One of my favourite decks was Jeskai Snow when Arcum’s Astrolabe was legal and I was looking at building an Esper Snow deck before Astrolabe was banned. Recently Jeskai Snow decks have appeared again and I gave the deck a run out again. I enjoyed playing it but sometimes Lightning Bolt, Flame Slash and Skred would struggle to deal with a threat. That was when I thought we’ve pot Cast Down for pretty much anything, Chainer’s Edict for Boggle’s and Evincar’s Justice for mass removal.

I really like the Monarch and Ephemerate for ‘blinking’ creatures.  I’ve built my deck to maximise the potential of the Monarch and ‘Ephemerate’.

Creatures

• 3             Thraben Inspector
• 2             Auger of Bolas
• 2             Archeomancer
• 4             Mulldrifter
• 2             Gurmag Angler
• 2             Thorn of the Black Rose

Gurmag Angler is my finisher of choice though it is not unknown to nibble away with a Mulldrifter.

My other creatures are designed to get me into the long game. I did consider Seeker of the Way as it plays well with all the potential prowess triggers.

Spells

• 1             Evincar’s Justice
• 3             Cast Down
• 2             Chainer’s Edict
• 2             Disfigure

A flexible removal package from early game to mass removal and answers for the majority of creatures in the format. By using Archeomancer we can loop their return to rinse and repeat.

• 4             Counterspell
• 2             Soul Manipulation

Soul Manipulation is a personal favourite as plenty of creatures to counter and can also return my creatures.

• 3             Ephemerate
• 4             Preordain
• 2             Bonder’s Ornament

These cards make up the card draw back bone with Mulldrifter.

Land

• 4             Ash Barrens
• 1             Dismal Backwater
• 1             Tranquil Cove
• 1             Scourred Barrens
• 4             Thriving Isle
• 2             Swamp
• 1             Plains
• 8             Island

Sideboard

• 2             Hydroblast
• 2             Leave No Trace
• 2             Recoil
• 2             Suffocating Fumes
• 2             Unexpected Fangs
• 1             Evincar’s Justuce
• 1             Crib Swap
• 2             Jhessian Thief
• 1             Agony Warp

It’s a pretty stock bunch of sideboard cards and slightly skewed towards my LGS rather than an online meta.

Commander Legends

Now this deck was created prior to Commander Legends coming out, we now have additional cards to consider for the deck and also what we will face. This is one of the more interesting parts of content creation, you need to get articles prepared In advance to provide regular content to be read, sometimes you need to give them a reread or even a rewrite.

Fiery Cannonade could be a problem as the vast majority of my field could be removed in one go, though much of the deck was prone to spot removal. I’m rather hopeful though that Soul Manipulation can return a critical creature to start the cycle again.

I’m tempted to reduce/remove the Thraben Inspector and go with more Auger of Bolas.

Azure Fleet Admiral will probably get a sideboard slot for Monarch mirror matches as it dethrones the current Monarch and can attack unblocked into a Monarch.

Fall from Favor is tempting as it would give the Monarch a turn early but we do have Thorn of the Black Rose the following turn still.  A Kor Skyfisher addition and it returning the enchantment to replay is extremely tempting.

• 4             Auger of Bolas
• 2             Mnemomic Wall
• 4             Mulldrifter
• 2             Gurmag Angler
• 2             Thorn of the Black Rose

Archeomancer and Thraben Inspector are weak against Fiery Cannonande and on reflection upgrading to Auger of Bolas for early defence and Mnemomic Wall does the same job as Archeomancer albeit slower it has extra toughness.        

• 1             Evincar’s Justice
• 4             Counterspell
• 3             Ephemerate
• 4             Preordain
• 3             Cast Down
• 2             Chainer’s Edict
• 2             Disfigure
• 2             Soul Manipulation
• 3             Bonder’s Ornament

My only change is an extra Bonder’s Ornament to allow for earlier Mnemomic Wall.

• 4             Ash Barrens
• 1             Dismal Backwater
• 1             Tranquil Cove
• 1             Scourred Barrens
• 4             Thriving Isle
• 2             Swamp
• 1             Plains
• 8             Island

Sideboard           

• 2             Hydroblast
• 2             Leave No Trace
• 2             Fall From Favour
• 2             Suffocating Fumes
• 2             Unexpected Fangs
• 1             Evincar’s Justice
• 2             Azure Fleet Admiral
• 2             Jhessian Thief

Fall from Favor isn’t an instant or sorcery to return so it only commands a sideboard slot for now.

Azure Fleet Commodore indeed added for the Monarch mirror.

Conclusion

I feel this deck has the potential to do really well and has a great match up against aggro.  My wife Rachel can testify to this as she point blank refuses to test against it now lol

It can grind out a midrange mirror really well too but you need to have the right mindset and play style to appreciate and maximise this.

I’m looking forward to taking it down to my local LGS when they eventually reopen.