Volo's Zootherapy (EDH / Commander)

> Specific Rules for Volo :

Cards that don't work with Volo's ability :

Guardian Project : Volo's ability is a cast trigger, while Guardian Project's trigger is an ETB. When you cast a creature spell, Volo will copy that spell and the token copy will enter the battlefield first. Because it's a token, it won't trigger Guardian Project. Then the creature will enter, but you already have a creature with that name, so it won't trigger Guardian Project either.

Parallel Lives & Doubling Season & Adrix and Nev, Twincasters : If the object that’s resolving is a copy of a permanent spell, that object becomes a token permanent and is put onto the battlefield under the control of the spell’s controller. It is no longer a copy of a spell. The token put onto the battlefield this way is not “created” for the purposes of any replacement effects or triggered abilities that refer to creating a token. (~Rule 608.3b)

> 1 - Combo :

• Prerequisites :

1. Peregrine Drake in hand.
2. Volo, Guide to Monsters and Temur Sabertooth on the battlefield.
3. You control up to five lands that can tap to produce at least "2🟢🔵".
4. You have no other Drakes on the battlefield or in your graveyard.
5. 1 generic mana available.

• Steps :

1. Activate up to five lands by tapping them, adding at least "2🟢🔵".
2. Cast Peregrine Drake by paying "4🔵".
3. Volo triggers, creating a token copy of Peregrine Drake.
4. The token Peregrine Drake enters the battlefield, untapping up to five lands.
5. Activate up to five lands by tapping them, adding at least "2🟢🔵".
6. The nontoken Peregrine Drake enters the battlefield, untapping up to five lands.
7. Activate Temur Sabertooth twice by paying "2🟢🟢", returning the token and nontoken Peregrine Drake from the battlefield to your hand.
8. Repeat.

• Results :

Infinite ETB.
Infinite LTB.
Infinite mana lands you control can produce.
Infinite storm count.

> 2 - Strategy :

• In the first turns, you must gain mana either through rituals or creatures.
• The powerful abilities of other creatures in the deck can be exploited by Volo through the use of his spell copying ability.
• The deck contains many interaction spells to protect our gameplan or question threats on the battlefield.
• The deck contains 1 combo to get infinite mana but it is not essential. The Peregrine Drake allows you to take a lot of mana in the turn to raise many powerful spells.
• The main finishers are Managorger Hydra if it is copied early in the game it allows to have two huge creatures with trample. There is also the Tendershoot Dryad or the Craterhoof Behemoth.
• For the more "control" game, there is the Hullbreaker Horror which allows the deck to have much more tempo.

> 3 - Updates & Cuts explained :

Over time, I removed cards like Roaming Throne, Twinning Staff, Auspicious Starrix, Sweet-Gum Recluse, Aboleth Spawn, Radagast the Brown, Murkfiend Liege, Junk Winder, Mind Flayer, Defiler of Vigor, Sludge Monster, Food Chain etc... These cards are strong but to be abusive it takes a lot of time or mana and this made the deck slow, unstable and dependent on opponents.

• February 2024 Update:

Removed “heavy” cards (in terms of mana cost and low impact on the battlefield). Added more versatile and impactful cards directly.

• March 2024 Update:

I think after the changes we arrive at a good stable version of the deck ! The curve is smooth.