Sefris of the Hidden Ways | Upping the Average

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[@krotash7740]

I think a standout 2 mana "looter" for me is Ghostly Pilferer. It plays similarly to Key to the city where it discards a card to give itself unblockable, and when you untap it you can pay 2 to draw a card. The major upside though is the line "whenever an opponent casts a spell from anywhere other than their hand, draw a card". At the very least, the command zone isn't their hand, so you draw whenever an opponent casts their commander.

[@gangrel1234]

2nd this 100%!👌

[@paulziemba7890]

Agreed very good pickup for the deck.

[@al_kaufman]

Another great option is Fleeting Spirit, especially with Radiant Solar out you can get multiple triggers per round.

[@mortenbrandtjensen6470]

The cost of the deck today on the linked site is $221.64 up from around $140 on August '22 - Holy price increase, Batman!

[@12jacobmar]

I have never clicked on a video faster than seeing my main Commander Sefris! Great insight, definitely going to tweak my deck in the next week or two.

[@FpA18vz]

Fantastic episode as always! From playing with Sefris since she came out, I recommend shifting the ramp package of 4 signets to dorks: leaden/gold/silver myrs + milikin. Also, Linvala, Shield of Sea Gate protects your board very well here :)

[@chrisgoodhind1821]

Linvala is the best! Slam it in with Sun Titan

[@gilscheiner8097]

i love this series, always makes a super interesting video, even if i dont find a commander particularly inspring.

[@JaywoodJablowme]

Seriously! It always makes me consider brewing even if its a Commander that I've had no interest in the past

[@renegarcia9420]

I've been looking for upgrades these last two days! You must've tapped into my search results!

[@ShepardofGoats]

Loved the more in depth investigation of standout cards.

[@marcusgifford8126]

Now this is one I’ve been looking forward to!!

[@ToodleDoodle]

Nice, she's one of my favorite commanders. Agree with Radiant Solar as being one of the best cards in the deck. The infinite loop I created with it was fairly resilient, even if removal or counterspells were used on one or two of the pieces.

[@renegarcia9420]

Care to share that combo, please?

[@FpA18vz]

​@@renegarcia9420 Dunno which exact combo they're refering to, but an example would be Sefris + Radiant Solar + a sac outlet + clones. With a Spark double on Sefris and another clone on Solar, this results in infinite dungeons + looping any creature in and out of play/yard. It's real resilient since effects like Karmic guide or Sepulchral Primordial can sub in for both clones, nevermind the critical mass of clones if you build that route, hope this helps!​

[@renegarcia9420]

@@FpA18vz it does, thank you!

[@ToodleDoodle]

@@renegarcia9420 it's just Radiant Solar out on the field, then get Felidar Guardian and Restoration Angel on the field to point their ETBs at each other. Then use their looping ETBs to repeatedly go through the Lost Mines and drain the board until everyone else is dead. Sefris gives it some resiliency since she can just bring either of them back form the GY, along with your other reanimation spells. They'll need some exile effect to completely stop it.

[@jonathangibson9482]

I really like your approach to this deck. And the DnD themeing as you discuss it.

[@al_kaufman]

Just made a Sefris deck with some cycling and transmute focus and it's one of the most fun decks because you have a fun alternate objective in trying to get Sefris triggers on other players turns. I highly recommend the few cycling creatures in Esper and Fleeting Spirit - gives you discard at instant speed, evasion and ETB triggers with Radiant Solar. I also recommend Netherborn Phalanx because you can use Transmute to search for Radiant Solar AND trigger Sefris.

[@jasonferguson9052]

About time a channel gave the dungeons some love. Thanks for great tips and more great content

[@plant260]

Ugh I love upping the average! Would love to see your swaps to take Myrkul from good to great!

[@thehubb5582]

I bought the Sefris deck when it came out and have been making small tweaks here and there, but the deck is incredibly fun. I have to say, can't agree with this one about Burnished Hart. The deck almost became 3-drop tribal with how many great creatures this archetype has in the 3 mana slot (Acererak, Burnished Hart, Nadaar, Hama, etc), which makes Sun Titan the hidden commander of the deck. I out-ramp every deck at the table when playing this deck and it's almost always off the back of Sun Titan/Sefris recurring the Burnished Hart. Acererak is also the grease that makes the whole machine work. 3 mana venture into the dungeon over and over just makes the deck do everything it wants to do. Sun Titan also makes Dakkon better, since you can exile creatures out and just recur the guy on an attack trigger with Sun Titan even bigger than when it entered the first time. But, of course, just my experience.

[@James00yt]

my favorite commander! i was hoping you guys would make a vid about her

[@frankthetank520]

I took out burnished hart for land tax... got lucky on my master box and got one in it. adding extra lands to hand is amazing to make sure your discarding when you want to be

[@RedCometNurse]

I played this deck a couple of times recently and it wrecked face. I am going to see what I can fit from your recommendations.

[@camerinbrummett6511]

I bought this deck on the recommendation of a local shop owner, and it has become one of my favorites to play out of my (currently) 31 commander decks. I was able to beat my buddy's Edgar Markov deck with the precon out of the box, so I was hooked instantly.

[@chrisgoodhind1821]

I run tons of clones! The 3 mana kind are the best. Sun titan targets in the yard. On the field, cloning Sefris nets two death triggers when the legend rule takes place. Cloning radiant solar is the best! My favorite is mirrorweave to turn all those skeletons (from dungeon of the mad mage) into archon's of cruelty 😁 Kami of False Hope is a great utility piece and Bounty Agent is a killer rattlesnake. Great call on Dream Trawler!! I'll have to look into adding!

[@FpA18vz]

I loooove clones in this deck, from Radiant Solar to Sun Titan to Tomb of Horrors Adventurer, they kick the deck into high gear! Sadly though, I got called out in a game about Sefris clones & the legend rule triggering two ventures. It actually doesnt, according to her last official ruling -- I don't get it either tbh. "Sefris of the Hidden Ways must be on the battlefield for its first ability to trigger. It does not trigger when Sefris goes to the graveyard from the battlefield, even if other creature cards also went to the graveyard at the same time." When you're going off with clones and Sefris, you can still go very far by cloning her, saccing her to the legend rule, reanimating her back again, the saccing the clone. It's just not as free as we initially thought.

[@chrisgoodhind1821]

@@FpA18vz thanks for pointing that out! I hadn't noticed they added that errata

[@RazgrizAce67]

10:03 "Venturing into the dungeon over and over does not win a game by itself" Me: *laughs in Karmic Guide-Reveillark combo

[@mkill572]

Thanks for the Glen Elendra shoutout. That card is brutal in Sefris

[@shesgard37]

I build sefris when the precon dropped because I like building decks based off mechanics especially new ones. I quickly fell in love. Since baulders gate dropped I've been making swaps and adding some heavy hitters like the og predators

[@tommybrink1989]

I started with Sefris but expanded to 5color when baldurs gate was released 😊

[@jaysalvadoriiisalvosa1625]

Yup. This is a sign. I've been thinking about creating a Sefris deck lately. Hehehe

[@aLIGHTinSHNINGdarkns]

Quite literally a day before this came out i was thinking there should be an Upping the Average for this commander because of baulders gate

[@austinmiller3495]

4:10 Notably priest of fell rights can not be used at instant speed like you said it can only be activated at sorcery speed

[@L33DDL3]

First and still one of my fav commanders! Love to see the Dungeon get some love!

[@chrisgallo2236]

Bone Shredder is a nice little removal piece. Similar to Shriekmaw except it has to wait a turn to go to the yard because it has echo but either way it’s decent and very budget.

[@GrompEconomics]

Sefris has slowly been becoming my favorite deck. Tortured existence is always the card I’m most excited to see, 100% the best card. My list has 50 creatures to always venture into the dungeon with Sefris and always have targets for reanimation

[@Sdesser]

Serra's Emissary can also give protection from Dungeon cards in case your opponent(s) get the initiative and try to hit you with the "lose 5 life" room.

[@rirriuk8401]

Love to see my favourite commander

[@lukeisstrange1533]

I've built a deck on moxfield for Sefris which is focussing on cycling. Interesting what you can do in Esper with cycling. Especially when you focus on cycling creatures into the yard to trigger sefris. I havent put in the dungeon cards from baldurs gate yet, but maybe I'll do that soon. Also its really great how budget friendly this deck can be.

[@sirrexos1596]

This is one of my favorite decks I've ever made and I have some suggestions: First of all, The Lost Mine of Phandelver is not the shortest dungeon. Tomb of Annihilation is. I know this dungeon may seem bad to go through at first, but if you look more closely, it's not that bad. A lot of the abilities on there trigger Sefris. This dungeon is a great option if you don't have any other way to trigger Sefris, but you have something else to trigger venture Into the dungeon. Its a quick way to be able to reanimate something when you need it. Fast.

[@mathiassegers3067]

I've been playing this deck for several months now and I would definitely recommend adding the card "Foil" to the deck. It is basically a Force of Will but even better because it helps to trigger Sefris' ability as well. Since you should be able to draw a bunch of cards with Sefris during your turn/other turns, all you need to do is keep an Island in your hand just in case someone tries to remove anything.

[@supernova86]

Yessss!!! I just built a Sefris deck ~month a go and this will be good info :D

[@NateSix2Six]

great commander! I greatly enjoy this playlist. could we see an upping the average for Aesi? I really enjoy the deck but want to upgrade it.

[@barrinburg612]

Panharmonicon also does a lot of work, i built a yarok dungeon deck because most initiative and venture creatures are etb's

[@aLIGHTinSHNINGdarkns]

I was just thinking about this interaction. Unlike the Monarch, double ETB on initiative has value, giving you 2 dungeon procs, and the first room of undercity is a ramp that works well with other Yarok strats. Very cool idea would love to see it in action.

[@Slo-Mode]

I can't wait to see you do a video on Syrix! Phoenix tribal reanimator would be such an awesome thing to see Joey build.

[@RollieB89]

I have not added the cards with initiative to my Sefris deck as it feels a tad bit off with my strategy. I did add Scion of Halaster, it's 2 mana background card. It helps trigger Sefris in the beginning of turn or any turn you draw a card.

[@craigandrews7544]

Nice include. Pity you have to find Scion as part of the 99

[@jetfire7680]

A Greasefang upping the average episode would be cool :)

[@nagashizzar3978]

This was great!!! Can you do Jerren next?! :D

[@Alico_Reborn]

My wincon for this deck is actually including other payouts for death triggers. Reasembling Skeleton combined with Ashnod's altar or Phyrexian Altar with Pawn of Ulamog or Pitiless Plunderer make for recurable combo pieces that can be really hard to stop once the deck gets going.

[@Kishimyu]

Can we get an 'Upping the Average' for some of the new Badulr Gates Commanders? I specifically wanna see one for Dynaheir and/or Aluando.

[@deadNdivine12]

We ever gonna see one for Gorion or how do you folks decide what to do an upping the average for?

[@hearthfire7471]

What I put in my Sefris deck is cards that tutor into the graveyard, cards like. Corpse Connoisseur Gravebreaker Lamia Vile Entomber Burning-Rune Demon Oriq Loremage Unmarked grave Final parting Entombed Buried alive With cards like these you could tutor any creature into your graveyard, which triggers Sefris, allowing you to have the perfect reanimate target when you finally complete a dungeon.

[@TheCommunistGamerTV]

Even Baldur's Gate wasn't enough to make venture/initiative cards worth it for me. My only venture-specific cards are the Solar, Triumphant Adventurer, Nadaad, and the Pathlighter, and they make the cut because they're repeatable. From day one I built Sefris as "looter tribal." We go deep. I run Bonded Fetch, Enclave Cryptologist, and Search for Azcanta. All of my ramp apart from Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, and Tithe is on creatures specifically so I can have more loot fodder in the late game. Then I layered on top of that the saltiest reanimation targets I could find: Chancellor of the Annex, The Slug, Sire of Stagnation, It That Betrays.

[@level20art50]

I've kept hands with bounce lands only for them to get blown up the moment they hit board and for me to get set back to turn 0 on mana way too many times for me to dare run a single one of those ever again. They're always the first things I cut from any precon I'm looking at upgrading.

[@vydumannaproch]

Also we can use an abdel adrian - animate dead combo there to make infinite etbs of the dungeoneers and infinite soldier tokens

[@Nollijfull]

Always appreciate these videos! Check out Ghostly Pilferer. Great little enabler.

[@aaronconlin]

I’m running Sefris with a small Party theme, as many of the Dungeon creatures are Party creature types anyway. Then I started to brew Araumi Necrons and now I’m torn. I don’t really need two Reanimator decks with Dimir colors

[@Hfsm33]

I wanted to build Araumi but chose Sefris. Araumi is really powerful too but just seemed a little too linear and too dependent on the commander.

[@FlawlessP401]

Arumi is boring repeat lines sefris is more varied and can choose a aggro or sustain and ramp path through basic dungeon and it's fun

[@warhammer158]

Incarnation technique is sooo important to this deck and plays far better than unburial rites

[@craigandrews7544]

Unburial rites is nice because of its flashback ability

[@warhammer158]

@@craigandrews7544 yes I understand but having played with both incarnation technique is a win con, unburial rits is just okay value sometimes.

[@craigandrews7544]

@@warhammer158 demonstrate is a nice bonus for sure

[@MegaGrip13]

DOOM WHISPERER IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE CARD FOR ME. 2 life: Venture into the dungeon. So busted in Sefris.

[@Maracuja2e50]

i play with a 50 creature list in my games so i try to active her by her effect once per every turn. Its nice, also, always having a creature to reanimate is nice.

[@MrMalorian]

Would love to see you play this on twitch

[@calebbrown1068]

I’m considering running this more focused on Hama Pashar and Acererak using Wizardcycling to make them both hidden commanders! Rooftop Storm also makes Acererak free to cast, giving you infinite ventures into the dungeon so long as you haven’t completed Tomb of Annihilation, which will deal infinite damage to opponents. Seems pretty good with how hard we can dig for that stuff.

[@jacesweeney1747]

Also you can use heartless summoning with acerak and relic of legends

[@nocapper]

has anyone tried out some of these suggestions in decks? I'd be curious how they are playing. I am a recent player, and recent commander player and have a Sefris precon deck and am looking to upgrade it a bit. Thanks for any advise!

[@vasylpark2149]

Can you do a video for Raffine, Scheming Seer next.

[@ChristopherSmithGPlus]

Also... Change of Plans is a great escape hatch...

[@nguyenluong2727]

ik that this is a little bit late but I want to share my ideas my way of playing sefris is self mill. Sefris doesn't care how did your creature hit the graveyard whatsoever so I decided to go with mill. And it is damn fun because esper is damn good with self mill somehow. However my only wincon is Syr Konrad, the Grim and I don't really know what others wincon I should run. I do run Kairi, the Swirling Sky so I am thinking of running Approach of the Second Sun as my other wincon since I can loop Kairi mill constantly and if I have Approach in the graveyard or mill it, I can return it to hand and be at a 1-2 turns clock win. I really like the deck with the dungeon mechanics but I rather focus on her reanimation skill rather than the dungeon. Yes it sound dumb but in theory you only need Radiant Solar and Hamar Pashar in the deck and you have the dungeon package. Constantly milling and reanimating creatures with Radiant Solar is more than enough dungeon pieces for me to constantly looping my whole deck.

[@YaBoyEdGames]

I’ve been considering tazri to do dungeon and party but I feel like I should condense it down to just Sefris. How do others decide that. Also bounce lands are cool but you know is cooler. Dromar’s Cavern. It’s an untapped tri land and you must bounce a non-Lair land to hand, so any other land.

[@willmcgee8379]

Bounce lands are helpful because they keep you up on mana by tapping for 2 (drawback being they come in tapped), whereas this is setting you back for color fixing. I'd recommend land-cycling creature cards if you're on a budget and worried about color fixing as they also enable Sefris's ability.

[@retturub566]

Is Solitude a good no-budget option?

[@KidAlphaMax]

I love this series but I should not have watched this now I feel the need to buy a Sefris deck!

[@corneliusthemagnificent3933]

Can you do a millicent upping the average next please

[@sageofsong]

Magister Sphinx. Card's insane as a reanimation target, and making an opponent have 10 life can really help Sefris's durdling problem So much so I need to find a way to Challenge The Stats on this guy

[@nathanpavolko5861]

I put a magisters sphinx in mine 😁

[@guilhermebasso9219]

Since Baldur's gate the best (and cheapest!) way to win with Sefris is to Animate Dead + Abdel Adrian.

[@Dragynstone1202]

Irenicus's Vile Duplication is potentially even better than spark double because it gains flying instead of a +1/+1 counter, and it's far cheaper $

[@michaelurbano2664]

Personally I prefer the surveil mechanics and obviously creatures that want to be in the grave or have ETB triggers.

[@infernite5669]

Cloning Radiant Solar with multiple clones and having sac outlets on board with Sefris is a win condition on its own. You ABSOLUTELY can win by infinitely looping through the dungeon.

[@BalefulStr1x]

Solitude and Subtlety, assuming the coin, are HOUSES. Flash creatures with evoke that bring relevant effects and aren’t the worst to reanimate either? Oh heck yes

[@toastytcg1282]

Honestly was expecting to disagree with the list before even watching because Ive seen so many bad takes on how Sefris works but this is extremely solid, only things I dont like are initiative and missing two big alternate wincons. Lost Mine is still the best dungeon, Ive always felt the risk of adding that monarch type mechanic to the pod outweighs the positives as it can backfire and also makes you the big target to anyone who can attack. I see Acereck,Syr Konrad, and Karmic Guide made the cut but no Rooftop Storm for Acereck or Revilark for an infinite drain combo with Syr Konrad or infinite etb combo with Radiant Solar. The thing that makes Sefris so good is on top of an incredible grind game and resource is the access to these combos and even the option to recur the creature parts of them if theyre initially stopped. Idk if these were excluded for budget purposes or if you prefer not to encourage infinites but definitely very big plays for the deck that got left out or even mentioned, otherwise one of the better takes on Sefris ive seen yet 👌

[@craigandrews7544]

The storm combo is 🥱

[@santuli_91]

I've loved Sefris from the moment she was spoiled and it's one of my favorite decks! Radiant Solar is no joke!! I loved so many of the suggestions, though I'll push back a little on two of them. Just a little. I think Cataclysmic Gearhulk, as a recursive boardwipe, is bonkers. Sure, while you're ahead it's not great, but having the option to reset so easily and so frequently, with a deck designed to be so value-generating and easy to rebuild...it's not that bad. Similarly, Dakkon I can easily see cutting, but I would not write it off too quickly due to its resiliency. I have never played him where he didn't come down with minimum 6-8 loyalty. He's hard to get rid of. And what's worse...it's a Sun Titan target!! I've had games where my opponents just could not get rid of my Dakkon because I could get it back with Titan. And if Titan died, I could get back Titan, to get back Dakkon. The resiliency of this deck is nuts.

[@romeesio]

Karmic Guide shouldn't go anywhere without Reveillark; those two plus a sac outlet will let you get all your

[@championsoftheparish241]

here is a challenge the stats for you: why is no one playing Tormod, the Desecrator in this deck? it would be perfect.

[@bbnemi]

I built my Sefris deck as an Esper Dungeon Legends deck (mostly, Radiant Solar and co are too good to cut) Edit: Nevermind, I was wrong about tokens.

[@craigandrews7544]

Sefris doesn’t trigger on tokens

[@bbnemi]

@@craigandrews7544 oooh good to know thanks. That should be an easy cut then 😁👍

[@ChristopherSmithGPlus]

I'm surprised no mention of Robe of the Archmagi or Mask of the Schemer.

[@robaphone251]

be sure to check out read the runes and deadly dispute for sefris as well! Is your big reanimated fatty about to get exiled to never be seen again? Why not sac it and trigger sefirs's ability on the way out too!

[@SP-ik6cc]

Reanimating and copying Agent of treachery is a go to win con for me with Sefris

[@henry102687]

The port town lands get better with the undercity, since you can guarantee that you have the necessary basic land.

[@crovax1375]

I'm still a firm believer that the Tomb of Annihilation is the best dungeon

[@olafwulfgarson1224]

I'm a little bit sad cycling hasn't been mentioned. When I struggled with speed with Sefris, my friend recommended me cycling, and it works splendidly. Just for one mana (or less) you get the Sefris trigger, any time, and you get a new card!

[@somersetbassett4580]

Love the channel. Personally venturing into a dungeon during mtg game, is a bridge too far.

[@TBeanAndTheSundanceQ]

1st

[@kelvinmendez7013]

I see that ur meta slow..... i use this deck and its sooooooo slow 0 interaction 6 instant. No CS nothing.... i upgrades my and even CEDH struggle

[@warrenbeattysnose]

sefris is hot ass. What it amounts to is getting to scry 1 or get a 1/1 creature token for your commander.

[@Hfsm33]

You haven't seen it pop off then.

[@gmpd4191]

Bummed you guys chose a politician as a sponsor. Loved your cast but you lost a subscriber today.

[@EDHRECast]

May we ask what this is in reference to? We've specifically told our ad studios to keep 100% of political ads off our platform. If any political ads are sneaking through those filters, we'd like to know so that we can have a word with our ad studio to get those ads OFF our show.

[@gmpd4191]

I listen on apple podcasts and at the beginning of the magic design podcast there was an ad for a conservative rep in California. I just went back and listened and it was switched to Bridgestone tires so I don’t know how the ad system works but if it was definitely there. But if isn’t you guys directly supporting them you got my support back ❤️

[@paulziemba7890]

I love this commander but I go hard on card the loot enchantment which I think people really sleeping on. Compulsion, Unfulfilled Desires, and Mental Discipline (if you want to go hard on this). Since I can consistently be able to loot every card in my deck I keep 15 creatures in the deck that cost 6CMC or more and not feel clunky. I also disagree with the removal of Cataclysmic Gearhulk. I sometime later in the game I will wait on reanimating for a few turn to do a sneaky board wipe reanimation at instant speed. The cycling of more of your cards make Dream Trawler Horrifying.