$1.66 Simic Elf Wins Commander Event by Chaining Extra Turns

The super-competitive nature of cEDH makes the format inhospitable to funky brews for the most part. Yet, every so often, an unexpected archetype still manages to crush a tournament out of nowhere. Just yesterday, for example, an Edric, Spymaster of Trest deck with an extremely unorthodox game plan won a 73-player event.

Drawing Cards and Taking Turns

In order to get the most out of what Edric brings to the table, this cEDH shell piloted by Yoshida Toshiyuki unsurprisingly plays a high density of cheap creatures. In the one-drop slot, you’ll find a bunch of mana dorks ranging from Delighted HalflingDelighted Halfling{T}: Add {C}.
{T}: Add one mana of any color. Spend this mana only to cast a legendary spell, and that spell can't be countered. to Boreal Druid, all capable of accelerating towards Edric. From there, most of the rest of the creature base is filled with efficient fliers like Faerie Mastermind and Ledger Shredder that can reliably trigger your Commander.

Once you’ve assembled a formidable force of attackers, all you’re looking to do is cast a flurry of extra turn spells and continue drawing more cards. Nexus of FateNexus of FateTake an extra turn after this one.
If Nexus of Fate would be put into a graveyard from anywhere, reveal Nexus of Fate and shuffle it into its owner's library instead., Walk the AeonsWalk the AeonsBuyback—Sacrifice three Islands. (You may sacrifice three Islands in addition to any other costs as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.)
Target player takes an extra turn after this one., and many more similar effects make an appearance, making it more likely you can chain extra turn spells together. Alrund’s EpiphanyAlrund’s EpiphanyCreate two 1/1 blue Bird creature tokens with flying. Take an extra turn after this one. Exile Alrund's Epiphany.
Foretell {4}{U}{U} (During your turn, you may pay {2} and exile this card from your hand face down. Cast it on a later turn for its foretell cost.) and Notorious ThrongNotorious ThrongProwl {5}{U} (You may cast this for its prowl cost if you dealt combat damage to a player this turn with a Rogue.)
Create X 1/1 black Faerie Rogue creature tokens with flying, where X is the damage dealt to your opponents this turn. If this spell's prowl cost was paid, take an extra turn after this one. even have the upside of netting you extra fliers in the process, further increasing your board presence.

While these spells are admittedly quite expensive, this deck has tons of ways to develop an overwhelming mana advantage. Gaea’s CradleGaea’s Cradle{T}: Add {G} for each creature you control. is particularly broken, but Carpet of Flowers and The Cabbage MerchantThe Cabbage MerchantWhenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, create a Food token. (It's an artifact with "{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.")
Whenever a creature deals combat damage to you, sacrifice a Food token.
Tap two untapped Foods you control: Add one mana of any color. also work wonders alongside your wealth of mana dorks.

From there, you just need ways to guarantee your extra turn spells resolve, so this deck comes prepared with multiple anti-counterspell measures. Dosan, the Falling LeafDosan, the Falling LeafPlayers can cast spells only during their own turns. makes a splash among your creatures, tutorable with Birthing Pod when necessary. Similarly, Sylvan ScryingSylvan ScryingSearch your library for a land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. and Crop RotationCrop RotationAs an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a land.
Search your library for a land card, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle. can grab Boseiju, Who Shelters AllBoseiju, Who Shelters AllBoseiju enters tapped.
{T}, Pay 2 life: Add {C}. If that mana is spent on an instant or sorcery spell, that spell can't be countered. or Mistrise Village at will to serve the same task.

All the while, your healthy mix of free counterspells and protective elements like Sylvan SafekeeperSylvan SafekeeperSacrifice a land: Target creature you control gains shroud until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.) make it trivial to keep Edric on the board and ride it to victory. Eventually, thanks to Nexus of Fate’s ability to shuffle back into your deck, you should be able to loop extra turns endlessly until you cross the finish line.

A One-Dimensional Plan

Despite its unusual theme, this deck has a streamlined approach with several benefits. In the context of cEDH, where creature removal and board wipes aren’t super prevalent, your plan of building out a big board unencumbered is more reliable than you might expect. At the same time, Edric does a great job digging for counterspells to keep Underworld BreachUnderworld BreachEach nonland card in your graveyard has escape. The escape cost is equal to the card's mana cost plus exile three other cards from your graveyard. (You may cast cards from your graveyard for their escape cost.)
At the beginning of the end step, sacrifice this enchantment. and other traditional combo pieces in check.

Where this deck can run into problems, however, is with its lack of removal. Outside of Gilded DrakeGilded DrakeFlying
When this creature enters, exchange control of this creature and up to one target creature an opponent controls. If you don't or can't make an exchange, sacrifice this creature. This ability still resolves if its target becomes illegal. and Volatile StormdrakeVolatile StormdrakeFlying, hexproof from activated and triggered abilities
When this creature enters, exchange control of this creature and target creature an opponent controls. If you do, you get {E}{E}{E}{E}, then sacrifice that creature unless you pay an amount of {E} equal to its mana value., you don’t have easy ways to deal with Orcish BowmastersOrcish BowmastersFlash
When this creature enters and whenever an opponent draws a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, this creature deals 1 damage to any target. Then amass Orcs 1., which single-handedly demolishes Edric. This deck’s reliance on mana dorks also makes it rather weak to Cursed Totem in some games, and your anti-artifact measures like Collector Ouphe don’t negate its effect.

If that weren’t enough, there are even go-wide strategies like Winota, Joiner of ForcesWinota, Joiner of ForcesWhenever a non-Human creature you control attacks, look at the top six cards of your library. You may put a Human creature card from among them onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. It gains indestructible until end of turn. Put the rest of the cards on the bottom of your library in a random order. that get a big advantage from Edric’s symmetrical effect. This combination of weaknesses makes this Commander feel a step below other top-tier options. Still, winning a 73-player cEDH tournament is no easy feat, suggesting that Edric can be a fantastic metagame counter to a lot of common decks.

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