Xanathar, Guild Kingpin
Color Identity
Details
Mana Value
6
Popularity
#1,112
of 3,466 commanders · via EDHREC
Card Text
Legendary Creature — Beholder
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose target opponent. Until end of turn, that player can't cast spells, you may look at the top card of their library any time, you may play the top card of their library, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast spells this way.
5/6
Playstyle
Control · Flexible pace · Heavy interaction · Incremental wins
- Aggression
- 2 of 5
- Speed
- 2 of 5
- Interaction
- 5 of 5
- Combat
- 3 of 5
- Engine
- 3 of 5
- Complexity
- 4 of 5
Card Price
Strategy Guides
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.
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.
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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