Thanks to Commander’s slower nature, cards that create long-term value rather than immediate value perform much better. While artifacts and enchantments that do nothing on entry mostly take advantage of this, the same applies to larger mana dorks. Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher, for example, needs some time to get set up, but the Commander is capable of dozens of infinites when ready.
Picking a Background
Without any buffs, Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher provides three mana to use on anything except spells from your hand. Since the mana added is based on Vhal’s toughness, you can even use effects like Slagwurm Armor to skyrocket her mana production up to nine.
Considering this, it makes sense that Raised by Giants is the most popular Background for Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher. Allowing you to tap for ten colorless mana, Vhal can sink her mana into massive Monstrosity abilities like Hydra Broodmaster. Alternatively, you can use cards like Magus of the Candelabra or Prismite to filter your mana into something that can cast spells from your hand.
Despite this game plan being solid, Vhal has a stronger Background available in Passionate Archaeologist. Going into Izzet gives access to tons of Impulse draw, allowing Vhal to use her mana to cast spells from exile while keeping your options stocked. Better yet, Passionate Archaeologist turns these Impulse casts into direct damage, offering a very straightforward win condition.
MTG Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher in Izzet
To set up Vhal’s heavy Impulse Draw theme, cards like Expressive Iteration, Wrenn’s Resolve, and Asgardian Inspiration give you a quick start. Once your engine is up and running, repeatable Impulse Draw options like Laelia, Blade Reforged and Valakut Exploration keep Vhal stocked with cards to cast. Heck, Eruth, Tormented Prophet can even turn all of your draws into new cards in exile.
While Passionate Archaeologist already serves as a win condition, there are all kinds of additional powerful payoffs that reward Vhal for casting cards from exile. Wild Magic Sorcerer, for example, can give your exiled spells Cascade, while Nalfeshnee can outright copy them. To speed up your win condition immensely, Keeper of Secrets and Flaming Tyranosaurus can pile on even more damage from your exile casts.
While Vhal goes a long way towards casting these spells efficiently, producing only colorless mana can slow things down. Fortunately, cards like Chromatic Orrery and Stonework Packbeast can help Vhal make their mana colored. Once set up, you can use untap effects like Hidden Strings or Vizier of Tumbling Sands to create Storm-like sequences.
Tons of Infinite Combos
With card advantage galore available in Izzet, you should have no trouble setting up one of the many infinite combos available to Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher. Both Umbral Mantle and Sword of the Paruns, for example, can easily go infinite with Vhal once she’s shrugged off summoning sickness.
Since Vhal can tap for three mana naturally, you can use that mana to untap Vhal with Umbral Mantle, granting an infinitely large creature and infinite Vhal mana. The Sword of Paruns, while not quite as useful, can also generate infinite mana by buffing Vhal’s toughness to five. If Vhal can tap for at least five mana, Staff of Domination provides a similar infinite, turning the extra mana into card draw and lifegain.
While these are perhaps the most useful infinite combos with Vhal, there’s tons of different ways you can make infinite mana with her. By pairing Scuttling Sliver with something that changes Vhal’s creature types, like Maskwood Nexus, you’ll be able to tap and untap her infinitely. If you want to make infinite colored mana with Vhal, Pemmin’s Aura and Urn of Godfire can do just that, thanks to the Aura’s ability to buff toughness.
A Unique Combo Commander
Paired with sudden wins and tons of Impulse draw to keep the cards flowing, Vhal’s constant onslaught of cards should be enough to keep up at any table, which makes her low play rate surprising. While it takes a bit of effort to make the Commander work, Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher and Passionate Archaeologist having only 249 decks, according to EDHREC, is ridiculous.
Considering how low this play rate is, there’s a strong chance your Commander pod won’t even be aware of Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher. Considering this, it shouldn’t be too shocking to discover that this uncommon from Battle for Baldur’s Gate is only worth $0.35. At that price, Vhal can make a fantastic budget Commander to surprise your playgroup.
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