Because Commander games typically go far longer than usual, cards that create tons of value over time become a lot more valuable. Ability doublers, like Tawnos, Urza’s Apprentice, for example, can easily get out of control when given time, especially in the Command Zone.
Tawnos, Urza’s Apprentice
Able to copy artifact abilities instantly, Tawnos can easily hit the ground running. Whether you’re forcing your opponents to sacrifice six creatures with Portal of Phyrexia or just drawing extra cards with The One Ring, it’s extremely easy to create value.
Naturally, this means you’ll have tons of artifacts in your deck, making cards like Simulacrum Synthesizer and Canoptek Spyder natural inclusions that Tawnos can maximize. With many of the stronger artifact triggers being entry-based, including cards like Panharmonicon can double the effectiveness of your game plan.
While this artifacts game plan gives Tawnos a strong start, there are some cards that can directly amplify the efficiency of your Commander itself. Roaming Throne, for example, allows Tawnos to copy artifact triggers twice instead of once. Alternatively, untap effects like Umbral Mantle allow Tawnos to use his ability multiple times per turn.
Outside of amplifying Tawnos’s abilities directly, there are a lot of other cards that can copy your powerful artifact abilities further. While using Tawnos, Kurkesh, Onnake Ancient and Lithoform Engine can be costly to use together, it can give your Commander a lot of redundancy.
Sadly, many of the best artifact abilities are hidden behind massive mana costs, but there are options to get them out quicker. On top of using cost reducers like Enthusiastic Mechanaut, Izzet also has access to multiple artifact reanimation effects like Scrap Mastery. With mana rocks like Sol Ring being natural inclusions, making this work is easy.
Going beyond just artifacts, Tawnos can even copy the effects on nonartifact cards with some setup. Cards like Mycosynth Lattice and Liquimetal Torque can turn any card you own into an artifact, allowing Tawnos to copy on-theme triggers of cards like Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain.
Untapping Everything Infinitely
With the right untapping effect, Tawnos, Urza’s Apprentice can unlock some nasty two-card combos. Sands of Time, for example, can infinitely untap all of your artifacts, creatures, and lands during your upkeep with Tawnos. By copying Sands of Time’s trigger in your upkeep, Tawnos can continually untap all of your lands, artifacts and creatures, including itself. From there, winning with Grindstone is trivial.
In addition to creating infinite mana on your upkeep, with some time, Tawnos can also create infinite turns with Magistrate’s Scepter and Energy Chamber. Once you have three Charge Counters on the Scepter, use Tawnos to copy that ability. Between Energy Chamber and the Scepter’s first ability, you can easily put three Charge Counters on Magistrate’s Scepter by your second extra turn, establishing a loop.
Extremely Underrated
Whether you choose to go the infinite combo route or you just want to copy massive triggers, Tawnos, Urza’s Apprentice can easily create tons of value. Considering this, it’s rather shocking how little play this Commander sees. With only 371 decks according to EDHREC, this is one of the least-played Izzet Commanders in MTG.
Considering this, it shouldn’t be a massive shock that Tawnos can be picked up for cheap. Available for just $0.99, this can be a fantastic choice for your next budget Commander deck.
Stick with us here at mtgrocks.com: the best site for Magic: The Gathering coverage. Be sure to check out our deckbuilder for your next big brew, and our brand new MTG Rocks Podcast!