cEDH - Secrets of Strixhaven Review

Once again, we're reviewing a set for cEDH! You might have noticed we didn't review the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set, and that's because we didn't find any interesting cards in it.

Secrets of Strixhaven, however, will bring us two great cards as well as a few other cards that could see play in some lists - but don't expect too much of them. In their case, it's probably just me seeing things.

As usual, comment down below which cards you think we missed!

Let's start with the cards that probably won't see any play but might fit some niche list or archetype.

Abstract Paintmage

Abstract Paintmage is our first card. We know this Djinn might be too slow, as it doesn't do anything when it comes in, and we can only use the mana it creates for instants or sorceries.

Still, it could be useful in decks like Thrasios, Triton Hero and Krark the Thumbless. After all, it is a creature and creates mana for Krark's spells.

One detail that might be relevant is that it turns "bad" mana into useful mana for Storm, which, in long turns, could make a difference.

Do I really believe it will see play? No, but it's possible.

Blazing Firesinger

Blazing Firesinger is also a bit suspicious, but it can create infinite mana with Displacer Kitten, considering the Seething Song in it already blinks it. Furthermore, it can go really well with Cloudstone Curio.

It is any good? Probably not. You'll need a lot of mana to make it work, but once again it could be useful in decks that create mana with their commanders, like, ahem, once again Thrasios. It can also be useful in decks with Jeska, Thrice Reborn.

Scheming Silvertongue

Honestly, it's hard to imagine how this card would see play, but, if the meta leans more towards midrange, it could be a nice attacker for Tymna the Weaver. It is also similar to Sign in Blood, and you can use it every turn.

It is a Vampire, which could be relevant one day. It also gives you some life back... I know I am pushing it, but I really wanted to discuss this card.

Topiary Lecturer

Alright, I know Raggadragga, Goreguts Boss is not a real deck. It's extremely niche.

But this card does exactly what this list wants, so I wanted to include it. Consistency is everything in this format. Besides speed, card draw, and protection, of course.

Follow the Lumarets

We also know this type of effect isn't extremely useful in cEDH, but Malevolent Rumble sees play in some lists.

A small advantage is that it lets you dig through your deck to get certain pieces in the mid-game.

Yes, Follow the Lumarets won't give you a small Eldrazi for your Gaea's Cradle, but it will give you more options. So, maybe.

Burrog Barrage

This is a fight spell, so it's nothing new. In fact, it's a "bite" spell.

Decks like Selvala, Heart of the Wilds and Yisan, the Wanderer Bard could use it. Yisan in particular uses many of these spells to kill enemy Opposition Agents.

A small difference is that this card can kill big creatures that would usually dodge these effects.

It's nothing new, but it does give us +1/+0, which could be relevant.

Choreographed Sparks

Copying an instant or sorcery you control is not the interesting part of this spell. If it were, it would just be a much worse Bonus Round.

It can also copy creature spells for two red mana, and I can think of a Gruul Dinosaur that would really like that. Yes, I'm talking about Etali, Primal Conqueror.

Copying Etali's ETB for just two mana can give you an absurd amount of advantage depending on the next card you draw. It could also be quite helpful against Counterspell and similar!

The only issue is that this card could end up dead in your hand. It's also terrible getting it with Etali's ETB.

Finally, let's discuss some great cards. You should definitely keep an eye on the two cards below.

Flashback

This card is absurdly strong.

For just one red mana, it gives flashback to an instant or sorcery in your graveyard. Certainly there are many ways to take advantage of that, particularly with tutors.

Intuition comes to mind immediately. Demonic Tutor gets a piece of the combo, Flashback gets the other piece. This is just a very basic idea, but there are certainly better ways to do it.

Please note that this card also turns any wheel or self-mill card into a toolbox strategy, so it could give Storm lists some pretty consistent play lines. Ok, maybe mentioning self-mill was too much.

Slumbering Trudge

And that's it, we're finally discussing the Tayam card in this set.

It's incredible. It is a direct upgrade to Icatian Moneychanger because it doesn't deal damage to you. Congratulations, Tayam! You can finally stop Lightning Bolting yourself.

Jokes aside, this commander keeps getting new toys.

An important detail is that this card enables loops with counters and reanimations, which this deck already plays.

Oh, and Slumbering Trudge also works with Selvala, Heart of the Wilds. A 6/6 creature for one mana is perfect with this commander.

Strixhaven didn't revolutionize cEDH, but it did bring us some interesting cards (I bet Flashback will see play).

Most of the cards in this article are pretty situational and should only show up in specific lists and metas. Still, they could surprise us with time.

On the other side, the few cards in it that really stand out could find a home in consolidated lists and even inspire new strategies.

Overall, this set isn't that big, but a few pieces are definitely noteworthy. And, as usual, if one card we all missed starts seeing play, it's all good.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!