Deck 5 - Lagrella Blink

This deck is part of the Two-Headed Giant Commander decks, these are designed to be played 2v2 or 3v3 in the Commander format, but can also be played 1v1. 

Certain decks have certain themes, and will pair better with other decks, which decks work best have been listed below. These decks are on a higher skill level than most of the other decks in the club, with a lot of interacting mechanics. This can be overwhelming to learn and master but it is a whole lot of fun when you do.

The kingdom of Gloria stands as a beacon of hope amidst the gathering storm. King Kenrith and Queen Marchesa rule with wisdom and valor, commanding a vast army and a stalwart group of city defenders. As whispers of war reach their borders, the kingdom prepares for battle. The king’s brother, exiled for his wild ways, watches from the shadows, knowing that his time to either protect or challenge the throne is near. The fate of the kingdom rests on the decisions made by its rulers and the loyalty of its people.The theme of the For Glory box is a Kingdom and its protectors, heroes and rulers that fight to defend the people, and are united together. The main theme for the For Glory decks are +1/+1 counters, defenders and Humans. 

Lagrella is one of the Brokers' most feared and respected enforcers. A contract mage in Falco's orbit, Lagrella is allowed to take some license with the agreements she oversees: "a little off the top" of every transaction is the expected fee all Brokers take for their work, so Lagrella takes what is due someone of her station. Lagrella's fearsome reputation — and nickname — comes from rumors of what she does with her money. She has a collection of exotic fish that she keeps in her penthouse in a massive tank. In that tank, there is a garden of gold and silver statues: life-sized figures that capture in harrowing detail the faces of people who once broke her contracts. Praised even by the Maestros for the quality of these sculptures, only Lagrella knows the truth: those statues are those contract breakers, dipped in molten metal and dropped into her fish tank to rest, forever.

Lagrella was deeply involved in the events surrounding the mysterious visions experienced by seers across New Capenna. Lagrella's involvement became clear when it was revealed that she was in a relationship with the reporter Lacey Lanine. However, their relationship was part of a larger plot orchestrated by Lagrella. She used Lacey to infiltrate the Cabaretti and steal a sample of Halo, a substance that only angels can create. This act was driven by Lagrella's belief in a prophecy that foretold the destruction of New Capenna once the city's supply of Halo was exhausted. Lagrella's plan to extract information and secure her objectives was thwarted when she confronted Kamiz, an Obscura spymaster, at a staged meeting place. During this encounter, Lagrella attempted to force Kamiz into signing a magical contract using her powers. However, Kamiz, with the help of her apprentice Queza, turned the tables. They revealed that the entire scenario was an illusion crafted by Kamiz to expose Lagrella's true motives and gather evidence against her. Ultimately, Lagrella's ambitions and manipulative tactics were laid bare, particularly her desperation to control the city's fate by uncovering the secrets of Halo production and the prophecy.

Introduction: "Lagrella, the Magpie" leads a deck that specializes in controlling the battlefield through the use of flicker effects, allowing you to repeatedly exile and return your creatures (or even opponents' creatures) for value. With a focus on enter-the-battlefield (ETB) abilities and a strong flicker engine, this deck can dominate the mid to late game by generating massive value from your creatures while disrupting your opponents' plans.

Key Cards:

• Lagrella, the Magpie: As your commander, Lagrella serves as both a removal spell and an engine for flicker effects. When she enters the battlefield, she exiles up to one creature each from up to three players (including you). When she leaves the battlefield, the exiled creatures return to the battlefield under their owner's control, giving you the opportunity to reuse ETB abilities while disrupting your opponents' boards.

• Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines: Elesh Norn doubles your ETB triggers, making all of your flicker effects twice as potent. She also shuts down your opponents’ ETB abilities, giving you a huge advantage in value and tempo.

• Soulherder and Thassa, Deep-Dwelling: These two cards provide continuous flicker effects at the end of each turn, allowing you to repeatedly trigger your ETB abilities and build value over time. Soulherder grows stronger with each flicker, while Thassa offers both flicker and eventual game-ending pressure with her indestructible body.

• Panharmonicon and Teleportation Circle: Panharmonicon doubles the triggers of your ETB effects, while Teleportation Circle provides a consistent flicker engine. Together, these cards allow you to maximize the value of each creature you play.

• Guardian of Ghirapur and Preston, the Vanisher: Guardian of Ghirapur provides an additional flicker effect upon entering the battlefield, while Preston, the Vanisher creates Illusion copies of creatures that enter the battlefield under your control, amplifying the deck's flicker synergy.

• Brago, King Eternal and Yorion, Sky Nomad: Brago can flicker any number of your nonland permanents each time he deals combat damage, while Yorion provides a mass flicker effect when he enters the battlefield. Both cards help reset Lagrella and other ETB creatures, maintaining board control and value generation.

• Cloudshift, Ephemerate, and Ghostly Flicker: These instant-speed flicker spells allow you to protect your creatures, retrigger ETB effects, and reset Lagrella. Ghostly Flicker can even target lands or artifacts, adding more versatility to your flicker strategy.

• Mulldrifter, Solemn Simulacrum, and Cloudblazer: These value creatures provide card draw and ramp upon entering the battlefield. By flickering them repeatedly, you can maintain a steady stream of resources.

Strategy:

• Early Game: The early game is focused on setting up your mana base and getting your flicker engines online. Play ramp spells like Cultivate, Nature's Lore, and Farhaven Elf to accelerate your mana, and use early flicker effects like Cloudshift or Ephemerate to protect key creatures or gain value. Casting Lagrella early can help you remove problematic creatures or reset one of your own ETB creatures for additional value.

• Mid Game: By the mid-game, you should aim to have your flicker engines like Soulherder, Teleportation Circle, or Thassa, Deep-Dwelling in play. Use Lagrella strategically to manage the board state while continuing to generate value from your ETB creatures. Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines or Panharmonicon can help you snowball your advantage by doubling the impact of each flicker.

• Late Game: In the late game, your goal is to overwhelm your opponents with the value generated from repeated ETB triggers. Cards like Sun Titan and Karmic Guide can help you recur key pieces from the graveyard, ensuring you never run out of gas. Yorion, Sky Nomad or Lae'zel's Acrobatics can provide massive board swings by flickering your entire board, resetting Lagrella and your other ETB creatures for a final push. If your opponents manage to wipe the board, Eerie Interlude or Semester's End can protect your creatures and set you up for a powerful return on the next turn.

Mulligan Guide:

• Opening Hand Considerations: Look for a hand with a mix of lands, ramp, and an early flicker engine. A hand with Arcane Signet, Nature's Lore, or Solemn Simulacrum can help you get ahead on mana. If you have Lagrella and a flicker spell like Cloudshift or Ephemerate, it’s usually a good keep as you can start controlling the board early. Also, look for hands with strong ETB creatures like Coiling Oracle or Mulldrifter to start generating value right away.

• Hands to Avoid: Avoid hands that are too reactive, with only flicker spells and no creatures to target. Also, hands with too few lands or no ramp can leave you struggling to cast your spells on curve. If your hand lacks any early plays or a clear plan for the first few turns, consider taking a mulligan to find a more balanced hand.

With this strategy guide, you should be well-equipped to pilot your "Lagrella, the Magpie" deck to victory. By leveraging the powerful flicker effects and ETB synergies, you can control the board, generate immense value, and ultimately outlast your opponents.