"Ephara, God of the Polis:Creature Draw"

"Ephara, God of the Polis:Creature Draw"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

To begin I would like to like at an early round of EDH. An early round of EDH usually consists of playing land cards and mana producing stones. Creatures are cast much later because one is still trying to keep up appearances of being civil and polite and apolitical. No one wants to cast a creature since someone will always interpret this as a great board position even if you just cast a lowly Iron Myr. Being civil and polite and apolitical takes a back seat however when you are playing with the god Ephara. She would want you to keep on casting at least one creature every turn. The reason for this is oh so simple.

Her ability as a god allows you to draw an extra card on each upkeep if you have cast at least one creature the previous turn. Think of it as an investment , a return for having an aggressor on the battlefield. In standard games you get one card on your opponents upkeep.If you have a creature with flash and cast it at the end of the opposing players turn you could again benefit from Ephara and draw another card on your own upkeep.

So the key here to abuse Ephara (that doesn't really sound right) is to always cast creatures on the 2nd main phase before your turn ends and to cast creatures on your opponents turns. Casting on your opponents turns requires creatures with Flash. Two cards from  Ravnica come to my mind here and those are the Deputy of Acquittal and Hussar Patrol.Oh and so we can be sure that everyone has flash , lets not forget this guy.

"What's up?"

The great thing about this strategy is that you are filling up the battlefield with creatures while you are effectively replacing your hand for each creature that you are casting. You incur card advantage and for someone who needs to control the board and bluff with a full hand like the Azorius(Blue/White) colors this is very important indeed. These extra draws also increase the probability that you have at least one creature to cast and another extra draw. Filtering out your library or even getting to your key cards in no time. Now imagine Ephara in an EDH game. As long as you keep casting creatures you could potentially net a total of 3 cards per turn( one for each your opponents in a 4 man pod).

One particular card that works well with Ephara and this drawing engine is the Zendikar enchantment Archmage Ascension. During each of your end steps you are sure to draw at least two cards. And I am betting that you also have other draw spells or even Azami as back up if you are playing blue.Imagine being able to fill this awesome enchantment with 6 counters and on each of your draw steps or any time you would draw a card , you instead "Tutor" that key card out! Wow. Any card you want. If you would draw , just go ahead and pluck it from the library. How is that for card advantage?

I am not even mentioning that 6/5 frame that Ephara has which could manifest in physical form in a short amount of time since you will be playing a lot of permanents/creatures to draw cards here.Well in her case, The More the Merrier. She just loves them creatures and thrives in their adoration. 

Ways to win? Well with all that card drawing and all that library tutoring(with a full 6 counters on Archmage Ascension) I am sure that victory will always be near your grasp. Ephara smiles upon you.