With Universes Beyond being a core part of MTG now, legendary creatures are being created at a higher rate than we’ve ever seen. There are so many legends coming into MTG, in fact, that some massive overperformers are getting lost in the pile-up. Longshot, Rebel Bowman, for example, is one of the most potent Spellslinger Commanders we’ve seen in a while, and is easily underplayed in the 99 and the command zone.
MTG Longshot, Rebel Bowman
Combining a cost reducer with constant damage, Longshot does everything that a Spellslinger deck wants as both an enabler and a win condition. Pair this with other powerful cost reducers, like Ruby Medallion, Helm of Awakening, or The Fire Crystal, and Longshot can easily build towards a Storm win. From there, all you need is a damage amplifier like City on Fire to push things over the top.
To fuel this strategy, Wrenn’s Resolve, Reckless Impulse, and Jeska’s Will can help chain Longshot’s spells together, but explosive cantrip-esque options run dry quickly. Fortunately, while symmetrical, few cards will refuel your hand better than Wheel of Fortune or Reforge the Soul.
Fortunately, Longshot’s cost reduction isn’t just limited to instants and sorceries, allowing cantripping artifact options like Chromatic Star and Mishra’s Research Desk to become free damage for Longshot. You can even use colorless payoffs like Glaring Fleshraker or Mystic Forge if you’re running a larger number of colorless spells.
As if these synergies weren’t enough, Longshot can also enable some deadly infinite combos. All of these revolve around Sensei’s Divining Top and something that can play it off the top of the deck, like Mystic Forge. By using the Top’s ability to put it back on top of your deck, Longshot can draw your deck while offering near-infinite damage.
Fortunately for Longshot, this Divining Top combo works with a lot of cards that the Commander wants regardless. Experimental Frenzy and Harnfel, Horn of Bounty, for example, all give this combo redundancy while just being good draw engines.
Extremely Hard to Find
With a rock-solid Storm plan in place, Longshot, Rebel Bowman is one of the stronger overlooked Commanders available for players to try. There are only 1,292 decks registered for the card on EDHREC, which is far less than what this crazy Commander deserves. While Longshot does see more play in the 99 of Commander decks, appearing in 45,400 decks, it is, frankly, still underplayed at these numbers.
Sadly, a big part of that is likely due to how hard it is to actually find a copy of Longshot. Appearing exclusively in Avatar Jumpstart and in Collector Boosters, Longshot is far rarer than its uncommon status would suggest. For this reason, Longshot is rather expensive, available at $7.74 at the absolute cheapest. Even at this price, however, Longshot can still make an incredible pickup for your next spellslingers deck.
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