Commander Kryptonite: Once Again, We're Slaying Dragons

    
    Welcome back, Magic Fans! Before we jump into the article this week, I have a HUGE announcement for you all. The Thought Vessel crew will be at MTG Con Chicago and we have our own panel! The topic we will be covering is "Am I the Archenemy?" We will be breaking down stories of am I the Archenemy in which people want clarity of if they are the villain in the story or were they in the right. I would LOVE to have some listener submitted stories to use so if you have any please email us at thoughtvesselshow@gmail.com!

    This week, we continue our Commander Kryptonite series with Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm, where we delve into the world of slaying dragons. In this series, we'll explore some of the trickiest commanders in the format, examining their origins, how their decks operate, strengths and weaknesses, and finally, a game plan on how to overcome them. Without further ado, let's jump right in.

 

    Brought to us by the latest Dungeons and Dragons set, Miirym stands as one of the most fearsome dragon commanders. What sets Miirym apart is its Temur identity, lacking the black and white colors typical of dragon commanders like Tiamat and The Ur-Dragon. Miirym boasts a formidable ability: whenever another non-token dragon enters the battlefield for the Miirym player, a copy of that dragon is created. The catch? The copy is not legendary, allowing for the deployment of legendary dragons without additional hurdles. Furthermore, the copy is a token, opening up possibilities for populate effects or even more devious clones.

    Players typically adopt one of two strategies with Miirym. You can either fill your deck with powerful dragons or focus on clone effects. In my view, the clones prove more devastating, albeit less common. The first time Miirym is cloned, the initial clone succumbs to the legend rule, but the subsequent copy stays and is non-legendary. The second time around, you get your original and two Miirym triggers, resulting in a total of three dragons. This pattern intensifies with each subsequent clone, potentially amassing a staggering flying power.

    The deck's strength lies in Miirym's enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effect, creating a wide board of dragons that are challenging to handle with spot removal. These dragons, being flyers with high power, require minimal attacking to eliminate opponents. Temur's colors provide access to cards like Heroic Intervention and counter spells, enabling Miirym players to protect their board against removal.

    However, the weakness lies in the deck's speed and the slight unreliability of Miirym's ETB effect. Dragons tend to have higher converted mana costs, and unlike The Ur-Dragon deck, Miirym doesn't offer discounts for casting dragons. The initial turns often involve ramping to reach higher CMC, leaving the Miirym player vulnerable. Anything disrupting ETB effects significantly weakens the deck's effectiveness.

    How do we slay the dragon? Similar to The Ur-Dragon, the threat posed by this deck is evident, and opponents will see it coming. Early aggression effectively punishes Miirym players for dedicating their initial turns to ramping. Applying pressure to their life total forces them to consider blockers, especially given Temur's lack of efficient life recovery.

    To keep Miirym in check, employ spot removal, board wipes, or edict effects. Preventing ETB effects is key, and cards like Torpor Orb can be invaluable additions to your deck. Torpor Orb nullifies Miirym's ability to clone dragons, significantly hindering the deck's performance. Additionally, consider Crux of Fate, offering a mode to "Destroy all dragons," clearing the board while keeping your forces intact.

    Thank you for reading! If you have a commander you would like to see on Commander Kryptonite or have topic for the blog or our podcast, send us a