Pureté  

Citadelle ternie  

Week #943: Better Volcano Lairs & Gardens (*****)

When you live inside a volcano, you develop an affinity for scorched-earth campaigns. Combining vindictiveness, spite, and sore losership, it's just the grown-up version of "I'm taking my ball and going home!" This column was so precise in its analysis that it was reprinted in the fifth annual "What a Colossal Jerk!" anthology series.

Combo: Purity & Tarnished Citadel

Purity turns noncombat damage that would be dealt to you into life. All noncombat damage - it doesn't matter where it comes from. Tarnished Citadel suddenly grants you 3 life a pop. Flesh Reaver is a 4/4 with lifelink. Ashes to Ashes is all upside. Perhaps the most fun cards are the ones that deal damage to all players... but not to you. You broke the symmetry! These include Heartless Hidetsugu, Price of Progress, and Armageddon Clock, among many others.