Temur Commander: Ralimar, the Aether-Infused
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Posted on Aug. 11, 2015, 1:46 p.m. by -Logician
So I'm building a temur deck for EDH, and while my deck has the usual shenanigans you'd expect from a Riku of Two Reflections deck, I didn't actually want to play Riku. I feel like he's honestly just too good, and people are scared of him. They hate you for playing it, blah blah blah. So I'm looking at alternative commanders, and realize that there isn't an option for a 4-drop temur commander.
I decided I'd try my hand at making my own.
Thoughts? Here's some things to note.
- His ability doesn't target. It simply chooses a creature upon resolution.
- He can't return himself to your hand. I felt this was going to be too powerful.
- He can't choose a token. That would be broken beyond all measure.
- The token lasts until the end of your next turn. Instead of giving the creature haste, I wanted to just let the token last until the end of the next turn. This allows me to save my creatures that I want to keep in play so that their static effects remain in effect until I recast the creature on my next turn.
- Instead of playing Riku, where I can get the impact of double enters-the-battlefield effects for just two mana, this commander forces me to pay 3 mana, and I only get to keep the token. This makes it slower, but more conservative. For cards like Eternal Witness, Ralimar is probably better than Riku, whereas with cards like Frost Titan, Riku is probably better. Also, Riku can double up instant & sorcery spells, and Ralimar cannot. That's something I'm sacrificing to have more advantage with the smaller creatures.
Inspiration:
buildingadeck Well if you asked me if I wanted to make this card a Bant commander, my answer would be, "Absolutely hell no."
That said, you may have a point. I figured that having to sacrifice the token was going to be enough to satisfy the red color-identity's initiative. I can't give the creature haste if I let the token last until the end of my next turn. I think that's too powerful, but keeping the token until the end of my next turn is important to me.
August 11, 2015 2:04 p.m.
buildingadeck says... #4
I get what you're saying. So the UG part is the "Flicker" effect while the Red part is intended to force the sacrifice. Maybe the token has, "When this creature dies, deal one damage to target player?" That still fits red, boosts power slightly, and isn't overpowered in Commander.
August 11, 2015 2:10 p.m.
buildingadeck says... #5
Oh, never mind! I thought that it was a tap ability. Lol.
August 11, 2015 2:11 p.m.
weisemanjohn says... #6
Perhaps have it where it is just another creature rather than another creature you control?
I have difficulty seeing why you would play this commander unless you want ETB effects. With having it be able to hit both yours and your opponent's creatures, you can use it defensively to keep threats off the board/not attacking.
August 11, 2015 2:13 p.m.
Make him a 4/4 (see: Mishra, Artificer Prodigy)
If you spending cmc 
to cast an Eternal Witness, cmc to bounce and get a sac token, then cmc to play again, that's a lot of mana invested. Better make sure the commander sticks!
August 11, 2015 2:27 p.m.
Guys. You want to increase this guy's power, but he's already pretty nuts.
How about evoke Mulldrifter, draw 2 cards then respond to it's evoke sacrifice trigger and bounce it back to your hand and make a mulldrifter token that not only sticks as a 2/2 flyer for blocking, but draws you two more cards (yes, evoke is fucking broken with this guy, confirmed). Do this at instant speed with Prophet of Kruphix or Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir in play. After drawing those 4 cards, it's not like with Riku and your mulldrifter is in play. It's in your hand. That line is available to be played again. There is some BULLSHIT to be had with what he already is. He absolutely doesn't need to be a 4/4 and synergize EVEN better than he already does with Temur Ascendancy. What this guy does that Riki does not is that he makes it so that you never run out of gas. You bounce your ETB creatures and an extra ETB trigger for free. With cards like Eternal Witness, imagine playing him, gaining value, bouncing him to your hand for 3 mana, getting another eternal witness token for more value, then he's back in your hand for next turn. You guys think this guy isn't powerful enough? How many times do I have to Cyclonic Rift you by cycling through these Eternal Witness for you to believe that this guy doesn't need to be buffed? XD
August 11, 2015 4:33 p.m.
buildingadeck says... #9
I thought it was a tap ability; that's why I had recommended more power. I think any of the suggestions would be reasonable if it were a tap ability.
August 11, 2015 4:45 p.m.
Drawing 4 cards for 
is not broken (see Mind Spring)
Yes it puts Mulldrifter back in your hand, but that's just solid synergy
What makes it super broken is putting it in an Animar, Soul of Elements deck! lol
August 11, 2015 6:03 p.m.
greyninja I know it's solid synergy :D That's what I plan on doing with it. :)
buildingadeck says... #2
I feel like the token should have haste? Unless you're going for an ETB effect commander, in which case WUB are generally the more appropriate colors.
August 11, 2015 1:51 p.m.