Derevi
Deck Statistics
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Conversion Rate
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Metashare
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[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] is a versatile and adaptive commander that thrives in toolbox control strategies. By leveraging her unique abilities, Derevi facilitates complex combo lines, stax elements, and even combat-based wins. This deck focuses on resource management, creature-based synergy, and flexible stax effects to disrupt opponents while setting up its own win conditions.
Derevi’s ability to cheat commander tax and enable untap effects makes her a standout in competitive EDH, rewarding skilled pilots who can navigate intricate board states and capitalize on her myriad interactions.
Strategy / Gameplan
[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] excels in midrange gameplay, prioritizing survival and resource building during the early game before exploding with value in the midgame. [[The One Ring]] can be abused endlessly with Derevi’s ETB and attack triggers. The deck thrives on flexibility, combining stax effects, toolbox options, and powerful creature synergies to control the game and execute compact combo lines.
Control/Stax: Disrupt opponents’ plans with strategic stax pieces that hinder mana development, spellcasting, or combo execution.
Combo/Toolbox: Use [[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] to facilitate a wide variety of creature-based combos that generate infinite mana or combat steps.
Combat Pressure: In grindier games, Derevi’s ability to generate incremental value through combat damage can serve as a secondary game plan.
This deck is built for experienced players who enjoy adaptive gameplay and thrive on leveraging complex board states.
Combos and Win Conditions
[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] + Clone + [[Chromatic Orrery]]
Requirements: Derevi in play, a Clone effect (e.g., [[Phyrexian Metamorph]]), and [[Chromatic Orrery]].
Sequence: Clone Derevi to create an untap trigger and using the legend rule to sacrifice the original [[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]]. Untap mana source, then use Derevi’s activated ability to put it back into play from the command zone. Sacrifice the original Derevi again, and repeat to generate infinite mana.
[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] + [[Preston, the Vanisher]] + [[Bloom Tender]] or [[Faeburrow Elder]]
Requirements: Derevi in play, [[Preston, the Vanisher]], and a mana dork that generates multiple colors (e.g., [[Bloom Tender]] or [[Faeburrow Elder]]).
Sequence: Activate Derevi to re-enter the battlefield, creating an illusion with Preston. Use Derevi and the illusion to untap your mana dork repeatedly, generating infinite mana.
[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] + [[Emiel the Blessed]] + [[Gaea's Cradle]] or [[Chromatic Orrery]] or [[Bloom Tender]] or [[Faeburrow Elder]]
Requirements: Derevi in play, [[Emiel the Blessed]], and a high-output mana source such as [[Gaea's Cradle]] or a multicolor-producing dork.
Sequence: Use Emiel’s flicker ability on Derevi to create infinite untap triggers and generate infinite mana.
[[Finale of Devastation]]
Requirements: Infinite mana and creatures in the library.
Sequence: Cast [[Finale of Devastation]] for X = 10+ to tutor and buff your creatures, then swing for lethal damage.
[[Blind Obedience]]
With infinite mana, repeatedly cast and extort spells (e.g., using [[Emiel the Blessed]] or [[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] loops) to drain opponents to death.
Outlets
Once infinite mana and/or [[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] triggers are achieved, the deck leverages the following outlets to convert those resources into a win:
[[Preston, the Vanisher]]: Exile all nonland permanents under opponents’ control by generating infinite illusion tokens, targeting their board repeatedly.
An Opponent’s [[City of Brass]]: Target an opponent's [[City of Brass]] with infinite Derevi untap triggers, repeatedly forcing them to lose 1 life until they are dead.
[[White Plume Adventurer]]: Complete infinite dungeon loops via the Undercity, dealing infinite damage with the “Trap!” effect.
Clone Effect + [[Emiel the Blessed]]: If an opponent controls a [[Orcish Bowmasters]] or another damage-dealing effect, use a clone effect with Emiel to create infinite damaging triggers.
[[Blind Obedience]]: Use infinite mana and repeatedly cast spells to trigger extort and drain life from opponents.
[[The One Ring]]: Draw your entire library by repeatedly untapping [[The One Ring]] with Derevi triggers, ensuring access to all resources in your deck.
[[Ranger-Captain of Eos]]: Tutor for [[Walking Ballista]] to win with infinite mana by dealing direct damage to opponents.
[[Eternal Witness]]: Recur cards infinitely from your graveyard, allowing for repeated spellcasting or recovery of key pieces.
Things to Keep in Mind
Mana Management: Early turns should focus on ramping into Derevi and deploying stax pieces. Use Derevi’s ability to maximize untap triggers for mana production.
Combo Timing: Be patient and look for windows to assemble combos when opponents are low on interaction.
Combat Value: Attack consistently to trigger Derevi’s untap ability, especially against life-total-sensitive decks like Ad Nauseam builds.
Stax Deployment: Choose stax pieces that best disrupt your opponents’ strategies while allowing your game plan to progress.
[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] offers a highly flexible and rewarding playstyle that thrives in midrange and control metas. With access to numerous compact combos, disruptive stax pieces, and combat-based value, Derevi is an excellent choice for players who enjoy adaptive, toolbox-focused gameplay in competitive EDH.
References:
Derevi Displacement
Bird Pod
