The Most Civilized Control Deck - Ephara, God of the Polis EDH / Commander for Magic: The Gathering

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Don't forget to check out my review of Battle Decks from, Card Kingdom: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqe8g6yir9Rona8 If you are looking for a cheap, affordable way to play casual Magic, these may be of extreme interest to you!

[@demonzero677]

Throw in a Remand. if you want to be cheeky with the second sun then remand is your friend. Cast sun, remand sun, draw, next turn you win because second sun does NOT state the first one had to resolve, just that one had to be cast. So remand makes for a nice way to sneak out victory, especially if you have the mana to cast sun twice along with remand.

[@luckymottu7841]

Tolarian Community College I love your video's Prof so much so that I've decided to return to the game of MTG after 7+ years, I've got alot of catching up to do so keep up the great videos & I'll visit your patreon and help with what I can. Thank you again :)

[@johnathondawes7462]

Tolarian Community College a great idea for deck techs would be future commanders. Like in the new hour of devastation set, pick those legendaries and make decks with them. Also, what would be REALLY cool to see is the new 2017 dragon commander preferably Ramos, the dragon that produces 10 mana, 2 of each color. just an idea 😁

[@Zanzibawrr]

Tolarian Community College hey prof, great video. I wonder if you could brew a commander deck with the newly spoiled locust god :D

[@Cookiemunster779]

Since you have done a control deck this time why don't you go for an aggresive archetype next? Some cool choices are purphoros Hazoret Mogis god of slaughter or Saskia unyielding

[@corbinhills1997]

I'm very new to magic (only played about 10 games) :(. I'd like to thank you and say that your videos really have heart and soul behind them, you put in time and work to make truly quality videos and to this I say thank you. I would support you on patreon but don't have the funds to do that right now and I hope I'll be able to in the future. also you have the most stylish suits of any KZbinr out there lol.

[@SylveonSilver]

I will always love this video

[@alonsoferrer6323]

Hey prof, just wanted to tell you that one year ago I decided to make an ephara edh deck thanks to this video. Now I think it’s one of the most powerfull of my playgroup. Thank you for the creative tips!

[@A3Nargi]

I come back to this video every so often just to go back to my roots. I remember when this video was 2 or 3 weeks old. The Professor is the reason I built Ephara as my commander and to this day, I still rock her as my favorite commander deck. It has come a long way with countless upgrades and changes over the years. It isn't the strongest or the fastest, but it is ALWAYS a blast to play. Ephara and myself have become synonymous in my playgroup. Just want to say Thank You Prof! Your video has given me years of gameplay.

[@flightlessfedora4281]

I built this deck a little over a year ago, has to watch the video. I love what you did with it, I hadn't thought about running a single Wastes, lovely. As always prof, lovely

[@luliby2309]

I love the intros you add to your deck techs. They add such a great level of flavor and show off your literary prowess!

[@samarbrander981]

Literally my first and still favorite edh deck I love ephara and I'm glad to see the prof talking about her!

[@dagaren4444]

Excited to see something from the Prof on my feed. Even more excited that it was about EDH!

[@deetdeetdeet203]

I love these commander videos. When you get into character, it makes these videos very enjoyable. Well done professor, I wish you would make more of these

[@JoelBurger]

Love Ephara, one of my favorite commanders. Just so many ways to build around her ability between blink creatures, flash creatures, and token generators. Or even going human tribal.

[@Apollo_1988]

Been playing with a ephara deck for about 6 months now, and I have a pretty high win percentage with her at the helm. Favorite commander by far... no one ever sees her coming until it's to late!

[@spartansunset]

This was an awesome video with really well chosen music. I really like how it focuses on strategy but is infused with passion for the theme.

[@aidenmann6190]

This deck tech is lit prof! Good work!

[@geeh9748]

Watching your videos helped me get into Magic. Thank you.

[@Bophades93]

Just starting to get into MTG with commander, your videos are a ton of help for getting started, thanks so much!

[@note_than]

I just built a white blue deck with Medomai the ageless as the commander, and approach is my favorite win condition by far.

[@decca720]

oh, oh by the gods, professor! At 6:35 my heart hurt when i saw "acelleration"! As a fellow English graduate and aspiring professor, I feel it is my duty to point this out. Otherwise, splendid video as always! This deck looks fun fun fun. I'd always thought Ephara's ability to be intriguing and powerful.

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

+decca720 Well, it's a fifteen minute long detailed video that took weeks to make. If a minor typo is the biggest fault, I consider hat a huge success.

[@decca720]

Absolutely! Also a recommendation to help the win condition happen: Soothsaying happens to be my favorite blue enchantment of all-time. Perfect for the mana you might have up after a rewind.

[@IAmPhase]

Hats are in fact a huge success!

[@IvanMTG1]

was expecting a more jokey response to this from the prof...

[@mtganimemiikefan]

Hats off to you for hat one

[@TiredinIT]

This is wonderful. Multiplayer control is really tricky, and this is a good way to go about it

[@limeshredder]

Hi TCC, I just wanted to say how great your content has been lately. Keep up the great work!

[@SuperDomi94]

I love Ephara, she was the second commander deck I ever built and she never fails to deliver. As you said, she often slips under the radar as she doesn't do any flashy thing, but the little advantage you accumulate troughout the game can go a long way. Speaking of that, I personally prefer running a more tempo-ish and creature-oriented build, as I was fascinated by the possibility of creating an efficient blue deck based on creatures rather than spells. In the end, when all of your creatures have spell-like etb effect AND draw you a card, you just submerge your opponents with the purest, durdlest value possible.

[@The_Squirrel_Samurai]

Loved the Vid Professor. Looking forward to your next Edh lecture. (For anybody who remembers when he called them that.) A lecture on The Mimeoplasm would please me very much. As it is my favorite Commander.

[@KitsuLeif]

Woop-woop! That's the sound of da polis!

[@SomeFreakingCactus]

Your profile image made this even better for me.

[@jonahwoo165]

I know this was 3 years ago, but I really appreciate this comment

[@FunPheonix]

I really appreciate all you do for the community prof! Keep up the awesome content

[@JonasBEF]

What the hell guys? Why isnt there a top comment referring the awesome art and effects the Prof. used in this video?! Prof., this was awesome work. Didnt thought I could be so hyped by a freakin deck tech! Thumbs up for you, sir Greetings from Germany

[@clauderodrigue6461]

I'm slowly building angus Mackenzie with ephara and karametra I love this so much

[@easycube5251]

OMG! Thanks professor. I've been waiting for this since Born of the Gods.

[@sammcguire3798]

How Bout a Locust God EDH? Emphasis on card draw and U/R tokens

[@The_Squirrel_Samurai]

Sam McGuire Ever since I saw that I've been brewing all day. Finally a use for Dragonshift!

[@AndrewWoodford]

Sam McGuire and Flying Goat and Almond Cat Drake!

[@piscosower]

Sam McGuire yes he is disgusting with skull clamp!

[@DatBrasss]

Dennis Cantrell OH MY GOD YOU'RE RIGHT

[@Zanzibawrr]

Sam McGuire have coat of arms out and then use a wheel effect. You will have 7 8/8 insects with flying and haste. If that's not degenerate i don't know what is

[@wizard209]

I run a white blue standard deck and run approach of the second sun, I was so happy to see you running it

[@adym15]

Thank you for this timely deck tech, Prof! Looking forward to assembling & piloting it when my group meets next time. My meta has evolved into a controlling meta, with the majority of the decks geared towards stopping others from playing (i.e. Mizzix counters everything, Nekusar wheels, Winter Orbs, Anafenza, Gaddock Teeg & hatebear friends etc). In our most recent meetup, one of the guys won multiple games by locking the rest of us out so I want to have a deck that is able to respond to that without being a jerk.

[@master27270]

Thank you so much, I just tore this deck down and this was uploaded an hour later. Version 2.0 on its way thanks Prof.

[@jayhenry2197]

Thanks so much for this! I've wanted to play an Ephara deck since she was first released. This will be a great reference going forward.

[@kylesavage4525]

Thank you Professor for the deck tech i have an Ephara deck myself.My theme though is more about instant making creatures (flash,blink,instant tokens) and have some fying synergies as well.I also use some artifact creatures as mana dorks like myr since they help me draw cards. My first game with this deck (and first EDH game ever) i accidentally combo off by using great whale (ETB:untap 7 lands) + Eldrazi displacer + Dimensional infiltrator. It was hilarious!

[@SirRichardHoniker]

I put this deck up on MTG vault, and linked the video in the description. A fantastic deck that works well.

[@johnstone2728]

Really nice looking deck. Been thinking about getting into EDH and this deck tickles my fancy. Cheers for the deck tech.

[@TheBobtheratkiller]

First I would like to thank you for all the effort you put into your videos. Second, I would love to see your take on Queen Marchesa. Third, Cheers!

[@Joltfire95]

Love your EDH videos, you make things very easy to follow and understand. In the future, I would love to see an Intet. the Dreamer deck tech. Temur dragons sound fun!

[@The_Squirrel_Samurai]

My friend, and primary Commander buddy, built his first commander deck around Ephara. Always enjoy playing against it.

[@councilgatewatch2062]

Thanks, Prof! We always love seeing an interactive, political deck in EDH!

[@myanrueller91]

Thanks professor for this video! I am actually building a version of this deck with cards I have, and budget friendly additions, to upgrade slowly over time!

[@nickgarcia1331]

I really liked Mastery of Unseen with Ephara- creature generation, it can manifest an Ephara, and the life gain can make up for the slower pace of the deck. The 3W activation and 1W casting cost are also more conducive to multicolor.

[@TheSokroteez]

What I like about this video is that, while I own many of these cards, there are enough gaps that I can still brew (which is one of my favorite parts of the game). What I didn't like about the video is that I didn't get to see one of your magnificent ties. There are many of your ties that I would love to add to my own collection.

[@lookeoj]

I was looking to make a blue edh deck and thank you for this. Been sitting on her in my binder for awhile. Thanks! And much love

[@tmcdon]

Thank you for the Commander content, Proff. I appreciate you.

[@daregamo1455]

Wow. I did not know control could be viable in commander, AND that Approach of the second sun could actually be a decent win condition, but the Professor proved me wrong twice in one video. Great content as always!

[@hivemind18]

We need a massive EDH game with every deck that the Professor has covered

[@smargio]

I would watch the heck out of that.

[@devinanglin7116]

Land Tax only triggers on your upkeep. Good Vid, keep em coming!

[@anthonymelograne6080]

Professor, you should tech either Derevi Stax or Mazirek Sacrifice/Counters. These are the 2 decks in my paper collection and function on opposite ends of the spectrum. Derevi is my all in spike deck that can shut a table down by turn 3-4 and Mazirek is still very powerful but far less oppressive. As always Prof, your videos are great. Keep them coming.

[@shangrel110]

"don't wanna say baah to that one" why did I laugh so hard?

[@leimad13]

Nice info mate. My Ephara makes use of Leyline of Anticipation, Vedalken Oreary and Winding Canyons so I can play few other creatures and sorceries on my opponent turns. I also use these creatures with flash: Angel of Dire Hour, Dust Elemental and Whitmane Lion. I do concentrate on exiling my opponents stuff more though and not on casting board wipes. Also it looks like I need to include few things you mentioned, good tech:)

[@RollieB89]

I was thinking earlier today that I would love to see more Edh deck techs from you. So please make more, you have an interesting way in presentation that I don't find boring. And for the next video I would like to see an Olivia Voldaren deck.

[@_Stucki]

Narset, Enlightened Mastet without Creatures and a lot of Planeswalker. By the way great video Prof

[@gazzelleFLORENCE]

I feel it should be mentioned that at 4:50 Deputy of Acquittals says "another target creature", and as such cannot target itself for the cast-ETB-bounce loop as he mentions in the video.

[@cooperzilkenat3220]

Good vid! Adapting some of these ideas into my Lavinia of the Tenth deck

[@jacksonhill4431]

Another great deck from TCC. Keep up the good work!

[@Skinney135]

This is insane, I played my Ephara deck that I've been playing for almost 2 years today and I learn I've been playing her wrong this whole time, then I come home and the professor makes THIS video. I've been playing it if a "creature entered the battlefield during MY last turn" vice "last turn." It's built as a flicker deck. This primer is great, but I think I'm just gonna sub in Brago as the and do some minor tweaks instead. (Sigh)

[@MrGorillafist]

Ephara is bloody amazing in my roon deck. A real mvp. With how the deck is structured she is usually a creature.

[@guillermojrboy3292]

Love the closing words. Nothing is more civilized than control.

[@melvilsmith4706]

Great to see my first commander get some attention! If I may contribute to this deck, I would suggest to throw in some more creatures with flash. Restoration Angel and Seht's Tiger are by far my favorites. Alongside the angel and the flicker engines you mentionned, Venser, the Sojourner is also great to exploit some value creatures such as Wall of Omens and Augury Owl. Bonus point if you manage to blink / bounce several times Seht's Tiger to live long enough to win a desperate game. In regards to the token producers, I find Emeria Angel, Brimaz, King of Oreskos and Hero of Bladehold very efficient: drawing without spending a single mana is quite satisfying. Since I mostly play duel commander, my build is quite different. I tend to think that Ætherling and Deadeye Navigator, at least if you can't win right after casting it, are too costly for the format, but I like the idea of playing Approach of the Second Sun. I have already thought about it and I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one. Magnifique Progesseur, salutations de France =) !

[@knightwing6309]

I always go back to this. While I am a red player at heart, I’ve built a version of Ephara (roughly based on this list) and dang she is indeed powerful!

[@pgfourtwenty1428]

Cool deck tech! I wanted to comment sooner, but i was playing this deck and the game lasted so long because Opposition was my wincon ;). I am happy that Winding Canyons, one of my favorite lands (almost auto include in 3 or less color decks) is so much better than it usually is in this deck.

[@Krajcik1964]

You did a Teysa commander spotlight. You've also done one for Sen Triplets. Not going to beat around the bush, I run Approach of the Second Sun in Teysa. Instead of Sen Triplets, I also have a deck that uses either Oloro, Ertai the Corrupted or Merieke as the commander. Also has Approach in it. Even more fun if you're hold Demonic Consultation in hand. I know you run that particular card in an Azorious build. Still, all too fun to DC the Approach the end step before your turn, after having just cast it your previous turn.

[@prosperwaldmann6954]

Moorland haunt is worth a mention in my opinion. Otherwise, great vid! Huge fan of Ephara

[@maverick7581]

I would really love to see a Sigarda, Heron's Grace deck tech. Humans are my favorite creature type.

[@CommandersBrew]

Ephara is one of my (Andy) fav commanders! We gotta face our decks off sometime!

[@DarkRulerHaDes666]

I run Ephara in my Grand Arbiter Augustin IV deck, and she's certainly a useful tool. I could see her being a good commander if I chose that route.

[@arttulatsa2343]

Thank you for the great video! I play UW-control in commander but with Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper as the leader. I play Approach of the Second Sun and it is so much fun! My original plan was to win with lands like Inkhmoth Nexus but it feels so dull now. Next thing I'm going build will be Angus Mackenzie with Approach... as the main win conditon. (No, I don't win many games but I'm having a tons of fun!)

[@RabbitOvHell1990]

I found that Ephara goes really well with Porphyry Nodes in a control/enchantment shell with copy enchantment, energy flux, propaganda, overburden and such... it's basically the WU version of Creatureless Oloro, which can be done due to Ephara's Indestructible and her not being a creature most of the time

[@dabfacekillah2474]

It's really fun to build a pillow fort, have a token generating enchantment or Planeswalker out and then play armageddon when you play Ephara as your commander. It is really really fun is you run it with blue unblockable.

[@Wiseguy150]

I would love to see updates on your older edh decklists as the new cards have come out. Perhaps one video explaining your changes and rationale for those changes on decks like teysa, sygg, or Sapling of colfenor would be nice

[@glitchedjson4042]

I like that you show interesting and fun builds, but I'd also like to see them in action!

[@courtesyh4855]

Professor, you should do a EDH guide to Omnath, Locus of Mana. I can provide a list of what my deck has but I think people would like a budget version as it's really easy to build one. It's a fun mono color commander that is basically a bank simulator. :D

[@belowthecurvegaming7281]

Loved that. You sir have just inspired my first non-beater deck :)

[@thedingoman9772]

Could be fun to see a new angle of commander, maybe a video explaining dual commander, how you play it, where you can play it, tournaments and so on. Its very nice that people who love the commander format can be able to play it as a tournament like standard. And seeing a deck tech from you would be very nice, maybe a deck tech for good dual commanders like: Vendillion clique, Ezuri Rengegade Leader or Zurgo Bellstriker. Just a suggestion, but i do love your videos on commander deck tech, your sliver deck tech inspired my first ever commander deck. But commanders for a new video could be: - A artifact based deck, maybe with Arcum Dagsson as commander instead of breya. - General Tazri (Allies) - Niz Mizzet, The Firemind (Card draw deck) - Melek, Izzet Paragon (Storm Commander deck) - A god from AKH or HOD

[@jaccohop1239]

Hello, I am also running an Ephara deck and I love my Nevermaker in it. However after playing it for a while I cut the deadeye navigator because it is way too broken for my friends and is no fun at all esp with Nevermaker because you can just never have them draw anything useful anymore. Also terrain generator is a strong option in this kind of deck because you typically do "draw play land go" in this deck and play a lot of things on instant speed/Flash and ramping and making sure you don't overdraw is both great. In practice I won most games on Karthar's Crusade sometimes with Glen Elendra archmage. I loved your suggestion of Faerie Artisan, that card was not printed when I made my version yet and it has a really cool effect. In my deck I run both Venser the Sojouner and Vensers Journal, both seem to do what you want to do(not die and keep control), the Venser -1 ability to give all your creatures unblockable is often overlooked but can be very strong at the right time, obviously the + ability is pure value in this deck. If you want cheap value Mirror-Sigil Sergeant is great. For all of you at home who don't realise it, the copies of Mirror-Sigil Sergeant also copy themselves when left untouched. I love your win conditions even though it is bit a strange one. I was thinking that Chrystal shard was an auto include as well but I am wrong again. Anyway keep up the good work and original approaches and I will follow your deck techs.

[@AndrewWoodford]

I lost it at the durdle spell! By gosh darn it's so fun to try for the Approach win.

[@sharktooth5]

Yay, love these interesting deck techs :) keep up the good work

[@redhawk_5654]

The scorpion god deck tech would be interesting to see XD, would love to know how you would make it.

[@JR-xv6mv]

Gideon and Elspeth are good here too. Geist of Saint Traft is good too. If you don't have another creature than Geist, you still get to draw when he attacks.

[@Jakin-Ivey]

Ephara is such a great, underplayed commander that is super flexible. I have a fairly oppressive Ephara deck that I've been tuning for over 2.5 years that is almost nothing like this deck (it's much more creature based). Roughly 15 non-land/non-manarock cards in common.

[@Zeviander]

Love it! This video has inspired me to build a EDH deck.

[@yuanhyuga]

I use your link to buy from cardkingdom so I hope they keep sponsoring you!

[@Wisedom44]

Beautiful, just stunning this is the best win con commander deck I've ever seen 😝🙌

[@tknocker8750]

Krenko mono mountains! I made this deck and it is a lot of fun to play.

[@Penniwhistle]

That spelling of "acceleration" at 6:35. I thought you were an English professor sir. In all seriousness, love the content and your personality. Thank you for the videos!

[@kingpopaul]

Gift of estates is a nice white ramp to replace cultivate. Oath of Liege is a double edged sword.

[@allisonwatson3837]

Wait... But this is my commander, my baby.. Oh I gotta see this video

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

How similar or different is my list from yours?

[@allisonwatson3837]

After I watch I'll will gladly let you know. 😊

[@titheproven954]

I want to know too!

[@semoatwo]

It's my baby, as well ;-). One card that took it over the top for me was Recruiter of the Guard. I consider it to be the deck's best card at the moment. It can fetch almost every good creature in the build. Another card I would recommend is Crystal Shards. I found Pokken's Ephara EDH Flash Hatebears primer to be one of the best places to learn even more about the deck. Highly recommendable.

[@allisonwatson3837]

I want to add, I think the quality of my deck tech video isn't great, i just wanted to get the build out there for you guys. if you have any questions about it just post it in the comments on the video. and i did post it on my secondary channel.

[@davsr7789]

this is my favorite U/W commander, snapcaster mage and aven mindcensor are good additions too

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche5761]

doge much snappy not budget

[@dungeonmaster9800]

I recently started running a Dwarf/Vehicle tribal deck using Depala, Pilot Exemplar. It's somewhat of a budget deck at the moment (mainly running cards from Kaladesh and Aether Revolt, as well as a handful of pre-8th edition dwarves that a friend gave me. It's the first time I've built an EDH deck rather than taking a pre-con and tweaking it here-and-there, and even though it's lost both times I've played it, it actually performed surprisingly well and made my opponents really work for their win. I'd be interested to see how a more experienced EDH player would use that commander.

[@LegoM007]

A Scorpion Deck tech would be of great help. Really looking forward to that guy for commander!

[@Sygorian]

What about the planeswalker card of Venser? Seems pretty synergistic with the deck !

[@leverposteifantomet]

Ephara was actually my very first commander. My friends all had commander decks, and I wanted to join in on the fun. So I whipped together a deck similar to this, but way worse. I didn't win anything with it, but I did have some fun. Good times

[@shanebernier2483]

Pretty late to the party on this one, but from watching your recent video "Politics with the Professor" on the Command Zone, I'd be very interested to see you do an EDH deck with Omnath, Locus of Mana. It's a commander that can quickly switch gears between aggro and combo since it can be either a big beater or a giant battery for your high cost cards, and I feel that seeing you make a mono-color EDH deck would be a nice change of pace.

[@calebstemp7506]

I've been struggling to find a satisfying build for my Pharika deck. I'd love it if you would cover her in a future video. Thanks!

[@sixcycle]

4:41 "Batter-field" eh :P Someone is a fan of batterskull :D Great video! Don't forget flickerwhisp :D

[@justjoe8397]

For the longest time I thought Ephara's draw abiltiy only triggered on your upkeep. looks a lot more interesting now!

[@margarethaight1908]

Professor, may I suggest a five color commander idea for you to review? I was thinking of a deck revolving around all gods from both Theros and Amonkhet blocks, including the three gods that are about to be released in HOU a week from now. There's some great synergy between them. For example: Ephara, God of the Polis and the Locust God. Draw a card, get a 1/1 locust with flying and haste, trigger Ephara on the next turn to draw again, rinse and repeat. :)

[@jordanclemens5834]

Hey Prof, love all your deck techs and am planing on making a couple just because they seem so good! I would love if you did techs on either Gisela, Blade of Goldnight, Kaalia of the Vast, or Atarka, World Render. Kaalia I am in process of making and Gisela and Atarka are two of my favorites that I have built and I would love to see your take on them. Keep up the great work!

[@FunkyAbigail]

I would love to see an "alternate win condition" deck, probably in 5 colours and every alt win card you could feasibly use. Also, it would be nice if you did budget / cashed up versions of these deck techs. Like, same deck and video, but suggest options for people on a budget.

[@mtgtalks1965]

+Tolarian Community College Prof, I love your channel so much I just want you to know that