Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow Redux | Upping the Average

[@ErasmusHereticus]

Cutting Scheming Symmetry makes sense in context, but I like how it synergizes with Nashi, it's so dirty to steal whatever they tutor for.

[@solomra]

The budget section returns! This is my favorite new inclusion!

[@No2hISwear]

Tuvasa redux next? There’s been a ton of good enchantress support since the last episode and more coming in Neon Dynasty

[@marljevincalabia3746]

It's a good day when there's a new Upping the Average. My favorite on-going series in all of youtube edh.

[@silentkingsubject]

hey joey i cannot thank you enough for your breakdown of obeka's ability and synergies in the last video!! although her playstyle still doesn't align with how i like to play, learning about combos and interactions is one of my favourite parts of magic. huge shout-out for the detailed explanation back there, looking forward to more insights in future videos!!

[@Cosmic__Kitsune]

In any black tribal deck I love cover of darkness. It has yet to get a reprint but giving all your ninja's fear for two mana can really help them get in, situationally anyway.

[@AbyssalShade]

Some of my favorite cards in my Yuriko deck that I either don't see in ANY other Yuriko decks, or at least aren't in this video: Rarely see at all: - Avatar of Woe - - - This flips for 8mv off the top of the library, but in a game of Commander, will almost always cost 2 mana (BB) to cast. Then, it's a large body that has built-in evasion (fear is even better than flying) and can also just straight tap to kill a creature. Perfect perfect card for Yuriko. - Trench Gorger - - - Not only does this flip for 8 damage, it can be a perfect card to set up your endgame. Tired of pesky lands ruining your Yuriko triggers? Bye bye! Once you have enough lands (usually just 8 or so is fine for Yuriko), drop this guy and exile every other land in your deck. No more whiffs on your triggers, AND you get something like a 20/20+ with Trample to boot. (Mana Severance can also purge your unnecessary lands, but comes with far less upside. You could use both, but if you pick one, pick the Gorger.) - Emerge Eldrazi - - - These all flip for anywhere from 6-9mv off the top, but can be cast (often with very helpful ETB/cast triggers) for much less by sacrificing a creature and paying the difference. Worst case you can always emerge out of Yuriko for an easy -2 to the cost, but often other 3-5mv creatures have outlived their usefulness as well. Some are better than others, but several can be decent-to-good options for Yuriko. - Elbrus, the Binding Blade - - - Flips for 7, and while it's tough to get around the cost of 7 to cast + 1 to equip, once it's on the field it's extremely easy to transform thanks to all your evasive creatures. Turning into an easy 13/13 with Flample and intimidate that can even get bigger occasionally. Didn't see in this video: - Dimir Keyrune - - - Basically a Commander's Sphere (3mv rock that taps for either color), but also has the ability to turn into an unblockable creature in a pinch. You got a couple man lands in the deck, why not a "man-rock"? - Nether Traitor - - - Was stoked to see Thalakos Seer mentioned. Nether Traitor is another pretty cheap 2mv Shadow creature, but this guy has HASTE. Opponents think they're safe because they wiped the board? Nope, Nether Traitor into ninjutsu'd Ink-Eyes. It can also return itself from the grave for just 1 mana. One of my favorite evasive creatures.

[@CodiTC]

Here's a couple more decent options you don't see too often. - Into The Story; flips for 7 but usually costs 4 mana at instant speed. - Bola's Citadel; everyone knows this one but I don't see it in Yuriko, flips for 6 and allows you to see the top of your deck before you move to combat. - Cryptic Command; only flips for 4 but the ability to choose two options that are all useful to this deck is nice.

[@Solemnyty]

My Yuriko deck isn’t quite a budget deck but I still run some of the cards in the budget section, like Thalakos Seer and Trickery Charm. Those cards are way too cool in this deck not to run. Oddly enough, the new Ninjas I’m most excited for, other than Thousand-Faced Shadow, are probably the common Moon-Circuit Hacker and uncommon Prosperous Thief. They seem like awesome role players!

[@vincentbatten4686]

Ornithopter into Moon-Circuit, hell yeah.

[@lightfut]

Thanks for this series Joey! Frequently finds me a couple quality swaps for my decks, even if it isn't the exact commander covered

[@matspezzia]

The best Yuriko Kamigawa video between 20 videos y have seen!

[@erickcolon1670]

A perfect video for someone like me who has been wanting to build this deck! I would love to see Karazikar and Klauth make an appearance! I've built both and with the little experience I've had with mtg they both feel like a unique experience

[@mntalcesjr.4307]

Great information and always a joy to watch you Joey!

[@mus0u]

i would love to see your take on Ghen, Arcanum Weaver. there's so many different ways to build him, it would be interesting to see which direction you go in.

[@VexylObby]

And hopefully make him functional. He often requires so much set up that can be sabotaged.

[@mus0u]

@@VexylObby yeah he's easy to interact with. i have several slots in my list to give him haste and give all my stuff hexproof or shroud (it's at least fortunate that his ability doesn't target anything on the battlefield so shroud works)

[@Chrysaries]

Since we're adding more ninjas, I thought I might cut 1 or 2/4 Conspiracy effects and add in more evasion to make our played ninjas more poweful on board and avoiding re-ninjutsuing. How about Entomb and Unmarked Grave for Wonder and Filth? It's a trick from Zombies, but I think it works here, too. We draw many cards so we will probably be able to naturally discard them, too!

[@CaptainDaws]

Silverfur master is a nonbow with the fugitive

[@joelombardi4907]

Love ninja's! One card I don't see talked about much is Ukkima, Stalking Shadow. Evasion plus drain life...yes please! And it's pretty cheap to obtain at about $1 or so.

[@gabrielfeldinger6533]

I know the set isn't out but I would love a Tatsunari Frog Raider upping the average at some point in the future :)

[@vasylpark2149]

I'm actually excited for that.

[@0zerosignal]

same here, got a foil showcase version and would love to build it

[@xCratuss]

9:42 Protect the things that matter. I'm getting Kingdom Hearts vibes here :D

[@jmchristensen42]

Challenge the Stats: Explorer's Scope in Yuriko. I love how all the card manipulation and unblockable 1/1s Yuriko plays makes it easy for this to get going and even without any manipulation - it's a nice way to increase the odds of hitting for life loss. Super solid and in only 0.02 % of decks on EDHREC!

[@RecoveringSpartan]

If anyone loves playing Yuriko (like me) but your playgroup hates it (like mine) try adding a house rule that adds commander tax to her ninjutsu. It means you have to build a little differently but makes her much more fun and balanced

[@GabrielSilva-mv4fm]

Thx but hell not kkkk

[@evolark1012]

Yea no… I pass 😂, everyone uses their high power decks and don’t like the no tax ninjutsu that u have to heavily build around and limit yourself…..nope

[@projectvzero]

Na fam im here to win.. lol I'd agree but my ppl bust out eldrazi so anythings game at our table

[@Torsav]

Glad I finally picked up Yuriko/ninjas before we got into hype season. Nasty commander. Great videoas usual.

[@loorky2126]

Scheming Symmetry usually just gets you Temporal Trespass to give you another turn and in my experience that usually wins you the game on the spot with the extra turn. you gotta be carefull though with who you are choosing so they cant draw their thing at instant speed.

[@tylermoore6774]

I highly recommend Draco... nothing like dome-ing the table for 16

[@jeffnosdivad3080]

Draco is fun but it's a completely dead card unless you have a way to put it back on top.

[@vasylpark2149]

@@jeffnosdivad3080 In the first episode Joey said the same thing and I agree. I'd rather put more ninjas in play make them unblockable or make unblockable creatures into ninjas. Accuracy by volume in Yuriko is better than accuracy by precision. I personally run Archetype of Imagination, Vela the Night Clad, and the new Dokuchi Shadow-Walker. Though there is something to be said that Satoru Umezama could make Draco playable.

[@jeffnosdivad3080]

@@vasylpark2149 When I first built my deck I vowed thar if it wasn't a ninja pay off or unblockable/ some sort of evasion it wouldn't make the cut. It's worked like a charm.

[@Seedmember]

A turn 2 or 3 reveal to Draco is always hilarious. Especially if you happen to have brainstorm in hand.

[@TheCrazyhorse88]

I'd like to see your take on such classic commanders like Karador. Keep up the great work!

[@Seedmember]

I'm curious, why are people putting Satoru Umezawa in a Yuriko deck? His triggered ability directly counters Yuriko's ability by screwing your top if you happen to ninjutsu, which will be quite often. And his second ability is useless for Yuriko because your deck will already have ninjas with cheap ninjutsu anyway. Put a Shrieking Drake in his place, you'll get a 1 mana flyer that enables bounce shenanigans or a faerie seer for repeatable scries. Or put a Doom Whisperer and start burning your life points until you get some good top cards. For a budget deck, Descendant of Soramaro could work. You draw a bunch of cards with Yuriko, so looking as many cards from the top as your hand and re-arranging them can enable some big hits.

[@LhynkalTheFool]

I don't have a Yuriko deck, but if I did it would be built around Draco, the highest CMC card in all of Magic. Play a bunch of tutors such as Varragoth Bloodsky Sire and Scheming Symmetry to get that sucker on top of your library, trigger Yuriko and deal 16 to each opponent, then find ways to put Draco back on top with cards such as Brainstorm and Scrollrack and then repeat. Doesn't sound like a great strategy but it's fun :D

[@Mentaliyah_fine]

Nice to see this video, yuriko is my first commander I have built. And I spent a lot of money for, but it still needs some changes. This will help me. Probably I do a combination of both deck changes. Thanks :)

[@Kaisingsens]

Very neat suggestions, love your videos! But I struggle to justify running satoru umezawa in the deck. It's a great commander on its own,but I feel it doesn't add actual value to a deck full of ninjutsu cards.

[@lic4444]

I love the inclusion of Faerie Conclave! and not just because it is the name of my podcast :)

[@savinobalducci6148]

what do you guys think about Secluded Courtyard?

[@kiefercallewaert2367]

Ink-Rise Infiltrator should be in this deck. 2 mana ninja with will almost always be unblockable puts it right up there with phantom ninja, if not better

[@adamcappella8088]

Inkrise replaced my phantom ninja. I dont want to pay 3 to keep bringing in my unblockables. 2 or less

[@mightyone3737]

I run Yuriko in Reaper King, where she has big synergy with Maskwood Nexus, but can also just make hits from Changelings actually matter, assuming they can get in somehow. She's mostly in the deck to World Tree out, usually to win that turn (if things go well!). I feel like it's a bit of a 'try-hard' Commander for Casual play, it's a huge effect that either does everything because you've got lots of Ninjas, or it's awful because you don't. The no-tax Ninjitsu was not a good call IMHO, but it's hard to say Yuriko is really more of a problem than any of the other 'can be run in cEDH' Commanders like Tatyova or Meren at the end of the day. You can make any Commander deck 'weak enough' for Casual, it's just a question of whether or not it's still fun to play that Commander with it's arms tied behind it's back. I'd rather choose a weaker Commander and synergize with it, less likely to blow up in your face by becoming Archenemy early.

[@KennyViTran]

Anyone looking for a budget replacement for Ink-Eyes please check out Zareth San the Trickster. I've been loving it and imo just better than ink eyes other than not being a ninja.

[@Anonymous-hh4js]

Lets get a new look at Saskia after all this time. What can she do now with all the new cards out since her release!?

[@SyaoLin213]

Abjure overperformed for me even when playing against CEDH. I liked that it countered creatures where other counterspells at that rate that wold normally see play in CEDH would only just counter noncreature spells

[@allbadmanners]

Unfortunately, I have found that two mana is too many for creatures. I want to get out to ninjutsu in ninjas. This may sound blasphemous but I cut the two mana creature slot. I'm also running a lot of extra turns and clone effects. With the abundance of cards now from Doctor Who that make non-legendary copies, It's easier to win with multiplied triggers

[@TheEvilPinkOne]

There are expensive tutors that cost less. Like the 5 to cast but actually 2 to cast tutor and the 6 mana cost that's actually 3 to cast. And the 7 to cast creature tutor. And loathe tutor

[@Insanir]

As a Yuriko player, Satoru Umezawa gave me two thoughts: 1. His ability is kinda a nonbo in the 99, if your deck is into topdecking high cmc for big life losses. 2. he will be used to cheat Eldrazi titans into play and that's just lame.

[@stephenruh2474]

Hoping to see an episode for Isshin! Best commander from this new set??

[@dankman239]

Sorry , where can i find the first upping the average video talking more on her ability combat step

[@davixoff8337]

a draco is a must in a yuriko with a minimum of set the top...it s worth it evry time!

[@newworldsound]

“I don’t want to cut any of these cards!…So yeah you can find the 130 card deck list in the link below.”

[@mur-gamingchannel9859]

Can you do a new Meren deck?

[@vincentbatten4686]

For anyone running Okiba gang Shinobi, I think Biting Palm is just a strictly better card. OGS hits two but you getting to choose 1 is just so much better. I think it's an include in pretty much every yuriko deck now. It's thoughtsieze that exiles.

[@joelombardi4907]

They both are good. The thing about Biting Palm is it's only a one time effect as you have to remove the menace counter in order to have the discard effect. I guess you can somehow bounce it back to your hand to get another menace counter and re-use the effect. Okiba's effect happens every time it is unblocked regardless.

[@chasm9557]

Have you considered doing upping the average on partner (not partner with) commander pairs?

[@DorianTheReaper]

I have this pet card called Wound Reflection and i kinda wanna put it in the deck but im wondering why nobody talks about it? Is it even a good card?

[@styfen]

I sometimes wonder if Commander Ninjitsu or Eminence was the bigger mistake.

[@markisedaniels7173]

Syr Gwen Average Deck List next?

[@AYooo_Its_D]

Thank you sir!

[@BlakeFaeMorton]

I think Blinkmoth is a mistake. This deck is light on lands and we really need all our lands to produce colored mana so we can get that tasty turn 2 Ninjutsu.

[@vasylpark2149]

I think its meant as a backup or last resort. Though I might cut either Blinkmoth, Rouge's passage, or access tunnel.

[@BlakeFaeMorton]

@@vasylpark2149 I don't play any of those lands in mine. No point to a backup if it is such a bad backup I'm going to loose if I use it.

[@vasylpark2149]

@Blake Morton that's a fair assessment. I just think the card and other manlands likr serve well to help yuriko either get back onto the board to finish off opponents after a board wipe.

[@BlakeFaeMorton]

@@vasylpark2149 My approach has so far been "Counter everything, and if I can't take the L." Honestly it helps my winrate even if it feels bad during the Ls.

[@vasylpark2149]

@Blake Morton I generally dislike playing aggressive counter magic. I like either destroying something or playing selective counter spells. I have force of will, and fierce guardianship in the deck because they are basically free. I use ravenform, Ouellette, Turn Aside, Feed the Swarm, Deadly Rollick and Spite//Malice.

[@Spawny]

Can you do Varina Lich Queen next? Love the videos!

[@RedCometNurse]

Another Upping the Average, another request for Elsha of the Infinite Upping the Average. Please?

[@vasylpark2149]

No Spark Double? I think Thought Vessel is a needed for the deck the amount of card draw is astounding sometimes. I also like Archetype of Imagination slam him down and give all your creatures flying and ground all your opponent's creatures. Vela the Night-Clad as well. Unnatural Selection I'm not sure if I should remove Thassa, God of the Sea from my version of the deck it might be too slow. Any thoughts?

[@EDHRECast]

Spark Double is a great suggestion for sure! It was out of budget for the list, but it (and Sakashima) can be super potent to double up Yuriko's triggers :)

[@vasylpark2149]

@@EDHRECast Is there a reason Inkrise Infiltrator wasn't in the list? its a two mana flying ninja.

[@coreyroberson4550]

@@vasylpark2149 Inkrise may be a 2 mana flying ninja, but that makes it more expensive than the evasive non-ninjas (many who are more evasive than this), while at the same time not having a good trigger like the (mostly) non-evasive ninjas. It is lacking both as setup and as payoff. And it gets even worse by comparison if you already have something like Conspiracy in play to make your evasive non-ninjas into evasive ninjas.

[@vasylpark2149]

@Corey Roberson if you are paying one to put an unblockable on the battlefield and then two or three to return it to hand for another ninja you're still paying more than just playing a ninja with flying that has a form of evasion. Flying shouldn't be underestimated. Plus it's a 1/2 tetsuko can make unblockable with other effects to make it unblockable. And you have smoke shroud in the deck. I don't see a reason not to run it.

[@jessesandburg]

LATHRIL REDUX!

[@thebloodybonecrusher]

I know he aint synergistic but can i run the new gin gitaxias in this deck? Hes one kf my fav cards in the history of mtg. But im new to commander so im scared he might brick hard

[@brandonstein4445]

I would say no as Yuriko is a low to the ground tempo deck. Gitaxias would be better in a ramp deck or decks that can cheat him into play like reanimater.

[@brandonstein4445]

Usually want to think of your decks strategy and what cards play into that strategy. Like how do you win the game, etc.

[@hadeszero4526]

have you done zurzoth?

[@GoyfAscetic]

Please up Mayael the Anima's Average.

[@gangrel1234]

That was awesome 😍

[@wizap7]

Scheming symmetry is super great if you can find a way to draw the card you need, because what i managed to do was, search for a scroll rack, +1’d Kaito, drew it, stacked my deck with icebreaker kraken, fallen shinobi, and i believe one more big spell. Did 26 damage to close out the game

[@gangrel1234]

My Girl ♥️

[@PraetorGix]

Why would you want the Umezawa dude in this deck? Everything that needs ninjutsu already has ninjutsu and the rest of the creatures are unblockable enablers. That's just a waste of space. And the new planeswalker is there mostly for thematic purposes but it can easily go away as well tbh.

[@kousueki7024]

i feel glad when all the tutor card been removed..

[@TheEvilPinkOne]

You don't need rocks when you know how to use yuriko

[@MegaHarden]

It's not a good deck, and it's not for the price.

[@AQWuria9]

A lot of the card choices here are horrible. You’ll find better builds and better reasonings in a discord server

[@aschmiddy7]

Horrible comment. You take the time to say something critical of the video but not substance beyond that - maybe include some choices you’d make or explain why they are horrible choices. Otherwise, you may as well just delete the comment since it doesn’t add anything.

[@deadNdivine12]

Lame..

[@DeathEatsCurry]

Not a fan of phantom ninja. Even in the tightest of budgets, there's a whole host of evasive 1-2 drops you can use, and while the Phantom is a Ninja, it's also 3 mana, which is *really* harsh on tempo when paired with Ninjutsu.