How Good Is Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief in EDH? 🛠 Magic: The Gathering

Summary

In this video, Commander Mechanic Chris explores the strategic potential of the card Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief, from Dominaria United. He discusses her ability to copy spells targeting creatures, the synergy with mutate and bestow mechanics, and how to maximize spell duplication with cards like Irenicus's Vile Duplication. The deck tech focuses on low-cost spells for efficient casting and copying, with a game plan centered around combat damage and enchantments for exponential growth. Chris also highlights tech cards for token manipulation and board control, offering a budget-friendly build under $200 through Moxfield.

Takeaways

• 🛠 Chris is a Commander Mechanic who is excited about the card Ivy Gleeful Spellthief from Dominaria United.
• 🧝 Ivy is a 2-mana 2/1 Faerie Rogue with flying that can copy spells targeting another creature, with the copy targeting Ivy instead.
• 📜 Copies of aura spells or any permanent spells become tokens, which can lead to a significant number of permanents on the battlefield.
• 🔄 Ivy's copying ability interacts with the Mutate mechanic, allowing for powerful combinations that can enhance creatures' abilities.
• 🌟 The original Ivy in a stack of mutated creatures determines the commander, meaning it retains its identity for damage purposes.
• 🎁 The Bestow mechanic synergizes with Ivy, providing board wipe protection and additional power on the battlefield.
• 🔄 Chris suggests using cards like Irenicus's Vile Duplication, Spark Double, and Vesuvan Duplemancy to make non-legendary copies of Ivy for more spell copying.
• 🗝 Twinning Staff and Errant Street Artist are highlighted as ways to copy Ivy's copies, further enhancing the deck's spell duplication strategy.
• 🃏 Archmage Emeritus is used to draw cards when casting or copying instants or sorceries, emphasizing the importance of low-cost spells.
• 🗡 The deck focuses on combat damage strategies, with Nylea's Colossus as a key card for exponential growth through its Constellation ability.
• 🌲 Jaheira, Friend of the Forest, is a tech inclusion that allows for generating mana by tapping any token, including aura tokens.
• 🛡 It's important to play cautiously with Ivy, ensuring protection from removal and having other creatures to target spells before Ivy is played.
• 🔄 Token doublers like Parallel Lives, Doubling Season, Adrix, and Nev are mentioned as upgrades for the deck to further increase the number of copies.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video script?

The speaker in the video script is Chris, who refers to himself as 'YOUR Commander Mechanic'.

What is the main character in the script that Chris is smitten with?

Chris is smitten with Ivy Gleeful Spellthief, a character revealed in Dominaria United.

What unique ability does Ivy Gleeful Spellthief have in the game?

Ivy Gleeful Spellthief has the ability to copy spells that target only a single creature other than herself.

What is the significance of the reminder text for a copy of an aura spell?

The reminder text is significant because a copy of an aura spell, or any permanent spell, becomes a token.

How does the mutate mechanic interact with Ivy's ability?

When a mutate creature spell is cast, Ivy's ability triggers, allowing you to get a token copy of the mutated creature that can be placed over or under Ivy.

What happens when you mutate a creature over Ivy?

When you mutate a creature over Ivy, the resulting creature has the mutated creature's name, power, toughness, and the abilities of both creatures.

What is the importance of the original Ivy's position in a stack of mutated creatures?

The original Ivy's position in a stack of mutated creatures determines the amalgamation that acts as your commander, which is important for dealing commander damage regardless of its new name.

How does the Bestow mechanic work with Ivy?

The Bestow mechanic can be cast on a creature to give it +4/+2, with a token copy targeting Ivy. If the creature with Bestow leaves the battlefield, the Bestow effect stays in play as a creature.

What is Irenicus's Vile Duplication and how does it relate to Ivy?

Irenicus's Vile Duplication is a card that targets a creature other than Ivy to make a non-legendary copy, which is useful for copying spells again in the deck.

What is the strategy for winning with Ivy in the deck?

The strategy for winning with Ivy is largely combat damage-centric, using creatures like Nylea's Colossus and taking advantage of the Constellation ability to grow Ivy's power exponentially.

What is the role of Jaheira, Friend of the Forest in the deck?

Jaheira, Friend of the Forest allows you to tap any token for green mana, including aura tokens, providing a unique way to generate mana.

What is the deck's approach to ramping mana?

The deck features on-brand ramping options, such as Jaheira, Friend of the Forest, and focuses on playing low-cost spells to simplify ramping.

How does the deck protect Ivy from removal?

The deck suggests holding cards like Blossoming Defense or Tamiyo's Safekeeping to protect Ivy from an initial barrage of removal spells.

What are some ways to double token copies in the deck?

Token doublers like Parallel Lives, Doubling Season, and cards featuring Adrix and Nev are used to copy token copies in the deck.

How can one access the full list of the deck?

The full list of the deck can be accessed by visiting the sponsor Moxfield, a deck building platform.

Outlines

00:00

🧙‍♂️ Commander Ivy's Spell Copying Abilities

Chris, the Commander Mechanic, introduces Ivy Gleeful Spellthief, a 2-mana 2/1 faerie rogue with flying that can copy spells targeting another creature, turning them into tokens with the potential for powerful interactions. He explains how Ivy synergizes with mutate effects, enchantress abilities, and the original Bestow mechanic. Chris also discusses strategies for copying spells multiple times using cards like Irenicus's Vile Duplication, Spark Double, and Vesuvan Duplemancy, and highlights the importance of protecting Ivy from removal.

05:02

🔮 Ivy's Deck Strategy and Mana Efficiency

Chris continues by discussing the deck's strategy, focusing on low-cost spells to maximize Ivy's copying ability and draw cards effectively. He emphasizes the importance of having a game plan beyond copying spells, suggesting combat damage-centric strategies with creatures like Nylea's Colossus. Chris also introduces Jaheira, Friend of the Forest, for token-to-mana conversion and advises on cautious play to protect Ivy. Finally, he mentions token doublers like Parallel Lives and Doubling Season, as well as Adrix and Nev, as potential upgrades for the deck, and recommends Moxfield as a deck-building platform.

Keywords

💡Commander

Commander is a specific format in the Magic: The Gathering (MTG) card game where players build a 100-card deck with a legendary creature as the commander. The video discusses Ivy, a commander character with unique copying abilities, which is central to the deck-building strategy presented.

💡Ivy Gleeful Spellthief

Ivy Gleeful Spellthief is a card in MTG that allows the player to copy spells targeting another creature. In the video, Ivy is the main character around which the deck is built, with her ability to copy spells being a key mechanic in the strategy.

💡Aura

An aura in MTG is an enchantment that attaches to a creature, granting it additional abilities or attributes. The script mentions that copying aura spells with Ivy results in tokens, which can be strategically used to gain additional permanents on the battlefield.

💡Mutate

Mutate is a keyword ability in MTG that allows players to put a +1/+1 counter on a creature as it mutates, granting it new abilities. The video explains how mutate interacts with Ivy's ability to copy spells, creating powerful combinations.

💡Token

In MTG, a token is a marker used to represent a permanent that does not have a card associated with it. The script explains that copies of aura spells or mutated creatures become tokens, which can be strategically placed over or under Ivy to gain additional effects.

💡Enchantress

Enchantress is a creature type in MTG that often has abilities that trigger when an enchantment is cast. The video mentions enchantress effects like Setessan Champion and Eidolon of Blossoms, which are triggered by casting aura spells with Ivy.

💡Bestow

Bestow is an ability word in MTG that allows a player to cast a spell on a creature for a reduced cost, granting it additional power and toughness. The video discusses Boon Satyr, which uses bestow to provide a token copy targeting Ivy, offering board wipe protection.

💡Clone

A clone in MTG is a copy of a card, often created by spells or abilities. The script mentions cards like Irenicus's Vile Duplication and Vesuvan Duplemancy, which create non-legendary copies of Ivy, enhancing the deck's copying strategy.

💡Twinning Staff

Twinning Staff is an artifact in MTG that creates an additional copy of a spell when used. The video explains how this artifact can provide a bonus copy of spells, further supporting the deck's theme of copying and redundancy.

💡Archmage Emeritus

Archmage Emeritus is a card that draws a card for the player when an instant or sorcery is cast or copied. The video discusses using this card to draw additional cards when casting or copying spells, enhancing the deck's card draw capabilities.

💡Nylea's Colossus

Nylea's Colossus is a card that provides a combat damage-centric strategy by granting a creature trample and a large power boost. The video mentions this card as a way to win games by enhancing Ivy's combat capabilities.

💡Jaheira, Friend of the Forest

Jaheira, Friend of the Forest is a legendary creature card that allows players to tap a token for green mana. The video highlights this card as a way to generate mana from aura tokens, supporting the deck's low-cost spell strategy.

💡Board Wipe

A board wipe in MTG refers to a spell or ability that removes or neutralizes all or most creatures on the battlefield. The script discusses the importance of having protection like Blossoming Defense or Tamiyo's Safekeeping for Ivy against such wipes.

💡Parallel Lives and Doubling Season

Parallel Lives and Doubling Season are cards that double the number of tokens on the battlefield. The video mentions these as part of the deck's upgrade strategy, providing additional ways to copy tokens and enhance the deck's overall power.

Highlights

Chris introduces himself as a Commander Mechanic and expresses his enthusiasm for Ivy Gleeful Spellthief, comparing her to a combination of Orvar and Kalamax.

Ivy's ability to copy spells targeting other creatures is highlighted, emphasizing her potential in the Commander format.

The importance of the reminder text for copying aura spells and the creation of token copies is underscored.

Ivy's interaction with the Mutate mechanic is explained, detailing how it can be used to enhance her abilities.

The impact of the original Ivy's position in a stack of mutated creatures on the commander's identity is discussed.

Boon Satyr's Bestow mechanic is shown to synergize with Ivy, providing board wipe protection.

Strategies for copying spells multiple times using cards like Irenicus's Vile Duplication are presented.

The use of Twinning Staff to gain additional copies of spells is highlighted.

Errant Street Artist's ability to copy copies of spells is featured, showcasing its synergy with Ivy.

Archmage Emeritus is introduced as a card that benefits from casting or copying instants or sorceries.

The deck's low mana value strategy is explained, emphasizing the ease of playing on curve with Ivy.

Nylea's Colossus is identified as a key card for the deck's win condition through combat damage.

Jaheira, Friend of the Forest is mentioned for its ability to tap aura tokens for mana.

Advice is given on playing the deck, including caution when deploying Ivy and protecting her with spells.

Token doublers like Parallel Lives and Doubling Season are discussed as upgrades for the deck.

The deck's affordability and the use of Moxfield as a deck-building platform are mentioned.

Chris encourages viewers to check out the full deck list and his Moxfield profile for more information.

Transcripts

Hey folks, I'm Chris and I'm YOUR Commander Mechanic

When Ivy Gleeful Spellthief was revealed in Dominaria United I was smitten - she's like

an Orvar and a Kalamax had a weird baby and that's 100% up my alley.

She copies things in Commander - and that's, like, my favorite thing to do in the world.

In this case Ivy copies spells that target another creature - let's take a look:

Ivy is a 2-mana 2/1 faerie rogue with flying that reads:

"whenever a player casts a spell that targets only a single creature other than Ivy, Gleeful

Spellthief, you may copy that spell.

The copy targets Ivy."

And an important part of reminder text - a copy of an aura spell - or any permanent spell

- becomes a token!

That last part is VERY important because it can lead to you getting a ton of permanents

on the battlefield.

Copies of enchantments is just the start of it, triggering enters-the-battlefield enchantress

effects like Setessan Champion or Eidolon of Blossoms each time you cast an aura spell

But there's another important interaction here in MUTATE.

If you cast a mutate creature... that's a spell that's cast with a target!

Meaning you get a token copy of the mutated creature that you can put over or under Ivy!

With mutate, putting a creature UNDER a targeted creature gives JUST the mutated creature's

abilities - for instance a Migratory Greathorn under an Ivy just gives Ivy the "Whenever

this creature mutates fetch a basic into play tapped"

But if you mutate OVER a creature, that creature now has the mutated creature's Name, Power

and Toughness, and the abilities of both creatures!

So a migratory greathorn mutated OVER an Ivy gives you a 3/4 flyer named Migratory Greathorn

that fetches a basic when it mutates and copies spells!

For commander the important thing to note is that wherever the original Ivy is in a

stack of mutated creatures makes that amalgamation your commander!

Meaning - regardless of its new name - it deals commander damage.

So an Archepelagore over top of an Ivy can get real angry real fast!

That in mind, the original Bestow mechanic, as seen on Boon Satyr, also works well with

Ivy.

This can be cast on a creature you control to give it +4/+2 with a token copy targeting

Ivy as well.

But with bestow, when the creature Boon Satyr is on would leave the battlefield, the Boon

Satyr - both non-token and token - stay in play as creatures.

This is good board wipe protection that can leave you with 8 power on the battlefield

when everyone else has NOTHING!

Now if we're copying spells you know I'm going to try and copy them AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE

so let's look at a few options for that

Starting with many copies of Ivy.

We need non-legendary copies, but even 1 extra non-legendary Ivy means we're copying spells

AGAIN

I LOVE Irenicus's Vile Duplication here.

It targets a creature other than Ivy to make a non-legendary copy, then the copy makes

a non-legendary copy of Ivy... it's perfect for the deck.

Hands down one of the best cards.

Classic Spark Double is another way to get a non-legendary copy too - I love my clones

and I don't think I'd be able to leave him out of the conversation.

And the new Vesuvan Duplimancy can make non-legendary copies of Ivy too, as long as we target her

with a spell.

That doesn't get us ALL of the value we could from her copying ability, but more Ivy is

more better.

Can't leave out Orvar from the mix too - while they don't make non-legendary Ivy copies,

he'll make copies of everything we target with original spells.

And if we get a non-legendary Ivy they can really go nuts with it!

From there let's talk about copying our SPELLS.

Ivy grants us a copy, but a Twinning Staff ends up getting us a BONUS copy to point wherever

we want.

That's a bonus aura entering the battlefield for our enchantress effects, or extra copies

of cantrips to refill our hand.

Errant, Street Artist is another way to copy our copies - for 2 mana we get a copy of a

spell on the stack we didn't cast.

In this case, any of the copies Ivy would make.

These two are BFFs and I think I saw them getting mimosas for brunch last week.

And hey, if you've made it this far into the video... let me know in the comments below.

Tell me who Ivy's best friend actually is, just so I know you're still paying attention.

Drop a like, too, so I know you want more deck techs like this!

One wild thing we can do with all these copies is use them to fuel us.

Use them to draw us WILD - Archmage Emeritus will draw us a card when we cast OR COPY an

instant or sorcery.

So casting a Charge Through and getting 3 copies of it... well that's going to draw

us a card for each copy then a card for the cast and each copy again.

One mana to draw SIX CARDS - that can get pretty nutty!

Which is why I've kept the mana value of most of the spells in the list VERY VERY LOW.

There are 26 one-mana spells in the list meaning the majority of what you're drawing or casting

you'll be able to play!

That eliminates the need for most ramp options since playing on curve is going to be simple

as long as you get Ivy online even ONCE

In fact, I'm sure you could build a version of this where every non-creature spell in

the deck is 1 mana value - even most of the creatures!

There are THAT MANY options for spells and auras you could be playing!

Now with that being said you might be asking "Chris, how are we WINNING?

What are we doing apart from copying spells and drawing cards?"

Do you NEED more than that?

haha I'm kidding of course you need a gameplan.

Largely we'll be looking at combat damage-centric strategies, hoping to beat in with a bulky

Ivy, but curve topper Nylea's Colossus is going to be doing us massive favors here.

The Constellation ability triggers when an enchantment enters the battlefield - token

or not.

So getting a few copies of some 1-mana auras can result in EXPONENTIAL GROWTH for Ivy.

IVY SMASH!

One cool piece of tech in the list is Jaheira, Friend of the Forest.

This new legend from Battle for Baldur's Gate allows us to tap a token for green mana - ANY

token.

This means you can tap your aura tokens - that's right, tap your auras!

- to make mana!

The deck might not feature a LOT of ramp, but the ramp it does feature is on-brand.

When playing the deck it's important to be cautious of when you're running Ivy out.

She's going to be a high priority target for removal - so make sure you have another creature

in play to target with spells BEFORE Ivy comes out, and enough mana to cast 1-2 of your cheap

spells when she does hit the field.

Holding a Blossoming Defense or Tamiyo's Safekeeping to protect her from an initial barrage would

be wise!

Lastly let's talk THE UPGRADE

Naturally when you're making token copies of things token doublers are fair game.

In this case we get classics Parallel Lives and Doubling Season, but we also get Adrix

and Nev too - that's three more ways to copy our copies!

They are pricy so keep that in mind!

Otherwise the deck comes together pretty reasonably - my version, linked below, is under $200

and can be trimmed from there too!

You can check out the full list by visiting my sponsor Moxfield

Moxfield is THE BEST deck building platform IN THE WORLD and is the easiest way to build

lists between powerful search functions and bulk edit options...

I certainly would be able to build the 2-3 decks I do each week without them.

be sure to follow my moxfield profile while you're there!

And be sure to watch these other videos from me too - it really helps the channel out!

As always folks - good luck & have fun!