Today I'll be going over the Commander deck that I'm notorious for, Child of Alara. Though it isn't one of my oldest Commander decks, it has certainly proved itself worthy to be among the ranks of my top favorites. The other members of the Talk Box like to joke that I'm obsessed with boardwipes and casting spells at instant speed. Well, they're not really joking. It's true. At least with this deck, it's true. I was inspired to build it after discovering a list from rtsands45 on MTGSalvation.
Scary little fella, isn't he?
Child of Alara commands the helm of a ramp deck that plays a grindy control game, using the titular card as a consistent way to reset the board when things get too cluttered, or when I don't have as stable of a board state compared to other players. Since he's also a sturdy 6/6 with trample, it's not uncommon for me to swing into the red zone with him to rack up damage, though to this date, he hasn't killed someone by dealing 21. Child specifically has to be sent to the graveyard in order for its built-in boardwipe ability to work, which means that it wouldn't be sent back to the command zone for recasting, so I require ways to recur it. In addition, nonland permanents do not stick around with Child constantly clearing the field, so most permanents that are in the deck are either a.) indestructible, b.) benefit from dying, or c.) don't need to be on the field that long to be effective. I back this up with a lot of spells that draw cards and spells that 'X-for-1' in some way to provide card advantage. The biggest con to playing this deck is that if Child gets tucked or shuffled into my library somehow, the deck loses a majority of its staying power and is usually neutralized for the remainder of the game.
Here's the full list.
Now that you've gotten a basic picture, let's dive in and see some details about the 99.
LANDS:
1-10: Hallowed Fountain, Watery Grave, Blood Crypt, Stomping Ground, Temple Garden, Godless Shrine, Steam Vents, Overgrown Tomb, Sacred Foundry, Breeding Pool
Since their reprinting in Return to Ravnica block, the ten shocklands became much easier to acquire. Thus, I was easily able to trade for a set of them to include in this deck. The fact that they have basic land types is vital, as they become searchable with my ramp spells.
11-16: Seaside Citadel, Arcane Sanctum, Crumbling Necropolis, Savage Lands, Jungle Shrine, Murmuring Bosk
Similarly to the shocklands, the tri-lands also seemed like an auto-include. People tend to forget the "sixth tri-land" Murmuring Bosk. Even if we're not running Treefolk, it still gets the job done. And its a Forest, so its searchable with some of my ramp spells.
17-21: Command Tower, Exotic Orchard, Reflecting Pool, Rupture Spire, Transguild Promenade
22-23: High Market, Miren, the Moaning Well
These allow us to sacrifice Child at the drop of a hat. They won't be destroyed from the ensuing boardwipe, and they also can be used to sac creatures that would otherwise be stolen or targeted.
24: Volrath's Stronghold
25-26: Kor Haven, Prahv, Spires of Order
For those pesky Voltron generals and otherwise troublesome creatures, Kor Haven and Prahv do an excellent job of nullifying them.
27-30: Alchemist's Refuge, Bojuka Bog, Krosan Verge, Reliquary Tower
These four round off the remainder of my utility lands. Alchemist's Refuge is a superior Winding Canyons that allows me to cast anything I want at instant speed, Bojuka Bog is an EDH staple that can deal with problematic graveyard recursion, Krosan Verge is the only real "fetch" that I run in this deck, and Reliquary Tower is another useful EDH staple.
31-40: 2x Plains, 3x Island, 1x Swamp, 1x Mountain, 3x Forest
The last ten slots in my land count are basics, included in the increments that I need based on the majority colors of my spells.
SPELLS:
41-54: Coiling Oracle, Cultivate, Darksteel Ingot, Explosive Vegetation, Kodama's Reach, Mana Reflection, Mirari's Wake, Oracle of Mul Daya, Reap and Sow, Recross the Paths, Skyshroud Claim, Solemn Simulacrum, Urban Evolution, Wood Elves
The ramp package. Pretty standard in terms of spells, allowing me to get my basics out quickly and drop multiple lands a turn. Darksteel Ingot persists through Child's destruction. Oracle of Mul Daya allow me to "dig" through my library when paired with top-card manipulation like Darksteel Pendant and Jace, the Mind Sculptor. Skyshroud Claim and Wood Elves get some mileage, as they can hit shocklands. Mana Reflection and Mirari's Wake, despite being permanents and thus weak to Child, can fuel some backbreaking plays if left unchecked.
55-63: Aeon Chronicler, Conflux, Deep Analysis, Fact or Fiction, Mulldrifter, Sphinx of Uthuun, Steam Augury, Time Spiral, Wheel of Fortune
Drawing cards is another key piece of this deck. Aeon Chronicler is a great consistent engine while he's suspended. Conflux allows me to tutor up pretty much anything and everything I need. Everything else is just standard issue.
64-80: Annihilate, Bind, Decree of Justice, Decree of Pain, Dismantling Blow, Dismiss, Exclude, Into the Roil, Nihil Spellbomb, Overwhelming Intellect, Resounding Silence, Resounding Wave, Second Thoughts, Slice in Twain, Squelch, Teferi's Response, Twisted Justice
Cantrips! This is what I was really impressed by in rtsands45's build, and what inspired me to make my own. These cards can cycle and draw cards in addition to being awesome spells. Decree of Justice can win games just by cycling for X at the end of someone's turn, especially if I happen to have Mirari's Wake out. Resounding Silence and Resounding Wave can be used under effects that limit casting spells (I'm looking at you Teferi) via cycling, and can also be near uncounterable when cycled. Bind, Dismiss, Exclude, Overwhelming Intellect, and Squelch are all great counterspells, albeit situational ones. Teferi's Response in particular is really specific, but I guarantee you'll see some form of land destruction in a game from cards like Terastodon or Sylvan Primordial. I might consider including Scatter Arc if I can find room for it. Twisted Justice can also be used to sacrifice Child in the event that one of the sac lands is not available.
81-99: Akroma's Vengeance, Bound // Determined, Colossus of Akros, Constant Mists, Creepy Doll, Cyclonic Rift, Darksteel Colossus, Darksteel Pendant, Eternal Witness, Fracturing Gust, Gift of Immortality, Invulnerability, Jace, the Mind Sculptor, Progenitus, Reiterate, Stuffy Doll, Time Stop, Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, Wurmcoil Engine
Rounding off the rest of my spells are finishers, utility spells, and backup boardwipes. Darksteel Pendant is my budget replacement for Sensei's Divining Top, though I prefer the Pendant thanks to it being indestructible. Cyclonic Rift and Fracturing Gust are boardwipes that provide some advantageous virtual card advantage, and Akroma's Vengeance is a classic. Constant Mists and Invulnerability can protect me in combat situations similarly to Kor Haven and Prahv. Gift of Immortality is dirty in combination with Child, and Bound can be both a sacrifice outlet for Child as well as a way to return him to my hand. Big goofy creatures like Colossus of Akros, Darksteel Colossus, Progenitus, Ulamog, and Wurmcoil Engine stick around after Child clears the field. Creepy Doll and Stuffy Doll are the only creatures that I'm iffy about, but I haven't come across anything in my collection that can replace them as of yet. If I can get my hands on a Blightsteel Colossus, I guarantee that will replace one of them.
And that's the deck! It can a force to be reckoned with once it gets going, though it does have its downsides if it gets focused early or loses access to Child. I've certainly caused my share of headaches with this deck, and I imagine I'll only continue to do so as time goes on. Thanks for reading my first deck tech! I'm open to suggestions if there's a card you think could synergize well with my particular build. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!
---
Chad Dominique
CaptainTempest of the Talk Box Podcast
Twitter: @cmdominique
Steam: CaptainTempest
---
Chad Dominique
CaptainTempest of the Talk Box Podcast
Twitter: @cmdominique
Steam: CaptainTempest
