Ender's Game (Commander / EDH MTG Deck)

Ender's Game

Commander / EDH*

snown

Land (38)

Utility (9)

Card Draw (8)

+1/+1 Counter Theme (6)

Token Theme (6)

Party: Cleric (3)

Party: Rogue (3)

Party: Wizard (3)

Commander (1)

Ramp (8)

Targeted Removal (6)

Party: Any (4)

Mass removal (3)

Party: Warrior (3)

A deck based thematically on the book Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

Each card included represents an event, character, or significant plot point from a phase of the book: Pre-Battle School, Battle School, Command School (The Third Formic War)

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin Show

Pre-Battle School Show

This is a relatively short section of the book, but introduces us to some important characters, and concepts.

Valentine

Valentine acts as Ender's early role model, and throughout the book often acts as his protector.

Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor : Kasmina represents being a role model ("mentor"), and a protector, mechanically represented by the tax on targeting
Deflecting Palm : This again represents Valentine protecting Ender, and in some cases deflecting harm taht would be coming at Ender to herself or other people.
Island : The art on this island represents the scene before Ender goes to Command School when he is on earth again, and doesn't really want to continue. He and Valentine meet at a remote location and take out a small boat that Ender made. In this card art we have a small lonely boat in a remote area, and the ships in the sky represent the International Fleet, Battle School, Command School, and Ender's impending destiny. Note: Tapped out seems to be having trouble identifying the correct island by id, so here's a scryfall link to the card with the correct art - Island (JMP:489636)

Peter

The oldest Wiggin sibling, Peter, is known for being exceedingly smart, and cruel. He is represented in Ender's Game as the anti-Ender, or the dark side of Ender.

Nicol Bolas, the Deceiver : Peter is cruel, manipulative, and works to deceive the world to his own benefit. "Nicol Bolas, the Deceiver" then seems a natural fit.
Indulgent Tormentor : Peter is known to torment others and animals.
Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats : Deathtouch represents the corrupting force of Peter, and the name "Thief of Heartbeats" reflects both Valentine and Ender's desire to love and be loved by Peter, but the way Peter uses that to his advantage.

Stilson

Stilson is our first insight into how Ender thinks through problems, and also introduces us to Ender's ruthlessness.

Anguished Unmaking : There was no joy in Ender's fight with Stilson, and you could say he was anguished by the decision he had to make
Taurean Mauler : Stilson was a bully, and by Ender's estimation would continue to be a bigger and bigger problem if he didn't take care of the issue now.

Monitor

The International Fleet uses a mechanical "Monitor" to track the behavior of people they are considering for Battle School.

Path of Ancestry : Ender is the third in his family to pass through the monitor program, following in the path of his family
Skullclamp : Represents the physical monitoring device
Amulet of Vigor : Represents the monitoring device, and specifically this art shows the social and psychological weight of the device on ender as a kid.
Sift : The art on this card depicts some unknown force peering into the minds of three heads, and light coming from the 3rd head. This represents the International Fleet passing on Peter and Valentine, then commissioning the Wiggins for a third child and choosing him.
Mind Unbound : After the monitor is removed Ender feels free.
Thriving Heath : Ender grows and thrives against the odds in the monitor program.

Battle School Show

Battle School takes up the majority of the book, and gives us the biggest world building, and character development. A lot of Battle School revolves around the Battle Room, and the teams (or "armies") that play the Battle Room game.

Isolation

Immediately on Ender's Battle School journey, the people in charge try to isolate Ender in order to see how he would do in situations when he knows "no help is coming."

Dissipation Field : This represents how the powers that be try to create seperation and isolation between Ender and who he tries to come in contact with
Thriving Isle : Despite their efforts, Ender still thrives in the Battle School system, and makes close friends along the way.

Battle Room

The Battle Room is a major part of Battle School, and becomes the major way Ender develops his tactical mind and leadership skills.

Opal Palace : Represents Ender getting better and better with experience in the battle room
Unbreakable Formation : Represents Dragon army, Ender, and Bean's unique strategies that help them win
Chromatic Lantern : Represents the different Battle Room teams, and the colored lights on the ground that guide the teams where they are supposed to go

These cards represent the battle room itself. Many of these cards have art that depicts floating hedrons, these represent the "stars" that are the floating obstacles and lone fire cover in the room:
Retreat to Emeria
Lithoform Engine
Holdout Settlement
Skyclave Relic
Base Camp
Plains
Plains
Island
Island
Swamp
Forest
Forest
Sea Gate Restoration

The object of the Battle Room game is to get through the enemy "gate", so I give to you... Guildgates:
Azorius Guildgate
Boros Guildgate
Dimir Guildgate
Golgari Guildgate
Gruul Guildgate
Izzet Guildgate
Orzhov Guildgate
Selesnya Guildgate
Simic Guildgate

The following represent one of several characteristics of other members on Ender's various Battle room teams. Often the rejects or irregular characters that other teams don't want:
Anowon, the Ruin Thief : The sneaky "Rogue-type" represents the special toon lead by Bean
Linvala, Shield of Sea Gate
Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
Irregular Cohort

Bonzo Madrid

Bonzo Madrid is a reflection of Ender's conflict with Stilson at the beginning of the book, but with higher stakes. Again we see Ender's ruthless side, his ability to make decisions, and implement solutions that definitely end the conflicts.

Channel Harm : Bonzo attempts to ambush and harm Ender's growing reputation, Ender instead turns it around on Bonzo and makes HIM look foolish
Artful Takedown : The art and name of this card fit the scene in which this conflict took place. In the showers, and Ender artfully took Bonzo down.
Beast Within : Though victorious, we saw the dark side of Ender again. It's a side of ender that he associates with Peter, and would rather keep suppressed. I think the concept of "Beast within" reflect this sentiment well.

Bean

Bean in many ways is just as smart, as Ender, but often has a very different way of looking at the problem, and is perceived as possibly less stable than Ender because of it. This however makes Bean a perfect right hand for Ender, and someone he can trust to go off and try crazy things.

Tajuru Paragon : Bean is a sort of jack of all trades, and as we find out in other books, at least partially responsible for recruiting to Ender's Dragon Army, represented here with Tajuru's kicker ability.
Pir, Imaginative Rascal : Bean thinks outside of the box, and had to use his imagination to come up with creative solutions in his time on the streets
Toothy, Imaginary Friend : Toothy represents Beans creative thinking and problem solving, using knowledge (card draw) to become better.

The following cards represent Beans creative solutions or implementations for battle room scenarios. Things like damaging/freezing a part of yourself to protect the important parts, or finding ways to sneak through without the other team knowing:
Pir's Whim
Frontier Warmonger
Suture Priest
Rogue's Passage

Petra

Petra, Ender's first Battle School army friend. She becomes a mentor, protector, and friend.

Mother of Runes : Sometimes called "Mother Petra", she takes Ender under her wing, and protects him from others early on.
Mentor of the Meek : Represents taking Ender under her wing at his meekest
Bant Battlemage : Petra is the best sharpshooter at Battle School, I'm taking that to mean she's a wizard in battle, or a "battlemage"
Blade Instructor : Petra teaches Ender how to use the Battle Room weapons

The Game

A personal passtime in the student's Holodesks, the game serves to explore the student's problem solving and psychological health. As the story progresses it gives the reader some further insight in to Ender's mental state, and some important confrontations, the most relevant confrontation being that with the Giant.

Hierophant's Chalice : There's a chalice of poison in the Giant's room
Mirror Entity : Represents the mirror in the Giant's room, and the confrontation Ender faces within it.

The following represents the defeat of the Giant, and his transformation into nature:
Song of the Dryads
Assassin's Trophy
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse

The following represent the fairy land after the Giant: Fabled Passage
Forest :

Thriving Grove : Ender gets further than anyone in the game, and thrives despite the barriers both the game and International Fleet try to throw at him.

Command School Show

Command school is the advanced school, most people don't get here. Things are more strict and serious, and the games even more intense.

Leader

A big part of Ender's training in command school is continuing to shape him into a good leader.

Squad Commander : Ender is at the helm, but he is mostly responsible for commanding his jeesh, a close group of friends and squad commanders
Nimble Trapfinder : Bean is here too, up to his normal outside the box antics

These cards represent Ender's team working together for towards their goals:
Spoils of Adventure
Skyclave Plunder
Strength of Solidarity
Deadly Alliance

These cards felt like the simulator equipment and other accessories used during the Command School games:
Chromatic Orrery
Commander's Sphere
Command Tower

Buggers

The main villan of the book, we know very little about them at first, but learn more about these insect like aliens as the book progresses, including their hive like biology.

I chose to represent the Formics (or "Buggers") as insects that grow or swarm in some way, as the way they are described in the book makes it feel like they come in oppressive numbers:
The Locust God
Hornet Nest
Hornet Queen
Fertilid
Scute Swarm
Scute Mob
Living Hive
Awakening Zone

Little Doctor

The "Little Doctor" is a massive weapon used in the game to destroy most if not all fighters on the field, only used sparingly as it is kind of a trump card.

Little doctor is represented here by some Board Wipe cards:
Nevinyrral's Disk
End Hostilities
Cleansing Nova

The Simulator (Ender's Jeesh)

The game at command school (the simulator) has a lot ot do with commanding larger armies of space ships from afar. Less direct combat like the Battle Room, but more mind games and strategy.

Teferi's Protection : Represents the fact that while they are playing war games in the simulator, there's a real distance between Ender's Jeesh and the war they are fighting. They are fairly protected.
Thought Vessel : This represents that the vehicles they use in the simulator battle are vessels controlled by their mind more than anything else
Forge of Heroes : The simulator is meant to make heroes

This section of the book has the most to due with space of any part of the book, so I thought these star/celestial lands were a good fit here:
Plains
Island
Swamp
Mountain
Forest

Thriving Moor : Ender is sent to Command school at a younger age than most, and yet he rises to the occasion, and thrives

Mazer Rackham

Mazer Rackham, former war hero, and Ender's elderly Command School teacher.

Archivist : The art in this specific card shows a slightly crazy wisened old man, which is how I imagine Mazer Rackham. Also the collection of knowledge through history and study is on theme. Mechanically the collection of knowledge is represented by card draw, bringing more and more from your library to your brain (hand)
Reliquary Tower : Reliquary is a "container for holy relics", that seems to fit Mazer Rackham to me.
Rhys the Redeemed : Mazer feels he has some things to be redeemed, and is also in charge of preparing the warriors for the next battle. Rhys seemed to fit
Thriving Bluff : Mazer throws what he can at Ender, testing him, yet Ender grows beyond expectation, and thrives.

Suggestions

Updates Add

Image View Timeline

Card Odds v1 Draw hand

Add to folder Copy

Download / Export / Embed Code

Comments

Attention! Complete Comment Tutorial! This annoying message will go away once you do!

Comment:

Become a supporter of TappedOut and hide ads for only $3/month!

Important! Formatting tips — Comment Tutorial — markdown syntax

Please login to comment

90% Casual

Competitive

Date added	3 years
Last updated	3 years
Legality	This deck is not Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	9 - 0 Mythic Rares 34 - 0 Rares 15 - 0 Uncommons 29 - 0 Commons
Cards	101
Avg. CMC	3.69
Tokens	Beast 3/3 G, Copy Clone, Eldrazi Spawn 0/1 C, Elf Warrior 1/1 GW, Insect 1/1 G, Insect 1/1 G w/ Flying, Deathtouch, Insect 1/1 UR, Kor Ally 1/1 W, Kor Warrior 1/1 W, Shapeshifter 2/2 C, Wizard 2/2 U
Votes
Ignored suggestions
Shared with
Views

Magic the Gathering, FNM is TM and copyright Wizards of the Coast, Inc, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. All rights reserved. This site is unaffiliated. Articles and comments are user-submitted and do not represent official endorsements of this site.