
## Doran, Besieged by Time

Doran is a wonderful, grumpy old treefolk who asks a very simple question: *what if a disparity in power and toughness mattered?* And then he rewards you handsomely for answering that question correctly. And if it's power is less... all the better.

He reads:
> Each creature spell you cast with toughness greater than its power costs 1 less to cast.
>
> Whenever a creature you control attacks or blocks, it gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the difference between its power and toughness.

At first glance, this looks similar to other cards that let your creatures deal combat damage using toughness instead of power. The important twist is that Doran **adds the difference** rather than swapping stats. That subtle change opens the door to some very silly combat math.

For example, imagine you have <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-121" title="Indomitable Ancients" /> on the battlefield. It starts life as a humble 2/10. When it attacks with Doran out, it gets **+8/+8**, turning into a 10/18. Now add <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-LCI-176" title="Bedrock Tortoise" />, which lets your creatures assign combat damage equal to their toughness. Suddenly that Ancients is swinging for **18 damage**. That’s the kind of math we like doing here.

The game plan is refreshingly straightforward: flood the board with undercosted, high-toughness creatures, pump them up, and turn them sideways. This deck is cheap, simple, and extremely satisfying when it gets rolling.


<BlogCard cardId="MTG-ECL-215" size="lg" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ECL-215" title="Doran, Besieged by Time" listItem="T" />

## Deck List

<BlogDeckList deckListIndex="0" />

## Mana

The mana package is exactly what this deck wants: efficient, reliable, and budget-friendly. Between mana dorks, signets, and staples like Sol Ring, you’ll usually be able to deploy Doran early and start snowballing. I kept the lands budget friendly but of course you can always upgrade. *see land in deck list above*

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-ECL-178,MTG-DSK-193,MTG-TDC-324,MTG-TDC-272,MTG-TDC-289,MTG-C15-268,MTG-BLC-288,MTG-SCD-257" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ECL-178" title="Great Forest Druid" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-DSK-193" title="Overgrown Zealot" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-324" title="Selesnya Signet" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-272" title="Sylvan Caryatid" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-289" title="Faeburrow Elder" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-C15-268" title="Sol Ring" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-BLC-288" title="Talisman of Resilience" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SCD-257" title="Arcane Signet" listItem="T" />

## Ramp

I did throw in a little extra ramp to help you double-spell early and recover quickly after wipes. These are all efficient, no-frills inclusions.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-ECC-103,MTG-FIC-313,MTG-TDC-245,MTG-ECL-197" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ECC-103" title="Cultivate" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-FIC-313" title="Rampant Growth" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-245" title="Arboreal Grazer" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ECL-197" title="Tend the Sprigs" listItem="T" />

## Draw

The card draw could be better, but the deck makes up for it by stapling draw effects onto creatures with chunky toughness. ETB draw creatures do real work here, while flexible spells like <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-CLB-52" title="Your Temple Is Under Attack" /> can either refill your hand or save your board in a pinch. <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PLST-M21-186" title="Garruk's Uprising" /> pulls double duty by drawing cards *and* giving trample, which this deck desperately wants.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-HOU-80,MTG-TDC-250,MTG-ECL-26,MTG-LCC-256,MTG-MIC-1,MTG-FRF-132,MTG-CLB-52,MTG-PLST-M21-186,MTG-JMP-442,MTG-FRF-119" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-HOU-80" title="Vile Manifestation" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-250" title="Carven Caryatid" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ECL-26" title="Moonlit Lamenter" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-LCC-256" title="Runic Armasaur" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-MIC-1" title="Leinore, Autumn Sovereign" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-FRF-132" title="Fruit of the First Tree" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-CLB-52" title="Your Temple Is Under Attack" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PLST-M21-186" title="Garruk's Uprising" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-JMP-442" title="Wall of Blossoms" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-FRF-119" title="Abzan Beastmaster" listItem="T" />

## Buff

Buffs are simple: cheap spells that dramatically increase toughness are all-stars. Cards like <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-DKA-2" title="Bar the Door" />, <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-RNA-147" title="Tower Defense" />, and <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-CLB-45" title="Stoneskin" /> can turn an unassuming board into a lethal swing out of nowhere.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-TDC-246,MTG-DKA-2,MTG-SNC-27,MTG-PLST-MMQ-273,MTG-CLB-45,MTG-VOW-198,MTG-DTK-205,MTG-RNA-147,MTG-SOM-136" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-246" title="Assault Formation" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-DKA-2" title="Bar the Door" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SNC-27" title="Refuse to Yield" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PLST-MMQ-273" title="Spidersilk Armor" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-CLB-45" title="Stoneskin" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-VOW-198" title="Dormant Grove" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-DTK-205" title="Shape the Sands" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-RNA-147" title="Tower Defense" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOM-136" title="Accorder's Shield" listItem="T" />

## Trample

Trample is the glue that holds the win condition together. Without it, your giant walls just get politely chump-blocked. Instead of loading the deck with tramplers, trample is treated as a **finisher**. Cards like <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-FDN-230" title="Overrun" /> and <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ICE-265" title="Stampede" /> end games, while slower options give opponents a turn cycle to respond—which keeps things interactive and casual.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-FDN-230,MTG-GRN-162,MTG-5DN-87,MTG-PTDM-218p,MTG-A25-188,MTG-ICE-265,MTG-J25-696" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-FDN-230" title="Overrun" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-GRN-162" title="Conclave Guildmage" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-5DN-87" title="Fangren Pathcutter" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PTDM-218p" title="Revival of the Ancestors" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-A25-188" title="Stampede Driver" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ICE-265" title="Stampede" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-J25-696" title="Overcome" listItem="T" />

## Selective Wipes

These board wipes are quietly brutal. Because your creatures tend to have tiny power values, spells like <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-MKC-65" title="Fell the Mighty" /> and <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PLST-CMR-48" title="Slaughter the Strong" /> often read as one-sided wraths. <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-29" title="Tip the Scales" /> can require a bit of math, but it usually breaks in your favor.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-TDC-29,MTG-MKC-65,MTG-PLST-CMR-48" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-29" title="Tip the Scales" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-MKC-65" title="Fell the Mighty" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PLST-CMR-48" title="Slaughter the Strong" listItem="T" />

## Value

This section is where the deck gets a little weird—in the best way. <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-FIN-172" title="Ancient Adamantoise" /> can swing, redirect damage, and generate resources. <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-VOW-99" title="Catapult Fodder" /> punishes careless opponents. And <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-27" title="Jaws of Defeat" /> is an instant value add draining opponents whenever your high-toughness creatures enter the battlefield.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-TDC-4,MTG-CLB-422,MTG-VOW-99,MTG-TDC-315,MTG-TDC-27,MTG-FIN-172" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-4" title="Felothar the Steadfast" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-CLB-422" title="Gluntch, the Bestower" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-VOW-99" title="Catapult Fodder" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-315" title="Colfenor's Urn" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-27" title="Jaws of Defeat" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-FIN-172" title="Ancient Adamantoise" listItem="T" />

## Creatures

Of course, the creatures are the heart of the deck. The checklist is easy: **Is it cheap? Does it have a big gap between power and toughness?** If yes, it probably belongs here. Doran rewards creative creature choices and leaves plenty of room to pivot into secondary themes later on.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-OTJ-3,MTG-KHM-11,MTG-PLST-JOU-14,MTG-TLA-200,MTG-M20-41,MTG-ARB-69,MTG-ELD-176,MTG-PLST-WWK-16,MTG-LCI-176,MTG-TDC-126,MTG-TDC-100,MTG-TDC-121,MTG-PLST-GK1-102,MTG-PMOM-256p" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-OTJ-3" title="Armored Armadillo" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-KHM-11" title="Giant Ox" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PLST-JOU-14" title="Lagonna-Band Trailblazer" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TLA-200" title="Turtle-Duck" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-M20-41" title="Yoked Ox" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ARB-69" title="Grizzled Leotau" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-ELD-176" title="Sporecap Spider" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PLST-WWK-16" title="Perimeter Captain" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-LCI-176" title="Bedrock Tortoise" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-126" title="Nyx-Fleece Ram" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-100" title="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-TDC-121" title="Indomitable Ancients" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PLST-GK1-102" title="Trostani, Selesnya's Voice" listItem="T" />
<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-PMOM-256p" title="Yargle and Multani" listItem="T" />


Doran, Besieged by Time - Budget Commander - Lorwyn Eclipsed


## The Newfound Horrors Brought on by Lorwyn and Shadowmoor

Over the past few days I have been somewhat obsessed with _Magic the Gathering's_ **"A Boggart Ballad"** on YouTube. If you haven't seen it yet, please go and spend the 3+ minutes to go and watch it. Getting to see such masterful work done by the talented individuals at the **Jim Henson Company** was a welcome way to begin this new year. Since seeing the ballad, I have been delving a little bit into the lore of Magic's upcoming **Lorwyn** set.

<iframe width="100%" height="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mCQ5EF69rSQ?si=GBxN0bpAmFM7xXS5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

> CREDITS:
> Directed by Brian Henson
> Produced by Brian Henson, Vince Raisa, Rita Peruggi
> Written by and lyrics by Eliza Skinner
> Music Composed by Tim Young and Scott Seiver
> Cinematography by Sam Nicholson
> Production Design by Darcy Prevost
> Edited by Julian Bridges
> Visual Effects by Stargate Studios
> Creatures by The Jim Henson Creature Shop
> Starring:
> Kevin Clash as Cragg
> Ben Schrader as Squen
> Donna Kimball as Moire the Slug, Cragg facial features, Backup Dancer
> Drew Massey as Snake, Squen facial features, Backup Dancer
> Raymond Carr as Squen puppeteer assist, Backup Dancer, Frog
> Grant Baciocco as Cragg puppeteer assist, Backup Dancer, Frog

## A Plane of Light and Shadow

Put simply, **Lorwyn and Shadowmoor** are one conjoined plane of existence where the former is always sunny and the latter is perpetually dark. That aesthetic alone is intriguing and a great premise for a high fantasy Magic set. Where the horror of all this comes into play is the idea that someone travelling from Lorwyn to Shadowmoor and vice versa will fundamentally change into an alternate form. Any memories from the previous plane will be repressed and/or altered. So not only will they be changed, they will forget who they were in their previous realm and remember who they are and were in their current one.

## Reflections in _A Boggart Ballad_

With this in mind, the **Boggart Ballad** doesn't depict two different main characters but rather two different forms of the same person. The video intentionally mirrors each character that shows up as well. Moira and Snake are mirrored by their dialogue reminding Squen/Cragg of their respective planes' constant day/night nature. The backup singers also have their alternate forms and are clearly meant to be opposites of each other. If you pay attention to the backdrop at about _2:55 onward_, even the bats in the background of the video change into their opposing Lorwyn forms. The only ones in the video who don't get a mirrored version are **Cragg's victims in the first verse**.

## Identity, Memory, and Moral Horror

The fact that **Squen/Cragg** desire to explore their opposing sides begs many questions. How many times have they travelled between realms without feeling any catharsis from exploring the other side? How many times have they forgotten who they were and remembered a different version of themselves? They both clearly get into their own mischief on either side with Squen's pilfering and Cragg's violent pillaging, but what unknown friends and enemies have they made on either realm? What people have they forgotten entirely? The idea that one's nature could be flipped on its head simply by travelling is a disturbing one. What places/situations could a person be displaced to that would cause them to do things they never thought they were morally capable of? What parts of a person remain constant no matter where they go?

## Eclipsed Realms and Existential Loss

In the final lines of the **Boggart Ballad**, Squen and Cragg both ask themselves, _"and how will I ever see the other side of me? What if I never get to be completely me?"_ Unfortunately, the answer to the first question is, in **Lorwyn/Shadowmoor**, if one wants to experience both sides, they must go to **eclipsed realms** where the divide between the two isn't so clear. As for the second question, if one spends too much time in an eclipsed realm they become eclipsed themselves and lose every part of who they are. In pursuing their entire self, they end up losing it all. In essence, if one wants to be completely themselves in this plane, their **Jekyll and Hyde** aspects will not mix and will catastrophically contradict each other. This inclusion of eclipsed realms in the Lorwyn lore is particularly horrifying.

## Final Thoughts

The premise of **Lorwyn Eclipsed** and the questions implied by it provide both intrigue and existential horror. The decision to hire the **Jim Henson Company** to portray such a whimsical and dark fantasy setting was a brilliant and unexpected one. In a world where many Magic sets are outside IPs and corporate products it is encouraging to see a set with such heart and care put into it. I hope this little article helped you process and understand Lorwyn in the way that it helped me. I know I'm excited to experience this set at prerelease next week and I hope you are too!


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Doran, Besieged by Time - Budget Commander - Lorwyn Eclipsed

The Newfound Horrors Brought on by Lorwyn and Shadowmoor