Hope Estheim
Color Identity
Details
Mana Value
2
Special Set
Universes Beyond
Popularity
#1,023
of 3,466 commanders · via EDHREC
Card Text
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
Lifelink
At the beginning of your end step, each opponent mills X cards, where X is the amount of life you gained this turn.
2/2
Playstyle
Control · Steady · Group influence · Alternate win-cons
- Aggression
- 1 of 5
- Speed
- 2 of 5
- Interaction
- 2 of 5
- Combat
- 2 of 5
- Engine
- 4 of 5
- Complexity
- 4 of 5
Card Price
Strategy Guides
Mill Strategy Guide
Mill decks are for players who want to pressure a different resource: the cards left in each library. This strategy wants to put cards from libraries into graveyards, using repeatable mill commanders, doublers, and self-mill engines, to win by emptying opponents' decks or by converting stocked graveyards into value. Unlike Reanimator, Mill is not mainly trying to cheat one creature into play, and unlike Graveyard value it treats milling as the weapon or fuel source rather than the recursion engine itself. The best mill decks EDH players build respect the multiplayer math by multiplying output, protecting engines, or turning every milled card into another resource.
Lifegain Strategy Guide
Lifegain decks are for players who want each point of life to become a resource, not just a larger cushion against attacks. This strategy wants to gain life in steady repeatable triggers, using lifegain commanders, Soul Warden effects, and payoff cards, to win through life drain, oversized creatures, or a charged Aetherflux Reservoir. Unlike Group Hug, it keeps the resources for itself, and unlike Aristocrats it is driven by life gained rather than death triggers. The best lifegain decks EDH players build feel patient early, then convert a safe life total into pressure.
Control Strategy Guide
Control decks are for players who enjoy deciding which threats matter, spending answers carefully, and winning after the table has slowed down. This strategy wants to stabilize the game, using control commanders, counterspells, removal, sweepers, and card-draw engines, to win through a protected finisher, planeswalker, combo finish, or long-term card advantage. Unlike Stax, Control answers threats on the stack or battlefield instead of locking everyone out of resources. The best control decks EDH players build accept that multiplayer control cannot counter everything, so they lean on sweepers and engines that trade across several opponents.
Combo Strategy Guide
Combo decks are for players who enjoy finding a narrow line, protecting it, and ending the game with specific cards working together. This strategy wants to assemble combo commanders, tutors, draw, and compact two-card or three-card packages, using infinite combos or deterministic loops, to win in one decisive moment. Unlike Spellslinger it is not paid for every spell cast, unlike Storm it does not need a long chain turn, and unlike Big Mana it does not rely on casting one enormous payoff. The best combo decks EDH players build balance speed with enough interaction to survive the table's disruption.
Appears in These Collections
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