MTG’s First Negative Power Card Is a Fantastic Reality Fracture Commander

Despite arguably not having the best setup over the past three years, Reality Fracture hasn’t disappointed at all. Not only have the story chapters been incredibly well received, but the new spoilers and the set’s gimmick are slam dunks. This is especially true for the new reality-swapped Loot, the Anomaly card that breaks new ground as Magic’s first negative-power creature.

MTG Loot, the Anomaly

While this Loot card might look like a bit of a novelty, it’s actually a pretty powerful mono-black Commander. At the very least, Loot, the Anomaly provides a free-ish sacrifice effect that’s not bound by a once-per-turn clause. While you do need to hit Threshold to use this ability, this isn’t too hard in an Aristocrats-style deck, even without self-mill.

Beyond just being an unrestricted free sacrifice engine, Loot is sort of a win con, too. Since each sacrifice buffs Loot with more negative power, it can steadily become a legitimate threat. It’s easy to boost this further, too, using cards like Belbe’s ArmorBelbe’s Armor{X}, {T}: Target creature gets -X/+X until end of turn., Clinging DarknessClinging DarknessEnchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -4/-1., and TormentTormentEnchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -3/-0.. Sadly, since negative toughness goes through Indestructible protection, potentially exciting cards like Kuro, PitlordKuro, PitlordAt the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Kuro unless you pay {B}{B}{B}{B}.
Pay 1 life: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. won’t work.

While Loot doesn’t have tons of toughness to play with, you can use some Blight cards, like Sinister GnarlbarkSinister GnarlbarkAt the beginning of your end step, draw a card and blight 1. (Put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control.), to good effect. With Bogslither’s EmbraceBogslither’s EmbraceAs an additional cost to cast this spell, blight 1 or pay {3}. (To blight 1, put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control.)
Exile target creature. and Dream SeizerDream SeizerFlying
When this creature enters, you may blight 1. If you do, each opponent discards a card. (To blight 1, put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control.) offering helpful utility, Loot can pack a punch even without sacrificing anything. Realistically, though, sacrifice is definitely the angle of attack for Loot, the Anomaly, so you’ll need plenty of fuel.

Thankfully, while it’s not quite as go-wide as white or green, black can still excel in this department with Bitterbloom Bearer and Bitterblossom. Notably, you can also utilize recursive creatures like Forsaken MinerForsaken MinerThis creature can't block.
Whenever you commit a crime, you may pay {B}. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. (Targeting opponents, anything they control, and/or cards in their graveyards is a crime.) and Reassembling SkeletonReassembling Skeleton{1}{B}: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. if you’ve got mana to spare. You can also repeatedly sacrifice the new Darklight Phoenix, which will come back every combat for additional damage.

Infinite Negative Power Potential

While Loot, the Anomaly is capable of playing an interesting fair game, it also has some exciting combo potential. Alongside Hyalopterous Lemure and Agatha’s Soul CauldronAgatha’s Soul CauldronYou may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to activate abilities of creatures you control.
Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters on them have all activated abilities of all creature cards exiled with Agatha's Soul Cauldron.
{T}: Exile target card from a graveyard. When a creature card is exiled this way, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control., for instance, you can give Loot infinite negative power for infinite damage.

To set this combo up, get Lemure in the graveyard, then exile it with Agatha’s Soul Cauldron. Since this will let you put a +1/+1 Counter on Loot, it can then use Lemure’s ability infinitely for infinite negative power. After this, all you really need is evasion from Whispersilk CloakWhispersilk CloakEquipped creature can't be blocked and has shroud. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.)
Equip {2} to start knocking out opponents one by one.

Thanks to being a free sacrifice engine, once Threshold is active, Loot can also enable plenty of existing combos. The infinite loop of replaying Gravecrawler using Treasures from Pitiless Plunderer, for instance, is fair game here. Alternatively, any Persist creature alongside Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, also gets you infinite Loot sacrifice activations.

Sadly, while these existing sacrifice combos are powerful, only killing one opponent with Loot isn’t ideal. As such, you’ll likely want to use Blood Artist for a more traditional Aristocrats win condition instead. While this does dampen Loot, the Anomaly’s appeal somewhat, there’s still plenty of fun to be had.

Fun but Flawed

Realistically, while Loot makes for a unique and interesting Commander brew, mono-black does limit things somewhat. Many of the most interesting and powerful cards are outside its color identity. In blue, for instance, you get access to Chant of the Skifsang, Fear of Death, and Spontaneous Mutation for insane negative buffs.

In theory, these cards could make Loot a unique addition to Dimir mill decks, but its need for extra support makes it iffy there. The same is also true for Doran, Besieged by Time decks, as while it can work wonders, you need tons of extra support. At minimum, you’d need to double Doran’s second ability; otherwise, Loot would end up with +4 power, regardless of any negative buffs.

Due to this inherent awkwardness, it feels like Loot, the Anomaly may end up just being an unrestricted sacrifice effect. While this isn’t the most fun thing, given the card’s unique potential, it’s very hard to say this is bad. If nothing else, Loot could be a nice new budget option in this category.

All in all, even if Loot, the Anomaly doesn’t see widespread play in MTG, it’s a fantastically enjoyable novelty. Like many cards from Mystery Booster: Commander Edition, the fact that it exists feels like a real treat. With that in mind, hopefully MTG players will enjoy building around this delightful oddity.

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