or Warp World instead

[@OGTahoe3]

Prosper is a cool commander I just hate how all Prosper decks are 85% similar

[@willtabb]

I think in time if they print more Rakdos/Grixis commanders that have exile pay offs he might get a more defined profile for his decks. Absolutely agree though with your opinion of his current deck builds

[@jeremymayville6799]

would you rather 85% of commanders be similar or commanders be unique and have 85% similar build. Im choosing the latter~ everytime.

[@hiddenleaf414]

It’s a Rakdos commander based around casting cards from exile. That really limits the practical cards you’re going to see so it makes sense they look similar.

[@haustinj959]

would love to see your take on the Rakdos Chainer deck. i have that deck and i'm pretty sure it hates me.

[@adamlay7317]

Add a porcuparrot from ikoria to the deck as well functions just like varidian long bow

[@Lumautis]

As far as lands are concerned I feel people should consider running a few MDFC. If you exile 2 lands it kinda sucks.

[@AloneDoggKilla]

My friends aren't happy I add Top

[@danielvanginkel7081]

Has anyone noticed that when you search for Prosper, Tome-bound, you get Prosperous Innkeeper and when you search for Prosperous Innkeeper you get Prosper, Tome-bound? They swapped the images on accident. And also when you search for the word Prosper you will not find Prosper, Tome-Bound.

[@EvilM0nkeyRules]

How do you feel about Hellkite Tyrant?? I have a few copies and was thinking about running it in this deck 🤔🤔

[@AndrewWoodford]

You don’t have to play Snow-Covered Lands for Draugr Necromancer. You only need the Snow for paying as though it were mana of any color.

[@spcphd]

Can someone explain the liqumetal torque? Unless you have Vandalblast, I have no idea why it is good removal here.

[@Abraktil]

Because red and black notoriously Bad AT dealing with enchantment so use the torque to add artifact type

[@MrSDCHARGRS]

Can we have a Chainer, Nightmare Adept Upping the Average? I'm trying to appeal to your dead heart, Joey! Please!

[@privettk]

Other fun adds because unlike most rakdos decks you actually have a ton of mana availabe: Phthisis, Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast, Lord of the Void (no it doesn't trigger Prosper but huge payoff), Soulfire Eruption, Captive Audience, Blinkmoth Urn, Kaervek, and Profane Transfusion is hilarious if you're about to lose!

[@SamuelKacerik]

Can someone please explain to me how Shared the Spoils is a good card? I don't really see it. Thank you.

[@YaBoyEdGames]

I think it’s a political card. Each card off the top is exiled. Any player can play any card from the pile. When they do they exile a card from their top into the pile. The shenanigans could be wild.

[@PawzBrownMTG]

What about adding Ragavan? As well or does that not help?

[@rorixcreations4770]

Just hurts the wallet 😆

[@Εμ.Σπανος]

Porcuparrot is a cheaper Viridian Longbow

[@captianbacon]

Honestly 14 of the 16 rb foretell cards are playable in prosper. And foretell gets better the more you have cause then your opponents actually have no clue wats u have going on...

[@michellemoore7829]

Treasures mean you have the colors with Draugr necromancer without needing to do the snow land thing.

[@gr5462]

Good catch my dude, now I don't have to spend money on snow lands lol

[@bromangree]

You should redo Edgar again…. Since crimson vow

[@marljevincalabia3746]

Xorn is good.

[@justinhoudeshell4031]

The treasures can pay for the creatures from the necromancer

[@therealmerf]

Why Liquimetal Torque if there is only few cards that deal with artefact in the deck. It way too conditional no?

[@SamuelKacerik]

Even if you didn't have enough artifact removals, it's still a solid ramp and very good political tool in case anyone else has artifact removal.

[@canaantravis]

I disagree with praetors grasp removal, I’ve gotten rid of MANY craterhoofs with it

[@unimaginative_artist]

Bro chaos wand is amazing when i pay 3 to terminate or counter something its funny af

[@psychozen7169]

Hmmm

[@styfen]

Have you considered that given you're using Viridian Longbow and have those two colourless lands, the Zhalfirin Void might be better served as an Arcane Lighthouse given how prevalent the boots and greaves are in the format?

[@Insanir]

Sadly, in my experience Prosper is a prime exemple how dumbed down the design of new legendaries had become because the power creep and popularity of Commander as a format. It really builds itself...

[@jeremymayville6799]

Your experience seems much different than mine. Only Simic and its component colors are pushed.

[@nicka.9057]

Yeah, I don't agree at all.