Flip-It-Or-Rip-It: A Heist Pod - Decked Out Episode 10
"One. Last. Job. I was out of the game, but somehow I keep getting pulled back in."
"That's not how Commander works; you have to wait until we shuffle up the next one."
In the latest episode of Decked Out, Amy the Amazonian and BigJimID join hosts MTGNerdGirl and VeggieWagon, and all four inadvertently fall into the roles of a classic heist movie. Well, Amy outright says she wants to do crime, but the others just sort of ended up there. Each brings a unique way to steal the game out from under the opponents, some more literally than others.
Xanathar, Guild Kingpin
"It's prime time for crime time!"
Criminal mastermind Amy is itching to get her hands on everyone else's library with her partner in crime, Xanathar, Guild Kingpin. Her plan is simple: cast her commander, manipulate the tops of her opponents' decks, and then steal the best cards for herself while locking them out of stopping her.
Kenrith, the Returned King
"He's just a value Kenrith..."
BigJim, the inside man, knows exactly which way to go as he navigates the dungeons with his Kenrith, the Returned King deck. His intel comes from Ellywick Tumblestrum and other Venture cards that generate big value over time. Jim's emergency secret tech is Eerie Ultimatum, which may complete multiple dungeons in one fell swoop.
Saskia the Unyielding
"I didn't mean to kill you!"
Naturally, NerdGirl supplies the muscle for the group. Saskia the Unyielding allows her to pull off the classic bruiser move of smacking two goons' heads together. Her deck leverages extra combat steps for additional attack triggers while buffing the team with combat abilities. Spoilers: the plan goes awry when she accidentally kills someone.
Yusri, Fortune's Flame
"Flip, flip, flipadelphia!"
Veggie's commander, Yusri, Fortune's Flame, is high risk, high reward: a possible Omniscience or a possible 10 self-damage. The wildcard leaves it all to a coin-flip, but that doesn't mean he can't sway the odds. Veggie has ways to tutor for Krark's Thumb, making it much more likely to escape harm and walk out with a bunch of free stuff.
How It Played Out
Wait for the Signet - The Early Game
Amy breaks the trend of turn-2 Signets with Krydle of Baldur's Gate and starts poking around for some unblockable damage. Jim drops the bait, an Ellywick Tumblestrum that immediately takes the attention of the table (to his dismay). Veggie casts a Tavern Scoundrel, slams his commander, and channels his luckboi powers to win 4 out of 5 flips, netting him 4 draws and 8 Treasures. He drops a Risky Move and fetches Krark's Thumb to set up a loaded next turn...
Now We Only Split the Money Three Ways - The Mid Game
...and then NerdGirl kills him. Things get out of hand quickly when Delina, Wild Mage and a lucky streak of d20 rolls create 4 more Saskias and aim 45 damage straight to Veggie's face. Even NerdGirl is surprised with the damage output, giving her best Of Mice and Men impression, exclaiming, "I didn't mean to kill you!" And you know what? I don't need to explain the mid-game any more than that. I've made this wonderfully niche joke about a John Steinbeck novella and an EDH game, and we're going to leave it there.
My Plan All Along - The Late Game
Jim attempts a takeover with Sheoldred, Whispering One, capitalizing on his opponents' Swamps and low creature count. His mutiny is short-lived, however, as Amy sacrifices her own Hostage Taker and reanimates it to steal the Sheoldred. One more swing from NerdGirl eliminates Jim as well, leaving only the mastermind and the muscle. Amy establishes the lockdown with Xanathar and a thieved Dihada, Binder of Wills, and she continues to pad her board with many of NerdGirl's best permanents. The heist seems headed to a classic ending where the mastermind takes the money and runs, but Amy's criminal activity becomes her undoing. She looks at the top of NerdGirl's library. "And now I lose the game." NerdGirl manages to smash her way through with the help of an Ankle Shanker and Loxodon Warhammer, backed up by a Seize the Day that Amy conveniently sifted to the top of NerdGirl's deck.
By the Numbers
Cards thieved: 8
Saskias copied: 5
Missing thumbs: 1
"Accidental" deaths: 1
Upcoming movie sequels: 12
