Today, I would like to talk about this guy: Venser, the Sojourner.

Venser, the Sojourner.is a funny planeswalker. He has won the hearts of some cubers but at the same time has failed to impress others. So, today we are going to investigate whether or not Venser, the Sojourner is good in cube and hopefully, change some minds.

Bouncing with Venser, the Sojourner in Cube

Venser’s first ability may seem like a gimmick at first glance, and to some degree you may be right, but, what can be said about bouncing permanents is that it can come in handy.

While the printing of flickering cards like Restoration Angel may make Venser, the Sojourner’s sorcery-speed-reentering-on-the-end-step ability seem underwhelming, the keyword permanent allows for a whole slew of shenanigans to take place. For example, Venser, the Sojourner can help your big mana spells get to a lethal place a turn earlier by bouncing something like a mana vault. Or, he can reset a fellow planeswalker that is low on loyalty counters. But enough of me rambling, how about we look at some decklists.

Here, we have some great examples of cards that work well with Venser, the Sojourner.

It’s obvious that any of the Titans are nuts with Venser so I won’t even bother talking about them.

Some of my favorite cards to +2 Venser with are things that bounce more stuff. In this list we have the creature version of Venser and Riftwing cloudskate. I really like these two with Venser, the Sojourner because it is pretty easy to curve out and two of your opponent’s permanents bounced back to their hand on turn five. Then one more every turn after that. It is rare that this combination does not produce a win.

Then, we have the enchantments. And, this deck got some of the best enchantments for bouncing. Faith’s Fetters is pretty mean once you start gaining four every turn off of it and, along with O-ring and detention sphere, being able to reset it each turn means that you are constantly nullifying your opponents best threats.

Clones are another fun target for bouncing. Although phantasmal image doesn’t work with us, metamorph and clone make fantastic targets.

Remember how awesome crystal shard is? Yeah. Well, stop paying so much mana for the effect.

Alpha Striking with Venser, the Sojourner in Cube

Everyone gets really caught up with Venser’s first ability that, a lot of the time, they just flat-out forget about his other abilities.

While I admit that the main thing I think about while drafting the Venser, the Sojourner deck is “what can i bounce,” sometimes the board comes to a standoff where your opponent has all the blockers in the world and you just want to be able to sneak in a few more points of damage.

Well, it might be time to read his second ability. 

“Creatures are unblockable this turn.”    …

How much does that cost?    -1?

So, the second this guy drops, he’s probably going up to five unless you’re alpha striking for the win. And, if you +2, then you probably have a good reason to do it again the next turn. Like, in this decklist, for the purpose of getting a 3/3 and five life every turn.

Winning the Game with Venser, the Sojourner in Cube

If you start going off with a thragtusk and venser, then I don’t see any reason to get up to 8 or 9 loyalty on Venser, but, so you know, his -8 ability pretty much says ” you win the game”

In conclusion

Now, I can already hear what you want to say. “Venser doesn’t even protect himself.” “He’s only good with cards to abuse with him.”

Yeah, yeah. I hear you.

But the fact of the matter is that there are TONS of cards to abuse with Venser, the Sojourner. And, as far as not protecting himself goes, he kind of does. Five loyalty is a decent amount and he shouldn’t be hitting the board without either winning of bouncing something fun that will probably act as a way to protect him – whether it is a creature being reset or a land that provides the mana for your kill spell.

If you are not running Venser, the Sojourner in your cube yet, it might be time to do so.

Venser, the Sojourner in cube test – Pass