(Yule OozeYule Ooze | Art by Steve Prescott)
Introduction
We find ourselves in a strange place, as we often do, a realm of juxtaposition. The sun hides, and the nights lengthen. There is disparity in this season. Somewhere, a Dark Souls joke is made. Heat and cold. Bonfires and snow shovels. Hygge and the bitter chill of winter.
Welcome to Yule Shot, where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck. This time, to honor the elder gods of Candletide, we'll be knitting a warm blanket of the Snow supertype atop an Ooze tribal subtheme. How is Snow presented here as a metaphor for warmth, you ask? Igloos. And why Ooze? Well, in anticipation of the eventual errata of Yule OozeYule Ooze to black border, of course.
I think Jegantha, the WellspringJegantha, the Wellspring looks suitably festive. If one were to make a New Year's Resolution to forego multiples of duplicate mana symbols in card costs, Jegantha could probably pull the royal sleigh of someone like Kenrith, Returned KingKenrith, Returned King, who, in the lore of Eldraine, is prophesied to become Santa Claus in his twilight years. Though some sad substitutions would have to be made (God rest ye merry Predator OozePredator Ooze), Kenrith's second ability could make for a powerful +1/+1 counters tertiary theme that permeates, and even 'permanates' throughout the brew.
But we'll keep this list cozy, so that means lots of mana symbols in casting costs. With Jegantha steering (sleighs have wheels, right? Hmm... ask the wheelwright), that gives us access to things like Glacial PlatingGlacial Plating. Oh, this is going to end up being a Cumulative Upkeep deck, isn't it?
One would think the cold might slow our gelatinous friends down. Is there such a thing as too viscous? Let's find out.
Rudolph’s Reign
View on ArchidektCommander (1)
- 1 Jegantha, the WellspringJegantha, the Wellspring
Creatures (30)
- 1 Boreal DruidBoreal Druid
- 1 Chilling ShadeChilling Shade
- 1 Burnished HartBurnished Hart
- 1 Conifer WurmConifer Wurm
- 1 Diamond FaerieDiamond Faerie
- 1 Thing in the IceThing in the Ice
- 1 Woolly RazorbackWoolly Razorback
- 1 Rimefeather OwlRimefeather Owl
- 1 Zombie MusherZombie Musher
- 1 Rimescale DragonRimescale Dragon
- 1 Heidar, Rimewind MasterHeidar, Rimewind Master
- 1 Ice-Fang CoatlIce-Fang Coatl
- 1 Golos, Tireless PilgrimGolos, Tireless Pilgrim
- 1 Chulane, Teller of TalesChulane, Teller of Tales
- 1 Sisay, Weatherlight CaptainSisay, Weatherlight Captain
- 1 Tatyova, Benthic DruidTatyova, Benthic Druid
- 1 Yule OozeYule Ooze
- 1 Mitotic SlimeMitotic Slime
- 1 Biowaste BlobBiowaste Blob
- 1 Slurrk, All-IngestingSlurrk, All-Ingesting
- 1 Prime Speaker VannifarPrime Speaker Vannifar
- 1 Acidic SlimeAcidic Slime
- 1 Bloodhall OozeBloodhall Ooze
- 1 ManaplasmManaplasm
- 1 Experiment KrajExperiment Kraj
- 1 Scavenging OozeScavenging Ooze
- 1 Ancient OozeAncient Ooze
- 1 Biogenic OozeBiogenic Ooze
- 1 Predator OozePredator Ooze
- 1 Metallic MimicMetallic Mimic
Instants (2)
- 1 Mystic GenesisMystic Genesis
- 1 Tribal UnityTribal Unity
Sorceries (6)
- 1 Into the NorthInto the North
- 1 CultivateCultivate
- 1 Gelatinous GenesisGelatinous Genesis
- 1 Miming SlimeMiming Slime
- 1 HurricaneHurricane
- 1 Harsh MercyHarsh Mercy
Artifacts (8)
- 1 Sol RingSol Ring
- 1 ArcumArcum
- 1 Coldsteel HeartColdsteel Heart
- 1 Obelisk of UrdObelisk of Urd
- 1 Vanquisher's BannerVanquisher's Banner
- 1 Slate of AncestrySlate of Ancestry
- 1 The OzolithThe Ozolith
- 1 Chromatic OrreryChromatic Orrery
Enchantments (13)
- 1 IcebergIceberg
- 1 Marit Lage's SlumberMarit Lage's Slumber
- 1 Rhythm of the WildRhythm of the Wild
- 1 Ice CaveIce Cave
- 1 Gelid ShacklesGelid Shackles
- 1 On Thin IceOn Thin Ice
- 1 Snow DevilSnow Devil
- 1 Glacial PlatingGlacial Plating
- 1 Ooze GardenOoze Garden
- 1 Ooze FluxOoze Flux
- 1 Crown of AscensionCrown of Ascension
- 1 Etchings of the ChosenEtchings of the Chosen
- 1 Steely ResolveSteely Resolve
Lands (40)
- 1 Exotic OrchardExotic Orchard
- 1 Command TowerCommand Tower
- 1 Karn's BastionKarn's Bastion
- 1 Novijen, Heart of ProgressNovijen, Heart of Progress
- 1 Highland WealdHighland Weald
- 1 Boreal ShelfBoreal Shelf
- 1 Arctic FlatsArctic Flats
- 1 Tresserhorn SinksTresserhorn Sinks
- 1 Frost MarshFrost Marsh
- 1 Scrying SheetsScrying Sheets
- 3 Snow-Covered PlainsSnow-Covered Plains
- 5 Snow-Covered IslandSnow-Covered Island
- 4 Snow-Covered SwampSnow-Covered Swamp
- 4 Snow-Covered MountainSnow-Covered Mountain
- 7 Snow-Covered ForestSnow-Covered Forest
- 1 Krosan VergeKrosan Verge
- 1 Blighted WoodlandBlighted Woodland
- 1 Terramorphic ExpanseTerramorphic Expanse
- 1 Evolving WildsEvolving Wilds
- 1 Cinder GladeCinder Glade
- 1 Prairie StreamPrairie Stream
- 1 Flooded GroveFlooded Grove
Santa Took the Year Off
We're running 40 lands in this list, giving Rudolph plenty of room to touch down. We're a bit color-intensive, thanks to the many multi-pipped Oozes, so we've excised some obvious lands, such as Frostwalk BastionFrostwalk Bastion, Dark DepthsDark Depths, and Mouth of RonomMouth of Ronom. While we are trying to cool things down with ice counters, Marit Lage will have to wait a little longer: the additional color sources in this list seemed more important than a few more frosty permanents. Generally, our ice counters will be doing different things, but with Rimefeather OwlRimefeather Owl, we can refrigerate our own gelatinous desserts, adding to our total number of Snow permanents in a pinch. Woolly RazorbackWoolly Razorback and Thing in the IceThing in the Ice will even be Snowy for a little while.
More likely we'll be plowing away both with our abundance of winter wonderlands and with cards like Chulane, Teller of TalesChulane, Teller of Tales and Golos, Tireless PilgrimGolos, Tireless Pilgrim (incidentally, second and third in line for the Santa line of succession). It shouldn't be too difficult to flash in Ice-Fang CoatlIce-Fang Coatl with deathtouch, nor should Heidar, Rimewind MasterHeidar, Rimewind Master's activated ability be unavailable for overlong.
Of course, as the snow piles up, so too should our +1/+1 counters, accumulating in the gooey eaves. While Hardened ScalesHardened Scales might seem as brightly obvious as the North Star, our included lords and anthems and the like serve us well enough. And as far as the +1/+1 counter interactions themselves (e.g. Ooze FluxOoze Flux, Experiment KrajExperiment Kraj), we should have a reliable stockpile even without doubling.
And hey, Obelisk of UrdObelisk of Urd does a decent impression of a Douglas Fir.
Santa's Back!
However, what if we had someone pulling the reins as well? Left alone, Jegantha just kind of follows their nose. A little bit of navigational experience from a pilot with more than a few flights under their sash could give us some much-needed guidance. Indeed, Kenrith, the Returned KingKenrith, the Returned King has 3,630 decks as of this writing, compared to Jegantha's 216. Sorry, Rudolph.
Santa does not simply walk to the table. He'll need Jegantha leading the van (and maybe Crown of AscensionCrown of Ascension and Snow DevilSnow Devil) if he's going to take flight.
To Be Jolly
View on ArchidektCommander (1)
- 1 Kenrith, the Returned KingKenrith, the Returned King
Companion (1)
- 1 Jegantha, the WellspringJegantha, the Wellspring
Creatures (30)
- 1 Boreal DruidBoreal Druid
- 1 Chilling ShadeChilling Shade
- 1 Burnished HartBurnished Hart
- 1 Conifer WurmConifer Wurm
- 1 Diamond FaerieDiamond Faerie
- 1 Zombie MusherZombie Musher
- 1 Heidar, Rimewind MasterHeidar, Rimewind Master
- 1 Ice-Fang CoatlIce-Fang Coatl
- 1 Golos, Tireless PilgrimGolos, Tireless Pilgrim
- 1 Chulane, Teller of TalesChulane, Teller of Tales
- 1 Sisay, Weatherlight CaptainSisay, Weatherlight Captain
- 1 Tatyova, Benthic DruidTatyova, Benthic Druid
- 1 Yule OozeYule Ooze
- 1 Mitotic SlimeMitotic Slime
- 1 Slurrk, All-IngestingSlurrk, All-Ingesting
- 1 Prime Speaker VannifarPrime Speaker Vannifar
- 1 Bloodhall OozeBloodhall Ooze
- 1 ManaplasmManaplasm
- 1 Scavenging OozeScavenging Ooze
- 1 Metallic MimicMetallic Mimic
- 1 Inexorable BlobInexorable Blob
- 1 Ravenous SlimeRavenous Slime
- 1 The MimeoplasmThe Mimeoplasm
- 1 Corrosive OozeCorrosive Ooze
- 1 Corpsejack MenaceCorpsejack Menace
- 1 Blizzard SpecterBlizzard Specter
- 1 Rime TenderRime Tender
- 1 Blizzard StrixBlizzard Strix
- 1 Abominable TreefolkAbominable Treefolk
- 1 Rimewind CryomancerRimewind Cryomancer
Instants (3)
- 1 Tribal UnityTribal Unity
- 1 SkredSkred
- 1 Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares
Sorceries (8)
- 1 Into the NorthInto the North
- 1 CultivateCultivate
- 1 Miming SlimeMiming Slime
- 1 HurricaneHurricane
- 1 Harsh MercyHarsh Mercy
- 1 Slime MoldingSlime Molding
- 1 Glacial RevelationGlacial Revelation
- 1 Dead of WinterDead of Winter
Artifacts (7)
- 1 Sol RingSol Ring
- 1 ArcumArcum
- 1 Coldsteel HeartColdsteel Heart
- 1 Obelisk of UrdObelisk of Urd
- 1 VanquisherVanquisher
- 1 Slate of AncestrySlate of Ancestry
- 1 The OzolithThe Ozolith
Enchantments (11)
- 1 Marit LageMarit Lage
- 1 Gelid ShacklesGelid Shackles
- 1 On Thin IceOn Thin Ice
- 1 Snow DevilSnow Devil
- 1 Ooze GardenOoze Garden
- 1 Ooze FluxOoze Flux
- 1 Crown of AscensionCrown of Ascension
- 1 Etchings of the ChosenEtchings of the Chosen
- 1 Steely ResolveSteely Resolve
- 1 WinterWinter
- 1 Gutter GrimeGutter Grime
Lands (40)
- 1 Exotic OrchardExotic Orchard
- 1 Command TowerCommand Tower
- 1 KarnKarn
- 1 Novijen, Heart of ProgressNovijen, Heart of Progress
- 1 Highland WealdHighland Weald
- 1 Boreal ShelfBoreal Shelf
- 1 Arctic FlatsArctic Flats
- 1 Tresserhorn SinksTresserhorn Sinks
- 1 Frost MarshFrost Marsh
- 1 Scrying SheetsScrying Sheets
- 3 Snow-Covered PlainsSnow-Covered Plains
- 5 Snow-Covered IslandSnow-Covered Island
- 4 Snow-Covered SwampSnow-Covered Swamp
- 4 Snow-Covered MountainSnow-Covered Mountain
- 6 Snow-Covered ForestSnow-Covered Forest
- 1 Krosan VergeKrosan Verge
- 1 Evolving WildsEvolving Wilds
- 1 Cinder GladeCinder Glade
- 1 Prairie StreamPrairie Stream
- 1 Mouth of RonomMouth of Ronom
- 1 Frostwalk BastionFrostwalk Bastion
- 1 Dark DepthsDark Depths
- 1 ThespianThespian
Slate of AncestrySlate of Ancestry will tell the tales of the sleigh-drivers. Oh, and now with Kenrith reigning o'er the land, tossing your hand into the 'yard has the potential to fuel your commander's fifth activated ability. The MimeoplasmThe Mimeoplasm doesn't mind a populated charnel house, either. Huh, sounds festive.
You'll have noticed that the +1/+1 counter quaternary theme has suffered in the new list, but Kenrith himself provides a bit of support with his second activated ability. In addition, Corpsejack MenaceCorpsejack Menace showed up, fitting in nicely with the forgotten leftovers of the holidays. Without Rimefeather OwlRimefeather Owl, we won't be feasibly freezing our Oozes, and our lost lords a-leaping means less in the way of holiday cheer. So, Dead of WinterDead of Winter is likely to hit our jams and jellies along with any other creatures sans snowfall. Fortunately, Kenrith, Returned KingKenrith, Returned King can convince our lazier (that is, dead) Oozes to get back into the workshop and get them making toys again. Prime Speaker VannifarPrime Speaker Vannifar is an Elf Ooze Wizard, so this extremely roundabout metaphor has legs. Or, uh, slime... feet.
Year's End
That's it for this Frore and Frosty Feast, Prepared Two Ways, and Forgotten in the Fridge, and that's it for this inaugural edition of Yule Shot. I hope you all enjoy the remainder of this winter season as much as possible - it is the denouement to 2020, after all. Be sure to fish out any +1/+1 counters in your eggnog, those aren't supposed to be in there. Let us know in the comments below if you've gotten up to any wintry brewing lately, and what it's looking like. Food tokens? Politics? Group hug? Every single card with synonyms for cold?
Till next time. I'll be hoping you all stay safe and warm and fed this season. Happy holidays!
Your opinions are welcome. We love hearing what you think about Magic! We ask that you are always respectful when commenting. Please keep in mind how your comments could be interpreted by others. Personal attacks on our writers or other commenters will not be tolerated. Your comments may be removed if your language could be interpreted as aggressive or disrespectful. You may also be banned from writing further comments.