Welcome all to the Daily Dose of Theros Beyond Death. Today, it's all about the Elder Giants and graveyards. That’s right, Theros has brought us some mighty Giants and they are just looking for a way to Escape. The key to cards with an Escape casting cost is finding the best way to get them in the graveyard. You can always cast them first and recast them later, but there must be a better way. Before I talk about two of these Elder Giants, I want to talk about the best graveyard dumping cards currently in Standard.
Ashiok, Dream Render
Ashiok, Dream Render – This will not only allow you to fill up your graveyard for a couple of turns, but it will get rid of your opponents’ chance to Escape as well!
Cavalier of Thorns
Cavalier of Thorns – Great creature that can help you ramp and add 4 cards into your graveyard.
Emry, Lurker of the Loch
Emry, Lurker of the Loch – This is going to be one of the must have cards when it comes to graveyard Escape decks. You will be able to add four cards to your graveyard and then having the option of exiling them for Escape cards or casting them with Emry, Lurker of the Loch makes this very strong.
Glowspore Shaman
Glowspore Shaman – This little 3/1 two-drop can help you add some early cards to your graveyard.
Jace, Wielder of Mysteries
Jace, Wielder of Mysteries – This planeswalker gets some added value with the knowledge of the large number of creatures with Escape casting costs in this set.
Tamiyo, Collector of Tales
Tamiyo, Collector of Tales – You can either go searching for a sweet Escape card or simply mill yourself for four to fill your graveyard. The win-win choice is all yours.
Wand of Vertebrae
Wand of Vertebrae – This is a nice repetitive way to keep adding cards into your own graveyard. If needed it can also get back an important spell back into your library.
Drowned Secrets
Drowned Secrets – Wouldn’t it be nice to have all your spells start adding cards to your own graveyard.
Merfolk Secretkeeper
Merfolk Secretkeeper – Forget about milling your opponent, hit your own library to get four cards into your bin and hope to hit a nice card with an Escape cost.
Now it’s time to talk about the mighty Elder Giants. First off is a 6/6 creature for two mana. Seems legit right? Here is Kroxa, Titan of Death’s Hunger.
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
You can almost think of Elder Giants as creatures that go on an Adventure from Throne of Eldraine. For two mana you get your opponent to discard a card (and perhaps lose 3 life). It'll then go to your graveyard and later in the game you can cast it for escape to have your opponent discard another card. At this point, you have a 6/6 creature on the battlefield that will continue to punish your opponent until they are finally left without a hand and are forced to lose 3 life per turn. That is assuming that the 6/6 creature hasn’t killed them already. I think this is a well costed card as black and red doesn’t have much sell mill cards to play around with so it will rely on casting lots of their own spell to fill up the graveyard.
Finally, I want to talk about yet another Simic powerhouse to add to Standard. Here is Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath.
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
Why be evil and make other players lose life and discard cards when instead you could gain life and draw cards? Makes for a simple choice, does it not? Uro seems like a much better choice in the long run as I think in most circumstances, gaining card advantage is much more beneficial than card disadvantage for your opponent. Growth Spiral has been a popular ramp card in recent Standard decks, this allows you to gain 3 life and cast a Growth Spiral for only three mana. Although I’m thinking of its Standard uses, Pioneer players will love the fact that is can chosen with Collected Company.
Which Elder Giant do you like the best? Are you on team card advantage or team card disadvantage? I think the choice is obvious myself. (Team draw all the way) Thanks again for reading the Daily Dose of Theros Beyond Death. Join me again tomorrow as we get closer and closer to the release of Theros Beyond Death!
